Izmir Kumru Sandwich
Everything About Izmir Kumru
Kumru is a sandwich that is unique to İzmir. It is made with a slightly salty dough that resembles simit dough, baked with sesame seeds.
Izmir kumru is one of Turkey’s most beloved street foods. Kumru, which has a geographical indication specific to Izmir, is made from a slightly salty and sesame-rich bread that resembles a simit. The bread is named after the kumru bird’s body shape. The kumru sandwich is both light and satisfying, filled with Bergama tulum cheese, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.
The history of Izmir kumru dates back to the 1880s. At that time, the Historic Alsancak Gevrek Bakery in Alsancak began offering Izmir’s iconic foods. The owner of the bakery, Zeynel Ergin, prepared a dough with chickpea yeast and baked it in the oven to create a bread called “gevrek.” This bread was then filled with tulum cheese and tomatoes and sold as a kumru. Over time, kumru became one of Izmir’s essential flavors.
Today, there are different varieties of Izmir kumru. Some places offer sausage, sucuk, salami, and kasar cheese kumrus alongside the classic kumru. These mixed kumrus are prepared in a fast food style and are generally preferred by young people. However, the taste and uniqueness of traditional Izmir kumru are indisputable.
The best places to try kumru in Izmir are:
- Kumrucu Ömür:
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Located in Bostanlı, this place makes the best mixed kumrus in a fast food style. You can also enjoy freshly squeezed fruit juice or tea alongside sausage, sucuk, salami, and kasar cheese kumrus.
SHOW LOCATION - Kumrucu Şevki:
credit: google
This place has branches in different parts of Izmir and is also known for its fast package delivery service. Kumrucu Şevki makes its kumrus with plenty of ingredients and is particularly loved by students.
SHOW LOCATION - Zeynel Ergin Gevrek Bakery:
This bakery, where Izmir kumru was born, has been in business since 1880. The kumrus prepared with traditional methods are very popular alongside gevrek and boyoz. Long queues form in front of the bakery in the morning.
Izmir kumru is both a delicious and practical food. Don’t leave Izmir without trying this sandwich that you can eat for breakfast, lunch, or a snack in the evening.