My third time here in 10 days: I've been trying different dishes (sucuklu pide, iskender, çılbır, sütlaç, Konya usulü pide). Everything has been delicious so far. The music is good, too. It's mostly Turkish pop, but I even heard some jazz with Turkish lyrics that seems to be a pop--big-band fusion, something I had never heard (in Turkish) before.
NOTE: I'm writing about both the restaurant and the store.
For years, my gold standard for international groceries was Barbur World Foods, which, of course, is great and truly international. Koza is definitely for Turkish tastes. (There are a few Armenian, Azerbaijani, etc. imports, but it's mostly stuff from Turkey.) Not only do they have a vaaast array of ingredients for cooking; they also have a variety of packaged foods, from mantı and İnegöl köftesi to *almost* all the candy bars I remember from my childhood (and some I didn't know). There are jams (eggplant, apricot, vişne), juices and sodas (şalgam! Uludağ, etc.), many types of olives, pistacchio pastes, packets of hazelnuts, many types of pickles, Turkish, American, Yugoslavian, and other condiments, and non-food grocery, kitchen, and other items.
Konya pidesi was great: just slightly spicy. Now I'm having Maraş-style ice cream served *inside* the baklava. It tastes much like the water-buffalo heavy cream I've had in Afyon Karahisar (which is the most metal of all city names, I'm guessing: It translates to "Opium Dark-Castle"!). And, OMG, now there's a song that fuses trap with Mevlevi devotional music! 🤯
For reference: I was born and raised in İstanbul, although it's been a few decades, so I'm no longer an authority on how Turkish food ought to taste. For what it's worth, I think the food here is very good.
Also, the entrance is wheelchair friendly (and there's a ramp, although part of the outdoor seating might get in the way, depending on wheelchair size.
On December 25th, around 5 PM, my son and I were looking for an open restaurant in Kirkland and were just hoping to find good food. After not finding anything, a family downtown recommended Koza to us — and we’re so glad they did.
The food was delicious and the atmosphere was welcoming. We enjoyed it so much that a week later, for my son’s birthday, he asked to go back for lunch. Once again, it was a great experience.
Highly recommend!
I love this small grocery store. They have so many treats and delicious imported food. They also have fresh produce and bread that is so tasty. I always find something new I want to try and often leave with so much more than what I came for. The woman who works there is also lovely and it is always a pleasure to chat with her about different products and how we both use them. At a time where most stores are impersonal and carry the same stuff, I feel so grateful for a place full of personality and that is tended with so much care.
Lovely shop with a beautiful array of spices, grains, sweets, toiletries, and fresh produce. I was able to find freekeh here, they had several options to choose from. The young lady at the till was very sweet. Will return.
Such a cozy spot! The owner is incredibly sweet and welcoming, which made the experience even better. Plenty of vegetarian options to enjoy, and the Turkish tea was delightful. The service was excellent too. When my knife fell, they immediately noticed and brought me a new one without me even asking. Highly recommend!
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Mehmet Vurkaç
2 weeks agoMy third time here in 10 days: I've been trying different dishes (sucuklu pide, iskender, çılbır, sütlaç, Konya usulü pide). Everything has been delicious so far. The music is good, too. It's mostly Turkish pop, but I even heard some jazz with Turkish lyrics that seems to be a pop--big-band fusion, something I had never heard (in Turkish) before. NOTE: I'm writing about both the restaurant and the store. For years, my gold standard for international groceries was Barbur World Foods, which, of course, is great and truly international. Koza is definitely for Turkish tastes. (There are a few Armenian, Azerbaijani, etc. imports, but it's mostly stuff from Turkey.) Not only do they have a vaaast array of ingredients for cooking; they also have a variety of packaged foods, from mantı and İnegöl köftesi to *almost* all the candy bars I remember from my childhood (and some I didn't know). There are jams (eggplant, apricot, vişne), juices and sodas (şalgam! Uludağ, etc.), many types of olives, pistacchio pastes, packets of hazelnuts, many types of pickles, Turkish, American, Yugoslavian, and other condiments, and non-food grocery, kitchen, and other items. Konya pidesi was great: just slightly spicy. Now I'm having Maraş-style ice cream served *inside* the baklava. It tastes much like the water-buffalo heavy cream I've had in Afyon Karahisar (which is the most metal of all city names, I'm guessing: It translates to "Opium Dark-Castle"!). And, OMG, now there's a song that fuses trap with Mevlevi devotional music! 🤯 For reference: I was born and raised in İstanbul, although it's been a few decades, so I'm no longer an authority on how Turkish food ought to taste. For what it's worth, I think the food here is very good. Also, the entrance is wheelchair friendly (and there's a ramp, although part of the outdoor seating might get in the way, depending on wheelchair size.
Splendid Cleaning
2 months agoOn December 25th, around 5 PM, my son and I were looking for an open restaurant in Kirkland and were just hoping to find good food. After not finding anything, a family downtown recommended Koza to us — and we’re so glad they did. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was welcoming. We enjoyed it so much that a week later, for my son’s birthday, he asked to go back for lunch. Once again, it was a great experience. Highly recommend!
Jennifer Cox
2 months agoI love this small grocery store. They have so many treats and delicious imported food. They also have fresh produce and bread that is so tasty. I always find something new I want to try and often leave with so much more than what I came for. The woman who works there is also lovely and it is always a pleasure to chat with her about different products and how we both use them. At a time where most stores are impersonal and carry the same stuff, I feel so grateful for a place full of personality and that is tended with so much care.
Giselle Role
2 weeks agoLovely shop with a beautiful array of spices, grains, sweets, toiletries, and fresh produce. I was able to find freekeh here, they had several options to choose from. The young lady at the till was very sweet. Will return.
Mahitha Aitharaju
3 months agoSuch a cozy spot! The owner is incredibly sweet and welcoming, which made the experience even better. Plenty of vegetarian options to enjoy, and the Turkish tea was delightful. The service was excellent too. When my knife fell, they immediately noticed and brought me a new one without me even asking. Highly recommend!