Sucuklu pide (Turkish mildly spicy sausage, feta and mozzarella cheese) and Manti (Turkish ravioli with beef, garlic and yogurt sauce with drizzled tomato sauce and butter) at Cafe Turko Credit: Jessica Stein

Sucuklu pide (Turkish mildly spicy sausage, feta and mozzarella cheese) and Manti (Turkish ravioli with beef, garlic and yogurt sauce with drizzled tomato sauce and butter) at Cafe Turko

Sucuklu pide (Turkish mildly spicy sausage, feta and mozzarella cheese) and Manti (Turkish ravioli with beef, garlic and yogurt sauce with drizzled tomato sauce and butter) at Cafe Turko Jessica Stein

Part of a series of restaurant recommendations offered in The Stranger’s 2017 Guide to Food and Drink (International Edition).

Cafe Turko

Along with their two sons, Gencer and Süreyya Gökeri turned their Fremont-based Turkish import business into a full-blown restaurant, serving enough rainbow hummus plates, platters of grilled meat, and gorgeous, filling salads to keep avowed carnivores, vegetarians, and the gluten-free all very happy. (And you can still buy the colorful plates and rugs lining the walls.) Menu standouts include the döner kebab pita wraps and the cheesy pide (canoe-shaped Turkish pizza). The long list of mezzes, including dolmas, stuffed baby eggplant, and Süreyya’s garlicky homemade pickles, makes for excellent snacking. Leave room for some baklava and don’t overlook this place as a breakfast spot. —Jenn Campbell