Zadem in Köln

I've given this restaurant/café several chances, but my opinion remains unchanged. The food is rarely fresh and often cold; I won't even mention the manti (it's awful). The ambiance itself is beautifully decorated in a Turkish style, but unfortunately, the music is incredibly loud and disruptive. Most of the staff were quite friendly. However, I had one isolated incident. On February 7th, 2026, around 11 PM, I was served by an Asian woman, I would say. She was very friendly at first, but only until the moment the bill was requested. On my first attempt to pay by card, I selected "no tip," but the card didn't work. The second time, when I tried to tap my card again, she rudely tapped for 10%?! I had already tapped my card and paid, unintentionally adding a tip. It's truly outrageous and unacceptable. Of course, I didn't want to embarrass her, so I left it at that. Please discuss these issues with the team and see if they are even qualified to improve. I can also recommend sitting outside and drinking a cay.

I spent the weekend in Cologne (I'm originally from near Munich) and had breakfast at Zadem. Overall, it was a really positive experience. The food was excellent. I really enjoyed the combination of classic Turkish cuisine and modern influences. Everything was delicious, and the three of us were definitely satisfied. The service was friendly, but not entirely attentive. Our tea was forgotten twice; only a different waiter took care of it, and he did so promptly and very kindly. He also proactively secured our wobbly table, which I appreciated. The organization was a bit disappointing: apparently, reservations weren't possible, yet we still had to wait outside for 10-15 minutes, which was rather unnecessary in the cold weather. All in all: a very tasty breakfast with minor service issues, but I would definitely come back.

We enjoyed the Turkish breakfast here. It was very tasty.

I've been a regular at this restaurant for a long time, even though I'm from the Ruhr area. One thing's for sure: this place stands for customer focus, quality, and efficiency. I've rarely seen such good value for money. The restaurant also has a unique atmosphere that makes me feel like I'm in Istanbul :)

I quite liked the atmosphere, in stark contrast to the unfriendly and unprofessional service. Drinks and food arrived fairly quickly, although it was practically empty when I visited. The prices are too high for the quality offered. Paying over €8 for a soda that's almost entirely water and tastes like it is outrageous. The mante, my main course, was completely ruined by the excessive amount of sauce. Eventually, the waitress stopped coming altogether, so we couldn't and didn't want to order any more drinks.

So, I went there earlier for the first time with my girlfriend. However, I have to say that this place doesn't deserve the name "Turkish cuisine." I complained about the cold fries—you don't even get them that cold at a fast-food restaurant. And now get this: the kitchen simply placed a few warm fries on top of the cold ones, while the rest remained stale and cold. I could somewhat understand that my food wasn't really hot overall. But then they came up with the excuse that we were sitting outside. Sorry, but the kitchen isn't several kilometers away, so my food doesn't get cold on the way. Instead of canceling the order, they gave us free drinks. The trick is: for the restaurant, a free drink is cheaper than canceling a meal—even if the customer is dissatisfied and complains. The mere fact that they didn't cancel the order and still charged me €18 shows me that the restaurant doesn't care about its customers. In short: If I had just wasted the €18, I probably would have been happier and wouldn't have to go home to make myself something to eat.

Another high quality Turkish restaurant. Lentil soup was lovely. Their İskender kebab from lamb fillet meat were outstanding. Hummus was so tasty with pastırma. San Sebastian cheesecake with pistachio made my night. Service was Fast and staff was really helpful. Definitely recommended..

The food was excellent. The service was quite slow, inexperienced, and not particularly attentive. What I did appreciate was the ambiance and the relatively quiet atmosphere. I highly recommend this business.

We went to the Turkish brunch at Restaurant Zadem in Cologne and were completely satisfied. The selection is truly generous and varied for two people – a great alternative to the classic breakfast or brunch. For our hot dish, we chose Menemen, which was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Everything looked fresh and was prepared with care. We were particularly impressed by the friendly and attentive service – you immediately feel welcome. Unlimited Turkish tea refills make the brunch even more enjoyable and complement the usual coffee specialties nicely. The homemade, fresh fruit spritzers are also highly recommended and round off the experience perfectly. If you're looking for a slightly different kind of brunch and enjoy Turkish cuisine, this is the place for you. A definite recommendation!

We visited this place based on its popularity, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. While the atmosphere isn't too noisy and it's a decent spot for catching up with friends, the lighting was way too dark. We tried the salad and a burger; the salad was mostly just greens with very few other ingredients. The prices are a bit high for the quality provided. The service was just okay—they weren't particularly friendly or welcoming.

Everything was really good except for the food 🤣 The meat was very tough, dry, and poorly seasoned. I've never eaten such bad beyti and manti, an insult to Turkish cuisine!!!! Instead of Fanta, we got shandy?!?!?!! We were put in a corner, and the staff only came after we made stern eye contact.

I’m a fan of Turkish music so that’s why we’ve got the 5 star atmosphere haha. Amazing tasty food and reasonable prices. One of the best islander I tried in Europe and Canada 👏🏻

A very disappointing experience. We had to wait a very long time, even though we arrived early, while other guests who arrived after us were immediately seated, apparently because they were Turkish and even without a reservation. We felt this was unfair and unprofessional. A restaurant should treat all guests equally, regardless of language or origin. Unfortunately, we didn't feel welcome and won't be returning.

Delicious food, generous portions, varied and fresh. Our server was super friendly. If we come back to Cologne, we know where we'll have brunch.

It definitely won't appeal to anyone from Türkiye; it will certainly look appealing, but the flatbreads are doughy, the food isn't fresh except for the hot dishes, the plates are dry and noisy, the simit (Turkish bagel) is stale... We ordered scrambled eggs with meat, but they made an omelet and added pieces of meat on top.

This place is indescribably good. I highly recommend the brunch. I'd gladly come back anytime.

The beyti was unfortunately like rubber and unseasoned; the bulgur was partly dried out and partly fresh. The small portion was a real shame for the price; there are better places to go. The service was friendly.

Food was great, service was great. I'll definitely come back.

We went to Zadem for brunch as a couple and were quite disappointed. The hummus was practically tasteless, frankly the worst I've ever had. And that's in a restaurant where you'd expect exactly that. The other dishes were, at best, "okay"—nothing memorable or worth the price. Overall, I think Zadem is heavily reliant on its Instagram/TikTok hype: chic, modern, good for photos, but unfortunately, the food is more style than substance. If you're looking for good food, you're unlikely to find it here. It's fine for pretty pictures, but not for a truly enjoyable meal.

Food disappointing, service friendly, but overall not convincing. Zadem in Cologne was a disappointment for me overall. The price-performance ratio is very poor – far too expensive for the quality. I absolutely hated the hummus; it was the worst I've ever had. The bread was dry and didn't seem fresh. The waitress was friendly, which made the visit a little more pleasant. Unfortunately, that didn't change the food. Ultimately, the negative impression outweighs the positive. I won't be coming back.

I had lunch at Zadem with my girlfriend. There was a misunderstanding with our order, but the extremely friendly lady who served us handled it very professionally and resolved the issue to my complete satisfaction. The food was very fresh and tasty, and to top it all off, we were given a delicious piece of cake. Since I couldn't finish it all, the rest was carefully packed up and given to me to take with me. Now that's what I call customer service!

The food was okay, but the service was rather uninterested. It was freezing cold inside because the door kept opening and you were practically sitting right next to it. A tiring visit.

The staff were far too young, incompetent, didn't understand what was being ordered, and there were enormous wait times for the food. Then the food arrived, and it was a completely generic, uninspired meal, and even raw. Never again. The staff was the deciding factor in why I would never come back here!!

There wasn't even a single employee who spoke Turkish...

We went to Restaurant Zadem for brunch on Sunday with a group of six. We were assigned a very small table, where it was immediately clear there wasn't enough room. We then waited 25 minutes for service, at which point the server discovered we didn't even have menus. The food arrived another 25 minutes later, and the server didn't know what to do with everything. We had to store our bread by the cutlery drawer, there was no room for drinks, and we had to ask for tea several times. The restrooms were very dirty. All in all, we wouldn't recommend it, and in our opinion, it was too expensive for such poor service.

Zadem is a fantastic Turkish brunch spot in Cologne. The vibe is warm and stylish, the staff are genuinely friendly, and everything arrives beautifully presented. The food tastes fresh and flavorful, the portions are satisfying, and the coffee is excellent. Definitely worth a visit if you want a great Turkish-style brunch.

A lovely restaurant in a central location. The food is good, the service is excellent, and the atmosphere is pleasant.

Beautifully decorated, excellent service. The food was also very delicious.

Last night we went to Zadem Restaurant and the experience was a complete disappointment. From the very beginning, we were completely ignored: we had to wait 20 minutes just to place an order. Only after actively calling a waiter were we able to order. Then we waited another 30 minutes for the food – a total of almost 50 minutes of waiting time. The appetizers arrived, but the drinks were much too late. Empty glasses sat unattended on the table for a long time. The service seemed overwhelmed, disorganized, and overall very unprofessional. The food was simply unacceptable. The manti were completely doughy and barely edible, the pide were also undercooked and tasted terrible. We couldn't manage more than a few bites. The state of the restroom was appalling: broken parts, no hot water, no heating, and a lack of hygiene. This is absolutely unacceptable in a restaurant of this price range. Even when paying, the staff's behavior was unpleasant and disrespectful. When I pay these prices, I expect professional service and quality. The staff urgently needs to improve – you're not just a simple snack bar on a side street. At this level, you'll definitely lose a lot of customers.

NOT RECOMMENDED. IT SIMPLY STYLES LIKE NOTHING.

I don't understand how this restaurant gets so many good reviews! The food is so expensive, and you get very little in return. This is the only Turkish restaurant where you're only entitled to one small Turkish tea with breakfast. I really suspect the reviews are fake. 23 euros for a breakfast plate with one tea, not even a juice. RIDICULOUS!

Nice restaurant, Good variety of food selection, even vegetarian options. The employee told us that the meat is halal so we did have some meat, but inside there is a bar with a wine selection, so? I guess it’s not a halal certified restaurant at least . The atmosphere was kind of like a bar, But overall the food was clean and tasted good. And the employees were kind and helpful.

We had reserved a table and had to wait outside in the cold for 15 minutes until it became available. Then, during our meal, we were asked to change tables because it was needed for someone else. This makes me wonder how reservations are handled... Apparently, tables are still being given to other people. The service also seemed rather unfriendly and very stressed. A real shame, as the brunch itself was delicious.

I went out for breakfast with a colleague; we ordered several items so we could share everything. The portions were large, and in the end, we had a lot packed up to take home. I found the bread used for the sucuk toast too thick.

Very friendly staff and good food. It was a bit noisy, but nothing unexpected.

During my visit to Zadem in Cologne, I was truly impressed. The service was perfect — friendly, attentive, and professional. The food was served wonderfully hot and tasted excellent, exceeding my expectations. Even though I am from the Netherlands, this is definitely a place I would return to. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy great food and outstanding service in Cologne.

Very tasty and large portions. The staff was very friendly. We celebrated a 20th birthday and she received a delicious surprise. Thank you so much! We'll gladly come again. Two years later, we had brunch here again. Delicious and the waitresses were all friendly. It was very busy and they were very busy. Unlimited Turkish tea was available with brunch.

The food was absolutely fantastic!!! We had gözleme and cheese toast, and although it didn't look like much at first, it really filled us up, no complaints there. However, the service was lacking; the place was very small with too many tables, so no matter where you stood, you were always in the way.

A very busy restaurant, but definitely not worth it. The service was very good and the staff very friendly. The food, however, was very disappointing. I ordered two sandwiches. The fries were cold and limp. The sandwiches were also very sparsely filled.

One of the staff members was impolite, the kofte was dry and bland. Not much to like. Regret going here.

Excellent shop, I highly recommend it. Alan, the best guy, is a great guy, very friendly, kind and helpful.

A great place for brunch in Cologne. Alan is the best employee there!

The Turkish breakfast is highly recommended, especially the brunch platter. Deductions for the coffee and the restroom. Otherwise, as mentioned, absolutely top-notch.

You make a reservation between 12:00 and 12:15, and you still have to wait. What’s the point of making a reservation then?

The food was tasty, but the salad was served whole and without dressing; you could only get some vinegar and oil upon request. The staff was very friendly but clumsy and somewhat overwhelmed.

We had breakfast at Zadem in Cologne today and ordered, among other things, a lemon tea. Unfortunately, we discovered moldy lemon pieces in the tea. This was truly disappointing and completely unhygienic. On a positive note, the staff was very friendly. Nevertheless, they urgently need to pay more attention to the freshness and quality of their ingredients.

The service was terrible. Breakfast for two was smaller than you'd expect considering the price. And I guess you have to pay extra for tea refills because the bill was higher than I expected. Normal breakfast places serve tea in a samovar, but staff don't always ask for it, and my friend's tea was spilled on her... This place couldn't even manage to refill a cup of tea.

Breakfast came very late, not much attention was paid to it, even for one thing, 15 minutes, the breakfast was much less than in the photo, even the 2-person breakfast was not enough for one person, the prices were absurdly expensive, I definitely do not recommend it.

Künefe was really dry. Not tasty! Not recommended.

Excellent! Starting with the pita bread with melted cheese and Turkish salami, it was truly delicious. The succulent dish, however, was lamb strips on a bed of fried bread cubes with yogurt and peppers. The contrast of the tender meat and the crispy fried bread was delightful. The beer was also excellent. The menu isn't exactly easy to navigate, and the staff isn't very helpful.

The food, value for money, ambiance, and staff are truly top-notch. It's one of the best Turkish restaurants in Cologne.

A lovely restaurant with a cozy atmosphere! The menu is really extensive and varied; everyone will find something delicious. Excellent service – the waitress was incredibly friendly and attentive. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates good food and friendly service!

Very nice place, decent food and very friendly staff. Highly recommended 👍🏼

First of all, the service staff need training in customer service! The brunette woman is so unfriendly and leaves customers standing outside in the cold, even though the store is empty.

We were there on a Friday morning and got a table without a reservation. The service was very friendly and the atmosphere lovely. The food is an absolute highlight. We shared a breakfast platter and had a huge selection. There really is something for everyone. Highly recommended!

Great for relaxing and drinking tea in the evening.

If you're looking for a Turkish breakfast, this would be the right choice. It was delicious. The avocado egg toast was good.

We reserved a table for three people for this Saturday a month ago. When we arrived, we were too early and had to wait until 11:30 (completely understandable!). At 11:30, we asked the lady at the entrance again about our table, whereupon we were asked to wait once more, as it was full. Around 11:35, we were informed that we could sit at a table, but that we would have to leave as soon as the next table became available, as a larger group was arriving. So we arrived, were initially not given a table due to overcrowding, and subsequently had to change tables, along with our drinks and food. I must say that the waitstaff were very friendly throughout, but with such poor planning, that unfortunately didn't make a huge difference to me/us. The food was good, but nothing you couldn't find better in Cologne.

Attentive staff and incredibly delicious San Sebastián!

The sauce and bread were tasty. My ground beef was very dry. Despite having a reservation, we were initially seated near the entrance, but were then allowed to move. When serving, the server didn't know what we were eating. Not really bad, but unfortunately not really good either.

Food was okay but service was terrible. They forgot about my order and didn't even say sorry. The waiter told he is sorry after I confronted him before leaving. Also the waiters were not responsive when calling them. So I wouldn't recommend this place at all.

Unfortunately, the service was completely incompetent, unfriendly, and unhelpful. I was left completely on my own despite reporting the issue multiple times.

Iskender was bland, tough, and burnt. Very unprofessional, I wouldn't recommend it.

Great location, exceeded expectations.

Unfortunately, there's alcohol in the store!... Tastes okay. Not enough avocado and tomatoes. Plenty of tea, and it's tasty. Price is also OK.

The restaurant looks cozy and the decor is nice. Unfortunately, we weren't at all satisfied with the service. We placed our order and minutes later we were told that the dish wasn't available. We then ordered something else, but after a few minutes, they asked us again what we had ordered. When the food finally arrived, it was wrong and had to be changed again. The service overall seemed very disorganized.

Nice staff very friendly and pretty

We were there with four adults and two children. We had soup, steak, and a falafel platter—all delicious, and the service was excellent.

Down-to-earth Turkish food at disproportionate prices compared to other Turkish restaurants in Cologne. The service was good. The presentation of the dishes was appealing. The decor of the shop is average.

Owner, great guy. Fantastic restaurant with friendly staff and good food. Highly recommended.

We were there for the Bruch, and everything was perfect. The breakfast platter is expansive, meticulously prepared, and offers plenty of variety.

I simply love this breakfast spot! Everything is prepared so fresh and delicious, and the best part: everything comes super quickly, with no waiting time. I like it so much that I even drive all the way from Aachen to Cologne just to have breakfast here. Highly recommended!

Unfortunately, the food only impressed us with its visual presentation. The taste wasn't a highlight. The manti were unfortunately not seasoned at all, and the egg was lame despite the sucuk. The service staff weren't attentive, which was probably due to a lack of staff for a busy Sunday lunch. On the plus side, they do offer refills of tea for breakfast.

Four of us spontaneously visited the restaurant. 🥲Unfortunately, the waitress didn't even greet us, and the service was generally very unfriendly and lacking in service. 🙅🏻When we asked for a larger table, we were denied a free seat for no apparent reason. The food didn't seem fresh at all, more like it was reheated, and the taste wasn't convincing. The ambiance was good. 🟥 Overall, unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it. 📖📝 "Please ensure that your team consistently demonstrates a service-oriented approach – especially in these times, it's essential to always treat guests like kings."

We were there for brunch and accordingly had the brunch platter. It was very tasty. The ambiance was also very nice. But there are some points deducted in the service department. The description of the brunch platter doesn't mention any sausage. Only in the picture could you see it. Many people naturally thought it was vegetarian. Unfortunately, not. I saw quite a few people who didn't eat the sausage. Additionally, it says you can choose "a free egg platter." But it's not free. I had to pay because I didn't get the standard egg platter without anything. We weren't informed of this, and it's not mentioned on the menu. You could ask for more bread, which was free. When we paid, the waitress said it would be subject to a charge. But then it wasn't. They also forgot to bring us Turkish tea, but it was brought after we asked. The waiters were friendly and nice. But they weren't really attentive; they never came to the table to ask if we wanted anything else to drink, etc.

The most discriminating cafe but it is kind of expected from such establishment. Showing people in who just came in the name of reservation because they are Turkish, while making other wait for more than 45 mins. No place is worth the wait where their workers are disrespectful.

I was at Zadem in Cologne, and the food was simply fantastic—fresh, perfectly seasoned, and beautifully presented. But what really made the visit special was Mustafa! 👏 He is by far one of the friendliest and most attentive employees I've ever encountered. As soon as we walked in, he greeted us with a smile, took the time to explain everything, and made us feel completely at ease. You can immediately tell that he does his job with passion and heart. Thanks to Mustafa, a good meal turned into a truly wonderful experience. Zadem is lucky to have someone like him on the team! 🙌

A sophisticated atmosphere, friendly and experienced service. We had the Turkish breakfast brunch for two. A generous portion, even for hearty eaters, and beautifully presented. Highlights were the menemen and the fantastic coffees.

We ordered two pides. They were very fresh and delicious. Good quality and a good price.

We were there today and received a warm welcome, especially from the waiter, Aaymen, who was very friendly and personable. The food was delicious, and the location was appealing. It was also very clean. I highly recommend it and will definitely go again.

Simply the best combination of a Turkish brunch platter. A little of everything, but not too much or too little! All the individual components were delicious, and the tea service was uncomplicated, meaning you never had to wait long for the next cup of tea. The ambiance is busy and full, but the service is still attentive. I'd love to come back!

Unfortunately, the service here is very poor. We waited 20 minutes for the menu, then after another 15 minutes we had to go to a member of staff and ask when we could finally order... then the tea we ordered arrived cold...

Very awesome and delicious food!!!!!

You can get the best gözleme in the entire world here. To put it mildly, in the entire universe. I could have been fooled. From now on, I'll only eat gözleme!

The food was good. The decor was cozy. Excellent!

The food tastes exceptionally good, and the staff are also very polite and accommodating. We've been here a few times for breakfast. We'll be trying dinner soon 👍🏽

A great place for a mixed breakfast in Cologne.

A very tasty breakfast, and above all, a great variety. A platter for two includes everything from tea and scrambled eggs to salad, bread, and cheese/sucuk. It's a little different, and especially good for those who like hearty food. You can sit inside or outside, and the location is good and central.

I can't understand the positive review at all. The food was tasteless and overpriced. I'm very disappointed with this restaurant. It had nothing to do with proper Turkish food!

We had a delicious Turkish brunch for two. The server was friendly and attentive, and the spread was incredible—meats, cheeses, spreads, salad, eggs, olives, jam, bread, and tea. It was beautifully presented, so much food that we couldn’t finish it all. Everything was fresh and flavorful. We went on a Tuesday and had no wait. Highly recommend!

Very chill brunch spot. We had the brunch for 2, which was plenty! An egg pan (6-8 scrambled eggs) topped with feta, 2 portions of 4 types of bread, 4 types of cheese and several dips/toppings. Includes hot black tea.

A beautiful restaurant with very friendly staff and excellent food

Everything tasted great, the waiter was super nice, and I hope to be back.

It's called a Turkish restaurant, but there's no Turkish menu. It's difficult to communicate with the waitress. We ordered ground meat pide, but she came 10 minutes later and said they didn't have any. We ordered Beyti, but the bread and meatballs weren't good. The meatballs were hard and burnt. The flavor was zero. We only liked the location of the restaurant.

Veeerrry delicious food!! I literally wanted to try everything of the menu, so I convinced my family to share a lot of dishes. Each of them was really good, but definitely get the baked feta (my mouth is watering thinking back) and one of the pides. The mezze platter is also very good and the dips are all really flavorful. I didn't really have place for dessert, so we went back the next day. Totally worth it. Really friendly staff, we felt really welcome. The restaurant is quite spacious. We had a very relaxed and good dinner experience.

We were there as a large family and were unfortunately treated in a rather passive-aggressive and irritable manner by the waiter. The service seemed chaotic: First the coffee came, then the breakfast platters – but the accompanying tea didn't arrive until we'd already finished our meals. We had to wait about 15 minutes for water, as well as for a coffee we ordered later, which was also brought incorrectly. When I pointed this out, the waiter reacted rudely and claimed I'd ordered two. The food was okay, but the service was very disappointing and put a negative spin on the overall experience.

We were very happy to visit Zadem, but were unfortunately disappointed by the service. Most of the waiters (with two exceptions) seemed rather arrogant. The food was simply placed on the table, and we had to wait over 15 minutes to both order and pay. The prices could definitely be improved. The price is too high for what is offered. The taste was okay, but the price makes you expect more.

Very tasty food. Friendly staff.

The best breakfast I've ever had. I'd love to come back.

The food is really delicious and plentiful, but unfortunately, the restaurant isn't family-friendly. 1. There's only one high chair, and it's usually occupied and dirty. 2. There are no diaper-changing facilities. 3. There are no children's meals or drinks. Therefore, we won't be coming back as a family for a while.