Polydish city guide

Best Istanbul Kumpir in San Francisco

“The potato is mashed inside its own skin with butter and cheese before any topping goes on — skipping that step is considered cutting a corner.”

Istanbul Kumpir

What the real thing tastes like

A very large baked potato is split and its flesh mashed directly inside the skin with butter and kaşar cheese until creamy, forming a base that toppings (olives, corn, sausage, pickles, and more) are then piled onto — the mash-inside-the-skin step is what distinguishes kumpir from a simple loaded baked potato elsewhere.

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Reviewers rate the creaminess of the mashed interior and the sheer variety and freshness of toppings offered as the two top factors. A potato that's dry or under-mashed, leaving lumps, is frequently cited as a disappointment regardless of topping generosity.

Order it here when it has

  • creamy cheesy potato base
  • huge topping variety
  • filling and fun

Walk away when you see

  • can be overloaded and messy
  • very heavy
  • potato sometimes underseasoned

Restaurant-level rankings for San Francisco land as the Polydish review engine processes this city's reviews. Explore the dish itself while you wait —

Istanbul Kumpir on Polydish →