[Promo Alert + Review] Rediscover Türkiye: Carousel’s Authentic Turkish Buffet Returns After a Decade

After nearly ten years, Carousel at Royal Plaza on Scotts is reintroducing its acclaimed Turkish buffet, Rediscover Türkiye at Carousel, available from 1 to 31 March 2025 during dinner hours.

This event offers diners a chance to immerse themselves in authentic Turkish flavours crafted by guest chef Ahmet Akpinar.

Chef Ahmet Akpinar, born in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, began his culinary journey at the age of 10 in his father’s restaurant. By 17, he had earned the title of chef. His career spans roles in Singapore, China, and Malaysia, including serving as a private chef for ambassadors and ministers. In 2014, he was honoured with the Star Chef Award.

Currently, he leads the kitchen at THE MEDITERRANEAN Deli Turk and brings his extensive expertise to Carousel for this special promotion.

My son and I met with Chef Ahmet during a media tasting on Saturday and he passionately introduced us to the amazing Turkish culinary spread he and his team have curated.

The last time I was in Türkiye was almost a decade ago when I visited Istanbul and Cappadocia. The food I savoured there was amazing and I was looking forward to trying everything that Chef Ahmet presented. He did not disappoint and brought together authentic flavours, including many traditional favourites. This was the first time my son tasted authentic Turkish cuisine and he was blown away too.

Buffet Highlights

The buffet showcases a diverse array of traditional Turkish dishes. Appetisers feature classics like Muhammara, a roasted red bell pepper dip with walnuts and molasses, and Şakşuka, fried garden vegetables accompanied by yogurt and tomato sauce.

There are a lot of Mezzes, a selection of small dishes served as appetisers in eastern Mediterranean cuisines, dips and salads which you can get started on for an introduction to Turkish food. Dip into them with pita and bread or eat them whole, in any way you like to enjoy them. I like to dip them with fruits and nuts.

There is also a live cold cut station featuring Turkish cold cuts. This is worth a try as the flavours are distinctive different from what most of us are used to from a Western selection.

Main courses include the renowned Iskender Kebab,döner kebab served over pita bread with tomato sauce, and Hünkar Beğendi, known as the Sultan’s Delight, a lamb stew presented with a smoky aubergine cheese sauce.

The latter was one of our favourite dishes for the night with the melt-in-your-mouth, tender lamb meat and intense, cheesy, smoky flavours. A must-try.

Below were some of the Turkish mains we savoured:

From the meat station, don’t miss the roasted baby lamb which is presented whole and sliced on the spot with the cuts you want.

Dessert enthusiasts can indulge in treats such as Chef Ahmet’s signature Fıstıklı Baklava, layered filo pastry with pistachios, and Künefe, a warm dessert made from shredded kadayıf pastry filled with melted cheese and sweet syrup.

For those eager to experience a genuine taste of Türkiye, this buffet offers an unparalleled opportunity to savour the rich and diverse flavours of Turkish cuisine. We found the flavours to be authentic, hearty and offer something different from the usual buffet fares.

On top of the Turkish cuisine, the regular Japanese, cold seafood, Chinese and Indian food stations are available for the buffet too.

Seafood lovers would love their wide selection of premium seafood, ranging from snow crab legs to lobsters and fresh oysters.

Diners can book their tables through Carousel’s official website if you are interested in trying out the Turkish buffet curated and presented by Chef Ahmet and the culinary team at Carousel.

Voted the Best Buffet Restaurant in Singapore at AsiaOne People’s Choice Awards for 7 consecutive years, Carousel is also the only restaurant inducted into the award’s Hall of Fame. Food is prepared in Halal-certified kitchens. Check out their full list of awards and accolades here for quality assurance.

Ramadan & Hari Raya Promotion

This Ramadan and Hari Raya, Carousel is embracing the spirit of generosity with a special gift for its guests—no GST, no service charge for dinner from now until 13 April 2025. More details.