Yes, this is mmm-yoso!!!, the blog o' food. Today, Cathy is playing the part usually played by Kirk, who is having a blissful time elsewhere. ed (from Yuma) is blissfully enjoying his downtime in Yuma.
Hi. Kirk usually posts about dinners at Sultan. (I've found at least five posts where he has mentioned meals there and that link is to the most recent meal.) As you have read, He and His Missus are elsewhere and since The Mister and I also eat here and I have photos of some light/lunch meals, here's another post.
I took this photo early one morning, as we were driving to Kaelin's Market for goodies. You'll never actually see the front parking places empty when the mall is open.
I don't think Kirk has posted a photo of the open kitchen. I snapped this when I had the chance. That photo montage above the window looks like it's from Kirk's posts about his Turkish vacation. Sultan is the only True Turkish Restaurant in San Diego County.
We always order a salad when we stop here. This is Koylu Salatasi salad (small, $4). Cucumber, tomato and parsley. The dressing is light : oil, vinegar and spices. This is refreshingly fresh.
We almost always also order Mercimek- ($3) made with red lentils, flour, butter and spices. This vegetarian soup is so darn good- deeply rich flavored. You would not think it is vegetarian. 
This is the Veggie combo platter ($10). A bit of everything: Start from 11:00-Baba Ganouj (smoky), Hummus(garlicy and lemony), Patlican Salatasi(eggplant, onion, sweet pepper, tomato and parsley),Taze Fasulye (green beans, onions, carrots, sweet pepper and tomato), Tabuli (bulgur, parsley,tomato, onion, cucumber in a lemon-olive oil dressing), Haydari(yogurt, cucumber, dill and mint) and in the center to enjoy with everything if we didn't want to use bread, a roasted eggplant.
Falafel ($7). Made with fresh garbanzos, tomato, hot pepper, onion and served with the hummus/ baba ganouj/haydari from above. A very good version.
On another lunchtime visit…
As I mentioned, we almost always order the Mercimak ($3). It's that good.
This time, we chose the Tabuli salad (small, $4). It's also that good. Just enough bulgur wheat and always perfectly dressed.
Lahmacun ($3) The house made bread topped with a mix of ground beef, tomato, sweet pepper, tomato, parsley and spices. This is quite large, thin and very deeply flavored. The lemon, pickled onions, peppers and pickles are nice to add on, but tasting this as it hits the table, it's perfect.
Then there is this. From the appetizer menu. Simple. Peynirli Borek ($3) Feta, onion and spinach. Made fresh, on crispy still warm filo. This is a perfect food: taste, textures…
We always get tea at the end of every meal, even this meal of small appetizers.
Sultan Kebab and Baklava 131 Jamacha Road (At East Main and North Second), El Cajon 92019 Website (619)440-1901 Open 7 days 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Great post Cathy! My husband and I will have to try that mercimak and the veggie combo platter. Everything looks fantastic! I’ve been here twice already! Hope to do more visits to try their other menu items…
I gotta agree with cc, it’s a great post and a great restuarant. When Tina and I were there we had many of the same things – and it was all sooo good. It is, however, one place that I wish I had had GPS to locate.
We love that place and usually get the veggie platter (we’re vegans). However, now I’m intrigued to try the mercimak. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks, cc. The veggie combo plate sometimes has different items, but always the sauces. You can see from Kirk’s various posts that The Missus tries the mixed salad plate ($4 or $8), which is also a way to try more items.
Thank you too, ed, I wish we had been able to meet you that day. South from the I-8 at the 2nd Street exit is easier, I think. The food here is just perfect, isn’t it…
Welcome to our blog, Ken. I did mention the mercimak has butter (I assume mixed with the four as a thickener), making it not vegan. It is wonderful, though.