Antakya Künefe Ranked #1 World's Best Dessert

Antakya Künefe Named the World’s Best Dessert

The traditional Turkish dessert künefe from Antakya has been ranked first in the World’s 100 Best Desserts list compiled by the international gastronomy platform TasteAtlas.

Key Ingredient: One of the defining features of Antakya künefe is the use of a special unsalted cheese protected by geographical indication (GI) status.

The 2025 ranking was based on 97,422 user ratings and included 2,274 desserts from the TasteAtlas database, which documents local dishes, drinks, desserts, and restaurants from around the world. Antakya künefe claimed the top spot with an average score of 4.51, followed by various ice cream varieties from the United Kingdom and Italy.

A Dessert with Deep Roots

Antakya künefe originates from Hatay Province in southern Türkiye, which borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The dessert is prepared by placing unsalted, stretchy cheese—a variety officially registered four years ago—between layers of finely shredded kadayıf pastry. It is then fried on both sides in butter and served soaked in syrup. In some variations, künefe is accompanied by ice cream.

Officially Registered and UNESCO-Recognized

Antakya künefe is the signature dessert of Hatay, a city included in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network for Gastronomy.

Geographic Status: The dessert received its geographical indication certificate in 2008, significantly contributing to its international recognition.

Local Masters Celebrate Global Success

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, 26-year-old künefe master Abdulkadir Mısırlı said he proudly continues the craft he learned as an apprentice from a young age. He emphasized that hand-cut kadayıf and cooking the dessert in butter are key to its unique taste.

Highlighting the importance of the special unsalted cheese, Mısırlı noted that they sell around 10 trays on weekdays and more than 30 trays on weekends.

Meanwhile, 64-year-old Necmettin Berberoğlu expressed pride in seeing the local delicacy gain global recognition.

“Künefe is a local dessert that perfectly matches our taste. We have worked for many years to promote it. In Antakya, künefe is served as dessert in every home.”

The first-place ranking once again confirms Antakya künefe’s status as one of Türkiye’s most treasured culinary symbols. 🍮🇹🇷