Battle The Arctic Blast at this Turkish Loaded Potato Truck
You'll never order a baked potato at Wendy's again
Check out the video on our Instagram!
It’s rare in Miami that we have Mashed Potato weather. We’re usually more of a Juice Cleanse weather kinda place. Or, more accurately, martini-for-dinner weather. But this week’s hidden gem is ideal for the arctic blast we’re about to receive, a Turkish baked potato truck hidden down a side street in Midtown. Meet Koompir, a Turkish street food spot serving, you’ll never believe this – kumpir - a popular dish made with baked potatoes, meat, cheese, and all the stuff you want when it’s a frigid 52 degrees outside.
It comes to us, as all great culinary concepts do, from a lawyer-turned-hair-salon-owner-turned-potato-truck-proprietor. Cem Ertutkun didn’t see anyone in Miami serving kumpir – a food he says is ubiquitous in Istanbul as cafes and kebab shops. So he set up a truck in Midtown lot, with picnic tables and a slowed-down, outdoor café vibe. Just make sure to slow down when you approach the address, because the place is easy to miss.
So what exactly is Kumpir? Or is it Koompir?
The truck is called Koompir (with a double O). The dish is kumpir (with a U). Basically, it’s a baked potato that’s hollowed out, the potato mixed with cheese and butter, then stuffed again and topped with whatever combinations of toppings you’re feeling that day. Typically, people top it with sausage, cheese, Russian salad, and red peppers, but Koompir has a dozen different things ranging from sun-dried tomatoes to guacamole.
What to eat: You’d be remiss to skip the Kumpir. I got mine with red peppers, jalapenos, sun-dried tomatoes and sausage – more like gourmet hot dogs, but this isn’t a Turkish semantics truck. The thing has some serious heft, and a full one is a bone-sticking meal that might require a to-go bag.
Koompir also offers bowls of chili fries, which bring a middle eastern spice that’s an intriguing change from your usual bar food. There’s a large menu of spicy beef or chicken doner you can get in pitas or over rice, then top with all the same options as the kumpir. It’s the kind of stuff you look for in sticky street corner kebap shops, but this feels much cleaner and healthier.
The space: Is a small lot covered in Astroturf, wedged between a two-story apartment building and, I think, the last single family home in Midtown. Koompir effectively has its own outdoor space, and it’s frequently filled with Turkish people sitting at picnic tables, enjoying coffee, smoking, and munching on kumpir. It’s a perfect little slice of Miami’s Turkish community, and a delicious way to experience the culture.
Don’t miss: The baklava. They warm it fresh to order on a cast iron skillet in the truck. Ask Gem for the proper way to eat it, it’s another cultural lesson.
Perfect for: Lunch outside. Or a quick immersion in Miami’s Turkish community.
Expect to pay: $15-$25 depending on how crazy you go with the toppings.
How’s the parking: There are actually a few parking spots at the apartment building next door you can use. Or you can roll the dice with street parking.
@koompir_miami // 156 NE 28th St., Midtown
This place is fire!