Where Istanbul's Magic Found Its Home
Abracadabra began in Istanbul in 2004 as a culinary art project — and two decades later, it's still exactly that, just with a Ridgewood address and a counter where you order at the window.
Born in Istanbul, Built on Wonder
In 2004, food artists Dilara and Ahmet Bugdayci founded Abracadabra in Istanbul as a boundary-breaking experiment in New Turkish cuisine. Within six years, Condé Nast Traveler named it one of the top 50 restaurants in the world — a recognition they chose to walk away from.
A Quiet Trade: Fame for Freedom
As VICE documented, Dilara arrived in New York in 2012 not chasing a second act of glory — trading an acclaimed Istanbul dining room for a four-table Brooklyn café. That conscious departure is still the heartbeat of everything here.
Ridgewood: The Neighborhood Found Us
After stints in Williamsburg and Bushwick, Abracadabra found its truest form at 566 Onderdonk Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens — a bohemian sanctuary of turquoise doors, patterned tilework, and mismatched color. The New York Times and the neighborhood both found their way here.
Conscious Food, Grown with Care
The menu is anchored in organic, seasonal ingredients sourced in part from Abracadabra Magic Farm, the brand's own Hudson Valley farm. Every bowl — falafel with shredded beet, lentil and quinoa with turmeric — is a small act of intentional nourishment.
Food Is Art. Full Stop.
Dilara's edible installations have shown in Istanbul, Paris, and New York; her book champions wholesome eating for families; the diner hosts Tarot Tuesdays and open-mic nights. Abracadabra isn't a restaurant — it's a living idea about what food can do.
