Are you traveling to Istanbul? Or will you spend some time in the city waiting for your transfer to another flight? Whatever your reason is, once you step into this fantastic metropolitan city, one thing is for sure: You will adore the food!
Turkey is a multicultural country, standing where Europe, Asia, and the Black Sea meet. Moreover, Istanbul is a meeting point for many cultures, making it one of the most charming multicultural cities in the world.
We see the best influence of its multiculturality in its eclectic cuisine that includes Aegean-Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Caucasian, and Balkans recipes.
What to eat in Turkey?
Istanbul is the cultural and food capital of Turkey. You can find food from every region and every cuisine here. From street food to fine-dining restaurants, everything tastes incredible in Istanbul. If you think the only Turkish dish you’ll find in Istanbul is doner kebab, you are mistaken. Istanbul has a lot more to offer!
Turkish cuisine has both vegetables and various types of meat and fish.
Meat dishes are often with tasty herbs and spices. Also, Turkish people enjoy eating food spicy and hot. So you may want to order Ayran -a non-alcoholic drink made from yogurt, salt, and water- if you feel ready to taste some spicy local Turkish dishes.
On the other hand, vegetable dishes are quite light and flavorful. They mostly cook vegetables using olive oil, and they can serve them cold as well.
They also serve some appetizers that they call meze. They have various fish varieties from the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea.
Finally, Turkish people usually consume fish with raki, a traditional alcoholic drink made from grapes or plums.
5 best food you must taste in Istanbul
We have compiled the five best food you should try in Istanbul. Some are for a quick snack or breakfast, and some are for a bigger meal. All they have in common is that they will convince you to return to Istanbul one day because you won’t be able to forget how they taste.
We ensure that they taste unbelievably delicious. Let’s have a better look at them.
1. Midye Dolma (Stuffed Mussels)
While wandering in Istanbul streets, you will see some people standing with plenty of mussels and lemons in their stalls. They boil the mussels and stuff them with herbed and spiced rice.
Do not hesitate to get closer and try a couple of these! You may think only a couple is enough, but we bet you will want to eat more. The sellers are ready for the surprise due to their experience. They know people always end up eating more!
They will keep opening mussels and serving it with a few drops of lemon until you tell them it’s enough.
2. Çiğ Köfte (Chee Kofta)
Excellent choice for vegans, çiğ köfte is a traditional Turkish food. Its birthplace is a Southeastern town called Adiyaman, close to the borders with Syria.
They also cook it with raw minced meat in other cities, but vegan çiğ köfte has become more popular all over the country. They use bulgur, a parboiled crushed wheat grain, vegetable oil, and multiple spices.
They serve it with a lot of lettuce, mint leaves, and other vegetables. Lemon is a must to add taste, as well as pomegranate syrup.
Çiğ köfte has also become very popular in Europe, especially in Germany, where many Turkish immigrants live. It’s an excellent choice for vegans and vegetarians.
3. Kumpir (Baked Potato)
Some may call it street food, but lately, kumpir has transformed into a giant portion of a meal from being a fast snack.
While traveling in Istanbul, if you visit Ortakoy, a neighborhood on the Bosphorous, you will see plenty of kumpir shops. Most owners will invite you to buy this delicious baked potato from them. Although there may be slight differences, in the end, they have the same price and the same ingredients.
Kumpir is a large baked potato. They add butter, cheese, and spices when it is still hot, and you have endless choices to pick from the fillings which stand right in front of you. As well as having sausages and local salami among options, vegetarians and vegans will find numerous toppings to stuff their kumpir.
4. Lahmacun
One of the tastiest food on Earth, lahmacun is not only popular in Turkey. It is also significantly famous in Armenia, most Arab countries, Israel, and Palestine.
It is also a Southeastern Turkish food. If you ask a Turkish person where to find the best lahmacun, the answer will always be Gaziantep. It’s a city known for its fantastic food. In Istanbul, on the other hand, you will find many restaurants owned by people from Gaziantep, who know how to make the best lahmacun.
Lahmacun is a flatbread with minced meat on top of various local spices, onion, and garlic. They often serve it with sliced tomato, parsley, and a slice of lemon. Also, when you order it, the waiter will ask whether you want it spicy or not. If you dare to order spicy lahmacun, don’t forget to ask for ayran with it.
5. Kokoreç
Kokoreç used to be a Byzantine dish; however, Turks adapted it into their language and culture. Also consumed in the Balkans, kokoreç is a famous food made from the intestines of either lamb or a goat.
They wrap the intestines around seasoned offals, grill them all, chop them very finely and serve them with bread.
It’s one of the most preferred late food in Istanbul. So after a night out in Istanbul, make sure you taste kokoreç before you head home.
Key Takeaway
Food is a number one priority in Istanbul. From the first moment you step into the city, the various tastes will welcome you at the airport, on public transportation, on the street where your hotel is, and where you’ll head for sightseeing.
Anyone can easily find something they will love eating. Just do not hesitate to try Turkish food, although it may not seem very welcoming. Give them a chance and enjoy!