Istanbul Foodie Must Eats 2024: 16 Things To Try And Where To Eat Them
Istanbul Foodie Must Eats 2024: 16 Things To Try And Where To Eat Them
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When you get to Istanbul, the ubiqutous kebab and decadent baklava will be waiting for you – but that should just be the start of your culinary adventure. Over the years of visiting Turkey, and sometimes just Istanbul for the food, I’ve come up with a short list of some of my favorite dishes that all food lovers should try.
Caveat: This is not an exhaustive list. Far from it. Despite and because of my love for Turkish cuisine, this list would be way too long if I included every dish I ever tried or liked. Famous dishes like Adana Kebab, Şakşuka, and Kofte or its many different variations are left off because I feel like a lot people will know these dishes already. If not, it’ll be at the top of most menus anyway.
I want to share some of my personal favorites and hopefully a few of these will be new to you.
- Cağ Kebab
- Balık Dürüm/Ekmek
- Kokoreç
- Helva
- Dondurma
- Turkish Sand Coffee
- Lahmacun
- Menemen
- Iskender Kebab
- Simit
- Künefe
- Dolma
- Börek
- Salep
- Muhallebi
- Midye Dolma
One of my favorite ways to enjoy Istanbul is to pick a handful of places from my list below and make a day out of exploring the city in between bites.
Alternatively, f I had to make only one food tour recommendation for your time in Istanbul, it would easily be this tour of the street food and markets. Incredibly, we hit up 8 different spots and tried more than 20 different things – many that are on this list and more that are not. My partner and I ended up learning so many new things about the dishes I loved.
We started at the Spice Bazaar and eventually made our way by ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadikoy. For me, no food adventure would be complete without a visit to the Asia side of Istanbul.
Not just in Istanbul or Turkey, but this was one of the best food tours I’ve been on period. I’ve recommended this so many times to friends visiting Istanbul for the first time and everyone has enthusiastically thanked me for the tip afterwards.
Cag Kebab
If you think you’ve had a good kebab or good kebab meat, wait until you try the Cağ Kebab. Marinated chunks of lamb are tightly pressed together and slow-cooked horizontally over an open flame. The slow rendering fat and hardwood charcoal give the tender and juicy meat a unique and mouth-watering smoky flavor. When ready, it sliced thinly off the rotating spit, and served on skewers.
Where To Try: Şehzade Cağ Kebap is my go to spot. I get hungry every time I think of this place.
Balık Dürüm/Ekmek
One of the iconic Istanbul street food that some people might miss is the simple fresh fish sandwich. Mackerel, grilled to perfection, is served in a wrap (dürüm) or bread (ekmek) with some vegetables. That’s it. The sandwich is simple and looks quite plain, but bursts with flavor when you bite into it. I appreciate it for the freshness of the fish complemented by the crisp lettuce, onions, and a squeeze of lemon.
Where To Try: Anywhere along the waterfront, especially near the Galata Bridge. Follow the smell and see where the crowd forms.
Kokoreç
Spiced and grilled lamb intestines is not for everyone, but those brave enough to try it will be rewarded with a flavor profile that’s different from anything else on this list. It’s minced and served on bread, with a sprinkle of oregano and a dash of spicy pepper. Despite its unconventional main ingredient, kokoreç is beloved by locals for its rich, savory taste. It’s an adventurous choice and a must-try for offal lovers.
Where To Try: Sampiyon Kokoreç is great spot too try it near the Taksim area, but Kokorec Tekin Usta is the place to go if you love this cuisine. It’s a bit far though for most visitors.
Irmik Helvasi
Made from semolina, butter, sugar, and milk or water, this Turkish dessert is toasty, sweet, nutty, and grainy all in one. Made with semolina flour, butter, sugar, and milk, it’s one of my favorite street desserts, especially when served with pistachio or pine nuts and sade dondurma, or Turkish ice cream. Because it’s traditionally eaten during special events, it’s not so commonly found, so I always this melt-in-your-mouth dessert anytime I see it.
Where To Try: Helvaci Ali is a little dessert shop near Galata Tower. There are a few other locations around Istanbul as well.
Dondurma
Turkish ice cream, or Dondurma, is famous for its unique and almost chewy texture. While I love the creaminess of Italian gelato, Turkish dondurma has this special mouth-feel that makes it one of my favorite types of ice cream. The elasticity and firmness make it fun to eat, and you’ve probably see video of vendors putting on a show when serving it.
You’ll find flavors like sade (plain), pistachio, and rose. On its own, I love pistachio, but when served with the Irmik Helvasi from above, it’s gotta be the plain sade.
Where To Try: You can find this treat everywhere, but try Galleria Vitavien on Istiklal or Damla Dondurma Boza and Mini Dondurma if you don’t mind going on an adventure.
Turkish Sand Coffee
Turkish coffee is usually prepared in copper pots, but the ancient method of preparation involves heating it in hot sand. To a trained hand, the sand allows for precise temperature control to heat up the coffee and cool it off before it boils over. The result is a rich and thick brew with a smooth, velvety texture that can go head to head with the strongest espresso. It’s an experience as much as a drink, so enjoy the show and the caffeine.
Lahmacun
The simpler cousin to the famous Pide flatbread, Lahmacun is often called “Turkish pizza.” Unlike the thicker and fluffier Pide that’s filled with many combinations of ingredients, the rustic Lahmacun is a thin, crispy flatbread topped with just minced meat, tomatoes, onions, and herbs. It’s usually rolled up with fresh parsley, a squeeze of lemon, and sometimes a bit of sumac balance the savory topping. Lahmacun is a popular street food that’s light and satisfying.
Where To Try: Halil Lahmacun over in Kakikoy is one of the oldest Lahmacun restaurants in town.
Menemen
Menemen is a staple Turkish breakfast dish that’s very similar to Şakşuka, made with scrambled eggs cooked with tomatoes, green peppers, and a variety of spices. It’s often served with fresh bread for dipping. Ultimately, I prefer the poached eggs and spices in a Şakşuka more, but the combination of the scrambled eggs’ creaminess in a Menemen with the slight acidity of the tomatoes and the sweetness of the peppers makes this Turkish original something you should try.
Where To Try: Lades Menemen
Iskender Kebab
A beloved dish from the Bursa region, Iskender Kebab features thinly sliced döner meat served over pide bread, drenched in tomato sauce, melted butter, and yogurt. The mix of succulent meat, tangy sauce, and creamy yogurt flavor bomb that’s rich and indulgent. While I’m still partial to the more classic Adana Kebab, don’t sleep on this dish.
Simit
Simit is the popular and humble everyday man’s bread that’s often described as a Turkish bagel. The crunch exterior is crusted sesame seeds and while the inside is soft and chewy. Get a fresh one from the street vendors and enjoy it with a hot cup of Turkish tea. Its simplicity and widespread availability make it a quintessential part of daily life in Istanbul.
Künefe
Künefe is a cheese-lover’s dream dessert that most don’t even know exists. It’s made from shredded phyllo dough filled with soft, melty cheese, baked until golden and crispy, then soaked in sweet syrup. Served hot, one bite fills your mouth with a crunchy exterior and a gooey, cheesy center that will make you regret agreeing to share one with your partner or friend. It’s often topped with pistachio nuts, but I especially like it when it’s topped with Dondurma ice cream. The hot and cold is a playful combination.
Dolma
Although it’s more of a starter in a meze platter or a side dish, sometimes I eat enough of these stuffed grape leaves for a full meal. What’s inside varies from place to place, but it’s usually a flavorful mixture of rice, pine nuts, currants, and spices. You can also find it with meat, which makes it filling enough for a main course. This is a staple of Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine in general.
Börek
Börek has roots in Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European countries. Many countries will claim it their own, or at least proclaim their version the best, but this simple pastry actually comes from the Turks, possibly developed in Central Asia by the nomadic Turks before moving west. It’s made from layers of thin, flaky dough filled with various ingredients like cheese, minced meat, or spinach and baked until golden.
Salep
Salep is a warm, creamy drink that makes me think of Christmas or sitting in front of a fire in a rustic farmhouse. It’s made from the powered flour of wild orchids, mixed with milk and sugar, and often topped with cinnamon. The slightly floral flavor and thick, velvety texture, make it one of the most comforting drinks during the colder months.
Muhallebi
Muhallebi is a creamy, milk-based rice pudding with a smooth texture. You can find it flavored with rose water or mastic and topped with cinnamon or nuts. Muhallebi is light and mildly sweet with a slight crunch to offset the silkiness of the dessert.
Midye Dolma
You can find Midye Dolma vendors scattered around the city often with a giant tray balanced on a small table filled with mussels surrounded by lemons. These are not just normals mussels, but are actually mussels shells filled with spiced rice, pine nuts, and currants, topped with the mussel and served with a squeeze of lemon. This street food delicacy is a favorite among locals and a perfect snack while you’re out by the Bosphorus.
Last Thoughts On The Eating In Istanbul
Like I said at the beginning, make a day adventure out of eating. I know guided tours are not for everyone, but I simply cannot recommend this street food tour enough. It is such a delicious and efficient way to try so many dishes, walk through a less busy part of Istanbul, and get an introduction to the cuisine here for the rest of your trip.
Looking for more travel inspirations? Scroll through some of the 450+ experiences on my bucket list. Maybe you’ll find your next adventure on there.
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Updated on September 1, 2024
