Istanbul Eats – Authentic Places to Dine in the City

Posted On August 29, 2022

Part 2 – Lunch and Dinner

By: Alaa

It’s dinner time! What Turkish food should you try? Here’s a list of what you shouldn’t miss!
Vegetarian and vegan options are coming in the next post!

• İskender kebap is my personal favorite Turkish dish. It’s made of döner kebap, on top of bread, with tomato sauce and yogurt. The flavors go together very well and create a fantastic experience.

The city of Bursa is known for this beef dish, and so you can find the best iskender in Istanbul at none other than Bursa Kebapcisi

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zA26mShcyD4hS63K6

• Büryan is a very special dish for the meat lovers. It’s very tender lamb meat that is very flavorful. If you’re not a big fan of lamb, you probably should skip this one. But if you’re a lamb person, you’ll go bananas for Büryan.

Siirt Şeref is the only place to have the best Büryan. They’ve been making it for a very long time and they’ve perfected it.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2vCei4DpkycScyEC6

• Seafood is a big part of the Istanbul food scene, as the city is sandwiched by two seas, and if you’re a seafood person like me, you have to head to Bebek, the home of the best fish and seafood restaurants.

Bebek Balıkçı is my all time favorite. The service is topnotch, the food is heavenly, and the view is breathtaking. It’s on the pricey side.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vRE1K2cUkRVakBup7

• Dolma and içli köfte are a must try when in Türkiye. Dolma is a selection of veggies, stuffed in rice and meat, or rice and veggies, with herbs and seasoning then cooked in tomato juice. Içli köfte is a deep fried minced meat filled bulgur shell, and it’s glorious. You can find these at almost any Turkish restaurant but they’re not all equally tasty.

Günaydın Köfte & Döner branches might not have the best köfte or döner, but their dried eggplant dolması and their içli köfte are absolutely delicious. Find a branch and enjoy them!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7pWDS9JMvdKWspiW8

• Lamb cooked in clay or in salt, those two dishes are very special and very delicious. They’re an experience as well as a meal, and the presentation is often as good as the taste.

Chef Bürak became a celebrity through his videos and social media posts, but unlike most other meme chefs, I must admit his restaurants make amazing food. And these two dishes are best at one of the branches of Hatay Medeniyetler Sofrası

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uBtHx85DPvL9K95eA

• Tava means pan, and it’s a title of many delicious pan cooked Turkish meals that I can’t pick just one from. The best way to experience this food style is to go to a tavacı and pick one or two dishes to have, and as long as you go to a good tavacı then you’re sure to love whatever they serve you.

Tavacı Recep Usta in Bostancı is the most famous and has a well deserved good reputation. It’s a bit of a trip from the touristic sites but that neighborhood is worth the visit.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cpopGQC8fXsTYeZ58

• Kuzu tandir is yet another meat heavy dish. Lamb tandoori is a very tasty and fatty meal, that is one of those things meat lovers must take a little trip to enjoy.

Kuzucu Ali is well worth the trip

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ssV8xWmHBzZta7DT6

• Cağ kebap is something you can’t find easily in Istanbul, especially good Cağ kebap. But I’ve stumbled upon a spot in Serkeci that made it brilliantly.

Şehzade Cağ Kebap is a hidden gem that deserves more recognition.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/mH2sxQUvTiFV5n9u5

Lookout for our next post about great dessert places you won’t want to miss!