Eating in Istanbul

Posted On August 25, 2022

Part 1 – Breakfast and Lunch

By: Alaa

Turkish cuisine is famous worldwide for being diverse and delicious. Influenced by cultures and ingredients from around the world, there are infinite flavors to sample in just Istanbul alone. But where to start?

What foods you shouldn’t miss out on? Where to find the best tasting foods without breaking the bank? Well, I’ve got you covered! As a foodie myself, I spent years perfecting this list of foods you have to try at least once while visiting Turkey, and I’m happy to share my finds with you.

Breakfast

• Turkish breakfast (serpme kahvaltı) is healthy, magnificent and it’s the best way to start the day, with some Turkish coffee or tea.

My picks for this big breakfast would be:

Limonlu Bahçe near Taskim

https://maps.app.goo.gl/U43WjtQK7BjkaRx49

or Bomonti Moda in Kadıköy

https://maps.app.goo.gl/V5CQmz7AxQhAMrN88

• Another breakfast option for egg lovers is menemen. It’s a big, filling egg dish with veggies and cheese, has many types, and no one makes them better than Lades Menemen near istiklal street.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/AGPK2JbNkBYJc41q8

• If you’re more of a pastry person, Turkish börek will absolutely fill you up with joy.

Börek, poğaça, boyoz, and açma are all fantastic carb-filled breads and pastries that I can eat at any time of the day. But the earlier you get them, the fresher they are.

You can find these in almost every street, and they’re always good with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

• Finishing the breakfast section with a cup of Turkish coffee at Mandabatmaz

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WQ5GLGmXpM9rWy7V9

Lunch

You’re hungry after site seeing, and you need a nice lunch, here are my go-to Turkish options:

• Döner kebap: one of the most known Turkish foods, adored in many countries around the world, and can be found everywhere in Istanbul, but not every döner dürüm (wrap) is equal.

I love my chicken döner dürüm from Etibeyaz, and they have many locations in the city. My favorites are:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5KJp2VZAukUHWq2v8 in beşktaş and

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dzAVmpoALu5iC9k19 in Fatih (Çapa).

If you’re more of a beef enjoyer then Bayramoğlu is a must. Yes it’s a bit far from the sites but it’s worth the trip. You can make a meal out of it, not just a quick wrap for lunch.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zpDBt51vxwpsHAVJ9

• Lahmacun and Pide are delicious Turkish creations that will leave you full and satisfied. Lahmacun is a thin dough with ground beef, mixed with seasoning and herbs, usually served with veggies that you put inside and roll it, then enjoy it like a wrap. While pide is a thicker dough that is made into the shape of a boat, with filling of cheese or meat or a sausage or a mix.

Pide bakeries are everywhere but if you’re near Taksim you might wanna try Baran Lahmacun https://maps.app.goo.gl/wVxfMB2RH6cA8n9u9

• Çiğ köfte is a cheap and very popular Turkish wrap and appetizer. It once used to be made using raw beef, but now that’s a thing you can only find at certain restaurants like Develi, while all the other restaurants only serve a vegan version of it. It’s spicy, it’s tasty, and it’s a great lunch on-the-go.

Any Oses or Çiğ köfteci you see will do. And if you enjoy spiciness, ask for it to be “Acılı” aka spicy. They’ll add the hot sauce made from Urfa peppers (İsot). It’s earthy, smokey, and unique.

Note: Avoid standing in line for the most popular çiğ köfte place Ali Usta, as it’s just not good. His charisma is what sells, not the taste.

• Köfte (different from çiğ köfte) is probably the most popular lunch in Turkey. Meatballs sandwich or meatballs with bulgur or rice, with a fresh salad on the side is something you can get used to eating every day. It’s simple and delicious. Ayran goes great with it as well.

Köfteci Ramiz and Yusuf have branches everywhere, and they’re not bad, and offer a several types of köfte, like cheese stuffed köfte and inegol köfte, with the white beans salad.

But if you’re near the spice Bazaar you could swing by Köfteci Yaşar which is my personal favorite.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vxedPf9UGsRKSm8DA

• Mantı which is a Turkish dumplings dish is made of ravioli looking dumplings served with a yogurt sauce that can get you hooked for life.

There are many versions of mantı and they’re all absolutely delicious. You can even buy frozen mantı from the shops to cook it yourself. It’s just fantastic.

You can find several mantı shops in every neighborhood, and I haven’t yet had mantı I didn’t like.

Cihangir Mantıcısı is my favorite. And it’s not far from Taksim.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9QMYig4QKV4g1GWW9

• Karnıyarık and İmam Bayıldı are siblings. Karnıyarık is the meaty one, İmam Bayıldı is the vegan.

Both are eggplants boats, filled with veggies, and cooked in the oven with red sauce, but the first one has beef. They go great with pilav rice or bulgur.

You can find these in most lokantas. If you see a big tray with eggplants topped with veggies you better ask if they have meat to know which one you’re getting. Those are old Ottoman dishes that are still very popular to this day.

Pehlivan has a lot of branches, and it’s a mid range typical lokanta where you pick what looks good to you. They often have one or both of the dishes I mentioned.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1ujwRxWDePUumdms9

• Last but not least, Adana and Urfa kebab. The most famous part of the Turkish kitchen. Adana is the more spicy kebab, and both you absolutely must try.

If you trust the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s taste, then Dürümzade is where you should go. It’s near istiklal street, and it was featured in one of his TV show episodes where he said they had the best kebab he’s ever had.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RVtwibfph5LXgXqR8

• And if you’re not into red meat, try the tavuk şiş dürüm or plate, which is chicken skewers and is always a good lunch for me. It’s very simple, light, and delicious, but definitely needs a glass of ayran with it.

See you soon for dinner and dessert!