Photo by 8photo. If for you visiting a city means getting to know it also through its most authentic flavors , if you are attracted by truly typical things and, while traveling, you prefer to spend little and taste something local rather than sitting in a tourist trap restaurant … then you are people to street food . In street food you will find the true taste of the place, with which you can flavor your trip in an authentic way.
Istanbul, together with all its wonders and suggestions, will also capture you for this reason: the corners where you can taste, the street vendors and the delicacies are endless.
I’m Serena Autorino from Thepeterpancollar.com blog, and today I want to present you a list of the foods you absolutely must try during your stay in the city of the golden horn. Personally, I indulged myself, enticed by the sympathy of the sellers and by the really low prices . I love strong flavors and spices and, in this, Turkish street food has definitely satisfied my tastes.
1 – Kebab
Photo by stockking. Let’s start, of course, with the kebab. Probably not everyone knows that the real Turkish kebab exists in two variants: the doner kebab, considered just “for a walk”, served in a sort of flatbread and the durum kebab, the variant with a sandwich. The classic vertical roast, from which strips of meat are cut, can also be made up of chicken only, or meat (of course never pork). Add vegetables, chips and sauces. You will never eat one so good in Italy.
- Recommended : lunch or dinner
- Average cost : About 5 Turkish Lira (€ 1.20)
- Main ingredients : chicken or veal, vegetables, sauces
2 – Balik ekmek
Source: wikipedia. On the boats moored in Eminonu, next to the Galata bridge, the fishermen prepare sandwiches, balik ekmek , stuffed with fish, rocket, fresh salad, onion and lemon. A substantial and simple lunch, good for this, perfect for a break before continuing the tour. Prices between 5 and 8 Turkish lira .
- Recommended : lunch or dinner
- Average cost : Between 5 and 8 Turkish lira (€ 1.20 / 2.00)
- Main ingredients : bread, fish fillet, salad, onion
3 – Simit
Photo of 8photo. Of red and white carts that sell these donuts, you will find them everywhere. The Simit is a sort of sesame bagel, you can eat it plain or filled with fresh cheese, Nutella for breakfast. To accompany the classic tea, the Chay.
- Recommended : breakfast
- Average cost : Between 1.50 and 2 Turkish lira (€ 0.35 / 0.50)
- Main ingredients : soft bread, sesame
4 – Misir
Photo of jcomp. Still hungry
A delicious snack and the corn on the cob (Misir), even in the middle of summer just cooked, first boiled and then passed on the grill, is good and juicy.
- Recommended : quick snack
- Average cost : Between 1.50 and 2 Turkish lira (€ 0.35 / 0.50)
- Main ingredients : corn
5 – Kokorec
Photo of luckyel. Kokorecs are something really characteristic, very difficult to find elsewhere: they are sheep entrails cooked on a skewer and seasoned with many spices, sometimes spicy. Once the distrust of the slightly particular ingredient has been overcome, the taste is decidedly original and you might like it a lot.
- Recommended : snack, lunch or dinner
- Average cost : About 5 Turkish Lira (€ 1.20)
- Main ingredients : sheep offal and spices
6 – Nar suyu
Photo by stockking. In Turkey they have a bit of a thing for Pomegranate . You will find small kiosks that only sell freshly prepared pomegranate juice, called nar suyu . Furthermore, in Turkish cuisine, they often combine this drink with savory dishes. You can therefore also buy it from those who sell Kebabs or other savory dishes.
- Recommended : at any time.
- Average cost : About 2 Turkish Lira (€ 0.50)
- Main ingredients : pomegranate juice
7 – Ayran
Photo of Utku Demirsoy. Another drink that the Turks pair with their kebab and meat meals is Ayran . It is a kind of yogurt to drink, a little sour and very particular … be careful, it is not sweet, but salty! It is difficult to find it fresh, but you will see it everywhere packaged in single-portion glasses. To try at least once.
- Recommended : lunch
- Average cost : About 2 Turkish Lira (€ 0.50)
- Main ingredients : pomegranate juice
8 – Pilav
Photo of Utku Demirsoy. Pilav : Rice and chickpeas, sometimes accompanied by chicken, more or less spicy depending on the seller. This is a dish that I have tried many times and that has always seemed different to me, because, probably, it changes according to the proportions of the ingredients. To eat while strolling this too, served in take away saucers. Price around 2.5 Turkish Lira .
- Recommended : lunch or quick snack
- Average cost : About 2.5 Turkish Lira (€ 0.60)
- Main ingredients : rice, chickpeas
9 – Midiye (fried mussels)
Photo by user20464901. These, I must admit, I have not tasted. In Italy they teach us to be a little wary of this ingredient and for fear of “ruining my holiday” I preferred to avoid. If you can be sure that the seller is reliable, however, I am sure that the midiye , fried mussels, are nothing short of heaven.
- Recommended : quick snack
- Average cost : About 5 Turkish lira for 5 mussels (€ 1.20)
- Main ingredients : mussels
10 – Turkish Delight
Photo by azerbaijan_stockers. Not really street food, but it’s easy to think about how enjoyable it is to grab a bag of Turkish delight at one of the specialty shops or spice market and have one every so often while walking. They are sweet, very sweet, colorful and spicy. Some chewy, others similar to nougat. Warning: they are very high in calories! Do not overdo it … Prices vary according to taste and often you can even negotiate. A must address is Koska, a local chain where you can buy lots of sweet souvenirs.
- Recommended : quick snack
- Average cost : Variable between 1 and 8 Turkish lira (€ 0.20 / 2.00)
- Main ingredients : candy
Where to eat in Istanbul: best restaurants, typical bars and street food
In the kaleidoscopic city of Istanbul, gastronomy is an itinerary to follow among spicy aromas and strong flavors .
The gastronomic tradition of the city is divided into different types of places: from Meyhane, typical places where alcohol is also served, to Lokanta, a little more expensive than the previous ones, up to Restoran, real restaurants.
Among the areas to eat : Sultanhamet Square, full of quality restaurants and cafes; Ponte Galata, for an excellent cuisine based on fresh fish; Taskim Square, where there are many cheap restaurants.
Here are the best places to eat in Istanbul :
1 – Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant
- Description : characteristic place, excellent traditional food and prices within everyone’s reach
- Specialty : Hummus (sauce made from chickpeas, garlic and lemon juice)
- Average price : from € 20.00 per person
- Address : Cagalaglu Haman Sokak No 17 / J – Get directions – Facebook page
2 – Roof Mezze 360
- Description : excellent restaurant with breathtaking views over the city. Typical cuisine based on fish and meat
- Specialty : Hunkar begendi (dish based on smoked and spiced eggplant)
- Average price : from € 15.00 per person
- Address : Hoca Pasa Mahallesi, Huda vendigar caddesi No 25 sirkeci – Get directions – Website
3 – Saltanat fish & kebab house
- Description : relaxing environment, with dishes ranging from kebabs to fresh fish
- Specialty : Doner kebab (sheet of Arab bread stuffed with meat cooked on a rotisserie)
- Average price : from € 6.00 per person
- Address : Alemdar, Catalcesme Sk. No 19 / 1A – Get directions – Facebook page
4 – Kiss Restaurant Bistro
- Description : folkloristic location, quality food and kind and friendly staff
- Specialty : lamb in salt
- Average price : from € 20.00 per person
- Indirizzo : Alemdar Mahallesi, Catal Cesme Sokak No: 5 | Sultanahmet, Fatih – Ottieni indicazioni
5 – Historical Karakoy Fisherman
- Description : room full of windows that offer a suggestive view of the Bosphorus. Excellent fish-based cuisine.
- Specialty : Balik Corbasi (soup made with boiled fish and seafood)
- Average price : from € 40.00 per person
- Indirizzo : Tersane Cad. My Brother Sk. 30 Brother Street No. 45 | Kardesim Sokak No:45 – Ottieni indicazioni – Sito Web
