12 Delicious Turkish Foods To Try On Your Trip To Istanbul

    The breakfast game is strong.

    Rebecca Khera
    by Rebecca Khera

    BuzzFeed Staff

    The coronavirus pandemic is still impacting travel, and destinations around the world have different COVID-19 restrictions in place. Always check and adhere to local government policies as you're planning future trips.

    The views and food in Istanbul = truly amazing.

    View of Galata Tower across the river
    Rebecca Khera

    Here are some delicious foods I had on my trip a few years ago... and if you spot these dishes while exploring the city, make sure to stop and enjoy!

    1. A full Turkish breakfast

    Turkish breakfast
    Rebecca Khera

    A full on Turkish breakfast includes lots of bread (not pictured), cheeses, fruits, spreads, jams, honey, veggies, eggs, and all the tea you can drink!

    I haven't stumbled across any bad Turkish breakfasts in Istanbul, but I'd say aim for a breakfast spot with a view of either the Bosphorus or the Galata Tower.

    2. Menemen

    Traditional turkish menemen with eggs, sausage sucuk and tomatoes.
    Vladimir Mironov / Getty Images/iStockphoto

    If the bounty of Turkish breakfast just isn't enough, try menemen. 

    You'll find it on plenty of cafe menus... it's an egg dish scrambled with tomatoes, peppers, and spices, served with bread. It's more soupy than just scrambled eggs and I'd say it has a consistency similar to that of shakshuka.

    Not gonna lie, eggs and bread are two of my favorite foods, so I'm naturally drawn to menemen. So much so that I even ordered it for dinner on my first night in Istanbul. 

    3. Lahmucun

    Lahmucun with parsley and lemon
    Rebecca Khera

    If you're wandering around Istanbul, you might notice some small restaurants with counter seating. The best ones are filled with locals eating what looks like pizza but it's actually a round flatbread with minced meat and spices called lahmucun. 

    You'll know you've found the right spot when counters have plastic containers filled with parsely. The best way to eat lahmucun is with a handful of parsley, a generous squeeze of lemon, and then rolled up like a wrap.

    Pro tip: Add wayyyyy more parsley than I did.

    4. Simit

    Simit bread
    Rebecca Khera

    Sometimes you just need a little bread pick-me-up during the day and I'm happy to say that in Istanbul, you're never too far from a simit stand. Whether you're out exploring the major tourist sites, hopping off the metro, or leisurely waiting by the ferry station, you'll be sure to find a simit vendor. 

    Simits are fresh bread covered in sesame seeds and toasted in a circular shape. Similar to a bagel, they're best eaten warm and fresh, but no need for cream cheese here! 

    You'll find simits for 1-1.5 Turkish Lira (about 10 cents) throughout the city. 

    5. Kunefe

    Turkish dessert Kunefe being cut
    Turgay Koca / Getty Images/500px Plus

    If you love dessert and you also love cheese, you'll want to sit down for this one. Kunefe is the dessert you didn't know you needed.

    It's made with a pastry spun super thin, layered with gooey cheese, then soaked in a sugary syrup, and topped with nuts — usually pistachios.

    And for those of us who won't be in Istanbul anytime soon, I'm happy to say Trader Joe's makes a frozen version that is actually very delicious. Worth the TJs run for sure!

    6. Turkish delights aka lokum

    Turkish delight lokum in market. Turkish sweets street food
    Rabizo / Getty Images/iStockphoto

    These are easy to find in the Grand Bazaar and you'll see plenty of stalls lined with these sticky treats, most offering free samples as you walk by. 

    My favorites are any of the flavors with pomegranate, pistachios, and rose! 

    Pro tip: Ask for them to be cut into slices. I was in a rush and declined having them pre-cut, so I had quite the time trying to slice them myself with a dull butter knife at my Airbnb. 🤦🏻‍♀️

    7. Balık ekmek

    Balık ekmek, fish sandwich
    Natalya Zyryanova / Getty Images/EyeEm

    If you're walking along the Bosphorus and start to smell something tasty, it's probably balık ekmek — Turkey's famous grilled fish sandwich!

    There are food carts on boats along the river serving up these sandwiches with grilled white fish, lettuce, and lemon. You can grab a hot balık ekmek right off the boats near the Galata Bridge.

    8. Pide

    Assorted Turkish foodset. Pide with meat; pide with cheese, pide mix, lachmajun
    Jackf / Getty Images/iStockphoto

    The ultimate comfort food! Pides are similar to cheese bread or pizzas, but they're shaped like long, skinny boats. Like pizza, pides can be made with pretty much any toppings — often minced meat, cheese, and egg, but you can usually pick your own toppings and add whatever meats or veggies you like. 

    9. Manti

    Plate of Turkish dumplings manti.
    Alizadastudios / Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Manti are like Turkish raviolis. They're little dumplings filled with meat and served with a mix of yogurt, a buttery garlic sauce, and some chili powder.

    While lots of Turkish food is meat focused, manti can be made with all types of different fillings. It's typically filled with lamb but you can easily find vegetarian options that are filled with chickpeas instead.

    10. Turkish tea

    traditional turkish tea in glass cup
    Yilmazsavaskandag / Getty Images/iStockphoto

    The tea culture in Istanbul is strong, and you'll see tea on just about every menu in the city. In fact, when you order breakfast, you might notice it's bottomless tea! They'll just keeping bringing you refills.

    I don't think it's possible to visit Turkey without having a cup of tea, so enjoy it in abundance. 

    11. Durum

    Durum wrap with ayran drink
    Peter Erik Forsberg/Food / Alamy Stock Photo

    Durum is another popular type of kebab in Istanbul. It typically includes a meat of your choice and some veggies, all rolled into a thin lavash bread. It can be made with the thin doner kebab meats or larger pieces of barbecued meats. Either way, it's a must try! 

    You'll mostly see durum from street food vendors, but it's so popular you might find them on restaurant menus as well.

    12. Doner kebab

    Kitchen staff is seen cutting cooked meat for a doner kebab dish at a restaurant in Beyoglu.
    Sopa Images / SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    If you've ever been drunk in Europe, chances are you've had doner kebab. 

    There are so many different types of kebabs in Turkey, but I noticed doner kebab spots on every major street.

    What makes doner kebab so delicious is the way it's cooked. The meats (usually lamb and beef) are layered on top of one another and cooked while rotating. When it's ready, it's shaved into thin slices and can be served in a few different ways, the most popular being in a wrap or with rice and veggies.

    My favorite part is when the edges get a little crispy! 😋

    BTW! There are so many different types of kebabs, you might start to wonder if it's possible to eat vegan dishes in Turkey...

    Rebecca Khera

    But I'm happy to say that Istanbul offers tons of vegan and vegetarian options for plant-based travelers.

    There are plenty of vegan restaurants in the city, but one of the most popular places is Vegan Community Kitchen which serves up vegan versions of the best Turkish foods, like kebabs, lahmucun, and manti! 

    Address: 2WMW+FG Fatih, İstanbul, Turkey

    Which dish is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

    view of the Bosphorus at sunset
    Rebecca Khera