Found last-minute trips to Turkey and wondering what to expect from your vacation? Seas, sun, and oriental color, but that’s not all. Turkey is a paradise for gourmets, as the country has absorbed the best gastronomic traditions of Europe and Asia. And with local products, it will be love at first sight. We’ve compiled a selection of masterpieces of Turkish cuisine that you absolutely must try during your trip. Almost forgot: everything has been tested from our own experience.
Turkish Breakfast
Let’s start with the traditional breakfast that has made Turkey famous all over the world. The first meal of the day energizes you for the whole day, and the locals know it well. In different establishments, you will see different variations of breakfast, but it consistently includes:
- Cheeses (goat, sheep, soft, hard, etc.);
- Egg dishes (menemen, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, boiled, etc.);
- Vegetables (olives, tomatoes, cucumbers);
- Kaymak (thick cream that resembles butter);
- Honey;
- Jam;
- Bread and other pastries, including simits;
- Adjika;
- Olive oil;
- Spices;
- Tea.
Sometimes chefs complement the classic set with more modern dishes. Thus, on the table, you will find flatbreads, chocolate paste, fruits, or pancakes.
With such a breakfast, you won’t be hungry until lunch or even dinner. Here you have everything you need for a hearty meal, and you don’t need to doubt the tastes. Also, don’t hesitate to combine products in any order and create new masterpieces. This is a great opportunity to get to know local cheeses, try menemen, which locals adore, and start the day with creamy kaymak on a warm simit.
In Istanbul, I recommend going for a Turkish breakfast at Saade Kahvaltı. Prices here are slightly above average (650 TL per person + service fee), but you will get excellent quality and a bonus view of the Bosphorus or Hagia Sophia. All that’s left is to buy plane tickets and get ready for the long-awaited trip.
İskender Kebab
Kebabs have become a hallmark of the country and can be found even in the most remote areas. We suggest trying İskender kebab, which is popular not only in Turkey but far beyond its borders.
The ingredients may cause doubt, but don’t rush to refuse the idea of tasting this dish. So what is İskender kebab and what is it eaten with? On the plate, you will see a flatbread with thinly sliced meat and a generous portion of spicy sauce. Don’t forget to clarify what meat is used in the recipe: chicken, beef, or lamb. Besides this, the meat and bread are complemented with fresh or pickled vegetables and yogurt. Turks don’t skimp on meat, so after İskender kebab, hunger won’t be a problem for you. And the fresh yogurt perfectly offsets the spicy notes.
In Istanbul’s Hattad Döner, one portion cost 190 TL.
Lahmacun
Another meat position in our selection is lahmacun. This is a flatbread made of thin, crispy dough with minced meat, tomatoes, peppers, and greens. At first, it seems that there is nothing unusual in this dish and it is unlikely to surprise, but it is worth breaking off the first piece, sprinkling it with a slice of lemon, and rolling it into a roll. We promise you won’t regret it.
Note that lahmacun is often prepared with different fillings: walnuts, cheese, mushrooms, etc. Be sure to ask about the portion size, which also varies depending on the establishment.
Where to look for first-class lahmacun? If you are in Istanbul, we recommend going to Forno in the Balat district: for a large portion, you will pay about 180 TL. There, you can also try Italian pizza.
Karnıyarık
Don’t be scared of this complex and hardly pronounceable name, as it hides a simple and understandable dish. After ordering, you will be served a baked eggplant with meat, tomato sauce, spices, and cheese. The chefs make it so tender and soft that the flesh literally melts in your mouth, and the meat falls apart into fibers. And the baked cheese forms a crispy crust and perfectly complements the already strong taste of the dish.
By the way, Turkey is an ideal place for eggplant lovers. Here, chefs have mastered them in any form: stewed, baked, fried, and even pickled. Be sure to try moussaka and the eggplant appetizer with potatoes and yogurt, which became our unexpected favorite of the national cuisine.
And the best places to handle these masterpieces are Lokantasi — a kind of canteen that locals regularly visit. Believe me, Turks won’t eat bad food or return to a low-grade establishment. Save Balkan Lokantasi in Istanbul maps with a solid menu and affordable prices.
Börek
We warn you in advance: in Turkey, resisting pastries is useless, and it’s not even worth trying. But not trying börek is a real crime. Local bakers prepare puff pies with different fillings from early in the morning to take them out of the oven by opening time and delight visitors with signature flavors.
Unlike the more familiar sweet options that our mothers and grandmothers baked, in Turkey, they prefer savory ones: with cheese, potatoes, meat, spinach, vegetables. The shape of börek also differs: you will find rectangular, square, and even snail-shaped pies.
Establishments specializing in börek and other pastries are located throughout Istanbul, as locals don’t mind having a hearty snack at any time. And they advise washing it down only with ayran. Believe me, this is one of the best simple combinations you will try.
If you visit Büyükada island, head straight to Büyükada pastanesi and buy eggplant börek (80 TL per portion), which you won’t find tastier in all of Istanbul. We advise you to do this as early as possible because by lunchtime, the showcase with the famous pies may already be empty.
And if you are still on the team of sweet lovers, you can easily find pastries to your liking in the establishment. For the first time, ay çöreği in the shape of a crescent with a generous filling of cocoa, raisins, nuts, and cinnamon is perfect.
Balık ekmek
Want to take a break from meat and the standard shawarma? Then it’s time to get acquainted with balık ekmek. Turkish street food in the form of fish in pita bread will not leave you indifferent, as you will either fall in love with it immediately or understand that such experiments are not for you.
Inside the roll is fresh and boneless mackerel fillet, onion, tomatoes, spices, spicy sauce, and greens. Balık ekmek is very juicy, unlike meat doners and kebabs, and after grilling the pita bread, it becomes crispy.
While walking in the Karaköy district, stop by the world-famous Super Mario Emin Usta. For a small portion, they will ask for about 135 TL, and if you are very hungry, take a double or an additional position from the menu. By the way, we already talked about balık ekmek here.
Stuffed Mussels
Shellfish with rice filling should be considered as a snack option if you walk around the street for a long time and it’s still far from a full-fledged lunch. Open the shells, sprinkle them with lemon juice, and try the spicy filling. By the way, to avoid mistakes in choosing, it is better to buy mussels in establishments where they make kokoreç. And whether to complement them with sauce or not is up to you.
Kumpir
Missed cutlets with mashed potatoes? Don’t panic, kumpir will come to the rescue. This is a large baked potato with hearty fillings that you choose yourself. First, the chef will mash the flesh with cheese and butter, and then it’s up to you. At your disposal are corn, peas, olives, cheese, sausages, vegetable mixtures resembling salads, and sauces.
Every local knows that the best kumpirs are made at Ortaköy Kumpircisi. And if you are walking in the Istiklal area, feel free to go to Patatos and choose fillings for the potato. By the way, their number is not limited. And for 260 TL, you can freely point to each option.
Lokum and Baklava
These oriental delicacies are familiar even to those who have never been to Turkey. Lokum is made from starch, molasses, and sugar. The flavors can be very diverse: pomegranate, mint, nuts, rose petals, fruits, etc. In addition, at markets and in stores, you will be offered not only square candies but also round rolls with nuts, nougat, nut paste, or berries. Be sure to try both types of lokum and take several flavors as souvenirs.
Baklava is a famous dessert made from puff pastry with nuts and dried fruits, generously soaked in honey or sugar syrup. Have you already decided which one to choose: with walnuts, cocoa, pistachios, in the shape of a snail, roll, crescent, tube, or rectangle? The variety of choices is indeed overwhelming. Be careful: it is very sweet, but it’s hard to resist the temptation to try real baklava.
For decent lokum, head to the Grand Bazaar or the traditional shop Uc Yildiz. And for baklava, go to Safa or Hafiz Mustafa 1864.
Ice Cream
In Turkey, they make gelato and dondurma. Dondurma is a local thick version of the dessert with the addition of sugar, salep, and goat’s milk. However, don’t think that vendors will simply give you the coveted cone with the treat. They will put on a real show with tricks and special effects, where you will be the main character.
A worthy recommendation is Meşhur Dondurmacı Ali Usta on the Asian side. The variety of flavors and the generous portion will delight you in the scorching heat. Prepare 70 TL for one scoop.
