With a population of 16 million, Istanbul is Europe’s largest city in terms of population. It connects two continents, Europe and Asia and it is famous for its flavors and aromas, spices, sweets, and infusions. As you can see, in such a large city with people from all over the world, you can find countless different flavors and dozens of dishes to try in this culinary capital. However, there are some dishes that, if you find yourself in Turkey‘s largest city, you should absolutely try. Let’s check out these 12 must-try foods in Istanbul!
Table of Contents
Döner Kebab
Let’s start with the basics. You can’t visit Istanbul and not try a doner kebab. The doner kebab, for those who don’t know, is a large piece of meat, usually lamb or beef, that is roasted vertically as it rotates. Seasoned meat stacked in the shape of an inverted cone spins slowly on the rotisserie, next to a heating element. A knife is used to slice thin shavings from the outer layer of the meat as it cooks. The doner is rolled into pies and you can add whatever other ingredients you want, something similar to Greek gyros.
Köfte (Turkish Meatball)
Turkish meatballs are a traditional dish of Turkish cuisine. It consists of minced beef, onions, parsley, and many spices that flavor the meatballs. Köfte is a dish that you can also find as street food, inside a fluffy bread roll, with your choice of sauce and other ingredients.
Gözleme
Gözleme are crispy flatbreads made from a quick and easy dough and stuffed with delicious savory fillings. The dough is usually unleavened and made only with flour, salt, and water, but gözleme can be made from yeast dough as well. The dough is rolled thin, then filled with various toppings, sealed, and cooked over a griddle. The filling that the author suggests you choose is with cheese or spinach.
Kokoreç
Kokoreç is a special Turkish dish that you will either love or not like at all. It is a traditional dish made with a lamb’s small and large intestines and sweetbreads. In fast food restaurants in Istanbul, you will see it served in bread like a sandwich, accompanied by many different spices.
Lahmacun
Lahmacun is a Middle Eastern flatbread topped with minced meat (most commonly beef or lamb), minced vegetables, and herbs, including onions, garlic, tomatoes, red peppers, and parsley, flavored with spices such as chili pepper and paprika. It is sometimes described as “Turkish pizza,” and you can find many variations of the food in Istanbul restaurants.
Börek
Börek is a kind of traditional Turkish stuffed pie which is eaten mainly for breakfast. It is very similar to the Greek pita with phyllo, with the main difference being that in the case of börek, the phyllo is not crispy but soft. The filling can usually be spinach, cheese, potato, or meat.
Balik Ekmek
One of the most common street foods in Istanbul is Balik Ekmek. Balik means fish and ekmek means bread. This sandwich consists of a fish fillet, along with various vegetables, and is typically accompanied by a glass of pickle and pickle juice. You can purchase it directly from the boat in Eminonu Square, where the fish is caught.
Simit
Unlike the balik ekmek we mentioned before, which is mainly found in Eminonu Square by the sea, simit is one of the 12 must-try foods in Istanbul, which can be found almost everywhere in the city. Simit is a circular bread, typically encrusted with sesame seeds, and is the same as the Greek koulouri. Outside the Hagia Sophia and in other places in the city you can find, besides the classic simit, also stuffed with chocolate praline.
Kumpir
Kumpir is a well-known street food in Istanbul, particularly in the Ortaköy district where the main square is filled with food shops that sell only kumpir. It is essentially a baked potato that is made by wrapping potatoes in foil and baking them in special ovens. Once cooked, the potatoes are sliced down the middle and mixed with unsalted butter and kasar cheese, which is then puréed. Additionally, people can add whatever toppings they desire, with a wide range of options available, from pickles, mayonnaise, and corn to even pink cabbage mayonnaise! (as seen in the picture)
Turkish Delight
When visiting Istanbul, trying the city’s famous sweets is a must. Turkish Delight, also known as Lokum, is a type of confectionery made from a gel of starch and sugar. Numerous flavors are available, but the most popular ones include rose, mastic, and bergamot. You can sample the different flavors by strolling through the markets of Istanbul, such as Kapali Carsi and Mısır Çarşısı. This way, you can find the flavors that suit your taste buds the best.
Künefe
Sweet and syrupy treats are a defining feature of the city’s cuisine. A unique dessert that combines sweet and savory flavors is künefe, which is made of kataifi pastry soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup called attar and layered with cheese. Crushed pistachio nuts are sprinkled on top. This specialty dessert can be found in pastry shops and traditional cafes throughout the city.
Baklava
We cannot complete our review of the best foods in Istanbul without including baklava in the list. Without a doubt, baklava is the king of sweets in Istanbul. Its crispy layers of dough, rich filling of either walnuts or pistachios, and unique syrup create an exceptional taste. While baklava is available in many cities worldwide, nowhere else can you find the authentic taste that Istanbul’s pastry shops offer.
Finally, we should note that there are several versions of baklava that you can try. I suggest you try the one with chocolate in addition to the classic!
