It’s no secret that Istanbul is a food paradise. From street vendors hawking kebabs to restaurants all over the city serving authentic cuisine, you’ll be spoilt for choice! So here is a list of the best local cuisine in the Turkish capital, along with recommendations on where to try them.
Doner Kebabs
Doner kebabs can be found all over the world, but when in Turkey you’ve got to go right to the source. ‘Doner’ means rotating in Turkish, referring to the way the meat is slow cooked on a rotating spit. Flavoured with traditional herbs and spices, every restaurant in Turkey has their own unique recipe, but if you want the best one, Bayramoglu Doner is the way to go. Open till 11pm, this is the perfect place for a late-night snack after a long day of exploring.
Address: Rüzgarlıbahçe, Cumhuriyet Cd. No:2, 34805 Beykoz/İstanbul, Turkey
Opening Hours:
Monday - Sunday: 11:30am - 11pm
Dolmades
Originally a Greek dish, Dolmades are made with vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs, and steamed. Some variations even contain meat. They’re Turkey’s national dish, so you can’t leave Istanbul without trying dolmades at least once. You don’t even have to peel the leaves of the dolmades, just dip in the yogurt sauce, spritz some lemon on the top, and you’re good! Looking for the best Dolmades in Istanbul? The Pala Ocakbasi restaurant is great – it’s just minutes away from the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
Address: Hüseyinağa Mh Kamer Hatun Caddesi, Kalyoncu Kulluğu Cd. No:17, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey
Opening Hours: 24/7
Pide
Pide is Turkey’s answer to Pita bread. A leavened flatbread that can be stuffed with meat or brushed with butter and herbs, every restaurant in the city has their own take. There’s the tangy spinach and feta or the moreish beef mince stuffed bread – you can even eat it plain dipped in hummus. However you choose to have it, there’s sure to be a restaurant that suits your taste.
Borek
Borek is a baked breakfast pastry that can be filled with anything from cheese to green peppers. Turkey itself has a variety of recipes, varying by region. The most popular versions are Saray Boregi, which is a simple version filled with just butter. The Sigara Boregi is a cylindrical version filled with feta, potato, and parsley, and makes for an excellent snack. Since there are so many varieties of Borek, we can’t recommend just one place to get your fix, but the cafes in Sariyer are a good place to start.
Imam Bayildi
This one’s for the veggie lovers. Forget Baba Ghanoush, Imam Bayildi is where it’s at. A whole eggplant stuffed with tomatoes, onion, and herbs, this classic Turkish dish is healthy and flavourful, and makes for a perfect lunch pick-me-up. Imam Bayildi literally means “the Imam has fainted,” and legend has it that a cleric once fainted from pleasure after tasting this delightful dish. Try it for yourself at Sahin Lokantasi, a tradesman’s restaurant which is raved about by locals for their authentic Turkish dishes.
Address: Asmalı Mescit, Orhan Adlı Apaydın Sk. 11/A, 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey
Opening Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5:30pm
