What to try from street food in Istanbul

It would seem that all the sights have been seen, phone memory is full of selfies with happy faces, and after shopping, bags no longer fit in your hands. So what else can Turkey surprise you with? The answer is obvious: food.

In Istanbul, you can try roasted chestnuts, national Turkish flatbreads, and many other delicious dishes. We invite you to join us on this small gastronomic journey. Perhaps you’ll find something interesting for yourself too.

Simit: The Turkish Bagel

Simply put, it’s a bagel sprinkled with sesame seeds. It’s quite easy to find: it’s almost everywhere, and it costs about two to three liras. A good idea is to take simit with you for a snack, and a cup of coffee or tea will be a pleasant addition to it.

By the way, it’s not worth buying this treat on the main streets or near attractions. Simit is best eaten fresh, and it’s quite difficult to find fresh ones in crowded places. We recommend visiting small bakeries in less busy areas.

Pide — Turkish Pizza

Pide is a popular dish in Turkey. The dough is usually elongated, so tourists accustomed to round Italian pizza find it somewhat unusual.

You can try pide in almost any restaurant or snack bar in Istanbul. It’s great if you see a stone oven in the establishment where such pizza is baked. A crispy crust with a juicy filling is a perfect combination that will be remembered for a long time.

This pleasure is inexpensive, about 10–20 liras. If you want to have lunch in a more touristy place, be prepared for the price to be higher.

Roasted Chestnuts

A great snack when lunch is still far away, and your stomach is about to put on a solo concert. Stalls with roasted chestnuts can be found at every turn, the price is about four Turkish liras per piece. The dish is prepared quite quickly, and you won’t have to interrupt your route: you can eat roasted chestnuts on the go.

This delicacy tastes like baked potatoes. It’s quite specific, so for your first try, we recommend taking a small portion. A bottle of water won’t hurt: many tourists note a dry mouth after this treat.

By the way, you can buy chestnuts and roast them at home yourself. It will make an interesting “homemade souvenir.”

Fish in Bread

Balık ekmek is a sandwich with grilled fish. No ketchup or mayonnaise, just mackerel, juicy onions, lettuce, and lemon juice. Recently, the same dish, but in lavash, has gained popularity.

Be sure to try balık ekmek at Eminönü pier. Here you will not only enjoy a romantic atmosphere with a view of passing ships but also taste a delicious dish. The price ranges from 15 to 25 Turkish liras.

Kokoreç — Bun with Fried Intestines

Sounds quite exotic, but kokoreç is a coveted delicacy: many gastronomic enthusiasts flock to Istanbul to try it.

It’s best to get acquainted with this side of Turkish cuisine near the Galata Tower. This pleasure will cost you approximately 25–40 liras here. For your first tasting, we recommend choosing kokoreç in lavash — this way, the ratio of filling to bread will be ideal.

Doner Kebab

Another name for doner kebab is Turkish shawarma. The filling of such shawarma varies: chicken, beef, lamb. Only the accompaniment to the meat remains unchanged — it’s always vegetables without sauce. If you wish, doner kebab can be prepared in lavash or flatbread. The price depends on the district of Istanbul. Tourists note that one of the best doners can be bought near Taksim Square. Here the dish will cost 25–40 liras.

Stuffed Mussels

For all seafood lovers, we recommend trying Turkish stuffed mussels. You can find them in restaurants as well as in street stalls near Kadıköy market. The special feature of this treat is that it’s prepared right in front of you. The filling consists of rice with spices, and a lemon wedge is placed on the tray. It’s a kind of pilaf costing one and a half liras per piece. Yes, the price is surprisingly low, but the portion is very small — tourists often buy several at once to have a good meal.

Lahmacun

Thin lavash + juicy vegetables + minced meat = perfect lahmacun. This is the second most famous Turkish pizza among tourists (after pide). Outwardly, it looks more like a dish familiar to us: a round shape, generous meat filling, cheese, and, of course, spices. You can try such pizza in Istanbul restaurants for 15–20 liras. In tourist areas, for example, Sultanahmet, lahmacun will cost more, about 50 liras.

Wet Burgers

One of the most unusual street food dishes, if not in the whole world, then certainly in Istanbul. These familiar burgers got their name from the tomato sauce they are soaked in. Before purchase, the bun is kept steamed, and then the well-known scheme: patty, vegetables, and tomato sauce.

In Istanbul, this dish is considered a kind of late-night snack. Therefore, we recommend visiting Taksim Square closer to the evening. To immerse yourself in the culture, so to speak. The price of the treat is five to six liras.

Turkish Soups

There are many soups in Turkey: made from lentils, bulgur, offal. In short, everyone will find something for themselves here. The most popular dish is mercimek — Turkish soup made from yellow or red lentils, onions, carrots, and peppers. Sometimes it is served with a lemon wedge. We recommend complementing the soup with a small portion of salad to ensure you’re full.

A lesser-known but no less delicious soup is ezogelin or “bride’s soup.” It is very hearty due to its composition. It includes bulgur, lentils, tomato, rice, and various spices.

You can try both dishes in local restaurants for approximately 10–15 liras.

Köfte

Köfte are Turkish meatballs served with rice or potatoes. They are made from various types of meat, be it chicken, lamb, or beef. These meatballs can be baked, fried, or stewed. In general, anything can be done with them, resulting in completely different combinations and shapes.

There is also çiğ köfte — similar meatballs, but for vegetarians. The name of the dish translates to “raw meatballs.” According to Turkish sanitary regulations, selling raw meat dishes on the streets is prohibited. Çiğ köfte will cost up to 45 Turkish liras.

Turkish Flatbreads

Looking for what else to try in Istanbul from food? We suggest trying gözleme. This is a very thinly rolled flatbread with a filling, outwardly very similar to a cheburek. The filling can vary: spinach, minced meat, potatoes, cheese, mushrooms. As they say, any whim for your money.

By the way, about money. This treat costs about 30 Turkish liras. You can try it in the Beşiktaş area or in Sultanahmet.

Kumpir

The street food in Istanbul will surprise you with many things. Kumpir is a large potato baked in foil. It is cut in half and generously filled with various toppings: for example, corn, green peas, sausages, and even a full vegetable salad. The most attractive part: the price does not depend on the amount of filling, so ask for whatever your heart desires.

You can take kumpir with you while walking around the city. If you want something more relaxed, you can take a seat somewhere on a cafe terrace and enjoy the atmosphere of Turkey. The cost of this pleasure is 30–40 Turkish liras.

Boiled or Roasted Corn

Corn is probably the most popular summer snack. Yes, in Istanbul, it’s also a favorite treat. Here it comes in two types: boiled and roasted. And such corn is sold all over Istanbul (most often in the same stalls as chestnuts). We recommend buying this treat between June and October — that way, the taste will be richer, and the corn juicier. The price is just four to five liras per piece.

Well, to personally get acquainted with the street food of Istanbul, we recommend buying airline tickets to Istanbul and planning a real gastronomic journey for yourself. We wish you bon appétit!