Discover the best food to eat in Istanbul, from kebabs and baklava to affordable street food favourites. A must-eat guide for first time visitors.
Overview
If you’re wondering what food to eat in Istanbul, you’re in for a treat.
Istanbul’s food scene reflects the city’s unique position between Europe and Asia, blending Mediterranean ingredients with Middle Eastern flavours and centuries of Ottoman culinary influence.
From street food staples to slow-cooked meat dishes and indulgent desserts, there’s no shortage of must eat foods in Istanbul that should make it onto your list.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through:
- the best food to eat in Istanbul
- traditional dishes you simply can’t miss
- where to find authentic flavours
- and how to eat well without overspending
So whether you’re looking for the best place to eat in Istanbul or searching for cheap places to eat in Istanbul, here are the dishes we think you should try first.
If you’re still planning your trip, be sure to check out our guide to the best things to do in Istanbul for must-visit attractions and practical travel tips.
Must Eat Foods in Istanbul
When visiting Istanbul for the first time, these are some of the dishes that locals would consider essential. Below we talk about them in more detail:
Kebabs (But Not the One You Think)
In Europe, the word “kebab” often refers to a late-night shawarma-style wrap filled with chips, meat and salad. In Turkey however, kebabs are far more diverse — and far more refined.
You’ll typically find the following kebabs:
Adana Kebab – Spicy Grilled Lamb Skewer
Originating from the southern city of Adana, this is easily one of the must eat dishes in Istanbul for meat lovers. It’s made from hand-minced lamb mixed with red pepper flakes and spices, then moulded onto a wide skewer and grilled over charcoal.
Typically served with flatbread, grilled tomatoes, peppers and bulgur rice, it has a slightly spicy kick and a rich, smoky flavour.
Try a Guided Food Tour
If you’d prefer to sample several of these traditional dishes with the help of a local guide, joining a food tour can be a great way to learn more about Istanbul’s culinary culture while discovering neighbourhood eateries you might otherwise miss.
Şiş Kebab – Charcoal-Grilled Meat Cubes
“Şiş” simply means skewer. This version features cubes of marinated meat — usually lamb or chicken — threaded onto a skewer and grilled over an open flame.
Less spicy than Adana kebab, it’s all about the quality of the meat and the charcoal aroma, making it one of the best foods to eat in Istanbul if you prefer something simple and flavourful.
Iskender Kebab – Döner with Yoghurt & Butter Sauce
For something a bit more indulgent, Iskender kebab consists of thinly sliced döner meat served over small pieces of pita bread, topped with hot tomato sauce and melted butter, and accompanied by yoghurt on the side.
Rich, comforting and incredibly filling, this is another must eat Istanbul classic.
Doner Kebab – Rotisserie-Style Sliced Meat
Perhaps the most internationally recognised Turkish dish, döner is made from stacked layers of seasoned meat cooked vertically on a rotating spit. In Turkey, it’s often served plated with rice and salad rather than in a wrap.
It’s widely available and one of the most popular options for anyone wondering what food to eat in Istanbul.
Durum Wraps – Kebab in Thin Flatbread
A dürüm is essentially a wrap version of kebab meat, rolled inside thin flatbread with salad and sauces. Quick, affordable and satisfying, it’s a great street food option — especially if you’re looking for cheap food to eat in Istanbul while on the go.
Testi Kebabı – Clay Pot Stew
Often served as a bit of theatre, Testi Kebabı is a slow-cooked meat and vegetable stew prepared inside a sealed clay pot.
Once ready, the waiter will crack the pot open at your table — revealing tender meat and rich juices inside.
If you’re after a slightly more traditional dish beyond street food, this is definitely one of the must eat Istanbul experiences.
Looking for where to try these traditional dishes? See our guide to the best places to eat in Istanbul for local restaurants and cheap eats.
Bakes You Must Try
Beyond kebabs and desserts, baked goods are an everyday staple in Istanbul and something we always end up eating more of than planned.
Pide – Turkish Pizza
Often described as a Turkish pizza, pide is a boat-shaped flatbread topped with a variety of ingredients and baked in a stone oven. It’s typically sliced and shared, which makes it a great starter in many traditional restaurants.
Common toppings include minced lamb, sucuk (spicy Turkish sausage), cheese, spinach or egg. The edges are slightly crisp while the centre stays soft and flavourful.
We’ve had some of our favourite pides at seaside restaurants across Turkey, but you’ll also find excellent versions in Istanbul — and it’s almost always a safe choice on the menu.
If you’re unsure what to order, pide is one of the easiest and most crowd-pleasing dishes to try.
Gözleme – Hand-Rolled Stuffed Flatbread
Gözleme is a thin, hand-rolled flatbread filled with savoury or sweet ingredients, folded over and cooked on a large convex griddle.
Traditional savoury fillings include spinach and cheese, minced meat or potatoes, while sweeter versions may contain sugar or chocolate spreads. The dough is rolled out extremely thin, which gives it a slightly crisp exterior while remaining soft inside.
In some restaurants — particularly in more tourist-heavy areas — you’ll sometimes see an elderly lady preparing gözleme by hand near the entrance or by the window. It’s part genuine tradition, part theatre, and it certainly adds to the charm.
It’s simple, affordable and one of the more authentic baked dishes to try while exploring the city.
Simit – Sesame-Crusted Street Bread
Simit is a circular bread coated in sesame seeds — often compared to a pretzel, though lighter and less dense in texture.
It’s one of the most common street foods in Istanbul and can be found both in bakeries and from small red street carts scattered around the city. We enjoyed picking one up from bakeries along Istiklal Street and eating it on the go while exploring.
Locals often pair simit with tea, but we personally like it with a runnier yoghurt or a glass of kefir. It’s inexpensive, filling and perfect as a quick breakfast or mid-afternoon snack.
Desserts You Shouldn’t Miss in Istanbul
Baklava – Layered Pastry with Nuts & Syrup
Baklava is perhaps Turkey’s most famous dessert — and many believe it was first made in the kitchens of Topkapi Palace. Although you may know baklava as being cut in diamond shapes or cubes, you will also find it in the form of carrot slices which essentially is a baklava shaped in a pie tray and served in triangle slices similar to a cake.
While cheaper versions of baklava are heavy on syrup, a good quality baklava should be:
- nutty (generously filled with nuts)
- crisp
- buttery
- sweet (with hints of either honey or orange)
For the full experience, locals often pair baklava with kaymak — a clotted cream-like dairy product that adds an extra layer of richness. We were initially skeptical but once we tried it there was no going back.
The way you eat baklava and kaymak is typically you remove the top part of the baklava and then put a layer of kaymak on top of the nuts and then you crown your king and eat this delightful Turkish sandwich.
Künefe – Hot Cheese Dessert with Syrup
Künefe is one of those Turkish desserts that feels special the moment it arrives at your table. Imagine a bed of thin, hair-like pastry (kadayif) that’s been soaked in sweet syrup and layered with a meltingly soft cheese — then baked until the edges turn crisp and golden.
The result is a beautiful contrast of textures: crunchy outside, gooey inside, and perfectly sweet without being overly sugary.
This dessert is typically served warm, often topped with a scattering of crushed pistachios and sometimes with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of kaymak (clotted cream).
It’s a dish that’s both comforting and indulgent, and one of the best examples of how Turkish cuisine takes simple ingredients and transforms them into something memorable.
You’ll find künefe in many traditional dessert shops and restaurants throughout Istanbul — especially in neighbourhoods like Karaköy, Beyoğlu and Sultanahmet. It’s the perfect treat to round off a meal or to enjoy alongside a cup of Turkish tea as you wander the streets after dinner.
Dondurma – Chewy Turkish Ice Cream
Unlike standard ice cream, Turkish dondurma has a thicker and slightly chewy texture due to the inclusion of mastic and salep.
Street vendors often turn the serving process into a playful performance — making this not just something to eat, but one of the more memorable food experiences in the city.
What to Drink in Istanbul
Obviously as Turkyie is a Muslim society, pork and other by-products won’t be served. As a secular society, they do give the option to each individual if they choose to consume alcohol or not.
Raki – Anise-Flavoured National Spirit
One of Turkyie’s most recognised drinks is raki, which is a similar to ouzo and both are aniseed based drinks served as appetizers in tall glasses with ice.
Turkish Coffee – Unfiltered Strong Brew
Turkish coffee is more than just a drink — it’s an important part of the country’s social and cultural life.
Prepared using very finely ground coffee beans, it’s brewed unfiltered in a small copper pot known as a cezve. The coffee is slowly heated over a flame and served in small cups once it begins to foam.
Because it isn’t filtered, the grounds settle at the bottom of the cup, giving it a much stronger and more intense flavour than your typical espresso.
It’s traditionally served alongside a glass of water and often accompanied by a sweet treat such as Turkish delight or baklava. In many cases, locals will enjoy Turkish coffee after a meal as part of a relaxed social ritual rather than simply for the caffeine boost.
Once finished, you’ll also notice the remaining coffee grounds at the bottom of the cup — these are sometimes used for fortune telling (tasseography), a long-standing tradition in Turkish culture.
Fresh Pomegranate Juice – Summer Street Favourite
Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice is a local favourite in Istanbul — especially during the hot summer months.
You’ll find plenty of small juice stands (often called Vitamin Bars) across the city, where vendors prepare the juice right in front of you using whole, locally sourced pomegranates.
When we stopped at one during our trip, our juicer mentioned that pomegranate juice is one of the most popular drinks among locals in warmer weather thanks to its naturally sweet taste and refreshing qualities.
It’s widely available, relatively inexpensive, and makes for a great pick-me-up after a long day of exploring the city.
Turkish Tea (Çay) – Traditional Black Tea
Turkish tea (çay) is one of the most widely consumed drinks in Istanbul and is an essential part of everyday life for locals. Made using black tea leaves and traditionally brewed in a double teapot (çaydanlık), it’s served throughout the day — often after meals or during social gatherings.
What makes the experience unique is the way it’s presented. Turkish tea is typically served in small, tulip-shaped glasses which, while perhaps not the most practical, are designed to retain heat while allowing you to hold the rim without burning your fingers.
You’ll find tea being offered almost everywhere — from restaurants and cafés to bazaars and small local shops — often as a gesture of hospitality.
Ayran – Salted Yoghurt Drink
You’ll also see ayran everywhere in Istanbul — a simple yet refreshing yoghurt-based drink made from yoghurt, water and a pinch of salt. It might sound unusual if you’ve never tried it before, but it pairs incredibly well with savoury baked goods.
Personally,I tend to order ayran whenever we’re having simit or a savoury gözleme. The slight saltiness and creamy texture balance out the bread perfectly, especially on warmer days when you don’t fancy something sweet or fizzy.
It’s widely available in restaurants, bakeries and even small corner shops, making it an easy and affordable addition to any meal.
Where to Eat in Istanbul (And How to Avoid Tourist Traps)
If you’re wondering where to eat in Istanbul, it’s important to look beyond review scores — especially in the city’s most tourist-heavy districts.
In some cases, restaurants may offer complimentary desserts such as baklava in exchange for a positive review on platforms like TripAdvisor or Google.
While this might seem like a nice gesture, it can sometimes inflate ratings and make it harder to identify the best place to eat in Istanbul based on genuine quality and value.
As a general rule, we’d recommend being cautious when dining around Sultanahmet and the Old Town, where menus and prices are often geared towards short-stay visitors.
For more authentic meals — and some of the best cheap places to eat in Istanbul — consider heading to neighbourhoods such as Karaköy, Kadıköy or Beşiktaş, where many locals tend to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Food in Istanbul
Final Thoughts
Istanbul’s food scene is as diverse as its history — offering everything from simple street food staples to slow-cooked traditional dishes that have been enjoyed for centuries. Whether you’re sampling a freshly grilled kebab, indulging in baklava with kaymak, or sipping on a strong Turkish coffee, trying the local cuisine is easily one of the best ways to experience the city.
From must eat dishes like Testi Kebabı to affordable street food such as simit and gözleme, there’s no shortage of delicious options for every budget. So if you’re still wondering what food to eat in Istanbul, start with the classics — and don’t be afraid to venture beyond the tourist hotspots to discover where locals love to eat.
Not sure where to find these dishes? Take a look at our guide on where to eat in Istanbul for recommended restaurants and local favourites.
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