Experience the transcendent beauty and ethereal charm of the city of Istanbul. Istanbul is the magical meeting of the East and West and it is an explosion of diverse flavours, people and cultures. Ancients wonders harmoniously stand side by side with cutting-edge modern buildings, creating an alluring charm which paints the iconic skyline of the city. As the sun goes down, the sky light up in warm sunset hues which welcome in a pulsatingly eclectic nightlife to be enjoyed. The cuisine of the city is as diverse as the heritage and culture of the city and it is an appreciation of flavour, spices, tastes and traditions. From the spicy Asian dishes to European classic, a journey through Istanbul is a gastronomic adventure. Embark on a tantalising trip through the bustling streets of Istanbul and sink your teeth into these foods which you should try when you visit Istanbul. Scroll down to find out more.
1. Kuzu Tandir
Savour the delicious flavours of Kuzu Tandir which is a popular lamb dish. The lamb is prepared to perfection giving off a pleasant fragrance, it and is tender as you sink your teeth into it. The meat just melts in your mouth and it is a burst of flavour. Tandir refers to the ancient way in which the lamb is prepared. The traditional way requires the lamb to hang over a coal pit in the ground suspended by a hook. There is a myriad of restaurants in Istanbul which serve this famed Turkish dish. Kuzu Tandir is served with Ic Pilav which is a rice mix of nuts, diced liver and currants.
Borsa Restaurant
Address: Harbiye Mahallesi, Gümüş Cd. No:4, 34367 İstanbul/Şişli/Şişli/İstanbul, Turkey
Website: Borsa Restaurant
2. Pide
Pida is Turkey’s take on the traditional pizza. An authentic Pide is a sort of flat bread which is topped with tantalising ingredients and placed in a stove oven. There are various varieties of the Pide with the toppings varying widely from cheese, onions, pepper, pastrami, eggs, mushroom, parsley and much more. This is the perfect snack to have on the go as you explore the city and can be bought at an affordable price from any street food vendor.
Hoca Pasa Pidecisi
Address: Hoca Paşa Mahallesi, Ankara Caddesi & Hoca Paşa Sokak No:11, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
3. Menemen
Start your adventures in Istanbul with a tantalising breakfast and a Turkish Flair, by tasting menemen. Menemen is a Turkish omelette that is packed with flavour and is an experience in each bite. To prepare this dish, roasted onions and peppers are boiled with tomatoes and added to a mix of eggs, parsley, pepper, herbs and grounded red pepper. The taste is addictive and can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Based on the popularity of the dish, there are other varieties which tourists and locals can enjoy with ingredients like grounded meat, mushrooms, cheese, sausage and much more.
Karaköy Lokantası
Address: Kemankeş Caddesi No.37A Karaköy
Website: Karaköy Lokantası
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4. Döner
Discover the taste of Istanbul which the Turkish have graciously introduced to the world. This is a favourite late night snack or a quick meal. The Dönerkebab comes in a variety of options from the traditional durum which is a Döner wrapped in a lacas bread or an iskender kebab which is served on a pide bread and drizzled with yoghurt, tomato sauce and butter. The meat used in a Döner kebab is traditionally lamb but the delicacy has evolved and it now includes beef, chicken and even fish.
Borsa Restaurant
Address: Harbiye Mahallesi, Gümüş Cd. No:4, 34367 İstanbul/Şişli/Şişli/İstanbul, Turkey
Website: Borsa Restaurant
Istanbul Tour Guide
Safiye Kaban
Hi there, this is Safiye from istanbul. I am a professional licensed tour guide and travel expert over 12 years. I have guided thousands of travellers from all around the world. I love meeting with new people, making new friends and building bridges. I orgnize cultural, historical, shopping and food tours to small groups, I mostly guide to private tours. I am also a foodie, I love discovering new restaurants and tasty stops of the city. I am here to guide you and share all my knowledge with you.
Istanbul Tour Guide
Dilek Orubegarcia
My name is Dilek, a national-licensed tour guide. I am 40 years old and have been guiding for 12 years. My husband is from Mexico as a Mexican Turkish family and with our two young kids we live in Istanbul. When I don't work I spend most of my time outdoor with my family, enjoying Istanbul as much as we can. We go out, try to discover new restaurants, new museums, art galleries, children's activities. I am qualified in the knowledge of Turkish history, mythology, archaeology, history of religion, and history of art. I speak English and Spanish. Following my university graduation, I lived in England for 5 years where I continued my education studying Travel and Tourism at Greenwich School of Management. After I lived a short time in Guatemala, Cuba to learn Spanish. On my tour I would like to show you architectural styles, historical fun facts, famous historical monuments, tell you about the people's life in Istanbul, how we spend our days, where do people go to eat, what we eat, where we shop, what we listen, the best places to eat, drink and party. As your local guide, I am flexible to your wishes and needs. Making it interesting and enjoyable for you is my wish. With all of my years of experience in the travel industry, I hope to help you make the most of your time in beautiful Istanbul by taking a tour with me. I very much look forward to meeting you all!
Istanbul Tour Guide
Rose The Guide
Professional Tour / Travel Guide and Photographer Certified by Turkish Republic Ministry of Culture and Tourism. I am a knowledgeable and motivated individual with years of experience in organizing group tours in several areas; have the ability to motivate different sets of audience; have the ability to communicate effectively and possess high degree of energy and enthusiasm.
Istanbul Tour Guide
Guide Hamide
Hello, everyone! I'm Hamide, a professional tour guide in Istanbul. I studied archeology, mithology, history of art, anatolia, and religions. After my bachelors' degree graduation, I started to work in Cappadocia for 4 years. I came and settled in Istanbul when I realised that Istanbul has a very deep history, a unique multiple culture and stunning geography! I still keep experiencing new tastes and much deeper traditions as a lifetime learner in Istanbul! I'm just looking for fellow travellers to collect more memories together!
Tours by Guide
Istanbul Tour Guide
Erol Savda
born in istanbul, grew up in İstanbul ,live in İstanbul. During my childhood , i was hanging around tourist attractions of Istanbul to develop my English Language skills with tourists and this is how my want to be a tour guide had started 40 years ago. While i was studying to get a degree in English Language Teaching, i took further training to be a tour guide and here i am in the field since 1996.
5. Kadınbudu Köfte
Kadınbudu Köfte is a delicious traditional Turkish meatball. In Turkish, Kadin budu means “lady’s thigh” and it is meat which is mixed with rice, covered with beaten eggs and flour and fried in a pan. These tantalising meatballs are shaped a bit elliptic and are sizable enough to make one full from just one of these delicacies.
Hunkar Restaurant
Address: Mim Kemal Oke Caddesi No:21 Nisantasi - Istanbul
Website: Hunkar Restaurant
6. Hünkar Beğendi
Hünkar Beğendi translates to “the Sultan liked it”, is a Turkish dish drenched in tales of ancient history. There are two stories for the derivation of the name with the first being that the meal was served to Sultan Murad IV and he liked it. The second being the dish was served to Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, in Sultan Abdülaziz’s Beylerbeyi Palace who loved it so much she was reluctant to share the recipe. Luckily the tastes have been duplicated, and travellers and locals can enjoy this cuisine. Hünkar Beğendi is a wholesome lamb stew made with butter and melted kasar cheese which is presented on a bed of creamy eggplant puree.
Hunkar Restaurant
Address: Mim Kemal Oke Caddesi No:21 Nisantasi - Istanbul
Website: Hunkar Restaurant
7. Kuyu Kebabi
Hailing from the city of Kastamonu, take a bite out of the flavoursome tastes of Kuyu Kebabi. This kebap is derived from the cooking style where kuyu literally means “well.”. This dish is prepared by hanging a whole lamb in a special hole over a charcoal fire and allowed to slow cook. The meat gets its unique flavours by incorporating pine tree branches.
Hamdi Restaurant
Address: 19 Mayıs Mah. 19 Mayıs Cad. No: 2 Şişli - İstanbul
Website: Hamdi Restaurant
8. Künefe
Looking for the perfect dessert to curb your cravings for something savoury? Be sure to try a Künefe, which is a cheesy Turkish dessert. This dessert is a crispy cheese-filled savoury made with kadayif which is a blend of traditional shredded wheat dessert and pistachio killing. Künefe is best enjoyed hot, straight out of the oven to capture the soft, stringy texture of the cheese. These desserts are served in a shallow, round metal pan specifically designed for the dessert. Künefe will send you into a food coma.
Hamdi Restaurant
Address: 19 Mayıs Mah. 19 Mayıs Cad. No: 2 Şişli - İstanbul
Website: Hamdi Restaurant
9. Balik Ekmek
As you leisurely stroll along the picturesque Bosphorus shore, you are bound to hear the jovial calls from the local food vendor to try one of Istanbul’s iconic tourist snacks. Balik Ekmek can be bought on the go from a street vendor as you are about to head out on your next adventure of the city. Balik Ekmek is simply a grilled fish fillet sandwich accompanied by onions, tomatoes, parsley, and lettuce. The sandwich gets its unique flavour from the sauce which is a blend of lemon juice, salt and pickles called tursu.
Emin Usta Balicisi
Address: Karakoy Pier | next to the Karakoy fish market, Istanbul 34425,
10. Baklava
Baklava is an age-old dessert with the recipe being passed down from generation to generation. This rich, sweet dessert pastry is a highly sought-after Turkish delight. The finest selection of nuts like walnuts, hazelnuts or pistachios are roasted to perfection and sandwiched between phyllo dough. The dessert is then dressed with a layer of butter, baked with care and then finished by soaking it in syrup. You can feel the dedication and passion of the craftsmanship that went through creating this delicacy with every bite.
Hamdi Restaurant
Address: 19 Mayıs Mah. 19 Mayıs Cad. No: 2 Şişli - İstanbul
Website: Hamdi Restaurant
The tastes of Istanbul
Unlock the flavours of Istanbul by trying these flavoursome cuisines of the city
In light of the February 2023 earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria, Trip101 urges you to be apprised of the latest news if you have any plans to travel to Eastern Turkey. Other parts of the country remain open to travelers.
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