Turkish cuisine | What and where to eat in mega city Istanbul
As a cultural melting pot, Istanbul has the most pleasant culinary scene to influence all its visitors. From special and traditional beverages like Boza to classic dishes like Sultanahmet meatballs with captivating tastes, they're all matchless pleasures to have. But where do you begin when there are so many diverse meal options to pick from? Time to quench your cravings and discover what and where to eat in the world-famous Istanbul city!
- Food
- Published Date: 12:38 | 08 January 2023
- Modified Date: 10:14 | 26 January 2023
Kanlıca is a Bosphorus neighbourhood, famed all across the country with its fabulous yoghurt since the 17th century. Its yoghurt is pretty unique and it takes its matchless taste with the perfect mix of fresh, well-fed goat, cow, and sheep milk varieties.
You can find the renowned Kanlıca Yoghurt in traditional restaurants and cafés in the Kanlıca neighbourhood. An icing sugar is added on top of this tasty snack to give it a distinctive texture and flavour. Have a relaxing getaway in Bosphorus and try this traditional taste while in town!
Kumpir is basically a baked potato – and now you're probably thinking "what's so special about a baked potato?" The scrumptious ingredients crush, pile, and wrestle with one another for a delightful party inside the baked potato.
And when it comes to Kumpir, Ortaköy is the king of all venues to indulge in this delicacy. It's definitely a must-eat street food in Istanbul. Choose your toppings before biting into the smooth, creamy, buttery potato and make sure to get a serving of various sauces to add more flavour to your Kumpir!
Searching for a filling and satisfying breakfast? Head down to the Kahvaltıcılar Sokağı! Literally meaning "breakfast street", it's lined with neat, boutique restaurants that mainly serve anything you may want for breakfast.
Make sure you go early to find empty seats because this place is extremely popular, especially among youngsters and students, so it tends to be very crowded on the weekends. It is unquestionably time to go on this incredible breakfast discovery in Istanbul's narrow backstreets!
Giving this unique taste its name, Sultanahmet is of course the ideal place to try Sultanahmet Köftesi. You may season the meatballs with pul biber (pepper flakes), but take it lightly; it may get hot! A chilled glass of Ayran complements this remarkable meal perfectly.
With its rich history of tradition and culture, Sultanahmet meatballs provide more than just the iconic meatball taste. Since Sultanahmet is located in the center of Istanbul, it also allows you to readily discover the city's other mysteries found nearby right after your tasty lunch or dinner!
Vefa Bozası is a legendary taste of Istanbul's Vefa district. It gets its distinctive flavour from the sourness of fermented millet grain and the sweet taste of sugar that comes out with fermentation.
It is served in glasses on large trays with ground cinnamon and roasted chickpeas on top. It is also quite nutritious. Head to Vefa district to enjoy some Boza drink and step back into time with this timeless Turkish beverage!