Turkey is legendary for thus many issues, together with historical past, seashores, nature, and its traditions, however I’ll allow you to in on a secret—the meals in Turkey is like nowhere else on earth. Should you’re a foodie, you’ve simply discovered your match: each area is legendary for one thing, and the highest dishes are well-loved for an excellent cause. Conventional dishes to strive in Turkey are plentiful.
I lived in Turkey for a number of years, and I nonetheless go to incessantly now. My husband is Turkish and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have opened my culinary thoughts and tried as many scrumptious forms of Turkish meals as I’ve. That is arms down top-of-the-line locations to strive one thing new, and even if you happen to’re a choosy eater, you’re certain to be tempted to offer new dishes a go merely due to how wonderful they appear and odor.
15 Finest Meals to Strive in Turkey
There’s a lot well-known meals in Turkey, that you just may wrestle to know the place to begin—that’s the place this record is available in. The primary time I visited, I didn’t perceive so much when it got here to the meals, and as ashamed as I’m to confess this now, I caught with the common worldwide fare. Don’t make the identical mistake; there’s far an excessive amount of deliciousness to get caught in a culinary rut.
On this record, you’ll discover 15 of the tastiest and most well-known meals to strive throughout your go to to Turkey. It doesn’t matter the place you’re visiting in Turkey, or what area, as you’ll discover these meals in all places, they usually’re all fairly affordable by way of value too. You may acknowledge a few of them, however even if you happen to don’t, be courageous and pattern them anyway: I promise you gained’t be upset.
1. Döner Kebab
(Most Well-known Meals to Strive in Turkey General)
Whenever you consider Turkish meals, you in all probability consider the döner kebab first. Now, I ought to level out that that is nothing just like the dry or greasy kebab you get on an evening out after the membership again house; it is a juicy, scrumptious, and downright mouth-watering deal with. You don’t need to smother this in ketchup and mayonnaise to make it style good – it does all that by itself.
Döner kebab is usually both beef (mostly) or rooster, and it’s cooked on a big rotisserie. The server slices items off the vertical “skewer” and layers them in your wrap, bread, or pitta, together with salad and infrequently fries. You’ll be able to inform them if you happen to don’t need any particular components added, and notably with rooster, a yogurt sauce could also be added.
So far as Turkish avenue meals goes, that is essentially the most well-known of all of them, and also you’ll discover distributors promoting it in all places. Nevertheless, the perfect döner I’ve ever tried was from Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta in Beşiktaş, Istanbul. The meat is at all times juicy, and the queue ought to let you know how good it’s—get there early as a result of as soon as it’s gone, they shut for the day.
Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta Info
Handle: Sinanpaşa, Mumcu Bakkal Sokağı No:6, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Telephone: +90 212 261 7693
Working Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10.30 am – 5.30 pm, closed on Sundays
Common Value of the Dish: 150TL/$5
2. Turkish Breakfast (Together with Menemen)
I’m going to cheat slightly right here and add a complete meal slightly than a particular meals: if I listed the whole lot in a Turkish breakfast, I’d be right here all day. Breakfast is essentially the most well-known meal of the day in Turkey, and it’s recognized regionally as ‘kahvaltı’. You could have seen photos of a desk crammed with small plates containing varied meals, equivalent to cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, chilly meats, eggs, jam, honey, and far more – properly, that’s a Turkish breakfast.
A typical breakfast in Turkey goes on for hours, and also you merely spend time speaking, sipping çay (tea), and nibbling on the whole lot on the desk. My favourite factor a couple of Turkish breakfast is menemen – a sizzling breakfast dish consisting of peppers, typically onions, tomatoes, tomato paste, and eggs. It’s blended collectively, and also you eat it with bread—wonderful.
For essentially the most epic Turkish breakfast, head to Van Kahvaltı Evi in Beyoğlu, near Taksim, Istanbul. Should you’re visiting on the weekend, get there early because it’s extraordinarily common with locals. Nevertheless, I at all times suppose that’s the perfect mark of high quality, and this place hasn’t upset me as soon as (and I’ve been many instances).
Van Kahvaltı Evi Info
Handle: Kılıçali Paşa, Defterdar Ykş. 52/A, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
Telephone: +90 212 293 6437
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8 am – 5 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 400TL/$14
3. Lahmacun
One other well-known dish of Turkey is lahmacun, also known as Turkish pizza, though I don’t suppose it’s something like pizza in any respect. Lahmacun is a skinny and crispy flatbread that’s topped with minced lamb, tomatoes, and spices after which cooked in a wood-fired oven. It’s then eaten rolled up with onions, greens, and tomatoes inside, smothered in lemon juice.
Gaziantep is legendary for lahmacun, and that is the place you’ll discover the spiciest of all of them. The server will ask you if you’d like it acılı (spicy) or acısiz (not spicy), so select in keeping with your preferences. I at all times go for the non-spicy possibility as a result of in Turkey, after they say spicy, they actually do imply spicy!
You’ll discover lahmacun very simply throughout the complete nation, and the perfect I had was at Düveroğlu Kebap Salonu in Ankara, famed amongst locals as the perfect within the space. In some locations, the lahmacun could be a little soggy, however right here was the crispiest and tastiest; I extremely advocate stopping in to strive it for your self if you happen to’re within the space.
Düveroğlu Kebap Salonu Info
Handle: Mutlukent Mahallesi, 2432. Cadde & 1924 Sk. 117-119-121, 06810 Ümitköy/Çankaya/Ankara
Telephone: +90 031 223 51111
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 am – 10 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 90TL/$3
Web site: https://duveroglu.com.tr
4. Pide
One of the common meals in Turkey is certainly pide. Identical to lahmacun, you’ll discover this positively in all places, and it is available in differing kinds. Pide is a flatbread, however it is a little thicker than lahmacun and formed like a ship, with an open filling within the center.
The most typical filings embody mince meat (kıyma), cheese, cheese and spinach, meat, and peppers (kuşbaşılı), and typically you’ll discover it with a fried egg on prime. That is an reasonably priced meals in Turkey and is usually served with salad on the facet. It’s historically from the Black Coastline, notably Trabzon; if you happen to occur to be within the space, it’s the perfect place to strive it.
I had the perfect kıymalı pide from Terminal Pide Trabzon, and I stumbled upon it by chance, just because there gave the impression to be a queue forming outdoors, so I figured it will be good. I wasn’t unsuitable. Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter what metropolis or area you’re in, pide is a meals that’s very straightforward to search out.
Terminal Pide Trabzon Info
Handle: Sanayi, Terminal Sk. No:4, 61100 Ortahisar/Trabzon
Telephone: +90 462 325 0436
Working Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 7 pm, Sunday 8 am – 6 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 200TL/$7
5. Gözleme
One other of my favourite meals, and one which historically goes with breakfast. Gözleme is one other sort of flatbread, however this one is barely totally different because it’s constituted of both home made bread or yufka, which is filo pastry. It’s filled with quite a lot of totally different fillings, together with potato, cheese, and spinach, or minced meat and onion.
Gözleme is usually cooked on a sac griddle, which is a big, domed pan over a excessive warmth. Watching gözleme being made within the conventional approach in a village is sort of hypnotic, and also you’ll probably need to give it a go your self after witnessing it. It’s a conventional native meals in Turkey, and it may also be eaten as a avenue meals.
My favourite filling is potato, however you may as well discover candy variations, equivalent to Nutella by itself or with banana, or tahini. Gözleme is a typical meals in Turkey to get pleasure from with a sizzling glass of çay (tea), and I beloved the one I had in Ankara at Sevgi Anne Gözleme. It is a meals well-known from the central Anatolian area and making an attempt it from the place it originated gives you the tastiest outcomes.
Sevgi Anne Gözleme Info
Handle: Üniversiteler, Şht. Jnd. Astğmn. Mustafa Tayyarcan Cd. No:129, 06800 Çankaya/Ankara
Telephone: +90 312 227 0201
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 7 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 100TL/$3.50
6. Mantı
Should you’ve ever been to Cappadocia or executed any analysis into it, you’ll in all probability know that mantı is a well-known meals from this lovely area, however general, it’s a must-eat in Turkey no matter the place you might be. It’s troublesome to place into phrases what this dish really is, however the closest description is a sort of ravioli or dumpling that’s crammed with meat or cheese, after which both boiled or fried (çıtır mantı). It’s often served with yogurt and garlic.
It is a common dish all around the nation, however if you happen to’re in Cappadocia or the central a part of the nation, you’ll discover the tastiest mantı. I attempted it for the primary time at CANCAN Cafe & Restaurant in Cappadocia, and it’s an awesome spot to go if you happen to’re touring with youngsters; the costs are actually affordable, and it’s a laid-back spot to get pleasure from your meal. The mantı was actually flavorful, and you may select between the fried or boiled/steamed variations.
You’ll in all probability hear mantı known as Turkish ravioli, particularly on worldwide menus, so if you happen to do see that, they’re one and the identical.
CANCAN Cafe & Restaurant Info
Handle: Avcılar Mahallesi, No.27, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir
Telephone: +90 038 427 12440
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 am – 11 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 250TL/$8.50
7. Güveç
If you wish to strive actually genuine Turkish meals, it’s important to give güveç a strive; in reality, when you’ve had it, you’ll be hooked, and also you’ll need it again and again – belief me. You’ll be able to eat this scrumptious meal any time of the 12 months, however I feel it really works very well within the winter months whenever you’re after one thing heat and hearty to fill you up.
Güveç is among the most conventional dishes in Turkey, and it’s a stew-style meal that’s made with slow-boiled meat, often beef. The meat is left to prepare dinner for a number of hours, so it falls aside and melts in your mouth. Peppers, onions, tomatoes, and garlic are added, together with pepper salça, which is a sort of tomato paste, and it’s left to prepare dinner till the whole lot melts into each other.
This dish is often served with rice, however don’t be afraid to seize some recent crusty bread and use it to mop up that scrumptious tomato gravy on the finish. Güveç is certainly one of my favourite conventional dishes and if you happen to’re within the Istanbul space, head to Nişantaşı Güveç for an unforgettable model of this well-known meal.
Nişantaşı Güveç Info
Handle: Teşvikiye, Akkavak Sk. No:36, 34365 Şişli/İstanbul
Telephone: +90 212 224 2464
Working Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 8 pm, closed on Sundays
Common Value of the Dish: 200TL/$7
8. Cağ Kebabı
The primary time I visited Istanbul my husband insisted that we go to a small restaurant in Fatih known as Şehzade Cağ Kebap. I had no thought what I used to be it was, however as soon as we arrived, the place was packed; I figured it have to be good. I wasn’t unsuitable; cağ kebabı is among the prime must-try dishes in Turkey, and if you happen to love lamb, you’ll adore this well-known avenue meals.
Relatively than cooking the meat on a vertical rotisserie like döner, cağ kebabı is cooked on a horizontal spit with layers of marinated lamb that’s so juicy, you gained’t fairly imagine it. I ought to clarify that I don’t like lamb once I’m within the UK, however this lamb is one thing very particular certainly. It’s served on a big kebab stick, and also you eat it with recent lavaş, onions, and tomatoes.
I loved the meal I had at Şehzade Cağ Kebap a lot, and I’m reliably knowledgeable that that is the perfect one, even supposing the dish really hails from Erzurum. I’ve returned a number of instances since, and if you happen to occur to be within the space, I extremely advocate you seize a desk right here.
Şehzade Cağ Kebap Info
Handle: Hoca Paşa, Hoca Paşa Sk. No:6 D:4, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul
Telephone: +90 212 520 3361
Working Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10.30 am – 10.30 pm, closed on Sundays
Common Value of the Dish: 170TL/$7
9. Köfte
One of the well-known and simply discovered forms of meals in Turkey is köfte, which is basically a sort of grilled or barbecued meatball. There are various kinds of köfte, together with Muğla köfte and Izmir köfte to say simply two, and the distinction comes right down to its form and the spices used. Nevertheless, I feel Izmir köfte is the tastiest of all of them, and if you happen to’re within the metropolis, that is one thing you have to strive. You’ll discover common köfte completely in all places.
Köfte may be served on a plate with potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, and rice as a fundamental meal, or it may be loved as a avenue meals in both a wrap or on bread. Both approach, it’s scrumptious and is a well-known dish in Turkey, due to its versatility. You’ll additionally discover köfte in a sauce or a stew.
Should you’re strolling round Istanbul or Izmir specifically, you’ll discover avenue distributors cooking köfte in entrance of you and the odor is bound to make your mouth water. It’s fairly a problem to stroll previous with out giving in. I had the perfect köfte at a small spot in Izmir known as Köfteci Turgay; the köfte was so juicy, and I loved it a lot, that I went again once more the very subsequent day.
Köfteci Turgay Info
Handle: Alsancak, 1456. Sk. No:92/B, 35280 Konak/İzmir
Telephone: +90 232 404 0033
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 am – 9 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 200TL/$7
10. Adana Kebab
Because the title suggests, Adana kebab is a sort of Turkish delicacies that hails from the southern metropolis of Adana. Should you like spice, you’re going to get pleasure from this one, however you may as well ask for it to be made barely much less spicy in case your tastebuds can’t fairly deal with the warmth. Both approach, it’s a really well-known and simply discovered dish, though the perfect ones are certainly present in its namesake metropolis.
Adana kebab is made from minced lamb and spices that are mixed collectively and formed over a protracted kebab skewer. It’s then cooked over an open fireplace to make sure a slight crunch on the skin and loads of juiciness within the center. The skewer is eliminated earlier than dishing up, and it’s sometimes loved with lavaş, tomatoes, and onions, and served alongside rice or bulgur.
You may also get Adana kebab in a wrap, which is a well-known sort of avenue meals you may seize on the go. Both approach, if you happen to’re in Adana itself, be sure you add this to your must-try record; I can extremely advocate Adana Ege Kebap Salonu, as can the various locals who flock there, particularly at weekends.
Adana Ege Kebap Salonu Info
Handle: Cemalpaşa, Ege Taksi içi, Kapalı Spor Salonu Karşısı, 63014. Sk. No:2, 01120 Seyhan/Adana
Telephone: +90 543 457 3628
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 11 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 200TL/$7
11. Dolma
Dolma is a typical meals in Turkey and in addition across the Balkans, relationship again to Ottoman instances. There are various kinds of dolma, however essentially the most well-known is vine leaves filled with rice and spices. You may also discover dolma containing minced meat, or fish, nevertheless, the seafood model is much less frequent.
The dolma is wrapped up right into a cigar-like form after which boiled in liquid till it’s all absorbed and served whereas nonetheless heat. You’ll often discover dolma served with lemon slices, and I wish to drench mine for a very zingy style. The beauty of this dish is that you could eat it sizzling or chilly, so if in case you have any left, merely put them within the fridge and luxuriate in them afterward.
Dolma is discovered all around the nation, and it’s an excellent conventional dish that the majority households will make sooner or later via any given week. I had actually scrumptious dolma in Kadıköy on the Asian facet of Istanbul, in a small restaurant known as Çiya Sofrası; the flavors burst in my mouth, and that’s the place I realized my love for this well-known dish.
Çiya Sofrası Info
Handle: Caferağa, Güneşli Bahçe Sok, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul
Telephone: +90 216 418 5115
Working Hours: Monday – Thursday & Sunday, 11.30 am – 10 pm, Friday & Saturday, 11.30 am – 10.30 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 170TL/$6
12. Iskender Kebab
You’ll in all probability have come to understand by now that there are numerous forms of kebab to strive, and imagine me, I’ve solely launched you to a small handful; there are numerous extra. Nevertheless, Iskender kebab is among the most well-known and conventional meals in Turkey. The dish hails from Bursa, however as with most of those dishes, you’ll discover it very simply regardless of the place you might be within the nation.
Right here, sliced döner meat is served on prime of chopped pitta bread, and is then lined in yogurt and a sizzling tomato and butter sauce. You’ll discover this dish in eating places and small takeaways, though you’d usually eat it inside, as it may be fairly messy! What I like about Iskender is that it’s not dry like another grilled meat kebabs may be, and the bread completely soaks up the yogurt and tomato sauce.
When it comes to what to eat in Turkey, this dish may be very well-known, and even if you happen to’re not Bursa, it’s another choice you’ll discover in all places. Nevertheless, it’s at all times greatest in its house place, and I’d extremely advocate Uludağ Kebapçısı Cemal & Cemil Usta within the Osmangazi space of Bursa for a very conventional model.
Uludağ Kebapçısı Cemal & Cemil Usta Info
Handle: Ulu Mahalle, Uluyol Caddesi, 16. Şirin Sk. No:12, 16220 Osmangazi/Bursa
Telephone: +90 224 254 7264
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 am – 7 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 250TL/$8.50
Web site: uludagkebapcisi.com
13. Baklava
When visiting Turkey, you should strive baklava, whether or not it’s your first time or not. That is a kind of meals that vacationers love, and locals get pleasure from on particular events, and it’s well-known throughout the nation. You’ll discover baklava in most high-end eating places as a dessert and in native patisseries (bakeries) to purchase by weight.
Baklava is a kind of meals in Turkey that you just solely want a really small quantity of it, as a result of it’s fairly wealthy and candy, however there are differing kinds so you could find your favourite model. I like the unique sort essentially the most, which is made from layers of filo pastry with honey syrup and pistachio filling – it’s scrumptious with ice cream too.
I feel baklava makes an awesome present for family and friends again house, and Köşkeroğlu Baklava Tophane is a prime spot to purchase it. The selection on supply is big, they usually present wrap it in a tin to make it look actually fancy. In fact, it may not make it that far – I wouldn’t blame you for consuming it your self earlier than your return house…
Köşkeroğlu Baklava Tophane Info
Handle: Hacımimi, Kemeraltı Cd. No:46, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
Telephone: +90 053 097 74821
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8 am – 12 pm
Common Value of the Dish: Varies relying on weight
Web site: koskeroglu.com.tr
14. Kuru Fasulye
Kuru fasulye is arguably the staple meals of Turkey and it’s a conventional home-cooked meals that the majority households get pleasure from at the very least as soon as every week. You’ll additionally discover it in most house meals eating places across the nation, often known as ‘ev yemek,’ and it’s fairly affordable by way of worth and is simple to make.
Put merely, kuru fasulye means ‘dry beans,’ however the dish typically is a white bean stew in a tomato sauce. It’s sometimes served with rice and bread and infrequently comes as the principle course after soup and salad. The dish may be made with a small quantity of meat (often beef), or it may be vegetarian.
It is a typical Turkish meals that’s cooked all year long and is discovered completely in all places, nevertheless, the tastiest home-cooked meals like that is discovered within the southeast, with a complete host of scrumptious spices to make the dishes much more scrumptious. İspir Fasülyeci Diyarbakır is extremely beneficial by many locals as a prime place to do this conventional meals.
İspir Fasülyeci Diyarbakır Info
Handle: Yenişehir, Lise 5. Sk. No:6, 21100 Yenişehir/Diyarbakır
Telephone: +90 412 999 4720
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 10 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 100TL/$3.50
15. Çiğ Köfte
Whenever you first see çiğ köfte you’ll marvel what on earth it’s, however seems to be may be very deceiving and it’s important to give it a strive. It is a very wholesome and flavorful meals of Turkey and one that you just’ll discover in lots of small vendor shops across the nation. The opposite plus level is that it’s tremendous low-cost so it’s an awesome avenue meals possibility if you happen to’re on a funds.
Çiğ köfte hails initially from the southeast of Turkey, notably the Urfa and Adıyaman space. It’s a combination of bulgur wheat, tomato paste, and spices which are kneaded collectively till extraordinarily easy and served both in lettuce with pomegranate and lemon juice or in a wrap with no matter salad components you want. You may also ask for a spicy or non-spicy model.
There are giant corporations that make this well-known dish, equivalent to Komagene and Oses, however there are small distributors too, and also you usually discover the tastiest variations from locations like that. Çiğ köfte all around the nation however if you wish to strive essentially the most conventional model, head to Adıyaman and take a look at Yeni Nesil Adıyaman Çiğköfte Kenan Usta, a favourite amongst locals.
Yeni Nesil Adıyaman Çiğköfte Kenan Usta Info
Handle: Kapcami, Eski Kahta Cd. No:10, 02100 Adıyaman Merkez/Adıyaman
Telephone: +90 416 216 0282
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 10 am – 12 pm
Common Value of the Dish: 100TL/$3.50
Should-Strive Meals in Turkey: FAQs
Listed below are some solutions to essentially the most generally requested questions on must-try meals in Turkey:
A typical meal in Turkey includes soup to begin, rice, meat, greens, and salad. Probably the most well-known conventional meals are due to this fact güveç and kuru fasulye. Nevertheless, kebabs are additionally frequent, with an enormous vary obtainable, together with Adana kebab, Urfa kebab, and Iskender.
Turkish delicacies is extraordinarily diversified, however the kebab is undoubtedly the nation’s most well-known dish. You’ll discover numerous various kinds of kebabs with diversified meats. Doner kebab might be essentially the most well-known of all of them, and also you’ll discover a majority of these eating places all through the complete nation.
The most well-liked meals in Turkey is tough to pinpoint, however doner kebab is extraordinarily common, together with lahmacun and pide.
Each a part of Turkey is legendary for a particular delicacies, with Izmir well-known for köfte, Cappadocia famed for its mantı, and Adana for its Adana kebab. Nevertheless, for a diversified mixture of dishes, you may’t beat Istanbul; you’ll discover the whole lot you’re in search of on this big metropolis.
A few of the greatest meals in Turkey falls underneath the road meals umbrella. Doner kebab, börek, pide, çiğ köfte, köfte, and kokoreç are a number of the most well-known forms of avenue meals on supply.
In Conclusion
Turkish meals is a number of the greatest on the planet. Maybe I’m slightly biased, however spending giant quantities of time within the nation has opened my palate to fully totally different flavors that I in all probability wouldn’t have dared strive in any other case. Whether or not you’re a meat lover, all in regards to the greens, otherwise you’re into super-spicy delicacies, you’ll discover one thing you’ll fall in love with.
Totally different components of the nation are well-known for particular dishes, however there are some all-rounders, equivalent to lahmacun, pide, and güveç that excel regardless of the place you might be. And naturally, you may’t begin the day with out a full and hearty Turkish breakfast!
So, put together your abdomen for a plethora of scrumptious tastes in your upcoming go to to Turkey—you definitely gained’t go away hungry.
