Top 8 Traditional Turkish Food in Istanbul (Beyond Kebabs and Baklava)

Before you find your plate full of kebabs or baklavas, we have shared a list of the top 8 mouthwatering specialties from traditional Turkish menus to make your trip to Turkey flavorful and memorable. Whether you’re looking for traditional Turkish breakfasts or want to end a long tiring day with fine dining, you can find everything from traditional Turkish food in Istanbul to delicious international surprises nearby.

The 8 Best Turkish Food in Istanbul (+Best Places to Eat)

Here are some of the best traditional foods to try in Istanbul (beyond kebabs and baklava):

1. Köfte (Meatballs)
   
   
2. Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza)
   
   
3. Çiğ köfte (CHEE’ kuf-TAY’)
   
   
4. Mantı (mahn-TUH’—a Turkish Ravioli)
   
   
5. Karnıyarık (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant)
   
   
6. Yoğurt Çorbası (Yogurt Soup)
   
   
7. Mücver (Turkish Fritters)
   
   
8. Falafel (“fell-off-uhl”—vegans’ favorite)

1. Köfte (Meatballs)

Meatballs are a popular Turkish dish. There are plenty of different ways to enjoy the flavors of meatballs, and these vary from city to city. Şiş köfte (köfte is pressed onto flat skewers or Şiş), Salçalı köfte (köfte simmered in a tomato sauce), İzmir köfte (köfte simmered in a vegetable stew), Peynirli köfte (with cheese in the köfte) are just a few among many varieties.

It is believed that Turkey alone has around 291 different kinds of meatballs (köfte). Sultanahmet Meatballs, which can be found in and around Istanbul, is a complete meal in itself. With the help of a meat grinder, the meat is ground to make it into dough. This meat dough is then rolled and prepared to make what is called Sultanahmet Meatballs. They have a chewy structure. 

Best Place to Eat:

• Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta (Sultanahmet, European Side)

2. Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza)

Lahmacun is a Turkish delicacy that is prepared from dough that contains minced meat. Generally, Lahmacun can be found in the same eateries that serve Kebabs. To prepare this dish, ground beef is seasoned with an array of aromatic spice mixes, including cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, smoked paprika, and pepper. Lahmacun has a very soft consistency, the bread is not hard. All these seasonings added to the meat actually create a different food flavor and remain lighter in flavor than heavy steaks. Sounds like a treat for the growling stomach, doesn’t it?

You will find people delving into the flavors of Lahmacun by rolling it like a wrap. Drizzle some lemon juice to complement the richness of this dish and have it with some salad. Try having Lahmacun with some Ayran (a yogurt-based savory drink), to balance out the spices in it.

Blime Tip: Ask the cook to adjust the spice level based on your preference, while placing the order. Little customizations like this will make you enjoy the excellence of this dish even more.

Best Place to Eat:

• Çıtır Pide Lahmacun Kebap (Beşiktaş, European Side)

• MODA ERCAN Döner-Pide-Lahmacun (Kadıköy, European Side)

P.S. You can easily find lahmacun on virtually every street in Istanbul!

3. Çiğ köfte (CHEE’ kuf-TAY’)

Çiğ köfte literally translates to “raw meatballs”. If you are someone who loves meat, then be prepared for the punch of flavors you’ll get once it touches your palate as it’s one of the favorite Turkish appetizers. Traditionally, Çiğ köfte was made by kneading all the ingredients with raw ground meat for hours! Today, it is made with bulgur as the raw meat spoils very fast and there is a rise in health concerns regarding the consumption of raw meat.

If you’ve never had it before, Çiğ köfte are moderately spicy, slightly lemony, a bit garlicky, and packed with the flavors of light and fresh ingredients. They are tender and flavorful that pair perfectly with crispy lettuce or wraps. You can find it almost everywhere—from street stalls to famous city restaurants in Istanbul which makes it one of the most popular easy to eat on-the-go Turkish food choices for both locals and tourists.

• If you’re a vegan, then you aren’t missing out on the excellence of this dish, too! Çiğ köfte has also developed into a vegan option to suit the needs of all kinds of food lovers.

With bulgur and bread as a base, the vegan version of Çiğ köfte combines similar spices and ingredients. The key lies in kneading, which gives it its signature tenderness. Similar to the meat Çiğ köfte, have the tender vegan Çiğ köfte with some crunchy lettuce wraps for the bite and some Ayran on the side. If you want to try it, ask for “Çiğ köfte in a taco” as this combination is growing its fanbase.

Best Place to Eat:

• Komagene (Komagene has a large number of branches in Istanbul. You can locate the nearest Komagene branch by searching “Komagene near me” in Google Maps)

4. Mantı (mahn-TUH’—a Turkish Ravioli)

Manti is a Turkish pasta dumpling with meat stuffing in it. The origins of this dish are believed to lie in central Asia, brought to Anatolia by nomadic Mongols and migrating Turks via the Silk Road hundreds of years ago. If you have ordered Manti in a Turkish restaurant, you will usually be served a bowl of hot and tiny dumplings with seasoned minced meat as a filling.

These tiny meat-filled dumplings are usually topped with a variety of sauces like caramelized tomato, butter sauce, spiced oil sauce, and garlicky yogurt sauce. You can also find a fried variety of Manti in Istanbul streets. Vegans and Vegetarians can also enjoy a non-meat (vegan) version of Manti. Generally, the vegan-style dumplings are made up of sautéed onions and chickpeas. Fried vegan mantı options are also available in most Istanbul restaurants that specialize in mantı.

Best Place to Eat:

• Pita Mantı (Kadıköy, Asian Side)
• Kovada Mantı Beşiktaş (Beşiktaş, European Side)
• Mr. Dumpling (good selection of vegan options available here)

5. Karnıyarık (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant)

Karnıyarık is a traditional Turkish eggplant dish that is usually stuffed with ground meat, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and other aromatic spices. The name ‘Karnıyarık’ translates into “split belly” or “riven belly”, referring to the technique of splitting down the eggplant belly to create some space for the seasoned and minced meat filling.

It is topped with some garlicky tomato sauce to balance out the flavors of eggplant and meat filling. Karnıyarık’s tender and comforting taste is a perfect match for the Turkish summers. It is usually eaten with some rice. Pair this combo with some freshly chopped in-season salad. If you are ordering Karnıyarık in a restaurant then give it a shot with some Ayran (a yogurt-based savory drink) on the side. Even if you forget, you may find the waiter recommending it to you!

Best Place to Eat: 

• Rita İstanbul (Şişli, European Side)

6. Yoğurt Çorbası (Yogurt Soup)

Yoğurt Çorbası or Yayla çorbası (YAI’-lah chor-BAH’-suh) is made with yogurt as its primary ingredient. It is made with lots of love and devoured throughout Turkey, and each province has its own twist to the dish. This light yet filling yogurt soup has a sweet and mint flavor that tastes refreshingly cool. The rice in the soup gives you a feeling of fullness and the yogurt contributes to making the soup taste fresh and cool.

Unlike most dairy products, most people enjoy this yogurt soup in summer while some locals also like to prefer it during the winter. This traditional Turkish yogurt soup is usually served as a starter but can leave you feeling satisfied like no other. It can also appear as the soup of the day for most restaurant menus.

Best Place to Eat:

• Souper (Şişli, European Side)
• Karaköy Çorba Evi (Karaköy, European Side)

7. Mücver (Turkish Fritters)

Mucver are moist and delectable fritters; a perfect fit as a morning or evening snack. The dough in this dish is prepared by adding flour and eggs to a mixture of shredded zucchini and cheese (optional). The flavors are layered with some parsley, fresh thyme, dill, and fresh mint. It is refreshing when eaten with yogurt. A topping of dill and red pepper flakes makes the musk even tastier when eaten warm. 

Although it is traditionally served to guests during tea hours, you can also find it in most restaurants. You are more likely to find Mücver in restaurants that do home cooking (without branches). You can have Mucver as an appetizer with some yogurt dipping or have it in a meze platter (a small dish of food often served at the start of a meal alongside drinks) along with other meze items including Kısır (Turkish bulgur salad with greens), Çiğ köfte and fresh Humus. You can also pair it with a meat dish like kebabs, sip some Turkish black tea (Çay) with it in the evening, or include it in your picnic menu at a nearby park in Istanbul.

Best Place to Eat:

• Rulo Lezzetler – Vegan (Kadıköy, Asian Side)

8. Falafel (“fell-off-uhl”—vegans’ favorite)

Falafel (round or flat chickpea patty) is one of Middle Eastern cuisine’s most well-known Turkish street food dishes. Although it is street food, you can find it in several different restaurants across Istanbul. Falafel’s popularity has made it cross the boundaries of Middle Eastern countries, and it has emerged as one of the favorite go-to meals for people all across the world.

Today you’ll find most people with their own versions of it to fit their wants and needs. Falafel is considered a pretty versatile dish. You can have it as a sandwich with some tahini dipping (a traditional sauce made from sesame seeds) and a fresh Mediterranean salad.

Falafel wraps are a hit these days. In this, Falafel is coupled with pitta bread, some fresh and crunchy lettuce, drizzled lemony tahini sauce, finely chopped cucumber, tomato, onion, and bell pepper, layered with the flavors of chopped mint, parsley, and sumac (Mediterranean astringent spice made from a berry fruit).

And, if you’re also planning for a shopping spree in Istanbul, it can be your best vegan choice to please for sure. Just grab the wrap and enjoy this authentic street food of Istanbul on the go (just make sure to save your shirt from those yummy dripping sauces).

Best Place to Eat:

• Jeni Falafel & Rolls (Suadiye, Asian Side)
• Yalla Falafel (Beşiktaş, European Side)