Anyone who knows me knows I am an absolute Turkish food junky. It is probably my most favorite food in the world, next to Korean food. In 2019, my family decided to travel specifically for food. We weren’t your typical tourists flocking to the tourist sites. We saw some here and there, but we aren’t much for crowds. We like going off the beaten path and exploring what the real country is like. We like meeting the locals and eating their family owned restaurant food. Homecooked authentic is my absolute favorite. The photos and videos you see in this article are from our own travels. The quality may not always be great as I was just using my phone, but you can get an idea anyway.
Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight is a sweet treat, known as Lokum in Türkiye. The varieties of flavor are endless. This sweet candy can be found all over Istanbul and is frequently found with chopped pistachios or coated in sugar. Flavors include: rose, hazelnut, orange, lemon, pomegranate, chocolate, and more.
Turkish delight that is fresh is not even close to the store-bought kind, so if you have ever wanted to find out what the fresh version tastes like, you must go find it in the Bazaar area of Istanbul. Not just the Grand Bazaar. There are others. We met the kindest gentlemen when we purchased ours. I also purchased a cezve from them and then they gave us a private tour of their building that had underground cisterns followed by a Turkish rug weaving lesson. Such hospitality and kindness everywhere in Türkiye.
Baklava
Since we are on the topic of sweets, we cannot forget Baklava. This rich dessert pastry, made with pistachios, phyllo, and honey, is a dream dessert that can drench your sweet tooth posthaste. It can be found in pastry shops all over the city, so don’t worry! You can live the dream anytime you like.
Lotus Root Ice Cream
This unique delicacy is made even more interesting by the way the ice cream is served by the ice cream vendor. It’s more like a game. they will scoop it up onto a cone for you and then tease you with it and see if you can grab it from them. Perfect fun for the kids. Also a nice way to break up the day and add a smile to your face.
Katmer
Similar to baklava, this breakfast pastry also uses phyllo, but it is filled with a cream kaymak and covered in pistachios. It is very sweet, so don’t let the pistachios fool you. However, it is a must try for your morning sugar rush, if that is your preference.
Breakfast
We’re not going to give this a name. Breakfast in Türkiye is a full event. In our time there, we were served lavish meals that were far more than anyone could possibly eat, but filled with so many meats, cheeses, vegetables, and more. Of course, it always included Turkish coffee (my favorite way to make coffee - see the cezve above). Below are some photos from various breakfasts we were served during our time there. My personal favorite egg dish is Menemen. It’s scrambled eggs with sauteed vegetables, tomatoes, and spices. It is so good!
Salads
My all-time favorite salads are what are commonly referred to as Greek salads, but they are definitely rooted in the Turkish culture. The whole Balkan region offers these salads and they do NOT use vinegar. I have yet to ever experience vinegar as a dressing. Lemon juice is most common. Below are a few examples of other salads I enjoyed in Türkiye that varied from this salad. However, olives are always present.
Breads
Breads and baked goods can be found throughout the region. I wanted to take a moment to share a video I took one morning of neighborhood women making bread from scratch. This wasn’t in Istanbul. It was in Göreme (near Cappadocia). The breakfast photo on the right above was the neighboring building, so that is why I even knew to visit these women making the delicious bread we were enjoying. They were the happiest people I’ve ever met. I honestly can’t say enough about the Turkish people.
Simit
Speaking of breads, you must try Simit. This pretzel-like bread tastes similar to a bagel, but coated in sesame seeds. People will often eat it with fresh honey and a buffalo-milk clotted cream (kaymak).
Döner Kebab
Döner kebab street food is probably one of my all time favorite food choices. You can get these all over Europe. Döner kebab is made by shaving meat off of a continuously roasted slab of meat, often lamb or beef. These shaved meat slices are then added to a thick flatbread and coated with a delicious herbed yogurt sauce. You can add onions, pickles, and tomatoes if you like (most often come this way). You can also have a döner pizza, which is a pizza with döner meat on it and similar dressings.
Pide
Speaking of pizza, you must try Turkish pizza. It is called pide and this unique pizza is made with a flavorful grilled flat bread and topped with meat and/or vegetables. It is not considered a meal unto itself, but as a common appetizer. It can also be served with a meze platter.
Lahmacun
Lachmucun is another pizza-style appetizer commonly found in Istanbul. It has a thinner and softer crust. The toppings are ground meat or a tomato paste. There are other varieties, but this common snack is a great starter to your full-course meal.
Şakşuka
This traditional vegetable dish is made with eggplant, zucchini, onions, peppers, and a garlicy tomato sauce. It’s even more fun when you go to a restaurant that cooks it in a clay pot over flames in front of you. Check out this video from our experience.
Turkish Coffee
There are so many more dishes I could discuss. Türkiye is a food paradise, to be honest. However, I would be remiss to not take the time now to gush over Turkish coffee. Hands down, the best coffee in the world, if you ask me. They take the cezve (photo above) and put the coffee grounds and water in it. Then they cook it either in hot sand, or over a flame. It is not held in a constant position so that the coffee has time to brew slowly. Once it rises in the cezve, you pour it into your cup, grounds and all. I know it might be strange at first, but I assure you, it is absolutely worth it. The best flavor you will find anywhere.
Recommended Dishes
You could literally travel to Istanbul simply for the food. I did and I would do it again. On top of that, you will get some of the best hospitality in the world. It is an absolutely amazing experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Foods to definitely try included the foods mentioned above as well as kebabs, Balik Ekmek, Midye Dolma (Stuffed Mussels), Manti (Turkish Ravioli), Meze, Kumpir, and Pomegranate juice. Let me know your experiences with Turkish food in Istanbul!