When in Turkey, eat as the Turks eat. Not only will this save your money, but it will increase your understanding of the country. The culinary experience is a major part of the culture.
Let your exploration of Turkish cuisine be an adventure. Instead of a greasy hamburger, try the Turkish version of fast food: the kebab. Other fast foods include peynirli tost (cheese toast), lamacun (thin meat pizza), kasarli pide (Turkish cheese pizza), simit (hard bagel with sesame seeds), acma (soft bagel) and ayran (salty yogurt drink, appropriate with breakfast, lunch or as a meal on the run).
A typical Turkish breakfast may be provided by your hotel but is also easy to throw together yourself. Fix a plate of fresh bread, sliced cheese, olives, cucumbers, honey and tomato slices, and you’ll be starting your day like a Turk. All of these ingredients will be available at the local corner-store or at a food bazaar.
For a sit-down dinner, find a restaurant serving Turkish entrées or mezes. Scan the menu’s prices and peak in the window to make sure the customers look like locals. Turks typically enjoy lengthy meals when eating out and may sample many mezes (small dishes) rather than eating a large entrée. Some typical Turkish dishes include pilaf (rice and bulgur), borek (thin pastries wrapped around cheese, minced meat, spinach or potatoes), kofte (balls of minced meat, served with various ingredients or a sauce), gozleme (crepes with various fillings), dolma (rice wrapped in grape leaves), manti (meat ravioli), and menemen (eggs, tomatoes and green pepper). Desert may include baklava, kadayif, helva, or dondurma (Turkish ice cream).
Dining in Istanbul
Most visitors to Turkey will spend some time in Istanbul, where the number of Western food chains is particularly high. If your cravings lean towards McDonalds, Starbucks or TGI Friday’s, you’ll feel right at home. However, these places not only rob you of your money with their high prices but also rob you of a genuine Turkish experience.
Instead of running to the Starbucks on Istiklal Caddesi for your morning jolt of caffeine, head to a local teahouse. A small but potent cup of Turkish coffee (kahve) or tea (cay) packs just as much punch as anything at Starbucks and saves a number of lira. What’s more, the locals are quite amiable and you may find yourself making new friends over a few cups of tea and a game of tavla (backgammon).
It is best to escape the Old City when searching for cheap food. A walk along the Golden Horn or a trip to Besiktas or Beyoglu may be in order. To buy your own ingredients, head to the Spice Bazaar. When searching for a good dinner in Beyoglu, don’t be afraid to wander a bit off Istiklal Caddesi (the main street). Many of the best restaurants are on tiny side streets or hidden on roof decks that offer spectacular Istanbul vistas. Nevizade, a popular side street packed with pubs and restaurants, is a good place to start.
Wondering how to get to all these interesting places? Prepare to explore the city by reading Transportation in Istanbul.
You can learn more about food from Turkey and that area of the world by visiting our Middle Eastern Cuisine and Mediterranean Cuisine section
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