One of the best parts about traveling is trying the local cuisine. Turkey (Turkiye) is an international meeting point between the East and the West, and because of this, the local food in Istanbul is varied and delicious. The best way to try the local food in Istanbul is to sample street food from the many local vendors and stalls that line the busy streets.
In this blog post, I’ll share the best street foods to try in Istanbul on your next visit. I’ll give you recommendations on the best food to try, the most famous vendors to visit, as well as tourist traps you’ll want to avoid.
#1: Doner Kebab Durum
Doner kebab is arguably one of the most popular street foods to try in Istanbul. The iconic meat spigots have popped up in places all around the world and the concept exists throughout various cultures and regions. Turkish style Doner Kebab Durum consists of shaved rotisserie meat (either chicken or beef), french fries, pickles, and a flavorful sauce folded together in a “durum” or large wrap similar to a thin pita bread.
It’s not difficult to find doner kebab anywhere in Istanbul, but you’ll want to try it at a well-known vendor. One of the most famous doner kebab spots in Istanbul is 📍Bayramoglu Doner. There’s almost always a line of both locals and tourists spiraling outside on any given night. It’s worth the wait!
#2: Midye Dolma
Midye Dolma (sometimes just called Midye) are mussels stuffed with rice, spices, herbs, and an optional sauce.
As someone who doesn’t love seafood, I was initially hesitant to try midye for the first time. However when I did, it quickly became one of my favorite street foods in Istanbul. The combination of flavors and spices is unmatched, and there is no fishy or “seafood-y” taste. I tend to opt for the midye with sauce: “soslu,” but you can also order them without sauce: “sossuz.”
Midye is another famous street food you’ll find all around Istanbul; however you don’t want to try it just anywhere. You’ll see street vendors with a tray of midye dolma popping up at all hours of the day and night, but I don’t recommend trying it on the side of the road.
For the best experience, you’ll want to try this street food at 📍Midyeci Ahmet – one of the most famous midye vendors in Istanbul. There are a few locations across the city – my personal favorite is on the Asian side of Istanbul in Çengelköy.
#3: Balik Durum
Balik Durum, otherwise known as a “fish wrap” is another famous street food to try when visiting Istanbul. Seafood is popular across the city due to the proximity of the sea (the Bosphorus) and you’ll often find local Turks fishing off the side of the bridges in Istanbul throughout the day.
A typical balik durum incorporates grilled fish, fresh veggies, pomegranate, and plenty of sauces and spices folded together in a wrap. The wraps are always flavorful, fresh, and seasoned to perfection.
There are many options for fish sandwiches (balik ekmek) in the Eminonu district, but I don’t recommend these places. The sandwiches tend to be dry and bready, and oftentimes the bones aren’t fully removed from the fish. These places tend to be tourist traps.
For this reason, I recommend trying a Balik Durum instead. The bread is thin (the same type of bread used for doner kebab durum), so the focus of the sandwich is the fish. The most popular place to try this is 📍Balik Dürüm Mehmet Usta in Karakoy. There is almost always a line extending down the street, but take that as a sign that you’re at a good spot.
#4: Lahmacun
Lahmacun is a popular street food across many cultures, but the Turkish style lahmacun is unmatched.
Sometimes referred to as “Turkish style pizza,” Lahmacun consists of a thin flatbread topped with a layer of minced meat, tomatoes, and onions. It’s typically eaten rolled up with squeezed lemon juice and a bunch of parsley. The flavor combination is very unique, and it’s a great appetizer to eat alongside meat kebabs.
You can find Lahmacun at many kebab vendors and restaurants across Istanbul, but one of the most famous places to try it is at 📍Öz Kilis Kebap and Lahmacun Restaurant in Fatih. However I personally have never had a bad Lahmacun, so don’t be afraid to try it from a different vendor!
#5: Kokoreç
Kokoreç may be one of Istanbul’s most adventurous street foods to try. If you’re a fan of organ meat (or just feeling brave), kokoreç is a must try. It’s grilled lamb intestines chopped and mixed with spices and tomatoes, then served in bread as a sandwich.
It’s similar in appearance to the doner kebab, as it’s also visible at vendors rotating on a spigot. The smells that come from these shops are always amazing! This isn’t my favorite street food, but I believe it’s worth trying at least once while in Turkey.
One of the most popular places to try kokoreç is at 📍Sampiyon Kokoreç. They have a few locations so check out the one closest to your area.
#6: Kumpir
A Turkish baked and stuffed potato, otherwise known as kumpir, is a popular street food you must try when visiting Istanbul.
It’s a pretty simple yet delicious street food. Vendors start with a hot baked potato and mix it with cheese, and then add a variety of toppings to your liking. I typically add olives, peppers, corn, beef sausage, and hot sauce. They have 20+ toppings you can add to the potato to make it as stuffed as you like it. This is definitely a filling street food – so share with someone if you can!
The best area in Istanbul to try kumpir is 📍Ortakoy. This neighborhood is located within the Beşiktaş district on the European side of the city. They have about 25 kumpir vendors lined up selling the same exact thing – so you can’t go wrong with choosing a vendor here.
#7: Helva
I wanted to include something sweet on this list! Helva is a traditional dessert served in different ways across many different cultures and regions of the world.
Turkish style helva is made from semolina flour and has a thick consistency with a somewhat nutty flavor. They typically start with a cup of Turkish ice cream and top it with the warm helva mixture, adding tahini and pine nuts to the top. The contrast of the warm helva with the cold ice cream is amazing!
You can find helva all across Istanbul at various street vendors, but one of the most famous places to try it is at 📍Helvaci Ali. They have multiple locations across the city, but I love the one in the Galata district.
#8: Islak Burger
The famous islak burger, or “wet burger” is another famous street food to try when in Istanbul. Islak burgers are different from your typical hamburger. They start with a beef patty, but the white bun around it is soaked in a garlick-y tomato sauce. The burgers steam inside a clear box typically on display for customers. They are served slightly wet (hence the name) after steaming in the tomato sauce for some time.
Islak burgers a popular late-night food in Istanbul and you’ll see it served into the early morning hours. One of the most popular areas to try it is in Taksim Square at one of the many vendors selling it. The best vendor to try it at is 📍Kizilkayalar – they have multiple locations across the city and typically long lines as well.
#9: Borek
Borek is a traditional Turkish pastry typically eaten at breakfast-time. It consists of a multi-layered dough with filling added to it. You can choose from cheese, spinach, meat, and vegetable filling. My personal favorite is the cheese-filled borek.
Most neighborhoods will have a small borek shop (borekçisi) where you can grab a quick Turkish çay (tea) and borek pastry on-the-go, but some of the best places to try it are located in Sariyer. My personal favorite place to eat borek is 📍Emirgan Sütiş. Not only is their borek amazing and famous, you can also eat it with a beautiful view as the restaurant located along the Bosphorus.
#10: Simit
Simit is a type of Turkish bagel that’s made from a soft dough that’s shaped into a ring and covered in sesame seeds. It’s a popular snack food in Istanbul and is often eaten as a breakfast food or a snack on the go.
The pastry has a crisp exterior and a chewy interior, making it the perfect combination of texture and flavor. It’s often served plain, but can also be filled with ingredients such as cheese, nutella, or jam. It pairs well with a cup of hot tea (çay).
There’s not really one best place to try simit as it generally tastes the same across the city. You’ll oftentimes see simit vendors outside of metro stations or scattered across busy touristy spots like the Hagia Sophia.
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