What To Eat In Istanbul ?

What to eat In Istanbul?
Istanbul, witnessing a variety of civilizations, is the place where the cuisines meet beside the continents. Being the capital of the empires that have enormously widened their territories, the city continues keeping all the flavors from different regions of the World and the mixture of them too. There is so much to taste while visiting the city, so-called local cuisine offers a lot to each and every palate. Here are some examples of Contemporary Turkish Cuisine that you should not miss during your stay in Istanbul.

Turkish Breakfast

Decent Turkish Breakfast is the best way to start the day with. As there is no simple formula, the breakfast consists of many products and lasts forever till the tea is over. At least there should be 2 people to enjoy as the conversation is the main motive to enjoy the extensive time. Generally, the elements are different kinds of cheese from all the regions of Turkey, ham, pastrami, sucuk, eggs, vegetables, jams, kajmak, and dried fruits. There are many restaurants that only serve breakfast and you may encounter long lines on the weekends.

Doner Kebab in Istanbul

Doner is basically meat cut into thin slices, it is served in various ways, some enjoy it plain in a dish with or without pilaff, otherwise, it is consumed in a slice of bread or lavas(burrito). Also, it has another famous variation coming from the first capital of the Ottoman Empire which is called Bursa Kebabı. This version is served in a dish over thin bread with tomato sauce and yogurt which also is a must to try.

Lahmacun

This is a real thin flatbread that has a mixture of minced meat, onions, peppers, tomato, and herbs on top, mostly served and consumed with parsley and lemon. You just roll the Lahmacun to eat and a yogurt drink (ayran) goes well with it. This meal is usually preferred to skip lunch or dinner in a quick and cheaper way.

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Grilled Fish

You should definitely try grilled fish in Istanbul, you may try that as a snack on the street or in a fancy restaurant on the Bosphorus Strait, they both make you feel that you are in Istanbul. The fish season generally ends towards June and starts again in September, to enjoy the local seafood, you should be visiting the city between these months, otherwise, the ones that you will have most probably be the frozen products. The best places to have dinner are located by the fishmarkets, also the prices are much more reasonable than the ones on the water.

Kuru Fasulye (Beans)

This is maybe one of the best dishes for vegetarians and vegans unless there is meat in it also is cooked with meat. This simple food is a lifesaver for locals who have tight budgets but the taste appeals to all the people from all standards. It is best to have a plate of rice aside or you may ask the beans to be served on top of the rice.

Mezes (Tapas)

These little plates to share are the heritage from all the civilizations that have lived on this land for ages and the perfection comes from this combination. There are hundreds of different kinds of mezes that could be found throughout the city and commonly they are sought by the ones who want to spend an entertaining night. Thus, meyhanes(taverns) are the best places to enjoy a different kind of mezes. Mainly, they are accompanied with raki, the Turkish pastis.

You may ask for the best places to eat while touring with your guide or you may join a guided food tour to have a bit of a few foods in a short time. Remember that it is quite hard to find the best local experiences foodwise as you will see thousands of options but one belly to fill.

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