What to eat in Istanbul: 8 dishes worth remembering
A practical first-timer's guide to simit, döner, balık ekmek, midye dolma and other essential Istanbul tastes.
Istanbul rewards curiosity. Start with a sesame-crusted simit in the morning, cross the city for a fish sandwich, and leave room for the food carts that come alive after dark.
- Simit
A crisp, sesame-covered bread ring that works as breakfast or an anytime street snack.
- Döner
Thin slices of seasoned meat cut from a vertical spit, served in bread, dürüm or on a plate.
- Balık ekmek
Grilled fish in bread, closely associated with the waterfront around Eminönü and Karaköy.
- Midye dolma
Mussels filled with aromatic rice and finished with a squeeze of lemon.
- Kokoreç
A boldly seasoned, finely chopped offal sandwich for adventurous late-night eating.
- Tavuk pilav
Buttery rice with chickpeas and shredded chicken, often sold from small street carts.
- Lahmacun
A thin, crisp round topped with seasoned minced meat; roll it with greens and lemon.
- Turkish breakfast
A generous spread of cheeses, olives, eggs, tomatoes, breads, preserves and tea.
How to make the list your own
- Try different neighbourhoods instead of eating only around the main sights.
- Save the exact dish and place in Mappetite while the memory is fresh.
- Ask the vendor how spicy or rich a dish is before ordering.
Keep your own food map
Save the dish, place, photo and score in Mappetite, then find the memory when you need it.
Open Mappetite