Istanbul’s Food Culture: A Delicious History

Apart from being the largest city in Turkey, Istanbul is also renowned as one of the world’s most diverse and interesting food cities. With influences from far and wide, you can find delicious and interesting cuisine throughout the city, and there are even some options if you’re vegetarian or vegan! The city has had a culinary reputation since the Byzantine era, and the fascinating blend of cultures here has created one of the greatest food scenes in Europe and perhaps even the world. Here’s our complete guide to Istanbul’s food culture!

The Origin Story

Istanbul is a city with a rich and delicious history. The food culture here is exotic and unique, with a variety of cuisines that are healthy and cheap. The city is also home to some of the best restaurants in the world. Istanbul’s food culture is a delicious history that is worth exploring.

Here are five dishes you should try when visiting Istanbul! Turkish ices are refreshingly sweet and come in a range of flavors from pistachio to cherry, mango to rose water. The ubiquitous kebab has Turkish origins, but the dish has taken on different forms throughout Europe.
In Turkey it is typically made up of lamb or chicken grilled on skewers over an open flame and served with flatbreads called pita breads or lavash breads. Not only is this cheap street food healthy (without MSG), it tastes delicious too. It’s easy to see why it became so popular and spread around the world. The İskender kebap is one of my favorite examples of exotic food in Istanbul. It features thin slices of beef or veal cooked with butter and yogurt, then topped with a mix of diced tomatoes, onions, parsley, dried mint leaves and olive oil; served over roasted pitas soaked in tomato sauce.

12 Iconic Foods

Istanbul is a city with a rich and delicious history, and its food culture is no exception. From iconic street foods to world-renowned restaurants, Istanbul has something for everyone. Here are 12 of the most iconic foods that you’ll find in this vibrant city.

1. This scrumptious sweet snack is made of filo pastry and sugar or honey, with chopped nuts mixed in. It is thought to have originated in the Ottoman Empire, and it is now one of Turkey’s most popular desserts.
2. Döner kebab – This dish consists of slow-roasted meat (usually lamb or beef) that’s thinly sliced and served on a bed of rice or bread.
3. Cacik – Cacik is an appetizer made from yogurt mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, pepper, and occasionally herbs like dill or mint.
4. Bakla ğaç yagli dondurma – Turkish ice cream features some of the most flavorful combinations around; bakla ğaç yagli dondurma combines two flavors that often go hand-in-hand – chocolate and pistachio!
5. Adana kebap – Adana kebap is a type of shish kebab originally from the city of Adana in southern Turkey.
6. Muhammara – Muhammara is a red pepper dip typically made from tomatoes, olive oil, walnuts, pomegranate molasses and Aleppo peppers.
7. Kebaplar – Kebaplar are fried stuffed dumplings consisting of either cheese or ground meat, which can be found at many snack stands throughout the city.
8. Kadınbudu çorbası – Traditionally consumed during winter months, Kadınbudu çorbası is a thick soup made with root vegetables such as turnips and celeriac as well as spices such as cumin and turmeric.
9. Patlican salatası – One of the few vegetarian dishes to make our list, patlican salatası is composed primarily of grilled eggplant combined with various sauces and vegetables such as bell peppers, parsley, onion and tomato sauce.
10. Beyti – Beyti refers to both the wrap itself as well as the sandwich filling, which usually consists of seasoned ground beef cooked with onions and pine nuts, raisins and/or currants.
11. Şiş köfte – The perfect fast food option, şiş köfte are small skewers of spiced minced meat that can be eaten wrapped up in a piece of flatbread or even just by themselves.
12. Tulum peyniri – Tulum peyniri is another type of Turkish cheese that’s traditionally served after meals, although it tastes just as good any time of day.

Meze and Raki

Istanbul is a city with a rich and delicious history, and this is especially true when it comes to its food culture. Meze, small dishes served as appetizers, are a staple of Istanbul cuisine. And no meal is complete without raki, an anise-flavored spirit that is often enjoyed with meze. If you’re looking to experience the best of Istanbul’s food culture, be sure to try these two staples!

Be careful though, they can both have a strong effect on your stomach if not eaten in moderation. One favorite meze dish is lahmacun, which is spicy minced meat wrapped around dough and grilled over charcoal. It’s most commonly found in street carts but some restaurants serve it too. The other popular dish from Istanbul food culture is sarma, which combines vine leaves stuffed with rice and ground beef. Sarma tastes best when drizzled with melted butter or tahini sauce!

Street Food

Turkey’s major city is a great place for street food connoisseurs. From grilled meats to fresh seafood, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. And don’t forget the all-important Turkish coffee! Here are some of the best street foods to try in Istanbul.

1. Köfte: grilled meatballs usually made from lamb or beef, köfte are a delicious and popular street food in Istanbul.
2. Balık ekmek: fresh fish sandwiches served on a fluffy piece of bread, balık ekmek is a must-try for any seafood lover.
3. Gözleme: thin, flatbreads stuffed with various fillings like cheese, spinach, and potato, gözleme are a delicious and hearty snack. They’re perfect for sharing and come in many different varieties.
4. Dürüm döner: a type of kebab that rotates on a vertical skewer, dürüm döner has become one of the most iconic dishes in Turkey since it was first introduced.
5. Islak su böreği: similar to cheesecake but much lighter, islak su böreği comes in both savory and sweet flavors (my favorite being nutella). A great option for anyone with a sweet tooth, this dish will have you coming back for more!
6. Cévizli kurabiye: similar to traditional baklava, cévizli kurabiye features walnuts instead of pistachios and almonds inside its flaky pastry layers.

Main Courses (Çorba, Kebap, Tavuk)

One of the first things you’ll notice about Istanbul’s food culture is the abundance of çorba (soup) options. This hearty dish is perfect for a winter meal, and there are endless variations to try. Kebap is another popular option, and there are many delicious ways to enjoy this dish.
Tavuk (chicken) is also a staple in Istanbul, and you’ll find it served in a variety of ways. From grilled chicken to skewered meats, no matter what your mood or taste buds are craving, you can find it on the streets of Istanbul.

But before trying any of these tasty dishes, make sure to drink plenty of water- Istanbullus know how important it is to stay hydrated! There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from in Istanbul, but eating street food is always an adventure. You never know what you’re going to get until you bite into it!
Breads (Etli Ekmek, Lahmacun, Simit): Traditional Turkish bread is made with semolina flour and water. In most cases it’s thin, chewy and much softer than what you’ll find in other cultures.
Breads (Etli Ekmek, Lahmacun, Simit) – Second Paragraph: You’ll also see local pastries like etli ekmek (pita bread topped with onions and meat), lahmacun (spicy flaky dough topped with minced meat) and simit (ring-shaped bread made from sesame seeds). Although these are all traditional dishes, bakeries sell them wrapped up for easy eating on-the-go.

Çay (Tea) and Nargile (Hookah)

Çay is an important part of Turkish culture and can be found everywhere in Istanbul, from street carts to high-end restaurants. Nargile, or hookah, is also popular in Istanbul and can be found in many cafes. Both çay and nargile are often enjoyed with friends and family. One unique difference between these two drinks is that a person has to smoke a nargile while drinking çay.

That being said, many Turks find it more enjoyable to drink tea while smoking a nargile. With the availability of coffee shops popping up all over Istanbul, Turks have begun to enjoy iced coffee as well. The most popular type of coffee shop is known as the Kaldi Bar which typically features an espresso machine and specialty coffees such as Turkish Mocha (coffee with chocolate syrup) or Hazelnut Latte (coffee with hazelnut syrup). There are many chains throughout the city, but some of the best include Kaldi Bar Nişantaşı on Nişantaşı Cad., Kaldi İstiklal on İstiklal Cad., Kaldi Beyoğlu on Şişhane Cad., and Kaldi Taksim on Istiklal Cad.