When tourists think of Turkish food, they often think only of döner kebab, but that is just the beginning. Turkish cuisine is a vast and diverse world of flavors, blending Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean influences. This guide introduces essential dishes, from hearty breakfasts to street food, that locals love.
Beyond kebab, the dishes to try include a traditional Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı), pide and lahmacun, mantı (Turkish dumplings), and meze (small shared plates). For an everyday local meal, visit an esnaf lokantası (tradesmen’s restaurant). For street food, try ıslak burger, kumpir, and, if you are adventurous, kokoreç.
Why Turkish Food Is More Than Kebab
“Kebab” is a category, not a single dish. Focusing only on döner or şiş kebab is like visiting Italy and only eating spaghetti. Much of the magic lies in regional specialties, home-style cooking, and street food. Sharing a meal is a cornerstone of Turkish life.
1. Turkish Breakfast (Serpme Kahvaltı)
The serpme kahvaltı (spread breakfast) is a leisurely social meal, often enjoyed for hours at weekends. Expect many small plates:
- Fresh bread and simit (a sesame-covered bread ring).
- Several cheeses, from soft beyaz peynir (similar to feta) to aged kaşar.
- Black and green olives.
- Bal-kaymak: clotted cream with honey.
- Jams and preserves (rose, fig, apricot).
- Tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.
- Eggs, often as menemen (scrambled with tomatoes and peppers) or sahanda yumurta (fried in a small pan).
- Pastries such as su böreği.
It all comes with glass after glass of black tea, and it is one of the best ways to start a day in Turkey.
2. Home Cooking: What Is an Esnaf Lokantası?
An esnaf lokantası (“tradesmen’s restaurant”) is a simple eatery serving traditional home-style dishes, many of them stews and dishes in sauce (sulu yemek). You usually walk up to a counter and point at what looks good; the dishes change daily. Shopkeepers, office workers, and families come here for an affordable, delicious lunch.
Our editors’ tip: for a great lunch, find the busiest esnaf lokantası near a local market and point at whatever looks best.
3. Pide, Lahmacun, and Mantı
Pide
Pide is a boat-shaped flatbread baked in a stone oven with various toppings. Popular versions include kuşbaşılı (with small cubes of meat), kaşarlı (with melted kaşar cheese), and sucuklu (with spicy Turkish sausage). It is usually cut into strips for sharing.
Lahmacun
Often mistakenly called “Turkish pizza,” lahmacun is a round, very thin dough topped with a light layer of spiced minced meat, onions, and herbs, baked quickly in a very hot oven. Squeeze lemon over it, add parsley, roll it up, and eat it with your hands.
Mantı
Mantı are tiny handmade dumplings filled with spiced minced meat, served with garlic yogurt and a hot butter sauce with red pepper flakes. The ultimate comfort food.
4. Meze Culture
Meze are small plates shared at the table, especially in a meyhane (a traditional tavern), often alongside rakı, the anise-flavored national spirit. Some to look for:
- Fava: A smooth purée of broad beans with olive oil and dill.
- Girit Ezmesi: A rich spread of cheese, herbs, and nuts.
- Muhammara: Roasted red pepper, walnut, and pomegranate molasses dip.
- Patlıcan Salatası: Smoky grilled eggplant salad.
- Haydari: Thick strained yogurt with garlic and herbs.
5. Istanbul Street Food
Kumpir
A giant baked potato mashed with butter and cheese, then loaded with toppings: olives, corn, pickles, kısır (bulgur salad), Russian salad, sausage, and more. Ortaköy is famous for it.
Islak Burger
Taksim’s famous “wet burger”: a small beef patty in a soft bun soaked in a garlicky tomato sauce and kept warm in a steamy glass cabinet. A classic late-night snack.
Kokoreç
Kokoreç is seasoned lamb intestines wrapped around a skewer and roasted over charcoal, then chopped with tomatoes, peppers, and spices and served in bread. It is the most adventurous dish on this list, but it is a local favorite.
If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, ask about ingredients; nuts, dairy, and wheat are common in Turkish cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous food in Turkey? Döner kebab is famous worldwide, but it depends on the region. In Istanbul it might be balık ekmek (fish sandwich); in Gaziantep, baklava and its many kebabs and stews.
Is food in Turkey expensive? Prices have risen with inflation, but eating at an esnaf lokantası or choosing street food is still good value compared with Western Europe or the US.
What is simit? A circular bread ring covered in sesame seeds, sold from street carts everywhere and eaten for breakfast or as a snack.
What should I drink with Turkish food? Ayran (a cold, salted yogurt drink) goes well with grilled meats, pide, and lahmacun. Turkish tea (çay) is drunk all day, and a Turkish coffee (Türk kahvesi) is a classic way to finish a meal.
Spotted something outdated or inaccurate in this guide? Let us know at ask@beforeturkey.com so our editors can review it.