Experiences
Have Food Will Travel
If you are looking for something to digest the excesses of the day and night at 4am, you'll have no trouble finding it in İstanbul with the endless variety of the most delicious street food on every corner. From the small büfe selling Döner Kebab, sliced straight from the spit. Döner Kebab is by far the most popular street food in İstanbul. The most delicious kebab shops are located in historic places like Sultanahmet, Eminönü, Beşiktaş and Üsküdar. To the street vendor selling buttery, chickpea-filled pilav with chicken breast pieces from a small cart lit by a single light bulb.
Eateries from wheeled out stalls, propped up platter trays, barges on the Bosphorus to vendor style kiosks offer hearty servings of Kebab, Dürüm and Tantuni wraps, doughy delicacies like Pide and Lahmacun, İçli Köfte, handmade on İstiklal Caddesi, Börek, and lashings of Şalgam.
For a pescatarian delight, Midye Dolması is mussels served in half-shells with spicy rice and sultanas, a treat for fish lovers. Midye Dolması is usually served directly from a tray on the street corner. You will see people crowding around the cart as the vendor squeezes lemon onto each dolma before handing it out. People usually eat a lot, so by the time you have finished your dolma, there's already another one waiting for you. Midye Dolması is a popular late-night snack, especially after dark in the Taksim district.
Kumpir is a fluffy, filling version of the world's favourite jacket potato, where it is cut in half and the soft potato inside is mixed with butter, salt, and cheese and turned over while the cheese melts to form a soft, creamy, and delicious base for all the other ingredients and delicious toppings of your choice.
Kumpir is best enjoyed in the district of Ortaköy, the bustling waterfront centre with stunning views of the Ortaköy Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge, amidst street vendors and cafés. Here you'll be spoilt for choice between the endless rows of vendors, each with their unique offerings of toppings for your potato.
When the weather turns colder, the smell of Kestane (roasted chestnuts) wafts through the streets of İstanbul. Carts with portable roasters are set up all over the city. Take the opportunity to warm your hands while you wait for your chestnuts. They are cheap, easy and a serving of healthy street food in İstanbul when you are out and about.
The city has a strong culinary tradition that reflects its residents, who come from all over Türkiye and beyond, bringing their own recipes and cuisines with them.
From the Sea to Your Sandwich
Hanging around the harbour districts of Karaköy and Kadıkoy, the experience of eating a sandwich will never be the same again after trying Balık Ekmek. It's a must-try in İstanbul and is best enjoyed on the Bosphorus.
Balık Ekmek is one of İstanbul's most popular street foods. It is a fish sandwich filled with freshly grilled fish, tomatoes, onions, and salads. This delicious bite is sold by vendors near the water and even on the ferries. It's easy to find, especially at the moored barges in Eminönü and Karaköy, but if you want to experience the fish market in Kadıköy on the Asian side of İstanbul, there are plenty of options there, too. Not only will you find the freshest fish on your sandwich, but you can also sample other local delicacies such as organic honey and delicious Turkish cheese.
