Turkish Meals: 15 Conventional Dishes to Strive in Turkey

Turkey is legendary for thus many issues, together with historical past, seashores, nature, and its traditions, however I’ll allow you to in on a secret—the meals in Turkey is like nowhere else on earth. When you’re a foodie, you’ve simply discovered your match: each area is legendary for one thing, and the highest dishes are well-loved for an excellent motive. Conventional dishes to strive in Turkey are plentiful.

I lived in Turkey for a number of years, and I nonetheless go to often now. My husband is Turkish and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have opened my culinary thoughts and tried as many scrumptious varieties of Turkish meals as I’ve. That is palms down probably the greatest locations to strive one thing new, and even when you’re a choosy eater, you’re positive to be tempted to provide new dishes a go merely due to how superb they give the impression of being and odor.

15 Finest Meals to Strive in Turkey

There’s a lot well-known meals in Turkey, that you simply would possibly wrestle to know the place to begin—that’s the place this checklist is available in. The primary time I visited, I didn’t perceive quite a bit when it got here to the meals, and as ashamed as I’m to confess this now, I caught with the common worldwide fare. Don’t make the identical mistake; there’s far an excessive amount of deliciousness to get caught in a culinary rut.

On this checklist, you’ll discover 15 of the tastiest and most well-known meals to strive throughout your go to to Turkey. It doesn’t matter the place you’re visiting in Turkey, or what area, as you’ll discover these meals all over the place, and so they’re all fairly cheap by way of price too. You would possibly acknowledge a few of them, however even when you don’t, be courageous and pattern them anyway: I promise you gained’t be disenchanted.

1. Döner Kebab
(Most Well-known Meals to Strive in Turkey Total)

If you consider Turkish meals, you in all probability consider the döner kebab first. Now, I ought to level out that that is nothing just like the dry or greasy kebab you get on an evening out after the membership again dwelling; this can be a juicy, scrumptious, and downright mouth-watering deal with. You don’t must smother this in ketchup and mayonnaise to make it style good – it does all that by itself.

Döner kebab is usually both beef (mostly) or hen, and it’s cooked on a big rotisserie. The server slices items off the vertical “skewer” and layers them in your wrap, bread, or pitta, together with salad and sometimes fries. You’ll be able to inform them when you don’t need any particular elements added, and significantly with hen, a yogurt sauce could also be added.

So far as Turkish road meals goes, that is essentially the most well-known of all of them, and also you’ll discover distributors promoting it all over the place. Nonetheless, one of the best döner I’ve ever tried was from Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta in Beşiktaş, Istanbul. The meat is all the time juicy, and the queue ought to inform you how good it’s—get there early as a result of as soon as it’s gone, they shut for the day.

Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta Info

Deal with: Sinanpaşa, Mumcu Bakkal Sokağı No:6, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Cellphone: +90 212 261 7693
Working Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10.30 am – 5.30 pm, closed on Sundays
Common Price of the Dish: 150TL/$5

2. Turkish Breakfast (Together with Menemen)

I’m going to cheat slightly right here and add an entire meal slightly than a selected meals: if I listed every thing in a Turkish breakfast, I’d be right here all day. Breakfast is essentially the most well-known meal of the day in Turkey, and it’s recognized domestically as ‘kahvaltı’. You might have seen photos of a desk stuffed with small plates containing numerous meals, resembling cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, chilly meats, eggs, jam, honey, and far more – effectively, that’s a Turkish breakfast.

A typical breakfast in Turkey goes on for hours, and also you merely spend time speaking, sipping çay (tea), and nibbling on every thing on the desk. My favourite factor a couple of Turkish breakfast is menemen – a sizzling breakfast dish consisting of peppers, typically onions, tomatoes, tomato paste, and eggs. It’s blended collectively, and also you eat it with bread—superb.

For essentially the most epic Turkish breakfast, head to Van Kahvaltı Evi in Beyoğlu, near Taksim, Istanbul. When you’re visiting on the weekend, get there early because it’s extraordinarily common with locals. Nonetheless, I all the time suppose that’s one of the best mark of high quality, and this place hasn’t disenchanted me as soon as (and I’ve been many instances).

Van Kahvaltı Evi Info

Deal with: Kılıçali Paşa, Defterdar Ykş. 52/A, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
Cellphone: +90 212 293 6437
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8 am – 5 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 400TL/$14

3. Lahmacun

One other well-known dish of Turkey is lahmacun, also known as Turkish pizza, though I don’t suppose it’s something like pizza in any respect. Lahmacun is a skinny and crispy flatbread that’s topped with minced lamb, tomatoes, and spices after which cooked in a wood-fired oven. It’s then eaten rolled up with onions, greens, and tomatoes inside, smothered in lemon juice.

Gaziantep is legendary for lahmacun, and that is the place you’ll discover the spiciest of all of them. The server will ask you if you need it acılı (spicy) or acısiz (not spicy), so select in accordance with your preferences. I all the time go for the non-spicy choice as a result of in Turkey, once they say spicy, they actually do imply spicy!

You’ll discover lahmacun very simply throughout the whole nation, and one of the best I had was at Düveroğlu Kebap Salonu in Ankara, famed amongst locals as one of the best within the space. In some locations, the lahmacun could be a little soggy, however right here was the crispiest and tastiest; I extremely advocate stopping in to strive it for your self when you’re within the space.

Düveroğlu Kebap Salonu Info

Deal with: Mutlukent Mahallesi, 2432. Cadde & 1924 Sk. 117-119-121, 06810 Ümitköy/Çankaya/Ankara
Cellphone: +90 031 223 51111
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 am – 10 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 90TL/$3
Web site: https://duveroglu.com.tr

4. Pide

Probably the most common meals in Turkey is for sure pide. Similar to lahmacun, you’ll discover this totally all over the place, and it is available in differing kinds. Pide is a flatbread, however this can be a little thicker than lahmacun and formed like a ship, with an open filling within the center.

The most typical filings embrace mince meat (kıyma), cheese, cheese and spinach, meat, and peppers (kuşbaşılı), and typically you’ll discover it with a fried egg on high. That is an reasonably priced meals in Turkey and is usually served with salad on the aspect. It’s historically from the Black Coastline, significantly Trabzon; when you occur to be within the space, it’s one of the best place to strive it.

I had one of the best kıymalı pide from Terminal Pide Trabzon, and I stumbled upon it by chance, just because there gave the impression to be a queue forming outdoors, so I figured it might be good. I wasn’t fallacious. Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter what metropolis or area you’re in, pide is a meals that’s very straightforward to search out.

Terminal Pide Trabzon Info

Deal with: Sanayi, Terminal Sk. No:4, 61100 Ortahisar/Trabzon
Cellphone: +90 462 325 0436
Working Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 7 pm, Sunday 8 am – 6 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 200TL/$7

5. Gözleme

One other of my favourite meals, and one which historically goes with breakfast. Gözleme is one other sort of flatbread, however this one is barely totally different because it’s comprised of both home made bread or yufka, which is filo pastry. It’s full of quite a lot of totally different fillings, together with potato, cheese, and spinach, or minced meat and onion.

Gözleme is usually cooked on a sac griddle, which is a big, domed pan over a excessive warmth. Watching gözleme being made within the conventional approach in a village is sort of hypnotic, and also you’ll seemingly need to give it a go your self after witnessing it. It’s a conventional native meals in Turkey, and it can be eaten as a road meals.

My favourite filling is potato, however you too can discover candy variations, resembling Nutella by itself or with banana, or tahini. Gözleme is a typical meals in Turkey to take pleasure in with a sizzling glass of çay (tea), and I liked the one I had in Ankara at Sevgi Anne Gözleme. It is a meals well-known from the central Anatolian area and attempting it from the place it originated will provide you with the tastiest outcomes.

Sevgi Anne Gözleme Info

Deal with: Üniversiteler, Şht. Jnd. Astğmn. Mustafa Tayyarcan Cd. No:129, 06800 Çankaya/Ankara
Cellphone: +90 312 227 0201
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 7 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 100TL/$3.50

6. Mantı

When you’ve ever been to Cappadocia or performed any analysis into it, you’ll in all probability know that mantı is a well-known meals from this stunning area, however total, it’s a must-eat in Turkey no matter the place you might be. It’s tough to place into phrases what this dish truly is, however the closest description is a kind of ravioli or dumpling that’s stuffed with meat or cheese, after which both boiled or fried (çıtır mantı). It’s often served with yogurt and garlic.

It is a common dish all around the nation, however when you’re in Cappadocia or the central a part of the nation, you’ll discover the tastiest mantı. I attempted it for the primary time at CANCAN Cafe & Restaurant in Cappadocia, and it’s an ideal spot to go when you’re touring with youngsters; the costs are actually cheap, and it’s a laid-back spot to take pleasure in your meal. The mantı was actually flavorful, and you’ll select between the fried or boiled/steamed variations.

You’ll in all probability hear mantı known as Turkish ravioli, particularly on worldwide menus, so when you do see that, they’re one and the identical.

CANCAN Cafe & Restaurant Info

Deal with: Avcılar Mahallesi, No.27, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir
Cellphone: +90 038 427 12440
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 am – 11 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 250TL/$8.50

7. Güveç

If you wish to strive actually genuine Turkish meals, it’s important to give güveç a strive; in actual fact, when you’ve had it, you’ll be hooked, and also you’ll need it over and over – belief me. You’ll be able to eat this scrumptious meal any time of the yr, however I feel it really works very well within the winter months while you’re after one thing heat and hearty to fill you up.

Güveç is likely one of the most conventional dishes in Turkey, and it’s a stew-style meal that’s made with slow-boiled meat, often beef. The meat is left to cook dinner for a number of hours, so it falls aside and melts in your mouth. Peppers, onions, tomatoes, and garlic are added, together with pepper salça, which is a kind of tomato paste, and it’s left to cook dinner till every thing melts into each other.

This dish is often served with rice, however don’t be afraid to seize some recent crusty bread and use it to mop up that scrumptious tomato gravy on the finish. Güveç is one in every of my favourite conventional dishes and when you’re within the Istanbul space, head to Nişantaşı Güveç for an unforgettable model of this well-known meal.

Nişantaşı Güveç Info

Deal with: Teşvikiye, Akkavak Sk. No:36, 34365 Şişli/İstanbul
Cellphone: +90 212 224 2464
Working Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 8 pm, closed on Sundays
Common Price of the Dish: 200TL/$7

8. Cağ Kebabı

The primary time I visited Istanbul my husband insisted that we go to a small restaurant in Fatih referred to as Şehzade Cağ Kebap. I had no thought what I used to be it was, however as soon as we arrived, the place was packed; I figured it have to be good. I wasn’t fallacious; cağ kebabı is likely one of the high must-try dishes in Turkey, and when you love lamb, you’ll adore this well-known road meals.

Somewhat than cooking the meat on a vertical rotisserie like döner, cağ kebabı is cooked on a horizontal spit with layers of marinated lamb that’s so juicy, you gained’t fairly imagine it. I ought to clarify that I don’t like lamb after I’m within the UK, however this lamb is one thing very particular certainly. It’s served on a big kebab stick, and also you eat it with recent lavaş, onions, and tomatoes.

I loved the meal I had at Şehzade Cağ Kebap a lot, and I’m reliably knowledgeable that that is one of the best one, although the dish truly hails from Erzurum. I’ve returned a number of instances since, and when you occur to be within the space, I extremely advocate you seize a desk right here.

Şehzade Cağ Kebap Info

Deal with: Hoca Paşa, Hoca Paşa Sk. No:6 D:4, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul
Cellphone: +90 212 520 3361
Working Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10.30 am – 10.30 pm, closed on Sundays
Common Price of the Dish: 170TL/$7

9. Köfte

Probably the most well-known and simply discovered varieties of meals in Turkey is köfte, which is basically a kind of grilled or barbecued meatball. There are various kinds of köfte, together with Muğla köfte and Izmir köfte to say simply two, and the distinction comes all the way down to its form and the spices used. Nonetheless, I feel Izmir köfte is the tastiest of all of them, and when you’re within the metropolis, that is one thing you have to strive. You’ll discover common köfte completely all over the place.

Köfte might be served on a plate with potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, and rice as a most important meal, or it may be loved as a road meals in both a wrap or on bread. Both approach, it’s scrumptious and is a well-known dish in Turkey, due to its versatility. You’ll additionally discover köfte in a sauce or a stew.

When you’re strolling round Istanbul or Izmir particularly, you’ll discover road distributors cooking köfte in entrance of you and the odor is bound to make your mouth water. It’s fairly a problem to stroll previous with out giving in. I had one of the best köfte at a small spot in Izmir referred to as Köfteci Turgay; the köfte was so juicy, and I loved it a lot, that I went again once more the very subsequent day.

Köfteci Turgay Info

Deal with: Alsancak, 1456. Sk. No:92/B, 35280 Konak/İzmir
Cellphone: +90 232 404 0033
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 am – 9 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 200TL/$7

10. Adana Kebab

Because the identify suggests, Adana kebab is a kind of Turkish delicacies that hails from the southern metropolis of Adana. When you like spice, you’re going to take pleasure in this one, however you too can ask for it to be made barely much less spicy in case your tastebuds can’t fairly deal with the warmth. Both approach, it’s a really well-known and simply discovered dish, though one of the best ones are for sure present in its namesake metropolis.

Adana kebab is manufactured from minced lamb and spices that are mixed collectively and formed over a protracted kebab skewer. It’s then cooked over an open hearth to make sure a slight crunch on the skin and loads of juiciness within the center. The skewer is eliminated earlier than dishing up, and it’s sometimes loved with lavaş, tomatoes, and onions, and served alongside rice or bulgur.

You may also get Adana kebab in a wrap, which is a well-known sort of road meals you possibly can seize on the go. Both approach, when you’re in Adana itself, ensure you add this to your must-try checklist; I can extremely advocate Adana Ege Kebap Salonu, as can the numerous locals who flock there, particularly at weekends.

Adana Ege Kebap Salonu Info

Deal with: Cemalpaşa, Ege Taksi içi, Kapalı Spor Salonu Karşısı, 63014. Sk. No:2, 01120 Seyhan/Adana
Cellphone: +90 543 457 3628
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 11 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 200TL/$7

11. Dolma

Dolma is a typical meals in Turkey and likewise across the Balkans, courting again to Ottoman instances. There are various kinds of dolma, however essentially the most well-known is vine leaves full of rice and spices. You may also discover dolma containing minced meat, or fish, nevertheless, the seafood model is much less widespread.

The dolma is wrapped up right into a cigar-like form after which boiled in liquid till it’s all absorbed and served whereas nonetheless heat. You’ll often discover dolma served with lemon slices, and I wish to drench mine for a very zingy style. The beauty of this dish is which you can eat it sizzling or chilly, so in case you have any left, merely put them within the fridge and luxuriate in them afterward.

Dolma is discovered all around the nation, and it’s a brilliant conventional dish that almost all households will make in some unspecified time in the future via any given week. I had actually scrumptious dolma in Kadıköy on the Asian aspect of Istanbul, in a small restaurant referred to as Çiya Sofrası; the flavors burst in my mouth, and that’s the place I realized my love for this well-known dish.

Çiya Sofrası Info

Deal with: Caferağa, Güneşli Bahçe Sok, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul
Cellphone: +90 216 418 5115
Working Hours: Monday – Thursday & Sunday, 11.30 am – 10 pm, Friday & Saturday, 11.30 am – 10.30 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 170TL/$6

12. Iskender Kebab

You’ll in all probability have come to comprehend by now that there are numerous varieties of kebab to strive, and imagine me, I’ve solely launched you to a small handful; there are numerous extra. Nonetheless, Iskender kebab is likely one of the most well-known and conventional meals in Turkey. The dish hails from Bursa, however as with most of those dishes, you’ll discover it very simply irrespective of the place you might be within the nation.

Right here, sliced döner meat is served on high of chopped pitta bread, and is then lined in yogurt and a sizzling tomato and butter sauce. You’ll discover this dish in eating places and small takeaways, though you’ll usually eat it inside, as it may be fairly messy! What I like about Iskender is that it’s not dry like another grilled meat kebabs might be, and the bread completely soaks up the yogurt and tomato sauce.

When it comes to what to eat in Turkey, this dish could be very well-known, and even when you’re not Bursa, it’s another choice you’ll discover all over the place. Nonetheless, it’s all the time greatest in its dwelling place, and I’d extremely advocate Uludağ Kebapçısı Cemal & Cemil Usta within the Osmangazi space of Bursa for a really conventional model.

Uludağ Kebapçısı Cemal & Cemil Usta Info

Deal with: Ulu Mahalle, Uluyol Caddesi, 16. Şirin Sk. No:12, 16220 Osmangazi/Bursa
Cellphone: +90 224 254 7264
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11 am – 7 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 250TL/$8.50
Web site: uludagkebapcisi.com

13. Baklava

When visiting Turkey, you should strive baklava, whether or not it’s your first time or not. That is a type of meals that vacationers love, and locals take pleasure in on particular events, and it’s well-known throughout the nation. You’ll discover baklava in most high-end eating places as a dessert and in native patisseries (bakeries) to purchase by weight.

Baklava is a type of meals in Turkey that you simply solely want a really small quantity of it, as a result of it’s fairly wealthy and candy, however there are differing kinds so you’ll find your favourite model. I like the unique sort essentially the most, which is manufactured from layers of filo pastry with honey syrup and pistachio filling – it’s scrumptious with ice cream too.

I feel baklava makes an ideal present for family and friends again dwelling, and Köşkeroğlu Baklava Tophane is a high spot to purchase it. The selection on supply is large, and so they present wrap it in a tin to make it look actually fancy. After all, it won’t make it that far – I wouldn’t blame you for consuming it your self earlier than your return dwelling…

Köşkeroğlu Baklava Tophane Info

Deal with: Hacımimi, Kemeraltı Cd. No:46, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
Cellphone: +90 053 097 74821
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8 am – 12 pm
Common Price of the Dish: Varies relying on weight
Web site: koskeroglu.com.tr

14. Kuru Fasulye

Kuru fasulye is arguably the staple meals of Turkey and it’s a conventional home-cooked meals that almost all households take pleasure in not less than as soon as every week. You’ll additionally discover it in most dwelling meals eating places across the nation, often called ‘ev yemek,’ and it’s fairly cheap by way of worth and is simple to make.

Put merely, kuru fasulye means ‘dry beans,’ however the dish usually is a white bean stew in a tomato sauce. It’s sometimes served with rice and bread and sometimes comes as the primary course after soup and salad. The dish might be made with a small quantity of meat (often beef), or it may be vegetarian.

It is a typical Turkish meals that’s cooked all year long and is discovered completely all over the place, nevertheless, the tastiest home-cooked meals like that is discovered within the southeast, with an entire host of scrumptious spices to make the dishes much more scrumptious. İspir Fasülyeci Diyarbakır is extremely advisable by many locals as a high place to do that conventional meals.

İspir Fasülyeci Diyarbakır Info

Deal with: Yenişehir, Lise 5. Sk. No:6, 21100 Yenişehir/Diyarbakır
Cellphone: +90 412 999 4720
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 am – 10 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 100TL/$3.50

15. Çiğ Köfte

If you first see çiğ köfte you’ll surprise what on earth it’s, however appears to be like might be very deceiving and it’s important to give it a strive. It is a very wholesome and flavorful meals of Turkey and one that you simply’ll discover in lots of small vendor shops across the nation. The opposite plus level is that it’s tremendous low-cost so it’s an ideal road meals choice when you’re on a funds.

Çiğ köfte hails initially from the southeast of Turkey, significantly the Urfa and Adıyaman space. It’s a mix of bulgur wheat, tomato paste, and spices which are kneaded collectively till extraordinarily clean and served both in lettuce with pomegranate and lemon juice or in a wrap with no matter salad elements you want. You may also ask for a spicy or non-spicy model.

There are massive firms that make this well-known dish, resembling Komagene and Oses, however there are small distributors too, and also you typically discover the tastiest variations from locations like that. Çiğ köfte all around the nation however if you wish to strive essentially the most conventional model, head to Adıyaman and take a look at Yeni Nesil Adıyaman Çiğköfte Kenan Usta, a favourite amongst locals.

Yeni Nesil Adıyaman Çiğköfte Kenan Usta Info

Deal with: Kapcami, Eski Kahta Cd. No:10, 02100 Adıyaman Merkez/Adıyaman
Cellphone: +90 416 216 0282
Working Hours: Monday – Sunday, 10 am – 12 pm
Common Price of the Dish: 100TL/$3.50

Should-Strive Meals in Turkey: FAQs

Listed below are some solutions to essentially the most generally requested questions on must-try meals in Turkey:

In Conclusion

Turkish meals is among the greatest on the planet. Maybe I’m slightly biased, however spending massive quantities of time within the nation has opened my palate to utterly totally different flavors that I in all probability wouldn’t have dared strive in any other case. Whether or not you’re a meat lover, all in regards to the greens, otherwise you’re into super-spicy delicacies, you’ll discover one thing you’ll fall in love with.

Completely different components of the nation are well-known for particular dishes, however there are some all-rounders, resembling lahmacun, pide, and güveç that excel irrespective of the place you might be. And naturally, you possibly can’t begin the day with out a full and hearty Turkish breakfast!

So, put together your abdomen for a plethora of scrumptious tastes in your upcoming go to to Turkey—you definitely gained’t depart hungry.