Must-Try Foods in Istanbul, Turkey
Posted by Grace on June 9, 2024
Turkey is a country where you can discover new food, new tastes, and new experiences. You may not like all of them, but you should try each one.
Here is a list of things that I have tried and found very interesting and unique when traveling to Istanbul, Turkey.
Contents
Pastries
Simit
Simit is a popular Turkish bread, typically ring-shaped, coated with sesame seeds, and baked to a golden brown. It has a slightly crunchy exterior with a soft and chewy interior, providing a delightful contrast in texture. The taste is somewhat similar to a bagel but with a unique flavor due to the sesame seeds and the traditional preparation method.
Simit has a long history in Turkish culture and is often referred to as the "Turkish bagel." It is a staple of Turkish street food and can be found on almost every corner of Istanbul. Vendors often sell them from red pushcarts or carry them on trays balanced on their heads. Simit is commonly enjoyed as a quick breakfast or snack and is often paired with tea, cheese, or jam.
At the beginning, I was like, "What is the deal? It's just a bagel with sesame." Later, I found out it is tasty when you are hungry - simple, but fulfilling. It is softer than a bagel, and it quickly became a favorite treat during my stay in Istanbul. Another thing is, you can get simit anywhere in the city, surprisingly. If you feel hungry on the way to an attraction, you can immediately find someone selling it on the street. It only costs 10 TL, and I have seen no one try to overprice it, unlike other Turkish food.
A cart full of simit
Sometimes, you can find simit selling on the side walks
These simit sellers wrap simit in blankets, put them on top of their heads, and walk around selling to people walking by
Ay Çöreği
Ay Çöreği looks like a crescent moon. Taken at Fırın Anatolia, a bakery near our Airbnb
Ay Çöreği is a traditional Turkish pastry shaped like a crescent moon. It is made with a rich, buttery dough filled with a mixture of walnuts, raisins, cinnamon, and sometimes a hint of orange zest. The pastry has a delightful balance of sweetness and nuttiness, with a slightly chewy texture on the inside and a crisp, golden exterior.
Historically, Ay Çöreği is often for festive occasions and celebrations. Its crescent shape is symbolic, reflecting the importance of the crescent moon in Turkish culture and history. This pastry is commonly enjoyed with a cup of tea or coffee, making it a popular treat for breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack.
The Ay Çöreği I got
In the morning, we liked to stroll along the street and check out each of the bakeries (which was such a luxury in Istanbul). I stumbled upon this pastry and fell in love immediately! It has 90% filling and only a thin layer of crust, which I have never seen in a pastry so fully filled.
It costs about 35 TL, at the time of writing, which is rougle $1 USD.
Bevereges
Çay (Tea)
Çay is strong black tea, served in a tulip-shaped glass with a double kettle called a 'çaydanlık.'
You can see people sitting in a tea shop drinking Çay while chitchatting, shop owners sitting back and waiting for customers while sipping on Çay, and locals ordering any meal with Çay. You can even see people playing chess while having Çay with them.
Çay is everywhere in Istanbul.
I was fascinated with what I saw at the beginning, so I decided to try it. Then ordering a Çay became a habit.
I even found a double kettle for making Çay in our Airbnb. That piqued my interest and motivated me to watch a YouTube video to learn how to make Çay myself.
At the time of writing, a cup of Çay costs 15 TL, which is less than 50 U.S. cents.
Ayran (Salted Yogurt Drink)
Blue cup Aryan
Ayran is a savory, yogurt-like drink. It is more watery than yogurt, but it is quite smooth. It is salty and a staple beverage in Turkey.
Ayran has a long history in Turkish cuisine, dating back to ancient times. It is traditionally made by mixing yogurt, water, and a pinch of salt, resulting in a refreshing and hydrating drink. Ayran is particularly popular during the hot summer months due to its cooling nature. People often drink Ayran in meals, especially with dishes that are heavy or spicy, as its tangy flavor complements and balances the richness of the food.
When I was in Istanbul, I saw locals drinking from blue (sometimes red) yogurt-like cups all the time, whether they were having a meal or walking around.
You can find Aryan in supermarkets
You can also find cold Aryan in a bazaar
Salgan (Fermented Purple Carrot Juice)
Our first time trying Salgan
Salgan is a traditional Turkish drink made from salted and fermented turnips. It has a unique and tangy taste, which can be quite strong and slightly bitter. This drink is also surprisingly free of sugar.
Salgan has been a part of Turkish cuisine for centuries and is often enjoyed for its supposed health benefits, including aiding digestion and providing a refreshing boost of minerals. It is particularly popular in southern Turkey, where it is commonly served with kebabs and other grilled meats. The drink's distinct flavor is an acquired taste, and it is appreciated by many for its ability to cleanse the palate and enhance the dining experience.
We accidentally discovered this on a menu with only a few options for drinks. Besides Ayran and Çay, Salgan was also on the list. So we decided to give it a try. At the beginning, we were overwhelmed by the salty taste, but it had a very interesting aftertaste that made us take more sips.
We also found they offered spicy Salgan as well. Very interesting taste. It can get addictive!
Coffee
Freshly Squeezed Juice
100% pomegranate juice we got near Süleymaniye Mosque
You can often find stands with "mountains" of oranges and pomegranates. These are juice stands, making juices 100% from fresh fruit.
A juice stand near Süleymaniye Mosque
I found a stand near Süleymaniye Mosque. The old man squeezed five big pomegranates for one large cup of pomegranate juice, which cost 100 TL, equivalent to $3 USD. In the US, one pomegranate easily costs $2.50, but here you can get pure juice made from five pomegranates. We felt so spoiled.
That was my favorite find in all of Istanbul.
The price is shocking to me!
Meals
Balık ekmek (Mackerel Sandwiches)
Balık ekmek is a popular Turkish street food consisting of grilled mackerel fillets served in a loaf of bread, typically with onions, lettuce, and sometimes a squeeze of lemon juice. The taste is a delightful combination of the smoky, savory flavor of the mackerel with the fresh crunch of the vegetables and the slight tang from the lemon.
Balık ekmek has a rich tradition and background in Turkey, especially in Istanbul. It is commonly associated with the bustling waterfronts of the city, where fishermen grill the mackerel fresh from their boats and serve them directly to customers. This practice has made balık ekmek a staple for both locals and tourists seeking an authentic taste of Istanbul's maritime culture.
You can easily find balık ekmek in a market, or in a restaurant.
Macherels on the grill
Fish Sandwiches
A mackerel sandwich is very cheap, 100 TL which was roughly $3 USD
I also found Balık ekmek sold near touristy places, for ~ $5 USD
Fruits
Mulberries
Mulberries we found in the market
Mulberries are a small, sweet fruit that come in several varieties, including white, red, and black. They have a unique flavor profile that combines the sweetness of ripe blackberries with a hint of tartness. The texture of mulberries is similar to that of a raspberry, with tiny seeds that add a slight crunch. In Turkey, mulberries are typically in season from late spring to early summer.
Mulberries are highly cherished in Turkish cuisine and culture. They are often enjoyed fresh, dried, or used in various desserts, jams, and beverages. The fruit is not only valued for its delicious taste but also for its nutritional benefits, being rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
I never saw mulberries in the U.S., but I did have mulberries (桑葚) when I was little in China. I used to eat them straight from the tree. I was very surprised to have mulberries again in Turkey!
About to eat after washing the mulberries
