Kebabs, döner and meze
All three are named on the official portal's Istanbul food page. The portal describes kebabs as complemented by roast vegetables and flatbreads, with garlic, aubergine, tomato and onion among the accompaniments.
Food & Drinkin Istanbul
What to eat and drink in Istanbul, from signature dishes and local drinks to markets, dietary needs and restaurant etiquette.
Food & drink
What to eat in Istanbul
The official tourism portal presents Istanbul as the place where the regional specialities of the whole country meet, and its Istanbul food page names kebabs, döner, meze, böreks, menemen, chicken pilaf, stuffed vine leaves with sour cherries and, as the signature sweet, baklava. The city's position on a strait shows in the seafood the portal lists: grilled bluefish, fried anchovies, horse mackerel, cod, bonito and turbot, plus dried mackerel, bottarga, cold marinated sea bass and dry-salted tunny with red onions and dill. Street food is its own category on the portal, from simit to kokoreç to stuffed mussels. Drink is tea and Turkish coffee, the latter inscribed by UNESCO in 2013 as a tradition tied to coffee-houses where people meet to talk, share news and read. The portal's Asian-side page adds Turkish coffee culture, traditional breakfast and lokanta (local restaurant) dining to what to look for across the water, and its Kadıköy page describes classical, modern and fusion dining, cafes and breakfast places.
Fish from the strait
The portal lists grilled bluefish, fried anchovies, horse mackerel, cod, bonito and turbot, along with dried mackerel, bottarga, canned sardines, cold marinated sea bass and dry-salted tunny with red onions and dill.
Menemen
A vegetable and egg scramble, named on the portal's Istanbul food page.
Böreks
Baked pastries, with meat, cheese, spinach or potato fillings according to the portal.
Stuffed vine leaves with sour cherries
Named on the portal's Istanbul food page.
Tavukgöğsü
Listed on the portal as chicken breast with white pudding.
Baklava
The portal calls it Istanbul's signature sweet: crisp nut-filled layers soaked in honeyed syrup.
Street food
What to eat on the move.
Simit
Sesame bread rings, the first street food the portal names.
Balık ekmek
A fish sandwich, on the portal's list of Istanbul street foods.
Kokoreç
Charcoal-grilled mutton's intestines, in the portal's own wording.
Fried mussels with tarator
Deep-fried mussels served with a garlic sauce called tarator.
Midye dolma
Mussels stuffed with rice and spices.
Roasted chestnuts, roasted chickpeas and corn
The portal also lists roasted chestnuts, roasted chickpeas, boiled or roasted corn, and pickles with rice and chickpeas among street food.
Desserts & sweets
How meals end.
- Baklava
- Turkish delight (lokum)
- Akide şekeri (handmade rock candy)
- Almond and pistachio paste
- Tavukgöğsü (chicken breast with white pudding)
Food markets
Where to browse, taste and shop.
Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
The Ministry's culture portal says it sells mainly spices and Turkish delight today, plus jewellery and gifts, in a market built in 1660 to 1664 as part of the New Mosque complex.
Local drinks
What locals pour.
Turkish coffee
UNESCO (2013, Representative List): freshly roasted beans ground to a fine powder, brewed slowly in a pot on a stove with cold water and sugar until it foams, served in small cups with a glass of water, and drunk mainly in coffee-houses where people meet to converse, share news and read books. UNESCO calls the tradition a symbol of hospitality, friendship and refinement, and notes that the grounds left in the empty cup are often used to tell a person's fortune.
Black tea
Listed first among the beverages on the official portal's Istanbul food page.
Turnip juice
Named by the portal among Istanbul's traditional drinks.
Ayran
A buttermilk drink, on the portal's list.
Sherbet
Traditional sherbets in tamarind, poppy, rose or cornelian-cherry flavours, per the portal, alongside fresh-squeezed juices and homemade lemonade.
Dietary needs
Detailed dietary information is being prepared.
Restaurant etiquette
Detailed restaurant etiquette for Istanbul is being prepared.
Information last verified: September 21, 2026
Continue planning
More about Istanbul
Experiences & attractions
Things to Do
The best things to do in Istanbul, including major sights, local experiences, practical visitor information and places actually worth your time.
Know before it happens
Scams
Common scams, tourist traps and avoidable problems in Istanbul, with practical advice on how travelers can recognize and avoid them.
Bring home the right things
Souvenirs
What to buy in Istanbul, where to shop, typical prices, authenticity advice and which souvenirs are genuinely connected to the destination.
When to go
Weather
A month-by-month guide to weather, crowds and seasonal conditions in Istanbul, plus advice on choosing the best time for your trip.
Family travel
With Kids
A practical guide to visiting Istanbul with babies, toddlers, children and teenagers, including strollers, transport and family logistics.
Travel for more people
Accessibility
Accessibility information for Istanbul, including walking difficulty, wheelchair access, transport, stairs, seating and sensory considerations.
After dark
Nightlife
A practical introduction to nightlife in Istanbul, including nightlife areas, atmosphere, late-night considerations and safety.
Money & budgeting
Costs
What a trip to Istanbul costs, including typical daily budgets, transport, food, attractions, payments and common money mistakes.
Complete destination guide