Best Food in Turkey and Where to Find Them
If we are talking about an insane destination brimming with gorgeous landscapes, brilliant culture, and world-class attractions, we must include Turkey. Situated between the East and West, Turkey is the best place to see a magical collaboration of different cultures and history. One of the icons of Turkey’s diversity is its cuisine. You can see how Central Asia, the Mediterranean, and Balkan cultures influence the gorgeous flavors of food in Turkey.
So, we have compiled a list of must-try food in Turkey, special for foodies! We also include a list of the best cities to find insanely good foods in the country for you to go to on your next trip. Here are the crazy-delicious local foods in Turkey you must savor on your next trip!
Must-Try Food in Turkey
- Doner Kebab
- Inegöl Köfte
- Manti
- Iskender Kebab
- Gözleme
- Balik Ekmek
- Kumpir
- Baklava
- Künefe
Best Destinations to Find Amazing Food in Turkey (for Foodies!)
- Istanbul
- Bodrum
- Gaziantep
- Alaçatı
- Antalaya
Must-Try Food in Turkey
Doner Kebab
Starting the list with a world-famous, indulgent dish from Turkey. So, have you ever seen a vertical rotisserie loaded with big chunks of lamb or beef? Definitely, that is the main deal of doner kebab! Doner kebab is an Ottoman dish that consists of thin bread, sauces, vegetables, fries, and the iconic rotisserie-cooked meat. Thus, it has an authentic smokey and juicy taste. You can simply take a bite from the kebab, making it a perfect go-to meal.
Inegöl Köfte
Make sure to include meatballs or kofte in your Turkish food bucket list. First of all, as a fun fact, inegöl köfte does not actually originate from Turkey. Mustafa Efendi, an immigrant from Bulgaria, introduced it to the country in the 19th century. Moreover, inegöl köfte is a Turkish meatball dish made out of ground beef or lamb and sprinkled with salt. People grill the kofte meat to give out a smokey and savory taste. Then, kofte is finally served with side dishes like piyaz salad and yoghurt cream.
Manti
Do you know that Turkey has a local food that will immediately remind you of risotto? Yes, it exists! Manti is an Anatolian dish consisting of small dumplings filled with lamb meat, onion, and spices. Garlic yogurt sauce, olive oils, and fragrant spices are the condiments to enhance the warming and delicious flavors of the dish. Thus, is one of the comfort foods in Turkey due to its heartful taste.
Iskender Kebab
Originating from Northern Turkey, the savory dish has an iconic taste of herbs and a slight smokiness from the beef. Iskender kebab comprises a big plate of thin doner meat and chunky pide bread. Moreover, it is served with tomato sauce, slices of green bell peppers, and tangy yogurt. Additionally, Iskender kebab is also topped with sizzling melted butter, adding a fragrant aroma to the dish. Finally, Iskender kebab is a great dish you can enjoy by yourself or share with your travel buddies.
Gözleme
Are you looking for other types of savory local foods in Turkey? Then, you must try Gözleme! It is a simple dough-based pastry with various toppings, like beef, lamb meat, peppers, and vegetables. Furthermore, it has an authentic and unforgettable savory taste. Additionally, you can enjoy gözleme both as a light bite and main meal.
Balik Ekmek
If you are looking for a quick and cheap meal, check out balik ekmek! Balik ekmek is an authentic Turkish sandwich filled with grilled fish fillet and topped with fresh vegetables like lettuce and tomato. It has a refreshing and slightly tangy taste from the fish and condiments. Thus, it is a delicious and cheap convenient food that you can munch into if you are in hurry. Moreover, sandwich is a popular street food in Istanbul. So, if you are traveling to Istanbul, make sure to grab a piece of balik ekmek!
Kumpir
What is the best food in Turkey? – you might ask. Then, you will be surprised if you find out that baked potato is the answer. However, kumpir is certainly the best-baked potato you will ever taste. Big pieces of potato, generous amount of topping, and enjoyable taste are the reason behind kumpir’s popularity. You can choose to add oozing cheese, fresh lettuce, assorted salad, and delicious slices of beef for your kumpir. Due to its indulgent serving, kumpir comes out as one of the most popular foods in Turkey.
Baklava
Taste the heavenly combination between pastry, sugar, and nuts in this Turkish dessert. Moreover, with a long history from the Ottoman and Assyrian empires, baklava has been a favorite treat for thousands of years. Baklava is made out of thin layers of phyllo pastries and drenched in sugary syrup. Furthermore, it has an authentic sweet nut filling, mostly chopped pistachio. Due to its pleasant taste, Turkish people serve baklava on special occasions or holidays, like Eid Al-fitr.
Künefe
Treat your sweet tooth with this warm and sugary treat! Phylo pastries, cheese, and gooey sugar syrup are the ingredients that make künefe such a lovely dish. Thus, it has a sweet and heartful taste from the sugar syrup and thin phyllo pastry, also a bit of saltiness from the dil-peyniri Turkish cheese. Moreover, you can enjoy this delicious dessert with toppings like ice cream, yogurt, or traditional kayamak cream.
Best Destinations to Find Amazing Food in Turkey
Istanbul
Brimming with a fascinating history and marvellous culture, Istanbul is a world-class destination that attracts thousands of tourists every year. Additionally, the historical city is also known as a ‘Gastrocity’. It has a wide range of cuisine with impressive flavors. Moreover, Istanbul offers generous choices of dining experiences, from humble, heartful street food vendors to gourmet-style restaurants. Furthermore, if you like your food fancy, you can find a generous amount of Michelin restaurants around Istanbul. So, the city is perfect for everyone who is looking for an unforgettable culinary experience.
Bodrum
The glimmering Aegean Sea, cruise ships, and elegant fortresses are the few things you can find in Bodrum. The seaside city in Turkey is notable for its magnificent history, as it is dotted with ruins from ancient Greece and Italian rulers. Besides that, Bodrum offers a world-class tourist experience with its extravagant cruise tours, luxury hotels, and sumptuous food.
When it comes to food, Bodrum presents itself as one of the best places to find amazing food in Turkey. Moreover, you can find fresh fish and seafood in luscious seaside restaurants that operate on the marina of Bodrum. Alternatively, you can also find Turkish and Ottoman cuisines, like meyhane and dolma, in the gorgeous city.
Gaziantep
Do you know that Gaziantep has the title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy? So, no wonder that the foods in Gaziantep are spectacular! This Eastern Turkey city is the birthplace of various Turkish dishes, like baklava and lahmacun. Moreover, the foods in Gaziantep are amazing because of their rich flavors, generous amount of spices, and different cultural influences. Furthermore, you can find different Turkish foods in this culinary melting pot, from the sweet kunefe to the full-sized Gaziantep doner. Whether you head to a street market or famous restaurants, get ready to be surprised by how delicious the foods taste!
Alaçatı
If you love a small city with lovely cafes and amazing food to spend your weekend in, you must visit Alaçatı. The seaside city offers a laidback and relaxing atmosphere that is perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Besides its brilliant blue sea and charming neighborhoods, Alacati is also famous for its food. Moreover, it is considered the best place to find seafood in Turkey. You can expect to find amazing fresh fish in Alaçatı’s restaurants. Furthermore, Alaçatı is known for its healthy Aegean foods, which are filled with organic vegetables and olive oils.
Antalya
Looking for an awesome sunny escape to the Mediterranean? Then, you must visit Antalya. Located on the shores of the Anatolia region, Antalya is a fast-growing tourist destination. It is famous for its pristine beaches, exceptional landscapes, and zealous nightlife. Furthermore, Antalya offers amazing choices of food in Turkey.
There are lots of brilliant Turkish food that you can find in Antalya, from classic shish kebabs to flavorful Turkish börek. Moreover, there are some Antalya local foods that you should not miss, such as Arab kadayif, meatball skewers and piyaz salad, and lentil ice cream. Furthermore, Antalya is one of the best places to find cheap food in Turkey. The city has various choices of street vendors that sell brilliant Turkish street food.
