Planning to visit İstanbul in your next vacation? So where and what will you eat when you get to the city where East meets West? If you want a shortcut to the top cuisines and delicacies that Istanbul has to offer, then this post has got you covered. Before you depart your home country, ensure you travel with an HD camera because you will be needing it to share the once in a lifetime experience with your friends and family members on social media.

Here are the best restaurants and foods to eat in Istanbul:

1. Köfte at Sultanahmet Köftecisi

Istanbul boasts of lots of restaurants offering spicy foods and international cuisines, but Sultanahmet Köftecisi is outstanding not because it is one of the oldest restaurants, its köfte is sumptuous and delicious. While there are lots of imitators out there, the köfte made at the Sultanahmet Köftecisi is original. The köfte consists of a lamb shish and elegant meatballs made from tender thighs. You can order the buttery rice if it’s your first time in Istanbul and you prefer a home-like feel.

The crispy French fries are also available if you prefer fast food. The Sultanahmet Köftecisi also offers semolina halva and sütlaç with a touch of excellence. Whether you prefer a milky dessert or not, you will satisfy your cravings to the fullest. This minimalistic yet sophisticated restaurant serves juicy meatballs at a very affordable price.

2. Homemade dishes at Çiya Sofrası

Your visit to Istanbul cannot be complete without eating homemade dishes at the popular Çiya Sofrası restaurant. This is where you will grab a bite for what Turkish locals cook and eat at home. This restaurant is owned by Musa Dağdeviren, a renowned chef as far as Istanbul food industry is concerned. The menus served by Çiya Sofrası changes daily. They offer tamarind sherbet and lentil-heavy Ezo Gelin soup. They also offer roasted Chard Root laced with garlic, carrots, onion, and red kidney beans.

If you like meat, Çiya Sofrası boasts of intriguing dishes like stuffed chard and minced meat in a creamy celery cover. In fact, the desert offered by this restaurant are extraordinary. There’s the evaporated milk with figs, eggplant desserts, tomato, and cheesy künefe. What’s more? You will enjoy their pumpkin dessert as it comes with silky-smooth tahini.

3. Kuru fasulye at Erzincanlı Ali Baba

One of the foods that you will often see Turkish locals eat is kuru fasulye. Its a stew made from dried white beans. From the airport, you can hire a can service down to Erzincanlı Ali Baba to enjoy some of the best kuru fasulye. You can order more sauce than the beans or more beans than the sauce, depending on how you like being served. Erzincanlı Ali Baba also serves a place of rice, a glass of ayran, and pickles. You can also grab a cup of Turkish teas while relaxing at this restaurant to watch tourists moving around the historic Süleymaniye Mosque.

4. Döner kebab at Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta

Before İstanbul came to limelight, people in other parts of the world know about the city through their döner. The chefs working at Karadeniz Döner Asım Usta have redefined this stereotypical Turkish dish. Döner sells out very quickly, so it’s better you go towards lunch time to have a bite. If you still have more time to spend at this restaurant, you can also explore backstreets and Beşiktaş before you return back to your hotel room.

Final words

Turkish foods will draw you closer to what the country’s culture looks like. The dishes mentioned in this post are what foreigners like you usually enjoy whenever they are in Istanbul either on vacation or on a business trip. So, as you explore different neighborhoods within İstanbul, you have what to satisfy your taste bud and cravings.