Streetside Istanbul Gastronomy

Have you looked at the map? Istanbul straddles two continents. And well, so does its cuisine. Istanbul’s gastronomy is a fusion between the East and the West in a cosmopolitan city where you’ll have access to the most select of restaurants and the most peculiar food stands.  What to eat and where to eat it? We’ll tell you in this post.

 

The Best Kebab in Istanbul

Kebabs are Turkey’s national dish. Lamb or chicken, rolled up or in pita bread…. it’s all the same. You won’t be able to resist trying them. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that you’ll probably become a repeat offender and have several of them. My advice is to try the eggplant kebabs at Kosebasi, the minced meat kebabs at restaurant Sahan, the vegetable kebabs at Kasibeyaz restaurant, the yoghurt kebabs at Beyti Kebab, or any of the kebabs served in Develi, known as “the home of the kebab”.

 

Food Stands along the Banks of the Bosphorus

It’s common practice in Istanbul to have lunch outdoors with friends and family on weekends.  And testimony to that are the many food stands flooding the city’s streets. Particularly the area around the Golden Horn, where they serve fresh fish, grilled vegetables and sarma (boiled white rice rolled in vine leaves). It’s best to go from stand to stand, trying the various national products. Then, –when you are full- take time to relax on the banks of the Bosphorus, taking in the amazing views of the city and enjoying the sea breeze.

 

The Famed Turkish Delights

Turkish cuisine is Mediterranean cuisine and it is highly varied. Its delights are to be found in the menus of every restaurant but sometimes the names need some deciphering. Let’s start with the menu: Bulama çorbasi is a yoghurt soup of sorts; Oz çorbasi is a beef broth with wheat and yoghurt; Patlican salatsi is an aubergine puree with oil, garlic, lemon and black olives; Havuç salatasi is a carrot puree; Yorgurtlu börek is a dough with a white cheese and fennel filling; Cibir are poached eggs with paprika and yoghurt sauce; Muteyna is a recipe with cucumber, meat and mint; Kazan kebabi is a dish consisting of “Turkish meatballs”; Bakla is a mix of peas and yoghurt; and Baklava is a traditional dessert with pastry, pistachios, and sugar syrup. You won’t be able to resist these!

 

Ayran, the Turkish Salty Yogurt Beverage

Greek yogurt has nothing on Turkish yogurt, and the two have little in common. This is the drink that Turkish people drink with breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. No water, no çay, no sodas…. just salty liquid yogurt that’s served chilled. A drink which, by the way, helps with digestion and includes a high content of mineral salts, making it ideal against dehydration. As a curiosity: the more home-made the ayran, the more foamy. It could be said that this peculiar yogurt drink is the national beverage.