Adana Kebap 211 spots
Spicy hand-minced lamb pressed onto a flat metal skewer and grilled over charcoal. Named after the southern Turkish city of Adana, it is defined by its heat from red chilli flakes. Served with flatbread, grilled tomato and a mountain of fresh parsley.
See restaurants → Lahmacun 182 spots
Turkey's answer to flatbread pizza — a paper-thin dough topped with spiced minced lamb, onion and herbs, baked fast in a wood-fired oven. Roll it up with fresh parsley, raw onion and a squeeze of lemon. One of Istanbul's most popular street foods.
See restaurants → Mantı (Turkish Dumplings) 107 spots
Tiny hand-folded dumplings filled with seasoned minced meat, boiled and served with garlicky yoghurt and a drizzle of browned butter infused with red pepper flakes and dried mint. One of Turkey's most beloved comfort dishes.
See restaurants → Menemen 81 spots
A skillet of eggs scrambled with tomatoes, green peppers and spices — the quintessential Turkish breakfast dish. Served bubbling hot in a copper pan, shared at the table. Some restaurants add sucuk (spiced sausage) or kavurma.
See restaurants → 🎲 Surprise Me! Can't decide? We'll pick a dish Döner Kebap 80 spots
Stacked layers of seasoned meat slow-roasted on a vertical spit and shaved to order. Served in a flatbread wrap, over rice, or in a plate with salad. Istanbul's most ubiquitous street food and a quick lunch staple.
See restaurants → Köfte (Turkish Meatballs) 65 spots
Seasoned minced meat — typically a mix of lamb and beef — shaped into small patties or cylinders and grilled or pan-fried. Every region of Turkey has its own version; Istanbul's most common is the flat grilled style served with rice pilaf and salad.
See restaurants → İskender Kebap 55 spots
Thin döner slices layered over torn pide bread, soaked in rich tomato sauce and finished tableside with a pour of sizzling browned butter and a spoon of cool yoghurt. Originated in Bursa, one of the most indulgent kebap styles in Turkish cuisine.
See restaurants → Midye Dolma (Stuffed Mussels) 40 spots
Mussels stuffed with spiced rice, pine nuts and currants — one of Istanbul's most iconic street foods, sold from trays by vendors across the city. Eaten cold with a squeeze of lemon, typically bought by the piece. Midye tava (fried mussels) is the other popular preparation.
See restaurants → Pan-fried Sea Bass (Levrek Tava) 26 spots
Fresh sea bass (levrek) pan-fried in olive oil until the skin is golden and crispy. Served whole with lemon, seasonal salad and sometimes rakı on the side. Sea bass is one of the Bosphorus's most prized fish, available year-round.
See restaurants → Baklava 24 spots
Layers of paper-thin filo pastry filled with finely chopped pistachios or walnuts, drenched in sugar syrup or honey. A craft dessert in Turkey — the best versions in Istanbul are from specialist shops that source Antep pistachios and make filo by hand.
See restaurants → Fish Soup (Balık Çorbası) 19 spots
A rich, warming soup made from the day's catch — typically simmered with onion, potato, tomato and olive oil, finished with lemon. A staple starter at Istanbul's fish restaurants and a morning dish at Karaköy's historic fish market.
See restaurants → Sis Kebap 19 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Sis Kebap.
See restaurants → Pide (Turkish Flatbread) 14 spots
Boat-shaped flatbread baked in a wood-fired oven with various toppings: minced meat (kıymalı), cheese (peynirli), egg and sucuk, or mixed. Different from lahmacun — thicker, more substantial, closer to a personal pizza. Istanbul's pide specialists have long queues at lunch.
See restaurants → Sıcak Servis 13 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Sıcak Servis.
See restaurants → Kuzu Kebabı 11 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kuzu Kebabı.
See restaurants → Serpme Kahvaltı 11 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Serpme Kahvaltı.
See restaurants → Köfte Pilavı 10 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Köfte Pilavı.
See restaurants → Fettuccine Alfredo 9 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Fettuccine Alfredo.
See restaurants → Bibimbap 8 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Bibimbap.
See restaurants → Fırın Balık 8 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Fırın Balık.
See restaurants → Dim Sum 8 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Dim Sum.
See restaurants → Pad Thai 8 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Pad Thai.
See restaurants → Balık Tava 7 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Balık Tava.
See restaurants → Mantar Kebabı 7 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Mantar Kebabı.
See restaurants → Doner Kebabı 6 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Doner Kebabı.
See restaurants → Balık Büryanı 6 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Balık Büryanı.
See restaurants → Kebap 6 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kebap.
See restaurants → Peking Duck 6 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Peking Duck.
See restaurants → Sütlaç (Rice Pudding) 5 spots
Creamy baked rice pudding, served cold with a browned top from the oven. A classic Turkish dessert found at every lokanta and meyhane. The Istanbul version is typically topped with cinnamon and served in individual clay dishes.
See restaurants → Tiramisu 5 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Tiramisu.
See restaurants → Beyti Kebabı 5 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Beyti Kebabı.
See restaurants → Gurme kahvaltı 5 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Gurme kahvaltı.
See restaurants → Grilled Salmon 5 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Grilled Salmon.
See restaurants → Fırında Levrek 5 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Fırında Levrek.
See restaurants → Börek (Turkish Pastry) 5 spots
Flaky, layered pastry made from yufka dough, filled with white cheese, minced meat or spinach. Baked, fried or served in rolls. A breakfast and snack staple — Istanbul's bakeries sell it warm from the oven each morning.
See restaurants → Ravioli della Nonna 5 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Ravioli della Nonna.
See restaurants → Kıymalı Börek 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kıymalı Börek.
See restaurants → Kırmızı Etli Balık 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kırmızı Etli Balık.
See restaurants → Balık Pilavı 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Balık Pilavı.
See restaurants → Hünkar Beğendi 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Hünkar Beğendi.
See restaurants → Balık Lahmacun 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Balık Lahmacun.
See restaurants → Fırında Balık 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Fırında Balık.
See restaurants → Kırmızı Etli Karides 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kırmızı Etli Karides.
See restaurants → Mezgit Pilavı 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Mezgit Pilavı.
See restaurants → Omakase 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Omakase.
See restaurants → Japchae 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Japchae.
See restaurants → Tteokbokki 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Tteokbokki.
See restaurants → Korean Fried Chicken 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Korean Fried Chicken.
See restaurants → Gyoza 4 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Gyoza.
See restaurants → Pasta Carbonara 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Pasta Carbonara.
See restaurants → Balık Çorbası (Taze balığın lezzetli çorbası) 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Balık Çorbası (Taze balığın lezzetli çorbası).
See restaurants → Kahvaltı Seti 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kahvaltı Seti.
See restaurants → Spagetti Bolognese 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Spagetti Bolognese.
See restaurants → Klasik Menemen 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Klasik Menemen.
See restaurants → Çiğ Köfte 3 spots
Despite the name ('raw meatball'), modern çiğ köfte is entirely vegetarian — bulgur wheat kneaded with tomato paste, hot pepper and spices into a firm dough. Wrapped in flatbread with pomegranate molasses and fresh lettuce, it is one of Istanbul's most popular fast foods.
See restaurants → Taze Balık Tavası 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Taze Balık Tavası.
See restaurants → Taze Balık Tava 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Taze Balık Tava.
See restaurants → Kırmızı Etli Barbunyan 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kırmızı Etli Barbunyan.
See restaurants → Köfte Dolması 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Köfte Dolması.
See restaurants → Klasik Burger 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Klasik Burger.
See restaurants → Türk Kahvesi 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Türk Kahvesi.
See restaurants → Pilav 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Pilav.
See restaurants → Italian Soslu Pizza 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Italian Soslu Pizza.
See restaurants → Mantar Pilavı 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Mantar Pilavı.
See restaurants → Tavuk Parmigiana 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Tavuk Parmigiana.
See restaurants → İskender Balık 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving İskender Balık.
See restaurants → Kuzu Tandır 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kuzu Tandır.
See restaurants → Sushi 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Sushi.
See restaurants → Ramen 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Ramen.
See restaurants → Green Curry 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Green Curry.
See restaurants → Wagyu Nigiri 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Wagyu Nigiri.
See restaurants → Miso Soup 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Miso Soup.
See restaurants → Kimchi Jjigae 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kimchi Jjigae.
See restaurants → Sundubu Jjigae 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Sundubu Jjigae.
See restaurants → Tom Yum 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Tom Yum.
See restaurants → Korean BBQ 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Korean BBQ.
See restaurants → Specialty Coffee 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Specialty Coffee.
See restaurants → Kaymak Bal 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Kaymak Bal.
See restaurants → Gözleme 3 spots
Restaurants in Istanbul serving Gözleme.
See restaurants →