Which Street Foods in Istanbul, Turkey, Must Be Tried?

Istanbul is well-known for its local street cuisine, which includes fish sandwiches (Balık Ekmek), Taksim's steaming burgers, and Vefa Bozası (Boza of Vefa). In addition, there are well-known regional drinks and desserts.

One could argue that the city has developed its own unique take on street cuisine. When it comes to a wide variety of dishes, Istanbul's cuisine is particularly distinctive. It blends the culinary aspects of Eastern, Anatolian, and European cultures together flawlessly.

The majority of Istanbul's top street food spots are located near popular tourist destinations. Historical Peninsula, Beyoglu, Galata, Besiktas, and Kadikoy are frequently home to them. Istanbul's most well-known street foods are included in this article for you to sample.

Istanbul Street Foods You Must Taste

Steamed burgers in Taksim, balık ekmek in Eminönü, kumpir in Ortaköy, and white beans in Suleymaniye are Istanbul's most well-known street cuisines. Try the street sandwiches, cooked rice with chicken and chickpeas on top, and Simit and tea duo when you visit Istanbul.

Sandwiches with fish (Balık Ekmek)

The most well-known street cuisine in Istanbul is Eminönü's fish sandwiches. "Fish and Bread" is how Balık Ekmek, its original name, was interpreted. The first time this traditional meal was served was on boats near the Galata Bridge on the Eminönü shore.

This is still the exact spot where you can find Istanbul's must-try street food. Onions, lettuce, white bread, and Norwegian mackerel fish are the ingredients. When it's still smoky and you can smell the cool breeze from the Marmara Sea, there's no better place to try it than right here.

Bagel and Tea in Turkey (Simit ve Çay)

Turkish bagel, known as Simit in Turkish, is a popular street snack in Istanbul. You could think of them as skinny dough rings with sesame. It is more akin to a cross between bagels and German pretzels than it is to just a regular bagel.

The most traditional and nostalgic street food in Istanbul is simit. There were vendors of simits in the 20th century who would walk around with dozens of them on a big tray atop their heads. The most delectable Turkish bagels are still sold by hawkers on the street or at breakfast buffets these days.

The most customary method is to sample it while travelling across the Bosphorus Strait on a ferry. Enjoying a Turkish bagel and black tea while sailing on a ferry is a delightful experience.

Pro Tip: If you witness people breaking off pieces of their bagels to feed the seagulls, don't be alarmed. Although it may seem strange, feeding gulls with a simit is a charming Istanbul tradition.

Sandwich Buffets on the Go (Seyyar Sandviççiler)

You can find hawkers with mobile food stalls selling a variety of traditional Istanbul foods as you stroll along the city's cobblestone streets. Istanbul is known for its sandwich buffets in addition to its famous Turkish bagels.

All the fixings for a delicious sandwich can be found in these wheeled portable buffets. You can easily add any breakfast item to your sandwich to make it unique. In addition, experiment with different sandwich recipes as they provide an extensive assortment of ingredients, ranging from cheese varieties to a broad variety of delicatessen.

Tavuklu Nohut Pilav: Cooked Rice with Chickpeas and Chicken

In Turkish, cooked rice is referred to as "Pilav" and holds a special place in culinary traditions. At the dinner table, it serves as the main course for Turkish cuisine. Nevertheless, when paired with chickpeas and topped with chicken, it makes a delicious street meal. In Turkish, it's known as "Tavuklu Nohut Pilav," which translates to "Chickpea Rice with Chicken."

It is also offered hot and sold in portable food stalls in Istanbul, where it is a popular dish to-go. It's best tried in the evening or right after a night out at midnight.

Islak Hamburger, steamed burger

Taksim Square, a popular tourist destination in Istanbul, is the birthplace of the well-known steamed burger. Before the advent of chain stores, Istanbul's burger buffets were limited to local establishments in the late 1900s. Coincidence led to the discovery of the steamed burger with slightly softened bread. But at the time, and even now, they were loved by both foreigners and locals.

This is a tasty little burger that has both buns drenched in a unique tomato sauce, which makes them feel moist and tender. Although it might sound strange, this is one of the greatest street foods in Istanbul, so you must try it before you go!

Potato Jackets (Kumpir)

To put it another way, when visiting Istanbul, you simply must try baked potatoes, also known as jacket potatoes. It's commonly referred to by locals as "Kumpir," and the Ortaköy neighbourhood of Istanbul immediately comes to mind.

A kumpir is a baked potato sliced in half, stuffed with a variety of items such as salads, appetisers, olives, and delicatessen. It is also mixed with cheese and butter.

You will see Kumpir stalls arranged side by side when you visit Ortaköy. Some have a variety of flavours, and by examining the glass section, you can select the ingredients.

Pro Tip: We advise you to grab your Kumpir and stroll to the Ortaköy Square, also called the Iskele Sokak, for a short while. There are seaside seating areas where you can take in the breathtaking views of the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, the Bosphorus Strait, and the Ortaköy Mosque while dining.

Suleymaniye's White Beans (Kuru Fasulye)

The tasty white beans and pilav in Suleymaniye are another traditional dish. Mimar Sinan constructed the historic complex known as Suleymaniye for the renowned Ottoman emperor Suleiman the Magnificent.

Pro Tip: Visit the Suleymaniye Complex, particularly the mosque, following a thorough exploration of the Historical Peninsula. Finish your journey with some delicious pilav and white beans. The eateries are located directly next to the mosque. Even now, warm beans are served from copper boilers baked to perfection.

Try it in the winter; it tastes even better. The mouthwatering sensation of the delectable white beans is captivating, especially after a delightful trip to the Historical Peninsula. Not to mention the breathtaking views of the magnificent Suleymaniye Mosque make it a must-try Istanbul culinary experience.

Istanbul's Best Street Appetisers to Try

The best street foods in Istanbul, even though the main courses are decent. In Istanbul, you can also sample midday appetisers, though.

Apples with sugar coating and cotton candy, for instance, are ubiquitous. The most well-known appetisers, however, are the halvah wafers served with ice cream in the centre and, particularly in Sultanahmet, the corn served with roasted chestnuts.

Add the city's Kanlıca district to the list; it's well-known for its yoghurts. Not to be overlooked are the well-liked Turkish snacks of assorted nuts and pickles to go.

Wafer halvah, cotton candy, and candy apples

Do you have a sweet tooth? Perfect, there's a good chance you'll pass a candy stand with cotton candy, wafer halvah with ice cream, and candy apples. You can eat them for more than just snacks during special events or activities. In Istanbul, midday snacks like sugar-coated apples and cotton candy are commonplace.

Roasted Chestnuts and Corn

Food vendors offering a variety of corn and roasted chestnuts will be successful year-round. In the Historical Peninsula, they are particularly prevalent in Sultanahmet Square and Eminönü.

In winter, however, nothing beats the sensation of biting into a warm, freshly roasted chestnut while taking in stunning views of Sultanahmet Mosque and Hagia Sophia in the distance.

Renowned Yoghurt from Kanlica

Eating the Tarihi Kanlıca Yoğurdu (Historical Yoghurt of Kanlica) while travelling by ferry was customary. The daily fresh milk from the sheep and cattle that are fed Beykoz's unique flora is used to make this well-known yoghurt. The key selling point is that yoghurt is made organically and doesn't include any additives.

It is currently among the oldest companies in Istanbul. An Istanbul-based small family runs the entire brand. This regional dish can be found in a few Istanbul supermarkets. They are also available at their authorised sales locations in Kanlıca.

Quick Pickles

The people of Anatolia enjoy making pickles out of various fruits and vegetables. Additionally, this custom extended to every area of Istanbul. Not only can you buy them in jars, but you can also get various pickles to-go in cone form.

Pickle shops abound, particularly in the areas surrounding Eminönü, Beyoglu, and Fatih. Aside from that, a variety of flavours are readily available from movable pickle stands.

Istanbul's Greatest Street Desserts: Sweets From the Streets

Baklava, also known as Turkish delight, is the most well-known dessert that springs to mind when we think of Turkish food. On the streets of Istanbul, however, you may come across food carts that are on wheels and offer a variety of delectable treats.

For instance, one of Istanbul's most popular street desserts is "Halka Tatlısı." It is fried dough in the shape of a ring that is dipped in sherbet. An alternative variation of this widely accepted custom is called "Lokma Tatlısı," but it takes the form of a ball.

Taste is the primary distinction between these shapes. The sense of the crispy, fried form of halka tatlısı is more transcended when eating it. In contrast, the dough takes centre stage in lokma tatlısı.

Istanbul is the home of Turkish cuisine, which also features halvah, or helva in Turkish. The origins of helva, the star of the dinner table in Istanbul's culinary culture, can be traced back to the Ottoman era. In Istanbul, there are still establishments with a long history that date back hundreds of years. For a taste of the past, you should sample the most well-known helvas in Istanbul while you're there.

Indulge Your Thirst by Sample These Well-Known Istanbul Drinks

Istanbul is also home to some of the best drinks to sample, including pickle juices, locally made sodas with a variety of flavours, and boza in Vefa.

Well-known Boza of Vefa

Warm wintertime drink called boza was brought over from the Ottomans. It is very common in the provinces of Middle Asia and the Balkan countries.

To make the boza, combine sugar, water, and polenta. The individuals who sell boza frequently carry the product in steel barrels and dress traditionally. During Ramadan, they used to walk the streets at night and call out "Boza" to attract people's attention in order to sell it. Istanbul is still home to the custom.

The most famous beverage in Istanbul is the boza of the Vefa. When in Istanbul during the winter, make sure to visit the Vefa Bozacısı to sample the best bozas in the city.

Delectable Pickle Juices for Travel

Pickled juice is another widely consumed beverage in Istanbul on-the-go. As we've already mentioned, pickles were highly adored, and their juice was in high demand. There's a large assortment of pickle juices available from the pickle shops and street vendors located throughout Istanbul. But if you want the best, you should check out the ones in Beyoglu, Balat, and Kadikoy.

Istanbulites' preferred soft drink is Gazoz.

We take a quick trip back in time to roughly a century ago. In Istanbul, gazoz was a highly popular beverage in the final years of the Ottoman era and the early years of the Republican era in Turkish history. It's best described as a soft drink with an enormous variety of flavours.

Gazoz was the primary cold beverage that Istanbulites enjoyed drinking prior to the arrival of coke or its substitutes in the city. The majority of these beverages were made nearby. Thus, a wide variety of brands catering to a wide range of preferences can be found. Still, there are places that sell only gazoz drinks, and the Historical Peninsula is home to the majority of these establishments.

The most well-known and conveniently located in Istanbul is Beyoğlu Gazozu. It comes in a variety of flavours, such as citrus fruits, classic ginger, sugar-free ginger, licorice and rosemary mix, and purple basil and rose mix.

For the Greatest Istanbul Experience, Continue Reading!

Acting like a local is the only way to truly capture the essence of this historic metropolis. It helps to know ahead of time where to go, what to do, and which to pick when in Istanbul. Read our blogs for more information on how to explore Istanbul's vibrant world.