Welcome, travellers! Forget about brochures and rushed itineraries; you’ve arrived in the right place for a real feeling about an area that contains many untold histories from generations before us. This city has been the location for the writer at many times, and through my experiences, I can tell you that you will discover the SOUL of Türkiye in the kitchens of her people and the busy street corners of her colourful streets.

Food is not just about feeding people’s bodies; food is about many things in Türkiye. To mention just a few examples, breakfast (kahvaltı) at the length you’re accustomed to, the smile of the street vendors as they sell to you on those cold winter mornings and having the opportunity to eat a feast (sofra) with friends/family, these all give you the opportunity for an unforgettable experience. Food represents giving of love and generosity and is part of every individual’s existence throughout their lives. This comprehensive list of popular turkish food showcases the country’s rich culinary tradition.

This 20-best-tasting-dish list consists of a lot of time spent by a culinary professional who is open-minded, and has an appetite for living – from eating at some of the finest restaurants in Istanbul to eating from small charcoal grill (mangal)107’s at little towns and villages throughout Anatolia. The adventure for finding amazing textures and amazing flavours in traditional turkish food starts NOW!

The First Five Culinary Jewels of Turkey

The Culinary Crown Jewels are the quintessential sensory experiences of Turkish food that everyone should try.

1. İskender Kebab (The Sultan’s Feast).

The İskender Kebab is the best dish. It was created in Bursa, and it is an incredible blend of textures and flavours; this dish consists of thin slices of döner meat placed over slices of delicious pide bread, then drizzled with a spicy, tangy tomato sauce and covered with melted butter that is poured on it right at the table. It also comes with a generous side of creamy yoghurt that give it even more depth by creating a fantastic contrast between the hot and cold, the tart and rich, and is an example of just how well these elements work together to make a wonderful dish.

2. Manti (Heavenly Dumplings).

Manti, small dumplings that have been delicately hand-made are typically filled with spiced minced meat (beef or lamb). Manti can be boiled or baked, then served with three different, beautiful sauces. The sauces include a creamy and Garlic Yogurt, a melted buttery sauce made with chili flakes (Pul Biber), and a sprinkle of dried mint. Manti is a symbol of love and patience between families who prepare them together.

3. Testi Kebab (Clay Pot Theatre).

The Testi as a dish has origins in the Cappadocia area and serves two purposes: food and entertainment. Lamb or beef cooked with the addition of vegetables are cooked in a clay pot (Testi), covered and cooked over an open flame for many hours. After the Testi has been fully cooked, your waiter will use a special freeze hammer to break open the top of the pot to allow the steam to escape. The steam that escapes will contain all of the different flavours that were captured during the cooking process. The Testi Kebab will be a very tender dish, with a smoke flavour, and will showcase great slow cook results.

4. Künkük (The Greatest Sweet).

Künkük is the authentic traditional dish! This small pastry hails from the Hatay area of Turkey and features a melted feta filling wrapped inside thin noodles (Kadaa’). When made fresh and hot, Künkük is so delectable, that it can only be compared to baklava! After being cooked to a crisp and golden brown, Künkük is soaked in sweet syrup, sprinkled with crushed pistachios and served warm for the best experience.

5. Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza).

Lahmacun is commonly referred to as “Turkish Pizza”; however, that is a disservice to this amazing dish. The dish consists of a round piece of dough that has been flattened into a very thin and crispy crust. The dough is then spread with an eye-catching bright red mixture of chopped lamb (or beef), chopped tomatoes, chopped green peppers, and spice for zing. After being baked at a very high temperature for a short time, it is customary to squeeze fresh lemon juice on it and then sprinkle it with chopped parsley. You then roll it up into a tight wrap and eat it while it is still hot. It is an excellent example of mobile street food found throughout Turkey! These five turkish dishes are essential tasting experiences.

The Heart of the Streets & The Home (Dishes 6 to 12).

The following dishes can be found throughout Türkiye and are referred to as the foundation for delicious daily living. Turkish food is truly diverse.

6. Pide (the Turkish Boat).

Pide is a soft, thick (yeasted) flat-bread with a curved shape, resembling that of a boat. Traditionally, it has a variety of toppings that may include ground beef (kıymalı), spinach and cheese (ıspanaklı and peynirli) or the most common topping, a mix of diced beef and egg. It is hearty, satisfying and generally eaten communally by breaking pieces off and scooping out the filling.

7. Mercimek Çorbası (soul-soothing soup).

Mercimek Çorbası demonstrates very well just how a simple bowl of lentils can be priceless! It is made of red lentils that have had their skins removed and pureed into a soup. It usually has spices such as mint and/or lemon added to it, as well as smoked paprika. This soup can appear as the very first course of a meal in both restaurants and roadside cafés, making it great comfort food! Mercimek Çorbası also has the added benefit of warming your body on chilly days, just like your good friends do!

8. Döner Kebab (The Spinning Perfection).

A classic version of döner is to be valued as well. Meat (beef, lamb or chicken) is marinated then cooked on a giant vertical rotisserie, being shaved off the side after it has been allowed to sit there and develop a lovely crunchy edge. In its country of origin, the experience of eating döner would be an altogether different experience to what we can experience here due to the aromas of the Turkish city – the döner will always be fresh-cooked and will always be alluring.

9. Balık Ekmek (The Golden Horn Sandwich).

Istanbul’s most well-known street food, Balık Ekmek, is also synonymous with Istanbul at the Galata Bridge. In essence, Balık Ekmek is a simple and beautiful sandwich containing grilled or fried white ocean fish (usually mackerel) in a large slice of fresh baguette and topped with chopped lettuce, sliced onion and fresh lemon juice. The taste of the ocean is represented with balık ekmek, making it the perfect snack while watching the ferries cross the Bosporus.

10.  Shish Kebab – Skewered Meats.

Turkey is known for their grilling techniques; Shish kebab is the most classic example in Turkish food. Marinated cubes of lamb, chicken, or beef placed onto skewers and kissed by hot coals are a great way to enjoy a meal. The marinade, which usually consists of olive oil, yogurt, and a variety of spices, tenderizes the meat to perfection. Shish kebab is typically served with grilled tomatoes and peppers creating an environment of celebration with the combinations of meat, fire, and excellent seasoning.

11. Menemem – Breakfast Brighter.

Menemen, as a positive example of menemen, can be eaten with a traditional Turkish breakfast. Menemen consists of scrambled eggs combined with tomatoes, finely chopped onions, green peppers and sometimes chilies. The mixture pops and bubbles in a pan until fully cooked. Menemen is typically served warm in a twin-handled copper pot and can be used for dipping. Menemen is a favourite at any time of the day, but for breakfast, it’s an inspiring way to inspire your day!

12. Köfte (The Versatile Meatball)

Turkish food offers many regional types of meatballs, all with their own unique blend of herbs and spices. Whether you choose the flat, grilled version from İzmir, Portugal or the football shaped ones served in soup – they are always moist and packed with flavour. The Kofta can be served as a meal by themselves, in a sandwich or combined with an elaborate platter of Mezes. Exploring these popular turkish food items gives a true taste of the country. If you’re looking to visit, don’t forget to check out Turkey holiday packages that often include culinary tours! Planning your trip and exploring the local food scene is one of the best things to do in Turkey!

To learn more about the culinary culture of Türkiye, please visit the official web page for information from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism – Culinary Culture – Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The Foundation Flavours (Dishes 13 – 16).

These types of bread, pastry and other collective experiences are what makes up a large part of what it means to live a Turkish life.

13.Turkish Breakfast/Kahvaltı.

Breakfast is not merely a meal; it is an all-day occasion! Kahvaltı can be enjoyed until lunchtime and typically includes an extensive selection of small plates. These will often include feta-style cheese, black and green olives, honey and kaymak (a thick cream made from the first milk of the cow), fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, jams, and several baskets of warm bread. Kahvaltı signifies an opportunity to come together as a family and celebrate the start of the day; it is a custom that has been around for many years. This is a quintessential example of traditional turkish food.

14. Börek (The Layered Dream)

Börek in Turkey is a very popular dish throughout the lands once controlled by the Ottoman Empire. In Turkey, it is made with thin layers of flaky filo pastry that are layered upon each other and baked with many different kinds of fillings. The most popular is Spiced Minced Meat; then comes Cheese and Parsley (Peynirli) followed by Spinach (Ispanakli); There are actually many other filling combinations as well. The layers on the Börek have a unique texture and when baked until they are golden and crispy, they make for a delightful Flaky (crispy) textured food.

15. Simit (The Delight of the Street Vendor).

Simit, which is the Turkish equivalent of a Bagel, is the most widely available type of Street Food in Turkey. The circular bread covered with copious amounts of Sesame Seeds is hard on the outside and soft on the inside. The typical vendor sells Simit from glass-fronted carts that he pushes around. Simit is inexpensive, warm, and is usually the first food item that tourists eat after arriving. This food is generally considered to be Simple, Rustic, and Perfect, especially when eaten with a smear of melted Cheese or alongside a cup of hot Tea.

16. Street Food Istanbul Midye Dolma (Stuffed Mussels)

Midye Dolma, the stuffed mussel, is a delicious and unique street food available in Istanbul. The mussels are prepared by steaming and then stuffing them with a seasoned rice mixture including nuts, raisins, spices and lemon juice before consuming. To prepare, simply open a mussel, add some fresh lemon juice, and enjoy! You will quickly see that the empty mussel shells are a true sign of a successful night of eating Midye Dolma. This is a must-try traditional Turkish food experience.

Sweet Ending (Dishes 17 – 20).

All good things must come to an end! You will find many sweet and sometimes unexpected Turkish food desserts available at every corner.

17. Baklava (The World’s Ambassador).

Baklava, the world’s best known sweet, has been known to capture people’s hearts for many years. A mixture of layers of very thin filo pastry, with clarified butter included, is filled with ground pistachio nuts and/or walnuts, baked until crispy, and then drenched in a sweet syrup, scented with either lemon or rose water. The best baklavas make a crunchy sound when bitten into and have a wonderful combination of sweetness and nutty flavour.

18. Mastic Ice Cream.

Turkish-style ice cream (known as “Dondurma”, which means “to freeze”) is unlike that found anywhere else in the world. The traditional method of ice cream making combines two unique ingredients (Mastic, A natural gum from the resin of a tree, and Salep, a flour made from the dried tuber of the orchid). Turkish food includes this dense, chewy ice cream, which also has an ability to withstand melting. The street vendors who sell Donduma make the experience of obtaining an ice cream cone a form of performance art using long wooden paddles.

19. Turkish Delight.

This confection is perhaps the most popular gift/souvenir to bring back from Turkey, and best consumed as fresh as possible. Turkish delight (known as Lokum) is a jelly-like sweet made from a mixture of sugar and starch which usually has flavourings added (rose-water, mastic, mint, lemon) and typically contains chopped nuts (walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts). Turkish delight has a very delicate consistency with a smooth texture that slowly melts in the mouth after being bitten into.

20. Helva (The Halvah Block).

Helva is a considered basis dessert, made primarily from tahini (sesame paste) and sugar, with additional ingredients based on flavour such as cocoa, nuts or vanilla. Often eaten at breakfast, Helva is a wonderfully satisfyingly intensely earthy sweet treat. Helva represents the perfect ending to your traditional turkish food culinary edification, a visual delight, a gorgeous slice of earthy sweetness. These turkish recipes provide a sweet finish to any meal.

Frequantly Asked Questions.