What to eat in Istanbul comes down to a few dishes: a bowl of soup, a plate of meze, a grilled or baked main, and something sweet with tea or coffee. This guide covers the sit-down dishes you will meet on a menu. Our street food guide covers simit, fish sandwiches and other food you eat standing up.
Last checked: 10 November 2026. Dish descriptions follow standard references such as Wikipedia, plus our own notes. We give no prices, because menus change and we did not compare restaurants. We do not cover alcohol.
How a meal in Istanbul usually works
Many restaurants bring bread and sometimes a few small dishes. You then choose meze to share, one main each, and dessert. Tea or coffee ends the meal. Ask what is fresh that day, and check the bill for a service charge. Our service charge guide explains the rules.
Soups and meze
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Mercimek çorbası | Red lentil soup, served with lemon and bread. A safe first choice. |
| Meze | A spread of small cold and hot plates for sharing |
| Dolma | Vegetables or vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs, sometimes with meat |
| İmam bayıldı | Aubergine stuffed with onion and tomato and cooked in olive oil, served cold |
| Yoğurtlu patlıcan | Aubergine with yoghurt and garlic |
What to eat in Istanbul: main dishes
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| İskender kebap | Sliced meat on pieces of pide, topped with hot tomato sauce, melted butter and yoghurt |
| Şiş and köfte | Grilled cubes of meat (şiş) or grilled meatballs (köfte), often with rice and salad |
| Lahmacun | A thin flatbread topped with minced meat, vegetables and herbs, then baked. Often rolled with salad and lemon |
| Pide | A boat-shaped baked flatbread with cheese, meat or egg |
| Mantı | Small dumplings served with yoghurt and spiced butter |
| Karnıyarık | Aubergine split and filled with minced meat, onion and tomato |
| Hünkâr beğendi | Meat stew on a smooth smoked aubergine purée. The name means “the sultan liked it” |
| Menemen | Eggs cooked with tomato and green pepper in olive oil. A breakfast dish |
Our Turkish breakfast guide covers menemen and the rest of the morning table.
What to eat in Istanbul, and what to skip
Kokoreç is lamb or goat intestines wrapped around seasoned offal and grilled, usually chopped and served in bread. It is often sold as a snack in bread, and it is not to everyone’s taste. Treat it as an optional experiment.
Desserts and drinks
| Item | What it is |
|---|---|
| Baklava | Layers of thin pastry with nuts and syrup |
| Künefe | A hot dessert of shredded pastry and cheese soaked in syrup |
| Sütlaç | Baked rice pudding |
| Aşure | A pudding of grains, dried fruit and nuts |
| Lokum | Turkish delight. See our Turkish delight guide |
| Çay | Black tea in a small tulip glass, served all day |
| Türk kahvesi | Small, strong coffee. See our Turkish coffee guide |
| Ayran | A cold salted yoghurt drink that goes well with grilled meat |
| Şalgam | A tangy, spicy juice made from fermented turnip and carrot |
How to order well
- Share several meze and mains. Portions often suit sharing.
- Ask for the dish of the day, which is often the freshest.
- Say if you want less spice. Many dishes are mild, but chilli can appear in sauces.
- Learn “affedersiniz” to call the waiter, and “hesap lütfen” for the bill.
Allergies and special diets
Many dishes contain nuts, dairy, gluten or meat stock. Read our food allergies guide for phrases to show the kitchen. Vegetarians can build a full meal from meze, vegetable dishes and pide with cheese.
What to eat in Istanbul: quick answers
What is the national dish of Turkey?
There is no single national dish. Kebabs, pide, dolma and meze all count as classics.
Is Istanbul food spicy?
Usually mild. Spice comes from sauces, chilli flakes and some regional dishes.
What should I eat first?
Start with lentil soup, a shared meze plate and a grilled main.
