The real question isn’t what we ate in Istanbul… it’s what we didn’t eat.
If there’s one thing I always look forward to when I travel, it’s the food. I love discovering local flavors, trying traditional dishes, and finding those hidden places that locals actually recommend.
That’s exactly what we did in Istanbul.
We tried everything we could, from famous street food to traditional restaurants and desserts, so we could share an honest opinion.
We did the same during our trip to Portugal, where we explored countless cafés, bakeries, and local restaurants.
But in our 5 days in Istanbul, we made it our mission to try as much Turkish food as possible so we could have a proper opinion, and honestly, we ate almost everything we came across.
As Greeks, we have very high standards when it comes to food, so we were curious to see if Istanbul could compete.
The answer?
Yes… and no.
I’ll be completely honest.
Desserts? 100%.
The desserts were simply incredible.
Baklava was amazing almost everywhere we went. Even the smallest or most random bakery served excellent baklava.
The künefe was unforgettable, and the San Sebastian cheesecake became one of our favorite desserts of the trip.
Food-wise, however, it wasn’t exactly what I expected.We definitely had some fantastic meals, but many dishes had a very strong sheep butter (tail fat) flavor. Most kebabs, and even some chicken shawarmas, had this rich taste that personally wasn’t for me.
Of course, that’s just my opinion and many people absolutely love it.
Before we dive into the food, one quick travel tip. If you’re visiting Istanbul, I’d highly recommend setting up your mobile data before you arrive. We used Airalo, so we had internet the moment we landed, making it easy to navigate the city, check restaurant reviews, and find hidden food spots without worrying about roaming charges.
You can also use my Airalo discount code NEWTOAIRALO15 to save on your first eSIM.
Fast Food
Wet Burger
We tried the famous wet burger near Hagia Sophia, and honestly…It completely surprised us.
It was juicy, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying.
It may sound strange if you’ve never heard of it, but trust me—you should definitely give it a try.
Shawarma
We tried shawarma from Kızılkayalar in Taksim.
It was decent, but once again the strong sheep butter flavor wasn’t something I enjoyed.
If you like that traditional flavor you’ll probably love it, but personally I wouldn’t order it again.
CTR Chicken
One of our favorite fast-food stops.
The chicken was crispy, tasty, inexpensive, and perfect for a quick lunch.Of course, we paired it with an ayran.
If you’ve never tried ayran before, it’s a simple drink made with yogurt, water, and salt.
It sounds unusual, but it’s incredibly refreshing and goes perfectly with Turkish food. I highly recommend trying it.
Restaurants
Antakya Restaurant
12/10.
Without a doubt our favorite restaurant in Istanbul.
Everything was exceptional.
The flavors, the service, the atmosphere, and the prices were all fantastic.
This was exactly the kind of authentic Turkish food I had imagined before visiting Istanbul.
From the peynirli, to the kebabs, the roasted eggplant salad, the fresh pita bread, and the lahmacun…Everything was outstanding.
If you only choose one traditional restaurant in Istanbul, make it this one.
Lotiz Lounge & Hookah
Located on the 7th floor of what is now the AHC Old City Hotel (formerly Hotel Zurich).
Although it’s connected to the hotel, the restaurant operates independently. Simply enter through the hotel and take the elevator upstairs.
The panoramic views are beautiful, especially at sunset.
At night there’s live music, excellent shisha, and a more modern take on Turkish cuisine. They even serve sushi if you’re looking for something different.
This is also where we had one of the best Hünkar Beğendi dishes of the trip.
And yes…The San Sebastian cheesecake here was absolutely magical.
Desserts
Baklava
Our favorite baklava came from a tiny family-run shop in Fatih called Diyar Usta.
Small, cozy, and incredibly underrated.
The quality was outstanding, the prices were lower than many famous bakeries, and every piece was packed with flavor.
We even bought several boxes to bring home as gifts.
San Sebastian
I think I ordered San Sebastian cheesecake in almost every café we visited.
It’s my favorite cheesecake, especially when served with warm pistachio or chocolate sauce.
The smooth texture and rich cheese flavor were amazing.
Our absolute favorite was at Galant, right beneath Galata Tower.
Besides the cheesecake, we also tried their famous Galant Pistachio Chocolate Ice Cream Ball.
Extremely sweet…But definitely worth trying at least once.
Künefe
Our favorite künefe was at Kayfeder Künefe Katmer.
Another great place was Faruk Güllüoğlu Karaköy, where you can enjoy excellent künefe, baklava, and many other traditional desserts.
It’s also a lovely place to relax with a Turkish coffee.
Tavuk Göğsü
Chicken Breast Desser and Yes…It’s actually made with chicken.
And no…It doesn’t taste like chicken at all.
It’s sweet, creamy, and surprisingly delicious.
If nobody told you what it was made from, you’d probably never guess.
I really liked it, but once my brain remembered there was chicken in it, I couldn’t finish the whole dessert.
We tried it at Faruk Güllüoğlu, and I’d still recommend giving it a chance just for the experience.
Salep at Şark Kahvesi inside the Grand Bazaar. The perfect excuse to slow down, soak in the atmosphere, and take a break from the busy market.
A warm, creamy drink made from orchid root. It was one of the biggest surprises of our trip and the perfect break after hours of walking around Istanbul.
Salep
One of the biggest surprises of the trip.
We stopped at a tiny café on İstiklal Street to try the famous salep, and it instantly became one of my favorite hot drinks ever.
Later we had another one at Şark Kahvesi inside the Grand Bazaar.I
t’s the perfect place to slow down, enjoy the atmosphere, and take a break before continuing your walk through the bazaar.
Final Thoughts
What to eat in Istanbul? If you’re visiting Istanbul, go hungry.
Some dishes may not be for everyone, but the variety is incredible, the prices are very reasonable, and the dessert scene alone makes the trip worthwhile.
If I had to recommend just five food experiences, they would be:
- Antakya Restaurant
- Diyar Usta Baklava
- Galant San Sebastian Cheesecake
- Kayfeder Künefe
- A hot cup of salep while wandering through the Grand Bazaar