Turkish cuisine is a long tradition, delicious dishes, a variety of ingredients. When you come to Istanbul for an excursion, you should pay enough attention to the gastronomic side of exploring the city. Turkish national recipes were formed under the influence of Mediterranean, Arab, Indian, and Caucasian traditions. The taste and entourage of dishes in this country have non-standard shades and solutions, so you should definitely try the most popular of them.
Borek
The famous Turkish puff pastry pie with filling is prepared in various forms: from small triangular buns to thin long rolls that are rolled up like a snake into a single pie maze. The taste is the same at the shores of any shape. The filling can be very diverse. In the bank put minced meat:
- Meat
- Cheese and potato
- Vegetable
- Fruity
In one large pot, cooks can twist snakes with different fillers, which allows you to try several pies at the same time. Every resident of Turkey knows how to cook the coast no worse than it is baked in the best restaurants.
Kokorec
To prepare this dish, carefully cleaned and washed lamb intestines are taken, which are filled with pre-prepared minced meat. The filling for kokorec is made from giblets, finely chopped and flavored with oriental spices, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. The resulting sausages are fried on a spit and served with a vegetable side dish. A simple way to prepare kokorec is used by street vendors who simply stuff minced bread loaves or wrap the meat mixture in pita bread.
Balik ekmek
Balik; fish, ekmek; bread. Grilled fish with spices and vegetables, served in a loaf of white bread is local fast food and the pride of the Turks. You can taste this dish in any area of Istanbul, but avid travelers prefer to eat it at the Galata Bridge, where local fishermen fry fresh fish and collect balik ekmek right in front of customers with fervor, with heat.
Baklava
Turkey is not for nothing proud of its traditional sweets-the range of local confectionery will satisfy the appetites of any sweet tooth. Baklava made of delicate puff pastry, soaked in honey-nut syrup, firmly holds the first position among sweet dishes. It is so satisfying that a few slices will satisfy your hunger no worse than a full meal.
Turkish Coffee
The drink that the Turks appreciate, love and enjoy endlessly is coffee. Traditionally, it is prepared in a copper “Turk”, on the sand. Among Europeans, this type of coffee preparation is called “Turkish coffee” or “Oriental coffee”. Residents of Turkey drink very strong coffee, from small cups. Be prepared for the fact that in a cup of ordered coffee, the coffee grounds will be as much as the drink itself.
Also in Turkish restaurants, you will get acquainted with a long list of other national dishes, no less tempting and popular. The best way to get acquainted with traditional cuisine is on gastronomic excursions in Istanbul.
Best restaurants in Istanbul
Istanbul is washed by two seas at once, and the famous Bosporus Strait divides the city into Europe and Asia. It is not surprising that the most popular restaurants are those that offer a panoramic view of the sea, coastal attractions and city blocks. According to tourists, there are many restaurants in Istanbul that you want to return to again and again.
Mikla
The cozy restaurant is located not just anywhere, but on the hotel roof. That is why the panoramic windows of the restaurant offer picturesque views of the city and the sea. Sitting at a restaurant table, you can admire the snow-white ships, as well as look at the panorama of the ancient palace ensemble of Topkapi or the domes of famous cathedrals from above. The restaurant’s menu skillfully combines the best finds of Eastern and European cuisine. The restaurant offers a fixed-price dinner program, in which you can order three dishes to choose from. According to the visitors, the portions at Mikla are small, but no one has ever left this restaurant hungry.
Address: Asmalı Mescit, The Marmara Pera, Meşrutiyet Cd. No:15, 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
Ulus 29
A cozy room with an interior decorated in beige and coffee shades, and a spacious terrace with wonderful views of the Bosporus; this is Ulus 29, a restaurant with a long history and traditions. Fantastic service, delicious food and a wine list of several thousand types of drinks, which is regularly updated with new copies. Ulus 29 serves a variety of cuisines, and the portions are quite substantial. In the restaurant you can enjoy shrimp popcorn, tuna tartare, mushroom soup with black truffles. The kitchen, open to the eyes of visitors, where the masters of the restaurant business conjure, perfectly whets the appetite. During the weekend, guests can enjoy an exciting dance program.
Address: Levazım, Ulus Mah. Adnan Saygun Cad, Ulus Parkı No: 71 D:aire: 1, 34340 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Mavi Balik
The restaurant has this name for a reason; there are a lot of fish dishes on the menu. And the fish, as usual, is served with a choice of exotic wines. You can choose the fish right at the entrance to the restaurant, it will be prepared for you. The gastronomic component is supported by beautiful views of the Bosporus and Istanbul. The restaurant’s signature dish is sea bass, which is completely baked in salt and set on fire. You will also be served grilled dorado, squid rings in batter, lobster in cheese sauce and other delicacies. Fast service, non-standard serving of dishes and smiling waiters complement the sea of positive emotions from the Mavi Balik restaurant.
Address: Kuruçeşme, Muallim Naci Cd. 64/A, 34345 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Sunset Grill & Bar
From the outdoor terrace of the Sunset Grill & Bar Restaurant, you can enjoy one of the most breathtaking views of the Bosporus and the Asian coast of the city. The panorama of the city is especially impressive at night, when Istanbul appears in the light of neon lights. The Sunset Grill & Bar menu consists of Turkish, Mediterranean and Japanese dishes. Guests of the restaurant especially note delicious salads, snacks, desserts. Masters of cooking perform many dishes in the style of fusion-a combination of incongruous. The wine list includes rare and vintage varieties. After midnight, visitors will enjoy an incendiary disco.
Address: Kuruçeşme, Kuruçeşme Mahallesi Ulus Park, Yol Sokağı No:2, 34345 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Asitane
The restaurant, located in the old quarter of Edirnekapi, adheres to the same historical concept in the activities of its establishment. To reach it on foot, you need to wander a lot in the labyrinths of ancient quarters. They say that representatives of the institution travel all over the country in search of non-standard recipes from the Ottoman Empire. Asitane is distinguished by excellent food, cozy atmosphere, hospitable staff. In the piggy bank of dishes there are about 500 recipes, the history of which goes back several centuries, and guests are regularly given jars of quince jam. On some days of the week, you can listen to old Turkish music in the restaurant.
Address: Dervişali, Kariye Cami Sk. No:6, 34240 Fatih/İstanbul