What comes to mind when you think of Istanbul? A sprawling metropolis with a rich history, world-class restaurants, and delicious food. Turkish cuisine is one of the most diverse in the world. Turkish food has been influenced by many cultures and civilizations throughout history, thus becoming a melting pot of different flavors.
It’s as if Turkish people have put together the best bits from each culture they encountered over time to create their own unique taste! In fact, so much so that Turkish dishes have become popular in almost every part of the world where Turkish immigrants settled down – from Russia to America, Europe, and even Australia.
This diversity means there’s something for everyone when it comes to Turkish food, meat-eaters, vegetarians & vegans alike, or simply looking for Turkish halal food.
While this may sound like the perfect vacation destination for your next getaway, it can also be surprisingly difficult to find good-quality traditional or international food at affordable prices in Istanbul. Let’s have a little Istanbul food tour together via this blog.
If you’re wondering what to eat in Istanbul, Turkish restaurants will not disappoint you, However, like any other city in the world they can be pricey if you don’t know where to go or which dishes to order.
That’s where this guide comes in handy. In this Istanbul food guide, we’ll show you where to eat cheap and good in Istanbul as local Turks eat, which will leave your taste buds tingling and stomach satisfied and you won’t even break your bank while doing so.
So without further ado here are the cheap but tasty and traditional best food in Istanbul you can try out during your visit to Istanbul. Let’s add this food recommendation to your list of things to do in Istanbul.
Table of Contents
- Cheap tasty and traditional Turkish foods
- Simit
- Lentil Soup
- Sarma
- Ayran (Yugort Drink)
- Pide (Turkish Pizza)
- Lahmacun
- Kebab
- Döner kebap ( Doner )
- Turkish Ice Cream (Dondurma)
- Istanbul Restaurants To Eat Like a Local (Afordable)
- Hanzade Terrace Restaurant
- Sultanahmet Koftecisi Restaurant
- Balkan Lokantasi Restaurant
- Hocapasa Pidecisi
- Melekler Ocakbasi
- Ziya Baba Turk Mutfagi
Cheap tasty and traditional Turkish foods
Simit
For those who have never been to Turkey, you may not know that Turkish Simit is a popular breakfast, snack food, and one the most famous Turkish street food. It is usually served with Turkish tea and Turkish coffee.
It is made from the dough and baked in the oven, it’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside like a Bagels. The best thing about Simit is it available throughout the country in every single grocery shop, restaurant, and with most street vendors.
Lentil Soup
Turkish are big-time into soups especially the lentil soup which has a creamy garlicky taste and thick soupy texture. It is very delicious and served with bread, pickles, Sarma (Stuffed grape leaf roll), and Ayran (Yogurt drink).
Sarma
Sarma is a traditional Turkish food from the cuisines of the Ottoman Empire, which formerly comprised a variety of stuffed vegetables made out of grape leaves, cabbage, or kale that have been rolled around a stuffing of grains (such as bulgur or rice) with or without minced meat and olive oil.
Ayran (Yugort Drink)
Ayran is a yogurt drink that has been consumed for centuries in Turkey and in South Asian subcontinents. It’s popular for being refreshing and cooling during the hot summer months, but it can be enjoyed all year round.
The main ingredient is water, salt, and natural cultures of bacteria to create lactic acid which causes the yogurt to have a sour taste. Ayran can also contain other spices or flavorings like mint or dill. It is a perfect accompaniment to kebabs, kofta, shish kebabs, and Turkish pides.
Pide (Turkish Pizza)
Delicious flatbread topped with ground beef, cheese, tomato sauce, and Turkish spices then cooked in the clay oven. It is very delicious affordable and quite satisfying. It can be eaten at lunch, dinner or even at brunch.
Lahmacun
Thin dough covered with minced meat & Turkish spices then baked in the oven. This thin-crust dough topped with meat, spices, and vegetables makes a delicious meal. It is often served on top of lavash clay-baked flatbread to make it easier to eat. You can get this tasty dish at many restaurants in Istanbul and throughout Turkey.
Kebab
Grilled minced or chunks of lamb or chicken cut into small pieces served in pita bread and wrapped in lettuce leaves, pickled green chilled, fries.
Döner kebap ( Doner )
Sliced of slow-roasted marinated meats combined with salad on top of Turkish flatbread that has been cooked vertically to form a crispy crust. It is indeed the best Istanbul street food I have ever had.
The restaurant we recommend is called “Zübeyir Ocakbaşı” located at Taksim Square. It’s one of the most popular restaurants for locals to get their fix! Locals love it because they make all kinds of delicious dishes from different regions around Turkey including shish kebabs, Turkish pizzas, and Turkish burgers.
Turkish Ice Cream (Dondurma)
Turkish ice cream (dondurma) is different than the rest of the world ice cream. The main difference between the two is that dondurma uses mastic, which comes from tree sap and gives it a chewier texture. For me, this just makes it more delicious. It’s served with little pieces of pistachio on top which gives it a bit of salty flavor.
Istanbul Restaurants To Eat Like a Local (Afordable)
(https://youtu.be/JAD0yjbGaYo/ )
- Hanzade Terrace Restaurant
- Sultanahmet Koftecisi Restaurant
- Balkan Lokantasi Restaurant
- Hocapasa Pidecisi Restaurant
- Melekler Ocakbasi Restaurant
- Sayla Manti Restaurant
- Ziya Baba Turk Mutfagi
Hanzade Terrace Restaurant
I would call it a Hidden gem. On the 5th floor of a hotel, a few minutes walk from spice bazaar worth finding and visiting. The staff was very friendly and the food was amazing and the prices are very affordable compare to other restaurants in the locality, They are all offerable between $2 and $8 USD. Also, a good view from the rooftop was amazing.
One of the finest dining experiences we had in Istanbul. They are famous among the locals as well as tourists for their customer service, view, and low prices. Their must-try dishes are fish platter and fish sandwich, Adana kebap platter, and grilled vegetables.
Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/9wyugPdjYVQknv8D9/
Image credit: http://www.hanzadeterracerestaurant.com/ (GMB listing)
Sultanahmet Koftecisi Restaurant
The restaurant was established in 1920, If you want to try authentic and inexpensive Turkish cuisine, don’t miss Sultanahmet Koftecisi’s most famous meatballs. If you’re visiting Istanbul/Turkey, don’t miss out on the chance to visit this restaurant. You’ll notice that it’s packed with locals, so be prepared to pick up a tray and wait in line.
The signature kofte platter will cost you 18 TL or about $2 USD.
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/nxtwS3oZMNAeuCyJA
Balkan Lokantasi Restaurant
It’s a well-known chain restaurant in Istanbul. It gets packed during the lunch hour. They are reasonably priced and provide a wide range of Turkish cuisine options. Their famous meat dish that i fell in love with was lamb liver with rice and lentil soup was fantastic.
Their kofte is also worth trying, kofte kebap is another best Turkish food evenly famous among the locals and tourists. Another good thing is that the bread is free complimentary, so grab one while you’re there.
They offer a wide range of dishes you will have to pick around 5-6 items it will cost around 20 TL about $2.5 USD
Map: https://g.page/Blknlkts?share/
Hocapasa Pidecisi
Small restaurant with outdoor seating you will notice lots of local residents eating here don’t go on their size but the authentic taste they have to offer their famous Turkish pide and Lahmacun. You will be amazed at the wide variety of Pide they offer. Two people can eat for 55 TL – $5, you will get 2 large size pide, pickles, and (Ayran) yogurt drink
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/xySspZrhk3eamM3X9
Image credit (Hocapasa Pidecisi)
Melekler Ocakbasi
This is another local affordable restaurant we found the prices are affordable and portions are big and really tasty. In many cases, one portion can be enough for two people the best platter of Adana kebap with bulgur salad, flat pita, spicy sauce, and Aryan is served as a combo meal and it costs about 30 TL or $3 USD.
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/mY99tsHzsx2GFi8u9
Ziya Baba Turk Mutfagi
During our Istanbul visit, we stayed not too far a walk from this restaurant we enjoyed delicious, made-to-order cuisine in a mom-and-pop style restaurant. The kebabs and chicken we had were I believe the best in the area, and they were very reasonably priced in the area. MUST TRY THE EGGPLANT KEBAB! i have shared their menu image to have a price idea.
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/4TbJznUXd9WQqjLU9/
Image credit (Ziya Baba Turk Mutfagi)
Conclusion
Istanbul is a city with an incredible history and culture. It has been influenced by many different people throughout time, but it still maintains its own unique flavor. You may not know this about Turkish food, but some of the most popular dishes come from other cultures like Greek and Armenian cuisines. What does that mean? That you can get authentic Turkish cuisine in places all over the world! Get ready to explore one of Europe’s oldest cities while also trying your favorite foods on for size at restaurants around town – we’re sure you’ll find something new to love here.
Hopefully, you have enjoyed this mouth-watering article along with some good tips to save you some bucks. Please level your comments and ideas that I should add something else to make this post more helpful.
