12 Best Street Food In Istanbul, Price + Name + where to buy

Istanbul is famous for its street food. In all neighborhoods and places of interest in Istanbul, you will undoubtedly find some stalls, stations, or vans serving street food. Most of these dishes are traditional and healthy and are prepared with fresh and high-quality ingredients.

Visiting the sights of Istanbul and eating delicious street food can multiply the pleasure of your trip. In this article from the Travelling Topic tourism magazine, I intend to introduce some of the most delicious street food in Istanbul to you.

Doner kebab

Doner kebab is one of the most authentic street foods in Türkiye. A lot of meat is piled together and placed vertically next to the fire so that it is cooked well. Since the demand for this dish is high, the meats are always fresh and delicious.

Istanbul street barbecue 

Turks are skilled in cooking all kinds of kebabs, so Istanbul kebabs are considered among the most famous foods of Turkey. Street kebabs are mostly made with beef, lamb, and chicken. Famous kebabs include İskender Kebap, Adana Kebap, Patlıcan Kebap, and Şiş Kebap.

These kebabs are usually prepared in two ways: sometimes, they put a large amount of meat on a skewer, which is called Turkish kebab, and sometimes they fry it as a single on a pan.

Grilled corns | Misir

Grilled corns is another street food in Istanbul Turkey, sold in almost all parts of the city. There are stalls in Istanbul that roast corns and serve them to travelers. In addition to grilled corns in these stalls, you can get boiled corns. Add salt and lemon juice to make your corn tastier before eating.

Wet burger | Islak Burger

Try this street food once, and you will love it. In this burger recipe, meat and burger bun are flavored with garlic and placed inside a steamer. This causes the burger to be slightly wet when it is delivered to the customer. The longer the burger is steamed, the tastier it will be. Wet burger stalls can be found mainly around Taksim Square.

Chickpeas | Nohutlu Pilav

This dish is one of the most popular and famous dishes in Turkey, which can be found in the best universities in Turkey in addition to street stalls.

Although the preparation of this dish seems simple, most of the restaurants and vendors who prepare this dish have their recipes and make it more delicious with their magical recipes! If you travel to Istanbul, try this dish at least once.

Börek | burek

Börek can be eaten as a snack or a light dinner. This delicious dish usually consists of layers of thin sweet dough and is prepared differently. Börek is usually consumed for breakfast. The most popular bureks among people are cheese and spinach burek and meat bureks, But often there is no limit to the choice of ingredients. 

Pide | İçli Pide

Apart from restaurants and cafes, Pide is one of the popular dishes in Istanbul. There are different types of Pide, but its main shape is similar to pizza. The dough is filled with melted cheese, spicy sauces, and vegetables. Pide is also prepared in bite form.

Fish in Bread | Balik Ekmek

Along the Bosphorus, you can find a variety of Istanbul street foods, including grilled fish. Usually, fresh fish is grilled in front of you and delivered in a small and delicious sandwich. Most of the fish stalls are in Eminönü neighborhood and near the beach. 

Turkish ice cream | Maraş Dövme Dondurması

Turkish ice cream is not an ordinary ice cream and is one of the most popular desserts among people. Turkish ice cream is made with fresh, high-fat goat milk, which makes it melt slowly.

The taste and texture of this ice cream are very different from the usual ice cream you have eaten. The sweetness of this ice cream is high, and for this reason, it is often served with Turkish coffee. 

The texture of Turkish ice cream is so hard that it can be eaten with a fork and knife. If you are looking for a sweet dessert after eating a delicious meal or want to escape the heat of Istanbul summer, Turkish ice cream is the best choice.

Simit

The ring-shaped, crispy, and delicious bread found in all the streets of Istanbul is called Simit. There are two types of Simit; Street simit (sokak simit) and shop simit (paste Simit). There is no distinct difference between the two; Because simits with different flavors and shapes are sold on the street and in stores. I suggest you eat Simit with tea.

Pogača

Pogača is a type of bread or pastry, which is prepared in different ways, and has different names in Eastern European countries. Pogača is often prepared plain or with cheese, meat, or olives.

Çiğ köfte

This local dish is made with raw minced meat, red pepper, and wheat. To make Çiğ köfte, minced meat is pounded with spices for a long time until this dish is ready. If eating raw food is difficult for you, eat other foods.

All in all

Most of these foods are entirely healthy and can be a complete and delicious meal for you after sightseeing in Istanbul.

The price of street food is higher in the tourist areas, and it is suggested to go to more secluded areas to try this food. But in general, their price varies between 1 to 3 dollars. If you have had the experience of traveling to Istanbul and trying street food, share your experiences with me in the comments section.

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