Turkish Food & Drinks

Turkish cuisine is far more regional and varied than the short list of dishes most visitors know before arriving. Olive-oil vegetables, seafood, grilled meats, breads, dumplings, soups, pastries, sweets and fermented foods all appear in different combinations across the country.

Turkish Breakfast

An example of a Turkish breakfast spread, photographed in August 2013. Photo: Jorge Franganillo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Resized for display.

A traditional breakfast may include cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, bread, jams, honey, butter and tea. Larger spreads can add pastries, sausage, menemen and regional specialties. Breakfast is often a social meal rather than a quick start to the day.

Meze

A selection of Turkish meze served in Ankara. Photo: E4024 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Meze are small dishes served as starters or as the center of a shared meal. Common examples include yogurt-based dishes, eggplant preparations, beans, seafood, herbs and vegetables in olive oil.

Kebabs and Grilled Meat

Adana kebab being prepared on skewers. Photo: Dosseman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Kebab is a broad category rather than a single dish. Styles differ by region, particularly in southeastern Turkey. Adana and Urfa kebabs are among the best known, while döner, köfte and grilled lamb appear throughout the country.

Pide and Lahmacun

Cheese pide photographed in Istanbul, July 2019. Photo: Maksym Kozlenko / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Pide is a baked flatbread with toppings such as cheese, meat or vegetables. Lahmacun is thinner and usually topped with a seasoned minced-meat mixture. Both are common casual meals.

Mantı

Mantı served with yogurt and spiced butter. Photo: E4024 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Mantı are small dumplings typically served with yogurt and seasoned butter or sauce. Kayseri is especially associated with the dish.

Seafood

Grilled mackerel, a seasonal seafood option. Photo: E4024 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Coastal cities and Istanbul have strong seafood traditions. Freshness, season and local fishing patterns matter, so ask what is currently available rather than ordering only from a fixed checklist.

Aegean Cuisine

Olive-oil vine leaf rolls illustrate the Aegean tradition of vegetable dishes. Photo: Cnasu / Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Resized for display.

The Aegean region is strongly associated with olive oil, herbs and vegetable dishes. Markets around Izmir and the western coast are especially good places to see seasonal produce and local greens.

Southeastern Flavors

Baklava and pistachios in Gaziantep. Photo: Adam Jones / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized for display.

Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and neighboring areas are known for intense flavors, grilled meats, spices, pistachios and regional sweets. Food-focused travelers often treat this part of Turkey as a destination in its own right.

Desserts

Künefe with kaymak and pistachio. Photo: E4024 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Baklava is the most internationally famous, but Turkish desserts also include künefe, lokma, sütlaç and many regional specialties. Turkish delight, or lokum, ranges from simple traditional versions to elaborate nut-filled varieties.

Turkish Tea

Turkish tea served in a tulip-shaped glass, photographed in February 2016. Photo: Maasaak / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Tea is part of daily social life and is commonly served in small tulip-shaped glasses. It appears in cafes, homes, shops and business conversations.

Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee served in a small cup. Photo: Garrett Ziegler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Turkish coffee is prepared unfiltered and served in a small cup. Let the grounds settle before drinking. It is less about volume and more about ritual and conversation.

Ayran

Ayran, a yogurt-based drink. Photo: E4024 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Ayran is a cold yogurt-based drink, commonly served with grilled foods and casual meals.

Alcohol

Rakı served with meze at a restaurant table. Photo: aslı dağ / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Alcohol is available in many restaurants, bars and hotels, although availability varies by area and venue. Rakı, an anise-flavored spirit traditionally served with water and food, is closely associated with long shared meals and meze.

Street Food

A simit vendor in Istanbul. Photo: Miomir Magdevski / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Popular choices include simit, roasted chestnuts, corn, fish sandwiches, döner, stuffed mussels and local snacks. Choose busy vendors with good food turnover and sensible hygiene practices.

Vegetarian and Vegan Travel

Mercimek köftesi, a lentil and bulgur dish; confirm ingredients when ordering. Photo: E4024 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Vegetarians can find many vegetable, lentil, bean, eggplant and olive-oil dishes, particularly in meze restaurants. Vegans should ask about yogurt, butter and meat stock, which may be used even when a dish appears vegetable-based.

Tip : Ask what is local to the region rather than ordering the same famous dishes everywhere. Turkish cuisine changes dramatically between Istanbul, the Aegean, the Black Sea and southeastern Turkey.

Soups

Mercimek çorbası, Turkish lentil soup, served with lemon. Photo: E4024 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Soup is a significant part of Turkish everyday eating. Lentil soup is widely available, while regional soups may use yogurt, grains, legumes, tripe or meat. A simple soup with bread can be an inexpensive and satisfying meal.

Vegetable Dishes

İmam bayıldı with rice and yogurt on the side. Photo: AlexanderVanLoon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Vegetables are central to many home-style meals. Look for stuffed peppers and vine leaves, eggplant dishes, beans, zucchini, greens and olive-oil preparations. Small lokanta-style restaurants can be excellent places to sample several dishes at once.

Regional Cheese and Dairy

Turkish cheese on sale in Istanbul. Photo: Mstyslav Chernov / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for display.

Cheeses vary considerably across the country and are an important part of breakfast. Yogurt is used both as a side and as an ingredient in sauces, soups and drinks.

How to Order

A restaurant menu board in Turkey; check prices and ask about portion sizes. Photo: E4024 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

In casual restaurants, pointing to prepared dishes is often perfectly normal. In seafood restaurants, ask about pricing if fish is sold by weight. In meze restaurants, clarify whether dishes are ordered individually or selected from a display.

Food Allergies

Pistachio-topped baklava: ask about all ingredients and cross-contact if you have allergies. Photo: User:Tatlicim / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for display.

Travelers with serious allergies should learn the Turkish name for the relevant ingredient and carry a written explanation. Nuts, dairy, sesame and gluten can appear in dishes that are not obvious from an English menu.

Food as Part of Your Trip

A spice market in Istanbul can be part of a food-focused trip. Photo: Dudva / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Combine markets and restaurants with the experiences in Things to Do in Turkey. For edible souvenirs and market shopping, see Shopping in Turkey.