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Strolling the Streets of Istanbul

Jul 31, 2024

Afiyet olsun!  Bon Appetit!

On day 3 of our Turkey trip in April 2025, we will be strolling the streets of Istanbul when we join our guide on a walking food tour. 

“I get very excited when I discover poor people’s dishes, because I believe only poor people can create great food. If a man has money, he can buy anything, but a person who has nothing must create beauty from within! says Musa Dağdeviren, who created the Çiya Restaurant.

Street food in Istanbul is an integral part of the city’s culinary culture, reflecting its rich history and diverse influences. 

Istanbul offers a wide variety of street food, influenced by Turkish, Ottoman, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisines. You can find everything from kebabs and köfte (meatballs) to börek (savoury pastries), simit (sesame bread rings), and gözleme (thin, savoury Turkish flatbread).

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Here are some of the street food we will be tasting in Istanbul:

  • Simit is perhaps one of the most iconic street foods in Istanbul. It’s a circular bread covered in sesame seeds, similar to a bagel but with a lighter texture. It’s often enjoyed plain or with cheese, jam, or hazelnut spread.
  • Turkish baklava is a sumptuous and decadent dessert that delights the senses with its intricate layers, rich flavours, and sweet aroma. It represents the culinary mastery and hospitality that are integral to Turkish culture and tradition.  Baklava holds significant cultural importance in Turkish cuisine and is often enjoyed during special occasions, holidays, and celebrations such as weddings, religious festivals, and family gatherings. It is also commonly served as a gesture of hospitality to guests.  
  • Balık Ekmek, or fish sandwich, is another popular street food in Istanbul, particularly along the shores of the Bosphorus. It consists of freshly grilled or fried fish (usually mackerel or sea bass) served inside a crusty bread bun with onions, lettuce, and sometimes a squeeze of lemon.
  • Istanbul is known for its delicious kebabs, which are skewered and grilled meats typically served with bread, rice, and salad. You can find various types of kebabs, including döner (rotating, seasoned meat) and shish kebabs (cubed and grilled meat).
  • Lahmacun is a thin, crispy Turkish flatbread topped with minced meat, vegetables, and herbs. Pide is a boat-shaped flatbread typically topped with cheese, meat, and/or vegetables. Both are commonly found as street food options in Istanbul.
  • Midye Dolma are stuffed mussels, a favourite snack among locals and visitors alike. They’re typically filled with a seasoned mixture of rice, herbs, and spices and then steamed.
  • Midye Tava is fried mussels, also known as “midye tava” in Turkish cuisine, are a popular street food and appetizer in Turkey, especially in coastal regions like Istanbul. Fresh mussels are cleaned thoroughly, removing any debris and the beards, and then lightly coated in seasoned flour or breadcrumbs before being fried.
  • Kokoreç is indeed a notable street food in Istanbul and other parts of Turkey. It’s a dish made from lamb intestines that are seasoned, skewered, and grilled vertically over charcoal. The intestines are typically wrapped around sweetbreads (organ meat from the thymus or pancreas) and sometimes additional offal like lungs, kidneys, or hearts.
  • Çay  You have probably not had Turkish tea. Did you know that Turks consume more tea than coffee? Make sure that your tea is prepared the Turkish way, in a double pot, and served in a “tulip” shaped glass.
  • Turkish Coffee Nothing is more traditional than a cup of Turkish coffee. 
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The Kadıköy district in Istanbul is renowned for its vibrant food scene, including its bustling market known as the Kadıköy Deli Market (Kadıköy Çarşısı).  The Kadıköy Deli Market is located in the heart of Kadıköy, on the Asian side of Istanbul. We will take a ferry from the European side of the city.

The market offers a lively and bustling atmosphere and is known for its high-quality products, with many vendors offering locally sourced and organic ingredients. We can expect to find fresh, seasonal produce and artisanal goods made with care and attention to detail.

In addition to the market stalls, the Kadıköy area is home to numerous cafes, restaurants, and eateries where the adventurous ewes can sample delicious Turkish cuisine and international dishes.

What a wonderful culinary experience it will be.  It’s a great place to grab a bite to eat, or enjoy a leisurely meal.

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