10 Tasty Turkish Foods You Should Try When You Are in Istanbul

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Istanbul is a city that is known all around the world for its rich history and unique culture. When you walk through its streets, you will see beautiful old buildings, busy markets full of colors, and friendly people everywhere. There are so many great places to explore in this amazing city, from historic sites to modern neighborhoods. However, a visit to Istanbul is not complete without tasting some of the tasty Turkish foods that make this place so special.

In this article, you will find a list of 10 Turkish foods that you should definitely try during your visit to Istanbul. Each dish has its own unique taste and story that makes your travel experience even more memorable.

Kestane, or roasted chestnuts, is a very popular street food in Turkey. You can find them on almost every street corner in Istanbul, especially during the cold months. Vendors roast them in a special pan over fire, which creates a wonderful smell that makes you want to try them. They taste sweet and warm, perfect for eating while you walk around the city and enjoy the beauty of Istanbul.

Simit is a round bread that is covered with sesame seeds and looks similar to a bagel. You can buy it from street sellers or small shops everywhere in the city at any time. Many Turkish people eat simit for breakfast, often with a cup of tea or some cheese on the side. It has a crunchy outside and a soft inside, and it is both cheap and delicious, which is why locals love it so much.

Many people say that lahmacun is Turkish pizza, but it is actually quite different from Italian pizza. It is a thin, round bread with minced meat, tomatoes, and spices spread on top of it. Before eating, you roll it up with fresh vegetables like parsley and add some lemon juice for extra flavor. The taste is both spicy and fresh, and because lahmacun is light, you can easily eat more than one piece.

Menemen is a traditional Turkish breakfast dish that is made with eggs, tomatoes, peppers, and various spices. It is served hot in a small pan, and you eat it by scooping it up with pieces of fresh bread. The eggs are soft and creamy, and they mix perfectly with the cooked vegetables to create a delicious combination. Some people also like to add cheese on top to make it even more tasty and filling.

Börek is a popular Turkish pastry that is made with many thin layers of dough, one on top of another. Inside these layers, you can find different fillings like cheese, spinach, or minced meat, depending on what you prefer. The outside becomes crispy and golden when it is baked in the oven, creating a wonderful texture. Turkish people often eat börek for breakfast or as a snack during the day, and it pairs perfectly with a cup of tea.

No trip to Istanbul is complete without tasting döner kebab, one of the most famous Turkish foods. This is meat that is cooked slowly on a vertical rotating grill, and the cook slices thin pieces from it. You can have it served in bread like a sandwich or on a plate with rice and salad on the side. The meat options include chicken, lamb, or beef, and all of them are juicy and full of delicious spices.

This is a perfect food for those who have a sweet tooth and love trying different kinds of candy. Turkish delight is a soft, chewy candy that is made with sugar and starch, and it comes in many different flavors. You can find rose, lemon, orange, and pistachio flavors, and some pieces even have whole nuts hidden inside them. Turkish people traditionally serve this sweet treat with coffee when they welcome guests into their homes.

Baklava is probably the most famous Turkish dessert in the world, and it is truly special to try. It is made with many thin layers of pastry, and between each layer there are crushed nuts, usually pistachios or walnuts. After baking, the whole dessert is covered with sweet syrup that soaks into all the layers and makes it incredibly rich. When you bite into baklava, you taste the crunchy pastry and sweet nuts together, creating an unforgettable experience.

Pide is a traditional Turkish flatbread that has a unique boat shape with pointed ends on both sides. You can order it with many different toppings, such as cheese, minced meat, eggs, or mixed vegetables, depending on your taste. The bread is soft in the middle but has wonderfully crispy edges that add a nice texture to each bite. It is baked in a very hot oven, which gives it a special flavor that makes pide different from other flatbreads.

After tasting all the tasty Turkish foods above, you should end your food journey with a cup of Turkish coffee. It is famous for its unique brewing method, where finely ground coffee beans are mixed with water and sugar in a special small pot called a cezve. The cezve is then placed on hot sand, which heats it slowly and evenly until the coffee starts to foam. This traditional method results in a strong, thick, and rich coffee that is quite different from regular coffee you might know.