Istanbul was once Constantinople, the seat of the Ottoman Empire, and many of the vestiges of the ancient empire still remain, from the geography, to the architecture, to the food. The food in Istanbul is a mix of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean with some Western European influence as well, since Istanbul was and is still a major crossing point between Europe and the Middle East and Asia. This intercontinental traffic has both helped spread the Turkish culture, since it is so old, as well as influence Turkey with many different and unique cultures at the same time.
Traditional Turkish Foods
Bread is the staple of Istanbul, one of the many vestiges of the Ottoman empire, and it comes in four basic forms: pita, lavash, simit, and bazlama. The main staple bread for all of Turkey is the simit which is a round bagel like bread that is covered in sesame seeds and sold all over in bakeries and restaurants throughout Istanbul.
Mezes
Mezes are Istanbul's response to tapas. They are usually served whenever there is drinking and can be based on seasonal offerings, or more traditional and common recipes like stuffed grape leaves, babaganoush, hummus, or other small plates and dips. No where is the mingling of cultures more evident than with a large spread of mezes at any tavern or restaurant.
Street Food and Kebabs
You also might not find the best foods in restaurants since there are so many excellent street vendors that sell kebabs. Almost everyone knows what a kebab is, but in Istanbul you can get whatever kind of kebab you desire from most restaurants and street vendors. With its proximity to the sea, there are many types of fish kebabs as well as lamb, beef, chicken, and even vegetables. The most famous kebab is actually not served on a skewer but inside of a freshly baked bun, much like a Greek gyro, but with different spices and meats, and once you have had a freshly baked doner kebab, you might never want a gyro again.
Hamsi and Seafood
Since Istanbul is so close to the sea, it would be a shame to not sample some of the seafood, and one of the most ubiquitous dishes in a restaurant or on the street are the anchovies that come out of the Bosporus, called Hamsi. There are an almost unlimited amount of ways to enjoy these in any restaurant or on the street as they can be served alone or in kebab form or over rice.
Restaurants
While the dining scene in Istanbul is relatively new, there are some excellent restaurants that are remarkable for their menu, their view, their architecture, their history, or all of the above.
Mikla is on the forefront of Istanbul's dining scene as it is one of the restaurants to offer a new spin on traditional foods while giving diners remarkable views of the city from its terrace or rooftop bar.
Sunset Bar and Grill takes the cuisine melting pot that is Istanbul and adds a sushi bar to it. This restaurant has an excellent water view, harvests its own herbs from its own garden and grows its own grapes for its own wines at its own vineyard.
Pandeli was once boasted as the best restaurant in Istanbul, and while it is not as highly touted anymore, it still boasts a massive menu of traditional Turkish fare, large portions of meat, and, of course, excellent and freshly baked Turkish breads.
What are your favorite Turkish cuisines? Let us know in the comments section below!
Image Credits
Min-Hui and Roland at Mikla by Bill Rand
Hamsi by Jorge Cancela
Istanbul by Moyan Brenn
Simit by Captain Orange
Meze by Kake
Street Food by FaceMePLS
