Most Popular Turkish Foods That You Should Try

Turkish cuisine is celebrated for its incredible variety, with dishes that are as healthy as they are delicious. From savory kebabs to sweet baklava, the most popular Turkish foods are loved by people all over the world. Below, you will find a brief list of some of these famous dishes. We will explore each of them in more detail in the full article. Stay with us to learn more!

• Döner Kebab
• Iskender Kebap
• Adana & Urfa Kebab
• Lahmacun
• Köfte
• Hünkar Beğendi (Sultan’s Delight)
• Pide
• Mantı
• Menemen
• Balık Ekmek (Fish Sandwich)
• Kumpir
• Imam Bayildi
• Tantoni
• Börek
• Çiğ Köfte
• Bulgur Pilavi
• Kuru Fasulye
• Nohutlu Pilav
• Kokoreç
• Karnıyarık
• Gözleme

The Most Popular Turkish Foods

Turkish cuisine is renowned for its rich flavors, diverse dishes, and unique culinary traditions. From savory kebabs to sweet desserts, here are some of the most popular Turkish foods you should try.

Iskender Kebap: one of the most popular Turkish foods

Iskender Kebap, one of the most popular foods in Turkey, is created using meat similar to Doner Kebap. The meat is thinly layered, then a portion of flavorful bread is sliced and placed on a plate. Thin layers of meat are flavored with cow fat, local herbs, and spices and served on slices of bread.

When it’s time to serve, a dollop of yogurt, a dollop of spicy ketchup made especially for Turkish cuisine, and a bit of hot melted butter should be poured over them. This unique dish is extremely popular in Bursa, and Iskender Efendi first prepared it in Antakya, Turkey’s southern border with Syria, in 1867.

It is available in various restaurants in cities such as Istanbul, Antalya, and Ankara. You can also find a variety of international cuisines in the city, including delicious and authentic Indian Restaurants in Istanbul.

Midye Dolma

Midye Dolma is one of Turkey’s most popular and well-known street foods. This delightful dish is a favorite among both locals and tourists, consisting of black mussels stuffed with aromatic rice and a unique blend of spices. Its distinct and flavorful taste makes it an unforgettable culinary experience during a trip to Turkey.

Çiğ Köfte

Çiğ Köfte, one of the most popular Turkish foods, is a unique and flavorful dish. It’s a vegan delicacy made from a high amount of fine bulgur, kneaded with a rich blend of tomato paste, pomegranate molasses, and a variety of spices. Fresh vegetables like parsley and lettuce are then added for a delicious, crunchy contrast. This exotic, spicy mixture is often served wrapped in a lettuce leaf or lavash bread.

Menemen: A Turkish Breakfast Staple

Menemen is one of the most popular Turkish foods, especially famous as a delicious and hearty breakfast dish. It’s a simple yet incredibly flavorful scramble of eggs, cooked with finely chopped tomatoes, green peppers, and onions in a traditional copper pan.

Often spiced with red pepper flakes and served hot, it’s a staple in Turkish homes and restaurants. The rich, savory taste makes it an essential part of any Turkish culinary experience.

Lahmacun

Lahmacun, one of the most popular Turkish foods, is often called “Turkish pizza” due to its similar flat, round shape. This beloved dish features a very thin, crispy dough topped with a flavorful mix of minced meat, finely chopped vegetables, and spices.

It’s traditionally served with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice, then rolled up and eaten. You’ll often find it paired with pickles, a special Turkish salad, grilled eggplant, or yogurt. Be sure to try this iconic dish when you visit Turkey!

Manti: One of The Best Dishes in Turkey

Manti is truly one of the most popular Turkish foods and a must-try for anyone exploring Turkish cuisine. This delectable dish is a type of small dumpling, traditionally filled with spiced ground meat. Although there are various regional recipes, some may include fillings like potato or spinach.

The tiny, folded dough pockets are either boiled or steamed and then served with a generous topping of garlic yogurt and a drizzle of melted butter infused with red pepper flakes and mint. Historically, Mantı was a beloved dish of the Ottoman sultans, often considered a sophisticated and luxurious meal.

Kumpir

When talking about the most popular Turkish foods, you can’t forget about Kumpir. This baked potato is a beloved street food, and the best place to try it is in Istanbul’s Ortaköy neighborhood.

Vendors here bake a huge potato until it’s perfectly soft, then split it open. They mash the soft insides with butter and cheese before a delicious variety of toppings is added based on your preference. You can choose from everything from corn and olives to pickles and sausages, creating your own personalized, delicious street food experience.

Döner Kebab: Delicious and Popular

Döner Kebab, a globally recognized Turkish dish, is a true street food icon. Originating from Bursa, this flavorful dish is made by stacking seasoned meat, typically lamb, beef, or chicken, in thin layers on a vertical rotisserie.

As it slowly cooks, the outer layers are shaved off and served in a variety of ways, most popularly in a warm flatbread or dürüm wrap, often accompanied by fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Its unique preparation and rich taste make it a staple of Turkish cuisine.

Pide: The Turkish Pizza

Often referred to as Turkish pizza, Pide is a beloved dish that’s both a delicious and satisfying meal. Unlike Lahmacun, this dish is a thick, boat-shaped flatbread with a rich variety of toppings.

While it’s most famously topped with minced meat (kıyma), it can also feature a mix of cheese, eggs, sausages, or vegetables like onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Pide is baked in a stone oven until golden and crispy, making it a flavorful and popular choice across Turkey.

Tantuni: A Flavorful Street Food

Tantuni is a standout among the most popular Turkish foods, particularly as a beloved street food. This delicious and traditional wrap originates from the southern city of Mersin. It’s made by sautéing finely diced meat, often beef or chicken, with a unique blend of spices on a special griddle.

The seasoned meat is then wrapped tightly in thin lavash bread, creating a rich and savory sandwich. While it’s commonly served on its own, you can also find it accompanied by a side of bulgur pilaf and fresh vegetables.

Bulgur Pilavi: A Wholesome Turkish Staple

Bulgur pilaf is a staple side dish and a healthy alternative to white rice, making it one of the most popular Turkish foods. This wholesome pilaf is made from a type of cracked wheat known as bulgur, which is cooked with vegetables, herbs, and spices. It’s known for its nutty flavor and fluffy texture, and it’s a common accompaniment to almost any Turkish main course, from kebabs to stews.

While you’re in Istanbul, you’ll find a wide variety of dining options, from traditional Turkish cuisine to international flavors. If you’re looking for delicious vegetarian options, there are several great Indian vegetarian restaurants in Istanbul to choose from.

Karnıyarık

Karnıyarık, one of the most popular Turkish foods, is a classic and delicious stuffed eggplant dish. It’s made by hollowing out a whole eggplant and filling it with a savory mix of minced meat, onions, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs like parsley. The stuffed eggplant is then baked until tender and often served alongside rice, fresh vegetables, and a squeeze of lemon to complement its rich flavors.

Kokoreç: A Flavorful Turkish Delicacy

Kokoreç is a truly unique and delicious Turkish delicacy with a devoted following. Often listed among the most popular Turkish foods for the adventurous eater, it’s a traditional street food made from spiced lamb intestines.

To prepare it, the intestines are meticulously cleaned, wrapped around a skewer, and then grilled slowly over charcoal. The cooked intestines are finely chopped and mixed with a vibrant blend of herbs and spices, including oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes, along with finely diced tomatoes and fresh parsley. This savory mixture is then served hot, often stuffed into a piece of crusty bread.

Dürüm: The Perfect Wrap

Dürüm is a popular Turkish wrap, known for its delicious and convenient form. It’s made by tightly rolling various fillings in a thin flatbread, most commonly lavash or yufka. While the fillings can vary widely, a classic dürüm often includes seasoned kebab meat, along with fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and sometimes corn. This handheld dish is a go-to choice for a quick and satisfying meal.

Balık Ekmek: A Taste of the Sea

Balık Ekmek (Fish Sandwich) is a beloved and iconic Turkish street food, particularly famous in seaside cities like Istanbul and Izmir. It’s a deliciously simple sandwich made from a fresh, grilled or fried fish fillet (usually mackerel), served inside a crusty loaf of bread.

The fish is often topped with crisp lettuce, fresh onions, and a sprinkle of parsley, all brought together with a squeeze of fresh lemon and sometimes a dash of sauce. This simple but flavorful dish perfectly captures the fresh, vibrant spirit of Turkey’s coastal cities.

Köfte: Turkey’s Beloved Meatballs

Köfte is one of the most beloved and widely enjoyed dishes in Turkish cuisine. These flavorful meatballs are typically made from a mixture of minced meat (usually lamb or beef), breadcrumbs, and finely chopped onions, all seasoned with a unique blend of Turkish spices.

Served in many different forms, from grilled patties to meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, Köfte is a staple dish that offers a taste of authentic Turkish home cooking.

Imam Bayildi: A Legendary Vegetarian Dish

Imam Bayildi, a staple of Ottoman-era cuisine, is a classic Turkish dish that translates to “the imam fainted.” This vegetarian delight is made from whole eggplants carefully stuffed with a rich and aromatic filling. The rich and aromatic filling is what makes this dish so special, a perfect example of how different spices Turkish food can use to create unique flavors.

To create this fragrant dish, the eggplants are roasted and then filled with a savory mixture of onions, garlic, and fresh tomatoes. The dish is then slow-cooked in olive oil until the flavors meld together, creating a silky, tender texture. Served at room temperature, its delightful taste is a testament to its legendary name.

Nohutlu Pilav: A Flavorful Street Food Staple

Nohutlu Pilav is a beloved and simple Turkish dish, famous for both its comforting taste and its popularity as a street food. This delicious rice pilaf is prepared with a mix of tender chickpeas and flavorful chicken pieces.

The ingredients are carefully layered and seasoned with aromatic Turkish spices, creating a rich and fragrant dish. Often sold from portable carts, this wholesome and tasty meal has become a favorite quick bite across Turkey.

Börek: A Turkish Culinary Gem

Börek is a beloved and iconic dish in Turkish cuisine, with a history that dates back to the Ottoman Empire. This versatile pastry, enjoyed across Turkey for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, is prepared in many different forms, each with its own unique and delicious flavor.

Turkish home cooks traditionally make Börek by layering thin sheets of yufka dough. The dough is then filled with a variety of ingredients, such as minced meat, cheese, potatoes, leeks, or spinach. This flexibility in fillings has made it a favorite for all tastes.

Beyond its rich fillings, Börek is also known for its beautiful shapes, with popular varieties including the classic coiled shape, as well as flower-shaped and layered styles. Its flaky, savory taste makes it an essential dish to try for anyone exploring Turkish food.

Kuru Fasulye: A Rich and Hearty Classic

Kuru Fasulye is a beloved Turkish comfort food, often compared to bean stews found in other cuisines. This delicious and popular dish is made with white beans, tender meat, and a rich, savory tomato-based sauce.

The addition of aromatic vegetables and a blend of spices gives it a complex flavor that makes it a staple on Turkish tables, perfect for a cozy, satisfying meal. If you’re wondering about the health aspects of Turkish cuisine, you might be interested to know more about Is Turkish food is fattening.

Gözleme: A Traditional Turkish Flatbread

Gözleme is a delicious and traditional Turkish flatbread, often compared to börek. This savory pastry is made by rolling out thin sheets of dough, which are then filled with various ingredients like spinach, cheese, potatoes, or minced meat.

The filled dough is then folded and cooked on a griddle, creating a fragrant and crispy treat. Gözleme is a beloved staple of Turkish cuisine, prepared with care by skilled cooks, and enjoyed as a quick meal or snack.

A Culinary Journey Awaits

After exploring some of the most popular Turkish foods, it’s clear that Turkish cuisine is a must-try for any traveler. From the iconic street foods like Döner to the rich, savory kebabs and mouth-watering desserts, these dishes offer a unique and unforgettable taste of Turkey’s culture. So, on your next trip to Turkey, be sure to savor these delectable and world-famous dishes. 

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