For my other guides covering the rest of Istanbul check these :
European Side:
Istanbul for Foodies - Local's Guide to Food & Drink Spots on the European Side of Istanbul, Turkey
If you are traveling for food, and food is the first thing that you search for before your trip, this guide is for you!
As a local from Istanbul, I collected my favorite food and drink spots located on the European side, in addition to the must-try food items.
Although the majority of the places are located in famous neighborhoods such as Fatih (Historical Peninsula), Karakoy, Beyoglu, Besiktas, and Tarabya, sometimes you need to get away from the center to find the best food. This guide also covers these off-the-beaten-track locations.
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The list contains the following sections:
✔️Breakfast 🍳🥯
✔️Fine Dining 👩🍳⭐🍾
✔️Kebab
✔️Authentic Turkish Cuisine & Street Food 🥘🌯🌭
✔️Meyhaneler (Meze & Rakı Places) & Seafood Restaurants🐟🧊
✔️Pubs/ Cocktail Bars/Wine House 🍷🍺🍸
✔️International Cuisine 🍣🍱🍜
✔️Traditional Sweets, Patisserie and Cafes 🍰🍨☕
Curated by Hungry in Istanbul
43 Places • 7 Saves • ago
Asian Side:
Istanbul for Foodies - Local’s Guide to Food & Drink Spots On The Asian Side Of Istanbul
If you are traveling for food, and food is the first thing that you search for before your trip, this guide is for you!
As a local from Istanbul, I collected my favorite food and drink spots located on the Asian side, in addition to the must-try food items, and how to eat them.
Although the majority of the places are located in famous neighborhoods such as Kadikoy and Prince Islands sometimes you need to get away from the center to find the best food. This guide also covers these off-the-beaten-track locations.
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The list contains the following sections:
✔️Breakfast 🍳🥯
✔️Local bistros where you can taste authentic ✔️Turkish cuisine. 🥘
✔️Meze & Rakı Places (Meyhane)🧊🐟
✔️Fine Dining 🥂⭐️
✔️Cocktail Bars🍸
✔️Pubs🍺
✔️Wine House 🍷🍇
✔️Street Food /Hangover Food 🌯🌭
✔️International Cuisine 🍣🍱
✔️Patisserie and Cafes☕️🍰🍨
Curated by Hungry in Istanbul
77 Places • 8 Saves • ago
Breakfast
Büyükada Bakery
@hungryinistanbul
Start your day in the island with their “Peynirli kuru poğaça” - a flaky savoury pastry with cheese 🧀 and “Patlıcanlı Poğaça”-poğaça with eggplant 🍆
Poğaça is strong rival of Simit & Açma which are other two staple items. You can find poğaça all around Turkey but the ones in this place are my favorite!👌

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Ada Kahvaltı
@hungryinistanbul
To have a full breakfast experience, visit Ada Kahvaltı.
They offer delicious local cheese peynir 🧀 , olives 🫒, fresh tomato- cucumber🍅🥒, home-made marmelades 🍒🍑🍓, and sunny side up eggs 🍳.
The place has a cozy ambience and animal friendly attitude 😺
Reservation is required on weekends to avoid waiting.

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Meyhaneler (Meze & Rakı Places)
"Rakı" is a traditional alcoholic beverage made with anise and "Meze" is similar to tapa, the food that you enjoy with your drink and mostly shareable with others at the table.
Our Rakı&Meze culture is strong in Istanbul. Here are my favorite places.
Mavi Restaurant
@hungryinistanbul
⭐️⭐️⭐️ The owner will retire soon, and the restaurant will close permanently on December 31st, 2023. I think this is one of the best restaurants on the island in terms of the food and quality of the ingredients . If you are around, you should prioritize this place before it is too late to taste Aunt Nigar’s dishes.
Personal favorites:
Stuffed Artichoke, Grilled Squid, Cheese Puffs(Sevgi Böreği), Glasswort with garlic and olive oil sauce, Grilled Sardines & Raki

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Milto Restaurant
@hungryinistanbul
For lunch or dinner come here for a Rakı&Meze experience (you can also have wine or beer in case the flavor or Rakı is too strong for you)
Personal favorites: Lakerda (cold starter)🐟, Karides Güveç 🦐, Izgara Kalamar (Grilled baby squid with soy sauce and butter)🦑

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Kalpazankaya Restaurant
@hungryinistanbul
Enjoy the sunset while sipping your Rakı 🧊or Beer 🍺with delicious meze.

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Lunapark Restaurant
@hungryinistanbul
Enjoy “İstavrit Tava” or “Tava” of the fish that your waiter recommends.🐟🍺

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Jash Herman Chef Kınalıada
@hungryinistanbul
Cold and hot starters of the day with Raki

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Yasemin Restaurant
@hungryinistanbul
If you are planning to visit Prince Islands in the summer, have a great dinner at this waterfront restaurant.
Reservation is needed in summer.
Personal favorites: Girit Ezme, Midye Dolma

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Pubs & Cocktail Bars
Splendid Palace Hotel in Buyukada
@hungryinistanbul
The bar is located on the terrace of the Splendid Palace hotel built in 1908.
Go there before sunset to enjoy the beautiful sea view while sipping your cocktail.
My personal favorites; are "Müdavim (Regular in Turkish)" & "Yahya Kemal (a famous Turkish poet)"
Reservation is not required, and you do not need to be a hotel guest.

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Fıçı
@hungryinistanbul
Reservation is not needed.
Beer, Home-made crisp potato chips, Meze Platter, Mussel Skewer, Mussel Dolma, Kokoreç (Grilled sheep intestines)

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Patisserie , Icecream & Cafes
Meltem Pasta & Börek
@hungryinistanbul
You should visit this place to get the fruit tarts on the cover picture. 🥧🍊
These tarts can be found in other patisseries, but this place makes them the BEST !!!!
Inside of the crumbly tart dough, there are candied fruits such as orange, fig and quince paste.
Enjoy it with a cup of tea or coffee ☕️.

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Roma Dondurma
@hungryinistanbul
There are many ice cream shops in Büyükada, but this is !THE! place.
Try the flavor “Bal-Badem” with croquant (crunchy almond and nut mixture)

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Before /After Visiting The Prince Islands …
These places are not on the Prince Islands but you can drop by to have a bite on your return journey or before going to the Islands.
Located in Bostancı, a lovely neighbourhood, but an “Off the Beaten Track” area unknown by the tourists, you wouldn’t normally visit these places, unless you went there to take the ferry to Prince Islands.
Kofteci Sukru
@hungryinistanbul
Köfte (Meatballs), Piyaz (White bean salad served with tomato, onion, vinegar), Pumpkin as a dessert.

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TARİHİ ŞEN LOKANTASI
@hungryinistanbul
Patlıcan Musakka (Eggplant stew) and Beyran Çorbası (Soup with meat, rice and garlic)
No reservation needed.

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Bostancı Meydan Kokoreç
@hungryinistanbul
Kokoreç (Charcoal grilled intestines in a bun), Fried Mussels on skewer served with tartar sauce.

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Mercan Kokoreç
@hungryinistanbul
Kokoreç sandviç (charcoal grilled sheep intestines in a bun)
Midye Dolma (Stuffed Mussels)
Fried Mussel Skewer

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Paçacı Hikmet
@hungryinistanbul
Personal favorite: Paça Çorbası (Trotter soup served with garlic and vinegar) and Mumbar Dolması (Spicy dolma made with intestines)

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Jançicip Kore Restorant
@hungryinistanbul
Korean food in Bostancı, Kadıköy
Personal favorite: Tteokbokki, Tangsuyuk, Jajangmyeon

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Orbis Coffee Roastery
@hungryinistanbul
If you come to Bostancı via Marmaray to visit Prince Islands, have breakfast or just a cup of coffee in this beautiful coffee shop.
Personal favorite: Flat White, Egg Benedict, Füme Somon Tartini (Tartini with smoked salmon), & Pumpkin Cheesecake

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Pan dolce Gelato & Coffee Bostancı
@hungryinistanbul
Recommendation: Orange/Chocolate Icecream

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