There is no such thing as Turkish national cuisine, as dishes vary greatly from region to region. Istanbul has seen the migration of dishes from Turkish regions and from the cuisines of other countries, such as Syria, Bulgaria, Armenia, and Greece. So, here are five dishes you must try in Istanbul.
Testi kebab
Many street stalls in Istanbul sell clay pots. At first glance, they seem worthless to tourists—too primitive and unattractive.
But if you order the dish "Testi kebab" at a restaurant, you may well want to take a few of these pots home with you so you can prepare this amazing dish at home.
Testi kebab is meat (lamb, chicken, beef) baked in a pot with vegetables and potatoes. The pot is tightly sealed with dough and placed in the oven for several hours. When serving, the waiter brings the pot on a dish with hot coals and breaks it open right in front of the guests. It looks very impressive, and the strong aroma of spices and vegetables instantly fills the air!
However, choose carefully the restaurant where you decide to order "Testi kebab." Be sure to read the reviews. The dish is prepared according to a complex recipe: the meat is marinated for a long time and then "simmered" in the oven for several hours. In cafes designed for mass tourism, no one will bother with this — it is expensive and time-consuming. They will simply put the meat stewed in a pot into a small pot and heat it up. No aroma, no taste...
Balyk-ekmek
To try fresh fish in Istanbul, you can visit a specialized fish restaurant. A more economical option is to buy "Balyk-ekmek," which translates as "fish in bread."
This is a type of fast food sold on the streets and in small cafes on Galata Bridge. These establishments are frequented by many tourists, have a high turnover, and have no need to store frozen fish. And if you order a fish dish in a non-specialized restaurant, there is a chance that you will be served a defrosted product: expensive and tasteless.
Recommendations:
If you want to take a break from the noise and bustle of Sultanahmet Square, look for the Eagle's Istanbul restaurant near the Blue Mosque. The food here is tailored to tourists, and they add a 10% service charge, but — as I have verified many times from my own experience — the restaurant is decent and the food is served on the cleanest tableware. And for me, the most important thing when traveling is not to get food poisoning.
However, I would not recommend ordering European food at Istanbul street cafes. The same pizza will most likely be a traditional Turkish flatbread baked with vegetables, sausage, and local cheese, rather than the expected dish with salami and mozzarella.
Ayran
Real ayran is a delicious and healthy fermented milk drink! It has nothing in common with those sour mixtures sold in Belarusian supermarkets.
Delicate and slightly sour, ayran is a great thirst quencher. It also improves the intestinal microflora—if you drink ayran every day, you will feel significant changes in your digestive system even after just a week of vacation.
The drink also increases muscle tone and strengthens the cardiovascular system. With it, any excursions to Istanbul's sights will not seem tiring.
Ayran can be ordered in a café or bought in a shop—it is sealed, like yogurt, in small plastic cups or poured into liter bottles.
Baklava
Baklava is a traditional Turkish sweet pastry. It is made from nuts placed between layers of thin dough. Baklava is baked in an oven or stove, then soaked in syrup or honey.
Baklava is quite an expensive treat due to its costly ingredients: almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, and other types of nuts. You can order baklava in a café (very expensive), buy it in shops and specialty stores (just expensive), or go to the nearest supermarket that has its own bakery (moderately expensive).
Turkish coffee and tea
The history of Turkish coffee began in Istanbul in 1543, when the governor of Yemen brought this drink to the capital of the Ottoman Empire and served it to Suleiman the Magnificent.
Since then, Turkey has been brewing unparalleled coffee—strong and spiced. But, as with any dish, you can save money on coffee. If you are served a cloudy, bitter liquid in a street café, don't be lazy to call the waiter and ask, pointing to the cup: "And you call this the national Turkish drink, your pride?" They will redo it properly, no doubt about it.
And they may serve you tea for free in a café, just so you don't get bored while waiting for the bill.
