What I Like to Eat and Drink in Turkey
Because Turkish food isn’t just a meal — it’s an experience.
Turkey is one of those places where food is king. Food in Turkey is deeply cultural, social, and unforgettable, and it really doesn’t matter where you enjoy it – it can be a home-cooked meal, a street-side café or a nice restaurant. Enjoying food is a way of life, and it reminds me of my country, Croatia, and the region where I was born, Slavonia.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit Turkey several times, and each time I tried totally new food, mostly because I visited different regions. Also, no matter how many times I visit, there are certain dishes and drinks I keep coming back to.
All photos are from Adobe Express. I usually eat so fast there’s no time to take photos.
1) Turkish Breakfast or Kahvaltı
Turkish breakfast is fit for a king! It’s very similar to many European countries but with a larger spread and more diversity.
What’s on the table?
menemen – scrambled eggs cooked with tomatoes, peppers and cheese
simit – a sesame-crusted bagel-like bread, found at every street corner
cheese and olives – soft white cheese and a mix of green and black olives are a must-try, and my favorite part of the spread
fresh vegetables – cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, arugula… salad heaven
çay (Turkish tea) – served in small tulip-shaped glasses and refilled endlessly
honey and kaymak (clotted cream) – I like to finish my breakfast with some kaymak and honey, enjoying those with the tea
2) Meze
Meze is not just one meal, it’s an endless spread of small plates with dips, vegetables, pide bread and meat, similar to Spanish tapas. It’s meant to be shared, and it’s a good idea to sip on some raki.
My meze favorites:
dips – ezme (spicy tomato and peppe), hummus, grilled eggplant salad, haydari (garlicky yogurt)…
pide bread – flat bread that can come “naked” or stuffed with cheese, spiced meat etc.
rakı – Turkey’s signature anise-flavored spirit, served with some water of ice to reach its white hue
3) Street food
Walking through Istanbul, you’ll hear vendors calling out, smell something delicious, and suddenly, you’re eating, again!
What I always stop for:
kestane (roasted chestnuts) – they have bigger chestnuts than what I’m used to so I always have some
balık ekmek – grilled fish sandwiches
midye tava – deep fried mussels on a stick (there is the stuffed fresh kind, but I’m a bit too cautious)
You can eat kebab everywhere, but I prefer dishes without red meat so if you’re a fan, definitely eat all the kebab you can.
4) What I like to drink in Turkey
ayran – my all-time favorite, a cup of frothy yogurt, with some water and salt, goes well with meaty dishes
çay – Turkish tea is everywhere. The most important thing is not to drink the concentrate, ask a local to show you how they measure the right amount of hot water to the concentrate.
fresh fruit juice – stalls with fruit selling fresh juice are everywhere, and they all have the same tool, a steel squeezing machine. My favorite juice is pomegranate with some orange, and I even bought such steel tool after my second visit to Istanbul, just because it did wonders with pomegranate.
nar meyve şarabı - pomegranate wine, a gem, if you ask me
Türk kahvesi - Turkish coffee, thick and strong, served in tiny cups, and usually served with a glass of water and a piece of lokum (Turkish delight). Be sure not to stir it, because the grounds need to settle before you drink it. When you’re done, flip the cup over and show it to someone who can read your fortune from the patterns in the grounds.
5) Time for dessert
Turkish desserts go far beyond baklava, and combinations are endless.
My favorites:
Baklava – layers of flaky pastry, nuts, and syrup. My favorite baklava nut is pistachio.
Lokum – Turkish delight, comes in hundreds of flavors, from rose and pomegranate to pistachio and chocolate.
Tahini helva – made with sesame nut butter (tahini) and sugar, and sold in blocks. It has a soft, crumbly texture, and other additions like nuts, dried fruits or cocoa inside.
Eating in Turkey isn’t just about the food — it’s about the experience. Meals are long, coffee is strong, and hospitality is endless.
Now tell me — have you tried any of these? What’s your favorite Turkish dish? Let me know in the comments!
For more things Turkish, check out these posts on Turkey:
The Turkish Evil Eye or Nazar: Is It More Than Just a Symbol?: About the protective power of the Nazar
Inside Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace: A Journey Through Ottoman History: UNESCO Sites in Turkey: Historic Areas of Istanbul
The Theatre and Aqueducts of the Ancient City of Aspendos, Turkey: A Timeless Marvel of Roman Engineering
Ancient Metropolis of Ephesus: UNESCO Sites in Turkey: Ephesus
Plus, February of my “2025 Calendar: 12 Countries in 12 Months” is dedicated to Turkey and its cultural gems.
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It's not good for me to read this when I am deciding to fast today.
Turkish food is one of my all-time favorite cuisines! Everything is SO freaking good—I don’t think I’ve ever had to check if a restaurant was good or not because I just knew it would be. Also, I could honestly live off meze every day.