What I ate in Turkey
Notable culinary adventures in Istanbul and Bodrum 🇹🇷
I hope you’re hungry.
Or at least ready for some food porn.
As promised, here’s my ode to Turkish cuisine, where I recap mostly everything and everywhere I ate and drank in Turkey.
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Hotel breakfasts
Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul
As is the case with many Shangri-La hotels worldwide, I was hoping for an amazing breakfast spread, and the one at Shangri-La’s Istanbul location did not disappoint.
You know when you’re on an airplane or at an “all you can eat” buffet and people go absolutely bonkers with the drinks and the food?🐷
That same feral excitement hits you when you’re first greeted by the warm and bustling atmosphere of a quintessential Shangri-La breakfast.
Breakfast takes place at a large restaurant facing the Bosphorous, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Choose from savory options along a buffet line, or order à la carte (included, not additional) eggs, omelets, traditional menemen (scrambled eggs with chopped tomato), and suçuk yumurta, which is simply pan-fried beef sausage with sunny-side up eggs, but because the pans are served piping hot and sizzling, you can stir and cook the eggs more after they’ve hit the table.
The breakfast feast offered multiple stations of fruit, breads, yogurts, pastries, and even an entire honey station.
Susona, Bodrum
In Bodrum, breakfast is also a highlight of each morning as you are spoiled with a full menu offering breakfast feasts among à la carte breakfast options.
Again, it’s quite easy to be tempted into getting more food than you can eat, but I tried my best to consume only enough to set me up nicely for the rest of the day.
Bakeries and pastries
Turkish bread and pastries are a celebration of life.
Just like in Paris, you will pass so many beautiful bakeries, each offering specialties and their unique styles of loaves, biscuits (cookies), baklava, and other sweet treats.
Try:
Bakery + sweet treats, Tarihi Oktay Kurabiye Fırını
Bakery + sweet treats, Ekinciler
Baklava and dessert, Hafiz Mustafa 1864 Beyazıt
Tea
Tea (çay, pronounced “chai”) is a definitive part of Turkish culture, and you will see tea houses on most blocks marked by tiny tables adorned with ashtrays, and surrounded by small stools.
Most restaurants also offer tea as post-meal beverages.
Another popular beverage to beat the heat is Turkish limonata.
As in other hot Mediterranean climates, lemons are abundant in west and south Turkey. The Turks put their spin on lemonade usually by grating the entire lemon and then cooking the rinds, zest, and sugar together before adding water or mint to taste.
Traditional homestyle foods
Simit
The traditional Turkish simit is a cross between an American-style sesame bagel and a pretzel.
You can make an adventure out of trying to find the best in Istanbul.
It’s chewier and softer than a pretzel, but more brown in color and crustier than a bagel.
Try: Galata Simit Shop
Manti
These are best described as Turkish dumplings.
However, unlike larger Chinese dumplings or Polish pierogies, manti are smaller in size (about a quarter’s width) but you’ll get a healthy portion, usually covered with a light butter or cream sauce or paprika seasoning.
Stuffed vegetables
You’ll find traditional karniyarik (stuffed eggplant) and etli biber dolması (stuffed peppers) at homestyle restaurants.
Definitely try these because the savory and satisfying flavors are out of this world.
Try: Şahin Lokantası
Ice cream
Ice cream, or dondurma in Turkish, is particularly delicious and creamy because it’s made with goat’s milk instead of cow milk.
The difference in taste is unnoticeable, unless you’re familiar with its unique pungence.
Oh, and Popeye’s is popular in Turkey and sells a soft-serve dondurma—which is very good.
Off the beaten path
The climb up a massive hill in sweltering heat for famous water buffalo clotted cream and honey (kaymak) did not disappoint.
It’s quite possibly one of the best combos you’ll taste.
Doner, kebab, kofte
You won’t see pork in Turkish cuisine because of the country’s Muslim population which favors halal meats like lamb and beef.
Pop into any spot that looks enticing and that has a fresh spit of meats ready for slicing.
Seafood
It’s a no-brainer to try seafood in Turkey. Its proximity to multiple seas ensures delightful fresh fish and other snacks.
Finally, if you’re confused about where to eat, look for where other Turkish people are eating—easy enough.
Or you can follow foodie YouTubers who know their stuff and offer eclectic and unpretentious picks, like this guy:
Though Istanbul and Bodrum did offer fine-dining restaurants and even a Michelin-starred restaurant at the former, I preferred trying homestyle, local places that withstood the test of time.
And I’m glad I did! I can’t wait to search out more authentic Turkish restaurants in Miami to bring me back…
Have you been? What were your favorites?
What would you want to try first?
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Until next time,
Shindy
On Instagram + TikTok
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INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE MOST ADVENTUROUS PERSON I KNOW!!!!!!!!??