Top 20 Foods You Must Try in Turkey

Turkey isn’t just a destination for history and landscapes — it’s a paradise for food lovers. With a cuisine shaped by centuries of Ottoman traditions, regional flavors, and Mediterranean influences, Turkish food is as diverse as it is delicious. From sizzling street bites to indulgent desserts, here are 20 dishes you simply must try on your trip to Turkey.

1. Kebap (Kebab)

Turkey’s most famous dish comes in countless regional varieties — from Adana’s spicy minced meat skewers to Urfa’s milder version and İskender Kebap served with yogurt, tomato sauce, and melted butter.

2. Meze

Small plates of appetizers served with rakı (anise-flavored spirit) or wine. Favorites include hummus, stuffed grape leaves (yaprak sarma), roasted eggplant, and spicy Ezme salad.

3. Menemen

A comforting breakfast dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, peppers, and olive oil, often eaten with fresh bread.

4. Lahmacun

Often called “Turkish pizza,” this thin flatbread is topped with minced meat, onions, tomatoes, and spices — rolled up with parsley and lemon juice.

5. Pide

Boat-shaped flatbread baked in a stone oven, filled with toppings like cheese, sucuk (Turkish sausage), or ground meat.

6. Mantı

Tiny dumplings stuffed with minced meat, served with garlic yogurt and drizzled with melted butter and spices. Often called “Turkish ravioli.”

7. Dolma & Sarma

Vegetables like peppers, zucchini, or grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes meat. A staple of Turkish home cooking.

8. Çorba (Soup)

Soup is essential in Turkish cuisine. Favorites include lentil soup (mercimek çorbası) and yogurt-based soups.

9. Balık Ekmek

A beloved Istanbul street food: grilled fish fillet served inside a loaf of bread with onions and salad, usually near the Galata Bridge.

10. Midye Dolma

Stuffed mussels filled with spiced rice and a squeeze of lemon — a popular late-night snack on the streets of Istanbul and Izmir.

11. Kumpir

A baked potato stuffed with endless toppings — cheese, olives, corn, pickles, and more. Ortaköy in Istanbul is the most famous place to try it.

12. Gözleme

A thin flatbread stuffed with fillings such as spinach, cheese, potatoes, or minced meat, cooked on a griddle.

13. Sucuklu Yumurta

A classic Turkish breakfast dish: fried eggs with spicy sucuk sausage.

14. Börek

Layers of thin pastry filled with cheese, minced meat, or spinach. A crispy, flaky snack perfect with tea.

15. Köfte (Meatballs)

Grilled or fried meatballs, often served with bread, rice, or salad. Every region has its own style — from İnegöl köfte to Tekirdağ köfte.

16. Baklava

The most famous Turkish dessert — layers of filo pastry, nuts, and syrup. Gaziantep is the baklava capital of Turkey.

17. Künefe

A warm dessert made with shredded pastry, cheese, syrup, and pistachios. Best enjoyed fresh from the oven.

18. Lokum (Turkish Delight)

Soft, chewy sweets flavored with rose, lemon, pomegranate, or pistachio. A perfect gift to bring home.

19. Dondurma (Turkish Ice Cream)

Thick, stretchy ice cream made with salep (orchid root flour). Vendors often perform tricks before handing it to you.

20. Turkish Tea & Coffee

No meal is complete without a glass of strong black tea served in tulip-shaped glasses or a cup of rich Turkish coffee — both symbols of hospitality.