Turkey : What to eat ? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Turkey : Enjoying yourself

Timetable Turkey

Cafés and restaurants usually close around midnight; some cafés and bars at 2 a.m.; other bars and discotheques at 4 a.m. Some büfe close at 6 a.m. and others are open 24 hours a day, such as triperies, which offer the famous kokoreç day and night. In Istanbul, you can eat at any time. In small towns and villages, however, this is not at all the case, and you'll need to plan to dine before it gets dark, at the risk of going to bed hungry.

Budget & Tips Turkey

Lokanta (self-service restaurants where the customer chooses from a selection of dishes displayed in the window) are very common in Turkey and offer everything from meat, rice, vegetables and mezze for a very reasonable price. This solution offers a varied and convenient choice of dishes, which is why it is the preferred canteen for many. Kebapçı (kebab restaurants), köfteci (restaurants specializing in the famous meatballs flavored with herbs and spices, köfte) and pideci (where the long Turkish pizzas are served) are other inexpensive and cheerful alternatives when you are hungry and want to eat on the go. Also, among the "inexpensive" staples of Turkish daily food are börek (a puff pastry speciality filled with cheese, potato or spinach, usually eaten for breakfast), gözleme (a kind of Turkish pancake with the same filling), the inevitable simit (the "Turkish pretzel" sold in the street for a mouthful of bread or in bakeries and cafes), the famous doner kebab (the Turkish version is eaten without sauce), the no less famous and stambouliotebalık ekmek (literally "fish bread", a sandwich with fish, salad, tomato, onion, often freshly caught in the Bosphorus), the midye dolma (mussels stuffed with rice that you eat standing up in a hurry) and, of course, the innumerable toasts and çorba (soups) that are eaten for nothing.

What costs extra Turkey

Tipping is widely practiced and is generally discretionary and not expected to be claimed. However, it is customary to leave about 10% of the bill if the service in a restaurant is good. Some restaurants display the percentage of service added to the bill at the bottom of their menu. This practice is more widely used in tourist restaurants. Tipping is also done for a delivery person. Tipping in euros or foreign currency is very popular.

The local way Turkey

Drinkayran (a drink made of yogurt, water and salt) to accompany your meal. In fact, this is the drink that is offered in all lokanta. The more daring among you can opt for şalgam suyu, a very vinegary purple colored juice made from a particular variety of radish, rutabaga, black or purple carrot, whose taste reminds a bit of beet. You can find it in supermarkets and in small street restaurants.

To be avoided Turkey

Globalization obliges, you will find the same international brands (often fast food) on Turkish soil. Favour small local and typical gargotes.

Kids Turkey

Turkey is a kid friendly country, so the majority of shops offer dishes or menus specially designed for the youngest, with adapted prices.

Smokers Turkey

Since 2008, smoking has been banned in restaurants in Turkey. Signs announce this ("sigara içmek yasaktır") and warn you of the fine for breaking the law. However, the ban is not respected everywhere, and in some places the manager will be lenient with nicotine-hungry smokers.

Tourist traps Turkey

It seems obvious, but be careful not to fall into the trap of restaurants concentrated in tourist areas. The food is often of poor quality and the prices unjustly inflated. It is often better to move away from a few alleys and get a decent meal. Your stomach and your wallet will thank you.

Turkey : Take a break

Timetable Turkey

Coffee and tea shops open early in the morning and close late in the evening. Indeed, the Turks frequent tea rooms and bars in the evenings indiscriminately. They drink a choice of tea, cappuccino or a pint of beer. Bars usually open at 4:00 p.m. until late at night.

Budget & Tips Turkey

If you'd like to sample an alaturca tea, stop off at a çay bahcesi (literally "tea garden"). A typical and welcome break!

Age restrictions Turkey

If there is no age requirement to sit in a café, tea room or even a bar, 18 years old is required to order alcohol.

What's very local Turkey

Stop for tea(çay) throughout the day, even in the evening. Drink a Turkish coffee rather than a filter coffee. Be careful, the Turkish version is strong and tasty. The coffee is often very sweet to cut its bitterness. It is tasted in a few quick sips. And we stop before the end of the cup at the risk of drinking the grounds.

Need comfort in winter? Try the boza ! This thick beverage is made from fermented barley, sugar and water. Vefa Bozacisi is a very successful "boza bar" in Istanbul.

Tourist traps Turkey

The same warning as for restaurants located in areas with a high tourist potential, beware of touts who boast about the best dishes in the city.