Food in Istanbul, street and restaurant. From chestnuts to doner: street food in Istanbul What to eat in Istanbul

Outdoor kitchen
Snacks
First meal
Meat and fish
Coffee and sweets
Juices, alcohol

Istanbul is a city where it is impossible not to eat. Street food, sweet shops, carts selling oysters, chestnuts and corn, markets, cafes and restaurants await travelers everywhere.


Everything is fresh, tasty, incredibly high in calories.


The city's first food attraction is simita bagels with sesame seeds. The price of joy is only 1 lira, and the taste is much better than in childhood (remember Soviet bagels with poppy seeds?)


Simiti is a truly national food (originally for the poor, of course, not for tourists), so there is even a thematic monument not far from the Eminönü pier. Judging by the polishing, tourists also rub them “for luck,” just like the dog’s nose on Kurskaya in Moscow.


Autumn is unthinkable without pomegranates. They are practically not consumed in their raw form “grain by grain” (except perhaps in salads and complex side dishes), but freshly squeezed ruby ​​juice is drunk with pleasure.


With a confident movement, juice sellers cut the fruit into 2 parts and place each part in a special mechanical press. Do not neglect the straw - pomegranate juice strongly corrodes tooth enamel. Well, it contains half of the periodic table, of course.


Another wonderful street food is roasted chestnuts.


These hairy fruits (“our” horse chestnuts are unsuitable for food) are slightly peeled and fried on simple metal plates.


Muscovites and St. Petersburg residents can argue for a long time about the correctness of the word shawarma - shawarma, but the Turks do not worry. They simply cook huge layers of good meat on the right coals and get results that are not comparable to their Russian counterparts that are hazardous to health.


On the street you can also try tortillas cooked over an open fire. If desired, you can wrap greens, cottage cheese, cheese in them, or simply eat a hot flatbread, washed down with ayran.

I’ll get better right away - it’s generally unrealistic to eat tasteless food in Istanbul.
The Ottoman cuisine of expensive restaurants will touch your heart and bring joy to your stomach for sure. Well, how can you resist the most tender lamb fillet, which has been simmered in mint sauce for more than 4 hours? Admire this dish - we were served on the evening of our arrival in Istanbul in the restaurant of our hotel, which is located on the open veranda on the roof overlooking the Bosphorus.

There are many places in Istanbul where you can not only eat away your appetite, but also have a really tasty meal, spending an unforgettable evening with close acquaintances and friends. Numerous cafes are located in the city center along all pedestrian streets, near hotels, in cozy and pleasant places

But I will devote most of my report to street food. Because eating on the street in Istanbul is not even a ritual, but, perhaps, a cult. It goes without saying that such food is completely clean and safe.
Here they are - the early morning yawning wizards of Turkish street fast food. They didn’t get enough sleep, trying to offer you the most delicious and fresh things - baked chestnuts and mussels stuffed with pilaf.

Here they are - these mussels. 2 liras per pair (if small) 3 liras - if large. However, bargaining is appropriate here ;))) By the way, if you want to know how much money you spent on this deliciousness in rubles, for simplicity you can multiply 1 lira by 20 rubles. That is, a pair of mussels with pilaf will cost you only 40 rubles. So don’t be greedy - choose bigger ones)))

Such a “diet” afternoon snack with wonderful Turkish beer and mussels will cost you.... uh... just a second... I’ll rummage through the notes now... in general, a bottle of beer in a cafe is 3.5 liras + 2 liras for mussels, a total of 5.5 liras or 110 rubles))))

Yes, yes, everyone is in a hurry in the morning to run errands. But how can you resist the aroma of boiled and baked corn? For only 1 lira? And even on a convenient wooden stick, like a popsicle)))

This is what he is - balyk ekmek

I’ll tell you a huge secret - you shouldn’t spend extra money in the numerous cafes on the Galata Bridge itself, it’s better to walk across the bridge (from Eminonu to the fish market, it will be to the left of the bridge) - there you will find several wonderful cafes with a simple atmosphere. These are approximately:

There, be sure to order a plate of crispy anchovy and pilaf

Oh, how delicious this anchovy is! The whole thing is eaten, having a pleasant crunch with the fried crust and melting in the mouth. The portion for 4 liras turned out to be so large that we took half of the half-eaten anchovy with pilaf with us and the next day we had a full lunch on the beach of the Princes’ Islands (but I’ll write about the islands in a separate post)
Thus, a magical dinner with pilaf and anchovy + lots and lots of juicy arugula + beer (under the counter - after all, a Muslim country) cost us 400 rubles for two. And as a bonus, they brought us a large plate of fruit: cherries, strawberries, cherry plums)

But I do NOT recommend eating from floating boats (for some reason many people recommend visiting cafes near such boats). The fish here is often dried and the expressions on the cooks’ faces do not inspire optimism.

Here, in the photo below, are these vaunted (in my opinion - in vain) floating fish cafes. In general, it should be noted that the most delicious food is sold in Istanbul not where it is “beautifully decorated”, but where you see the happy faces of the eaters and the friendly faces of the sellers and cooks.

Now let's move on to meat dishes. Kokorech became a real discovery for me. A wonderfully tasty meal made from chopped lamb giblets. When cooked, it reminds everyone of the familiar shawarma, only horizontal.

Cozy corner in Kokorechnaya:

Simit merchant on Eminonu embankment

And roasted chestnuts! Mmmmmmmmm! Sweet, juicy, aromatic - don't pass it by!

Beer mess tea))) You can eat wherever you want and as much as you want. But all day long, in all the shops, cafes, on the ferry, in the hotel, you will be offered this wonderful glass cup of tea

But Turkish coffee in Istanbul is mostly drunk by tourists. Real residents of Istanbul drink tea!

And don’t deny yourself the pleasure of drinking a glass or two of refreshing juices! Just 1-2 lira and your body will be filled with vitamins, antioxidants, and your soul will be filled with bliss and bliss)))

Well, a Turkish beer on a hot afternoon will also add positivity

How soulful it is to have lunch at the legendary Ali Baba cafe - which is right opposite the Suleymaniye Mosque. Lentil soup and amazingly delicious bread. And, of course, a glove compartment of tea

Well, and a magical view of the mosque itself (which I will definitely write about in a separate post)

But I’ll probably tell you about the Ali Baba cafe here

Do you see the founding date of the cafe on the salt shaker? Yes - 1924. The most interesting people visited this cafe during World Wars 1 and 2. It so happened that Istanbul managed to take a position of neutrality at that turbulent time when the fate of the world was being decided. But at the same time, it gained fame as the capital of world espionage. What kind of world intelligence agents have not met at these tables...

Dondurma. Look at the sly face of this seller. No, sorry, not a seller, but rather a magician, a fakir, an entertainer, because buying dondurma is always a little show

You will remain with an empty waffle cone in your hands until your gloomy face, for some reason, lights up with a smile, and a heartily laughing audience gathers around you

And in this cafe on Istiklal Street you can taste real Italian ice cream

In addition to snacks, you can also buy cigarettes, crisps, ice cream, and candy at street kiosks (“buffets”). Among the non-alcoholic drinks in summer, freshly squeezed orange juice and, of course, fermented milk ayran are in use; in winter, hot salep (a drink made from the dried roots of a mountain orchid).
But in these kiosks (built during the Ottoman Empire!) you can buy ayran and other tasty small things

It is impossible to remain indifferent at the sight of such sweets.

And sometimes - purely for variety - you can buy many, many such wonderful vegetables,

You can also buy watermelons, both whole and sliced ​​(they will put the sliced ​​pieces of watermelon in a large plastic glass, give you a plastic fork, and eat to your health!

And these nuts? seeds?, which the seller cracks with such appetite, for some reason we didn’t dare try. If anyone knows what it is? Next time I'm in Istanbul, I'll try it)))

You can also buy a jar of amazing Turkish yogurt at the nearest supermarket (why, why??? we don’t know how to make this???), a huge bunch of arugula, tomatoes and cucumbers and eat it all at the hotel or take it for a picnic in Gulhane Park

In the plastic cup on the left are amazingly delicious pickled vegetables in brine from pomegranate juice, and the green balls are juicy tart cherry plums, which were just in time by the end of May and became a wonderful appetizer for tequila)))

And in Istanbul you can (and should) try (take links from the wonderful virtual

Istanbul is a city with wonderful street food and many inexpensive and not very presentable-looking, but very tasty cafes. I would even say that Istanbul is the only city in my experience where street food tastes better than restaurant food. Do you want to know what they feed in Istanbul?

1. There are bright red carts all over the city. They sell bagels, baked chestnuts, and baked corn.

2. Taksim Square and a cart with corn. There are many traders, they are found literally in every corner in every district of the city.

3. I have never seen such carts anywhere except Istanbul.

4. Bagel cart and its customers.

5. The bagels themselves. They come in different types. These are yeast-based, and they sell even thinner and elongated, sandy ones.

6. You can also eat meat on the streets of Istanbul without fear! Kebabs are always fresh and very tasty.

14. Another popular Turkish dessert is milk rice pudding, more like rice porridge.

15. This is what the tea garden looks like, one of the most picturesque in Istanbul, located in Gulhane Park, with panoramic views of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.

16. On my May trip, I saw this kind of caramel on the streets for the first time. Looks very tasty! Buyers say that the taste is consistent.

17. Fresh orange and pomegranate juices are also prepared in front of you on the streets.

18. In some advanced places, juices are also made from strawberries, kiwis or other exotic fruits.

19. Great lunch option - balyk ekmek- fish in a bun. On street grills, vendors fry fresh fish fillets, place them in a bun, add onions and lettuce. You pour lemon juice on top of the sandwich, which is on the counter, sit down on a lanky stool and enjoy! Instead of fish, sometimes there are kufte - cutlets.

20. With this sandwich, you will most often be served spicy pickled vegetables in a glass as a snack. One of the main points to try all this is the Eminonu pier near the New Mosque. This photo was taken there.

21. And here is the fish itself - this is the counter of one of the fish restaurants.

22. Here comes the bun! It is cut in half and the fish is placed inside.

23. But for fish, it’s still best to go to the market that operates next to the Galata Bridge. There you can buy fresh fish, try fried fish, and mussels with rice or cooked like kebabs. Just wear closed shoes - the market is wet. I don’t recommend restaurants operating under the bridge itself - they are very touristy and overpriced.

In a word, I adore street food, but, unfortunately, I do not find understanding in the person of my main travel companion, my husband. Pasha doesn’t like markets, doesn’t eat street food, and treats my passion for, as he says, with some misunderstanding. gluttonous rows. Do you eat on the streets and markets or prefer restaurants?

When you come to Istanbul, it seems as if the city is one big store or one big restaurant. Thousands of cafes, small cafes and bakeries on virtually every street. Therefore, the question “where to eat?” Usually no one has it.

Whatever you order in a cafe or restaurant, you are unlikely to be dissatisfied; as a rule, the food is very tasty. I’ve been living here for quite a long time and I want to tell you about the most famous dishes of Turkish cuisine, so that when you find yourself in Turkey, you definitely know what you should definitely try in Istanbul.

Turkish street food deserves special attention , first I will talk about it, or rather, about those dishes that were not mentioned in the previous article.

In fact, these are the well-known “crumb potatoes”, very tasty, filling and not too healthy. 🙂 It is believed that the best kumpir is prepared in the Ortakoy region, although, having tried it in Taksim, I didn’t see much of a difference, perhaps only the decoration is not so beautiful. Kumpir costs 10-12 liras. They add butter and cheese to a huge baked potato, mix it, and then you choose a bunch of salads, add ketchup, mayonnaise, sprinkle with cheese, make an impromptu plate out of foil, or ready-made cardboard branded boxes and voila! Afiyet olsun! (Afiet olsun - bon appetit! - tour.)

(Islak hamburger, Turkish - wet hamburger). This time there is no question of usefulness either, but it’s worth trying at least once! The hamburgers are in a closed glass display container, and they are moist from the hot steam rising from below. Yslak hamburgers taste spicy, with a juicy patty with spices and tomato sauce inside and very, very tasty!
According to popular belief, the best yslak hamburgers are sold in Taksim (the central district of Istanbul).

I’m not a seafood lover, and for a long time I couldn’t bring myself to try mussels, BUT...! After my friends literally shoved one thing into me one day, I fell in love with them forever. Dolma mussels are ready-made mussels stuffed with rice, which you pour lemon juice over when you open the shell. It's incredibly delicious! The only thing is that mussels are sold on trays almost all over Istanbul, but it is better to buy them in trusted places. Good mussels are made in the Ortakoy area and in normal cafes and restaurants. I don’t recommend trying it near the metro, again on the recommendation of Turkish friends.

(Turkish Çiğ köfte - raw meat cutlets, a traditional dish of Turkish cuisine). Making real chi kofte is a long process. The chopped meat is mixed with bulgur and hot seasonings and kneaded for a long, long time.
Several years ago, the Turkish Ministry of Health banned the sale of such dishes prepared without heat treatment, so now chi kofte is prepared from bulgur, many hot spices, walnuts and tomatoes. Usually they offer a choice of moderately spicy or very spicy cutlets.

Opposite our house there is a specialized shop where they prepare and sell very tasty chi kofte. Therefore, we usually do not eat them in a cafe, but buy them in bulk on the way home. It is very interesting to watch the seller at the same time. Wearing disposable gloves, he plucks a piece from a mound of finished minced meat and deftly forms a beautiful shaped cutlet, after which he places it in the tray. This process is so fast that in just a couple of minutes the tray is already full.

A generous portion of thin pita bread, salad, herbs, pomegranate sauce and lemon are included without fail.
Chi kofte is eaten with your hands, placing the cutlet in a fresh lettuce leaf, adding a sprig of parsley, a few drops of pomegranate sauce and lemon juice. Then all this is wrapped in a small piece of thin pita bread and eaten, washed down with the incomparable Turkish ayran.It's very, very tasty!
You can also order chi kofte in the form of durum (like shawarma, everything is the same, but wrapped in pita bread). You can try it almost anywhere.

(Turkish: Kokoreç) - warm, crispy bread stuffed with lamb offal, roasted on a spit, with tomatoes and spices. Hot pickled peppers are often added. They wash it down with ayran. Quite popular among both locals and tourists. My mother, having watched the Turkish TV series “Shards”, where one of the characters was a passionate admirer of kokorech, was eager to try it and, I must say, was completely delighted. She said: “Not for everyone, of course, but very tasty!” It’s better to try it in specialized street cafes, where only kokorec is prepared.

Well, now about the delicious dishes of Turkish cuisine that you can try in Istanbul cafes and restaurants.

Merdzhimek Chorbasy (Turkish Mercimek çorbası - lentil soup). Thick and very tasty puree soup, to which red pepper and lemon juice are added. I highly recommend it, with fresh lavash you will simply lick your fingers!

By the way, on this site there is a detailed recipe for preparing this wonderful one, and, as always, the recipe is very simple.

(Turkish Beyran) - a delicious spicy soup with rice and lamb, very similar to kharcho. Serve with fresh pita bread, lemon and a bowl of arugula. It is not found on menus everywhere; there are even several restaurants that specialize only in this soup. In general, it is common for Turks to have cafes and restaurants with only a couple of main dishes on the menu. And these places are the best, because, as a rule, they are a long-term family business and maintain their impeccable reputation.

Although my mother already wrote about this dish, I can’t help but mention it too. My favorite forever, incredibly delicious! Grilled meat, cut into thin slices, on hot pita bread, drizzled with hot butter, topped with delicious tomato sauce. Of course, it is served with Turkish yoghurt and a plate of vegetables. It’s simply impossible to visit Turkey and not try Iskender. I highly recommend it!

(Turkish: Izgara köfte) - delicious cutlets, grilled with vegetables. There are many varieties of these cutlets, together with vegetables and tomato sauce - delicious!

Ichli kofte (Turkish İçli köfte) - very unusual cutlets, consisting of a thin crispy bulgur shell and a juicy meat filling inside. The filling is made from lamb and beef with the addition of walnuts and spices. Usually deep fried. Very filling and amazingly tasty!

I can’t help but mention one more dish of Turkish cuisine, namely... In general, if you open the menu, you will see that the name of many dishes is preceded by the name of the Turkish city, for example, Izmir koftesi, Adana kebab, Gaziantep izgara koftesi, etc. That is, the place where this dish was first prepared and invented is indicated. If you pay attention to the names of cafes and restaurants, you will also notice that it is unusual for Turks to call their establishments with beautiful names like “Mirabelle”, “Plyushechka”, etc. Their origin is very important for them. Even if the Turk himself was born in Istanbul, most likely the name of the city where his family is from will be present on the sign. This is the Turkish mentality. Just like after they ask your name, the second question is “where are you from?” and the gimp of knowledge about this place. But this is a lyrical digression.

So, Adana kebab. I’ll say right away that I have never tried better kebab than in the city of Adana itself. But, I must admit, this dish is also excellent in Istanbul. Adana kebab is a grilled long, juicy, quite spicy cutlet, served with a side dish of grilled vegetables, yogurt, spicy tomato sauce, many plates of vegetable appetizers and, of course, fresh hot pita bread.

In general, Turkish hot meat dishes are mainly cooked on the grill, so the smell of the finished dish starts to drive you crazy. The portions of real Adana kebab are very impressive, to put it mildly, masculine. But it’s absolutely impossible to tear yourself away. I highly recommend you try this truly Turkish dish. If you are not a fan of spicy food, then thick natural yogurt, which is served with almost all meat dishes and which is an integral part of Turkish cuisine, will always smooth out any spiciness.
I’ll make a reservation right away, in Moscow, in a cafe like “Shykydym”, don’t even waste your money on supposedly Turkish dishes, my disappointment and indignation at the miniature portion of Adana kebab the size of a sausage knew no bounds, not to mention the taste.

Based on several unsuccessful visits to unfamiliar cafes, I would advise you to use the Foursquare app on your phone. I understand that it doesn’t sound very romantic after describing luxurious dishes, but this application presents the ratings of all cafes according to reviews of visitors, and not only according to the ratings of foreign tourists, but also according to the reviews of the Turks themselves - connoisseurs of their native cuisine. I am very friendly with this program, especially when traveling to new places, there have been no failures so far. 🙂

We can talk endlessly about the dishes of Turkish cuisine; it is a rich cuisine, quite healthy, since the Turks eat a lot of vegetables and in general are extremely sensitive to food. It is absolutely incomprehensible to the Turks how it is possible to eat yesterday’s dinner the next day; serve everything to them piping hot, but this has a special oriental charm. Therefore, when you come to Turkey, forget about Starbucks, Burger Kings and other nonsense, and enjoy luxurious Turkish dishes, ending your meal with traditional Turkish coffee or tea.

And, of course, when you arrive in Istanbul, try to see as many of its attractions as possible.
All of Istanbul's most famous historical monuments are concentrated in and around the Sultanahmet area. This is a former Christian temple, and now monuments, and many, many others. It is from these attractions that all excursions of tourists coming to Istanbul begin. In my articles I will try to tell as much detail as possible about these ancient structures and show them in photos. I hope you find it interesting reading.

See you in the next story about Istanbul!

Turkish cuisine is famous for its history. Culinary traditions began to form many centuries ago thanks to nomadic Turkic tribes. In Istanbul, as throughout Turkey, there are certain regulations on food consumption. To prepare meat dishes, animals are slaughtered in a special way. There is always delicious, incomparable bread on the table, which also has many varieties. Turks have a special attitude towards soups, appetizers and sauces. The fame of the famous oriental sweets spreads throughout the world.

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Once in Istanbul, the heart of Turkey, it is impossible to ignore the culinary attractions of the people. So, let's begin our journey through Turkish cuisine. Also does not include useful information about, how to take, about, etc.

Soup is the mainstay of the Turkish meal and can be served at any time of the day. There are different variations of broths and types of preparation of soups:

  1. on traditional meat or fish broth;
  2. vegetable, with rice, noodles and yogurt;
  3. pureed soups generously seasoned with butter;
  4. soups seasoned with egg and lemon juice.

One of the most popular soups for residents of Istanbul itself is Tarhana Chorbasi. Its basis is a pre-prepared mixture of dried tomatoes, peppers, onions, with the addition of flour and, which is quite exotic for soup, yeast.

The prepared dry mixture is first diluted to a paste, and then to the desired consistency and boiled. Top with yoghurt and serve with fresh bread.

You can try the soup in any cafe or tavern, for example, “Kybele Cafe” at Yerbatan Cad.35. Cost: approximately $2 per serving.

Lentil soups also popular in the East. They are made from green and red lentils, often have a thick consistency and are flavored with aromatic herbs and spices.

For example, the mercimercorbasi stew (cafe “ZiyaBaba”, Kucuk Ayasofya Liman Cad., 136. Cost $2) is flavored with hot pepper and fresh mint, has a rich taste and has been known since the time of the prophet.

Restaurants offer more refined versions of hot Turkish soups. You can try the most delicate version of chicken soup with the addition of cream, garlic and thyme at the Tamara restaurant on Kucukayasofya Caddesi Street, 28 for just $5.

The Turks are not original in their love of meat delicacies. But local kebabs and kebabs are incredibly juicy and flavorful, thanks to ancient recipes and strict adherence to cooking techniques.

Juicy balls of selected chopped lamb, with the addition of aromatic herbs and spices, stewed in vegetable broth, kadinbudu kofte, you will be offered at the Osmani restaurant in the central Levent district of Istanbul. The entire dinner here will cost 10-15 dollars.

Open air cafe “Istanbul Anatolia”, Divanyolu Cad, opens until late evening. Ticarethane Sok., 21/A. Prices for a great dinner are $15-$30.

The most popular type of shish kebab is shesh kebab(restaurant “Beyaz izgara”, Kiliccilar Sokak, 14. Price 15 dollars). It consists of small pieces of meat fried over charcoal in a special way. Retains juice and aroma.

Donaire- an interesting variety of kebab, when pieces of lamb meat are strung on a skewer, alternately with well-beaten balls of minced meat. This dish is prepared on a vertical grill, and large pieces of fried lamb are cut off gradually. Available in kebab parlors and restaurants such as Gulhane Kebab House at Alemdar Mah. Alaykosku Caddesi, 22A. A large portion will cost $15.

Kufte very common in Turkey. There are many recipes for these incredibly tender, juicy meatballs. The meat for them is chopped by hand for a long time and then mixed with herbs, eggs, and spices. Kufte is stewed in broth or sauce and often served with green salad and flatbread. Some of the best kofte are served at the Adora Restaurant on Hudavendigar Caddesi Erdogan Sok., 14. A large portion costs $20-25.

Kufte, kebabs and Turkish kebabs are served in most restaurants. Every place has its own peculiarities of preparation and serving, sauces and types of bread may vary, and various salads are offered for appetizers. Meat dishes have one thing in common - excellent quality meat and love put into cooking.

In general, kebabs in Turkey are considered fast food, but it is difficult to imagine that the army of fans of the delicious meat dish will ever become scarce. Travelers coming to Istanbul consider food prices to be very affordable and try to get to know as much as possible the peculiarities of local culinary delights.

Both bread and numerous savory pastries are clearly considered a staple in Turkish cuisine. They are always present on the table and may well be an independent dish. The bread is consumed with various liquid sauces or used as an addition to main dishes.

Extremely popular on the streets of Istanbul Simit bagels. It could be a simple bagel sprinkled with sesame seeds, or a heartier version. Traders offer simits with cheese, olives, sausage, and complex puff pastries. Covered carts can be found everywhere. And everywhere you will be offered the freshest bagel, literally, for half a dollar.

Pogača- a bread product that can look like a small fluffy bun or like a huge round loaf. Quite rich dough contains a lot of butter and eggs. Eats pogača recipes that allow you to bake the product with various fillings. Then you won’t be able to distinguish them from our traditional pies. Of course, cafe owners offer pogača as ordinary bread.

We can't help but mention flat bread pita. Unleavened flatbreads get a very memorable taste from the delicious filling. It can be cheese with herbs and spices, cottage cheese with eggs, pieces of tender meat with lettuce and much more. Pita can be bought at all fast food outlets, for example in Taksim Square in Istanbul.

Always the freshest baked goods in the cozy cafe “Hafiz Mustafa” on Hobyar Mahallesi Street, Hamidiye Caddesi, 84. The cost of pita with juicy meat filling is $2.50. If you want to know the recipes for achma, go to Imam Bayaldy, you will find more recipes and drinks on the corresponding websites.

Street food in Istanbul also includes common types of savory flatbreads: gozleme, pide and lahmacun. They are all used to wrap various fillings, which is very popular in Turkey. Usually the filling is pieces of pre-fried meat, aromatic sauce, baked vegetables, and sheep cheese are added.

A serving of this dish costs no more than $2. You can try it at the Beyaz izgara cafe at Kiliccilar Sokak, 14.

In addition to pleasures for the stomach, Istanbul has a lot to offer for the soul and body. These are architectural attractions that can be seen in. Magnificent, () and much more.

Real Turkish ice cream very different from the traditional dairy product we are familiar with. This dessert contains more molasses, fruit extracts and ice, but is still chewy and attractive to look at. Goat milk is added to some varieties, which also affects the unusual taste.

You can try many varieties of unusual cold dessert in the Mado cafe, in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, in the Hafiz Mustafa cafe at Hobyar Mahallesi, Hamidiye Caddesi, 84. The cost of a serving is from 1 dollar.

Baklava familiar to the whole world. This very sweet and high-calorie dessert requires great skill to prepare. Real craftswomen pre-roll the dough into hundreds of layers in order to achieve its unique taste.


The layers soaked in honey and molasses become transparent and just beg to be put into your mouth. Unsweetened tea is served with baklava. Surprisingly, a high-quality product can be stored for several months. At the end of a hearty meal, baklava can be enjoyed at the Emster Chef Cafe on Ankara Caddesi Street, 225 for a couple of dollars.

Locum- popular sweets of the East. These are geometric-shaped fruit figures made from juice, molasses, starch and aged for some time. Can be prepared using honey and pieces of candied fruit and nuts. Served with Turkish tea at the end of the meal in almost all establishments, price 1.5-2 dollars.

Halva- the most famous product of national cuisine. It is prepared from different types of seeds and nuts with the addition of syrup, molasses, and honey. The fatty and high-calorie product has a delicate structure and taste. Halva can be purchased at any confectionery stores and shops. The cost of a small box is only 2-3 dollars.

Another type of cold dessert revered in Istanbul is frozen yogurt. It is especially popular due to its low fat content and beneficial qualities inherent in fermented milk products.

Frozen yogurt beautifully decorated with berries, nuts and mint can be tried in the “Yourt” cafe chain, for example, at the intersection of Baghdad and Iskele Caddesi streets. Enjoying dessert and natural juices will cost 1-1.5 dollars.