Don’t miss out—here are 10 must-try Turkish foods for your trip to Turkey!

When traveling in Turkey, the first thing is to visit world-renowned sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage, and the second is to taste Turkish cuisine—one of the world’s top three culinary traditions. “Istanbul Love Travel Diary” shares the 10 must-eat dishes in Turkey, detailing classic dishes from main courses and soups to desserts and drinks. Don't miss out!

Why is Turkish cuisine so iconic? Because it’s not just about the food—it’s also about history. The Turkish people, traditionally nomadic, brought Central Asian cooking methods to West Asia. Here, the steppes met the sea, and two culinary styles merged. With the meticulous research of imperial Ottoman chefs, the cuisine became increasingly diverse.

During the more than 600 years of the Ottoman Empire’s peak, its territory spanned Europe, Asia, and Africa. The imperial chefs’ recipes gradually made their way to the public over time, spreading to countries such as Greece, Lebanon, and Egypt today. As a result, these dishes have influenced nearly the entire Mediterranean and Middle East.

The hallmark of Turkish cuisine lies in its Mediterranean cooking style, which prioritizes preserving the authentic flavor of ingredients (which is why we might find it unfamiliar at first). It blends Eastern spices with occasional dashes of yogurt passed down through generations.

In fact, you could think of Turkey as another Italy—they share extensive historical and culinary exchanges. Although Italian cuisine is globally famous, it can’t overshadow Turkish cuisine as the best representative of Mediterranean food.

Speaking of which, you must be wondering—what are the must-try dishes in Turkey? Below, I’ve categorized Turkish cuisine into main dishes, soups, desserts, and drinks, based on my personal experiences tasting Turkish food across the country. These are my genuine recommendations:

All the dishes mentioned below can be found on the Easy Turkish Recipe channel!

The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest markets in the world, selling a dazzling array of traditional spices, Turkish delight, clothing, gold jewelry, and souvenirs. (Photo by Jian Yixin)

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1. Grilled meat (Kebap):

There are many types of grilled meat in Turkey—there might even be over ten varieties. I didn’t know this before and naively asked a Turk if they even ate grilled meat. Turns out, they eat it every day. Here are a few of my personal favorites: Adana Kebab, Ali Nazik Kebab, and Iskender Kebab. Each of these kebabs is prepared differently and differs greatly from what we’re used to eating.

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2. Grilled meatballs (K

At first, I couldn't tell the difference between grilled meatballs and grilled meat — they're both "grilled" and "meat." Later, I learned how to distinguish them: one requires more effort to bite into, while the other is easy to chew. The former is made by shaping ground meat into balls.

3. Wrap (Dürüm):

Among these, the chicken wrap stands out. For those who don’t want bread, the wrap is a great alternative. Another option, lahmacun (not a wrap type), I’ve included in this category because people often put lettuce on it and roll it up to eat — it’s the most refreshing dish among Turkish street foods.

4. Grilled Fish Bread (Balık Ekmek):

I only tried this recently, as I hadn’t noticed it before. Plus, my Turkish teacher said it was mainly for tourists, so I never gave it a shot. The first time I had it, I regretted not trying it sooner — it’s so much better than shawarma.

5. Others:

There are also several non-meat dishes that aren’t typically considered main courses. These are more like home-style cooking and are considered very authentic Turkish dishes, such as dolma (stuffed peppers), sarma (grape leaf rolls), and mantı (Turkish dumplings).

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1. Bride’s Soup (Ezo Gelin

2. Lentil Soup (Mercimek)

3. Sheep offal soup(
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Suitable for drinking in winter, many restaurants don’t sell it in summer because the weather can easily spoil the soup.

4. Sheep's Trotter Soup (Pa

5. Beyran Soup in Gaziantep

I’ve completely fallen in love with it — it’s a soup made by simmering spicy lamb and rice. Locals usually have Beyran for breakfast, but most restaurants serve it at all hours, so you can even enjoy it for dinner!

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1. Baklava: One of Turkey’s most famous desserts, which Greeks often claim was actually invented by them.

2. Sütlaç (Rice Pudding)

3. Cheese Kunafa (Künefe): Cheese kunafa offers a truly unique combination, skillfully blending salty and sweet flavors. Be sure to give it a try if you have the chance—pair it with Turkish ice cream in the summer for an extra treat.

4. Syrupy Soft Cake (Kemal Paşa) & Palace Strips (Tulumba): I’ve grouped these together because they taste quite similar to me. Though they’re also extremely sweet, it would be a shame not to try these two classic desserts.

5. Turkish Delight (Lokum):

World-famous Turkish delight—how can you visit Turkey without taking some home? There are many flavors to choose from, including even rose-flavored Turkish delight.

6. Turkish Ice Cream (Dondurma):

When it comes to Turkish ice cream, most people are familiar with it—some might have even been tricked by the vendors before. Turkish ice cream comes in many flavors, ranging from sheep’s milk to nut-based ones. Be sure to savor the flavors you haven’t tried yet.

Turks pay attention not only to tea-brewing utensils, but commercial districts also offer tea delivery services. (Photo provided by Shutterstock)

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1. Turkish Black Tea (

Turkish tea, which locals drink several cups of a day, definitely ranks first, because the tea is astringent and locals often add plenty of sugar cubes.

2. Turkish Coffee (Türk Kahvesi):

The first time I drank Turkish coffee, I was impressed by its slightly sour and slightly bitter taste—coffee lovers must not miss it!

3. Salted Yogurt (Ayran):

If you’re used to adding sugar to your yogurt, you really should try this to change things up—it might surprise you at first, but it actually gets better the more you drink!

4. Turkish cinnamon milk tea (Sahlep):

In winter, there are small vendors outside the Blue Mosque selling, made from orchid stems powder and milk, another classic besides tea and coffee.

5. Lemonade (Limonata):

A great summer choice in Turkey, refreshing and delicious to drink!

Finally, don’t forget the most abundant and lavish of Turkish dishes — Turkish breakfast.

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