Pide and lahmacun$kadıköy
Borsam Taşfırın in Kadıköy, a stone-oven lahmacun and pide salon running since 1968 with a counter line that turns over every five minutes at lunch.
Signature: Lahmacun, Kıymalı pide, Yumurta pide
Esnaf lokanta$fatih
Bahar Restaurant tucked inside a Grand Bazaar han off the Nuruosmaniye gate, an esnaf lokanta serving stews and pilav to the bazaar's working merchants until they sell out by 14:00.
Signature: Daily kuru fasulye, Hünkar beğendi, Stewed lamb
Köfte$beyoğlu
Köfteci Ramiz on Istiklal, the 1928-founded Tekirdağ-köfte chain whose Beyoğlu branch keeps the original menu of grilled patties, piyaz beans and ayran for late-night Beyoğlu walkers.
Signature: Tekirdağ köfte, Piyaz, Ayran
Baklava and Turkish sweets$$karaköy
Karaköy Güllüoğlu has rolled phyllo baklava since 1949 at one Rıhtım Caddesi counter near Galataport, Nadir Güllü's pistachio version the canonical Istanbul reference.
Signature: Fıstıklı baklava, Şöbiyet, Kadayıf
Turkish sweets$$eminönü
Hafız Mustafa 1864 on Hamidiye Caddesi, the original Sultan Abdülaziz-era candy shop at the Eminönü viaduct, now a multi-floor stop for baklava, lokum and Turkish delight.
Signature: Pistachio baklava, Turkish delight, Sütlaç
Ottoman Turkish$$eminönü
Pandeli above the Spice Bazaar gates, the 1901 blue-tiled Bib Gourmand lunch room still cooking Ottoman dolma and courgette-flower fritters into the Eminönü afternoon.
Signature: Dolma, Stuffed courgette flowers, Hünkar beğendi