Tarihi Hocapaşa Pidecisi ★ 4.3
Tarihi Hocapaşa Pidecisi off the Sirkeci side-streets, pulling kıymalı and kuşbaşılı pide from a wood oven since the 1960s for the lunchtime suit crowd.
Signature: Kıymalı pide, Kuşbaşılı pide, Lahmacun
Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta on Divanyolu, the 1920 original now run by the fourth generation, still grilling its flat charcoal köfte beside piyaz beans.
Signature dishes: Köfte, Piyaz, Lentil soup
Address: Alemdar Mah., Divanyolu Caddesi No:12, 34110 Fatih, İstanbul, Istanbul
Tarihi Hocapaşa Pidecisi off the Sirkeci side-streets, pulling kıymalı and kuşbaşılı pide from a wood oven since the 1960s for the lunchtime suit crowd.
Signature: Kıymalı pide, Kuşbaşılı pide, Lahmacun
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
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
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
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
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