Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek ★ 4.5
Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek at the Galata Bridge, the red-and-gold fish-sandwich boats grilling mackerel into half-loaves with lettuce and lemon for whoever steps up.
Try: Balık ekmek (grilled fish sandwich)
Vendors, food trucks and stalls: the cheapest, fastest, frequently best food in Istanbul.
Don't-miss vendors
Kızılkayalar ★ 4.0
Kızılkayalar at Taksim Square, the 1978 originator of the ıslak burger, a beef patty soaked in garlicky tomato sauce and steamed inside a soft white bun on the counter.
Try: Islak hamburger (wet burger)
Şampiyon Kokoreç ★ 4.3
Şampiyon Kokoreç on Sahne Sokak, the 1962 Beyoğlu kokoreççi shaving spiced grilled lamb intestine into sandwich bread for the late-night Balık Pazarı crowd.
Try: Kokoreç (grilled lamb intestine)
Tarihi Hocapaşa Pidecisi ★ 4.2
Tarihi Hocapaşa Pidecisi on a Sirkeci side-alley, a wood-oven counter feeding office workers kıymalı pide and lahmacun for under 100 lira at the weekday lunch crush.
Try: Pide and lahmacun
Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi ★ 4.1
Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi on Divanyolu, the 1920 charcoal-grill counter still building the canonical Istanbul köfte plate of flat patties, piyaz and lentil soup.
Try: Köfte plate with piyaz
Borsam Taşfırın Kadıköy ★ 4.2
Borsam Taşfırın in Kadıköy, the 1968 stone-oven lahmacun counter that turns a single 15-minute bake into the city's most reliable lahmacun under 80 lira.
Try: Lahmacun and pide
Karaköy Güllüoğlu Counter ★ 4.6
Karaköy Güllüoğlu's takeout counter on Rıhtım, where the Güllü family has cut pistachio baklava by the half kilo since 1949 for a queue that moves fast.
Try: Pistachio baklava
Bambi Cafe Taksim ★ 3.6
Bambi Cafe at Taksim, an almost-all-night counter doing döner wraps with melted cheese, kumpir baked potatoes and Turkish hamburgers to the post-Beyoğlu crowd until 05:00.
Try: Late-night döner wrap
Street Food in Istanbul, FAQ
When is the best time to eat in Istanbul?
Peak food season in Istanbul is year-round.
What time do people eat in Istanbul?
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
How does tipping work in Istanbul?
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
What is the one dish to try in Istanbul?
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Istanbul rewards trust.