Best Traditional Turkish Restaurants in Istanbul

Istanbul is a paradise for food lovers. No matter where you go, you’ll find all sorts of dining options, from high-class restaurants to popular street food vendors. If you’re looking forward to sampling authentic Turkish cuisine, you’re unlikely to find it in high-end restaurants. Search out traditional restaurants in Istanbul to experience the real deal. Here are some of our best picks for the most authentic Turkish restaurants in Istanbul.

Kasap Osman

Regarding Turkish food options, one of the most popular choices for many is the kebab. The best place to visit in Istanbul for an authentic Turkish kebab is Kasap Osman. This restaurant can be found on the corner of Hocapasha Street in the Sultanahmet district. Kasap Osman uses only high-quality meats for its dishes, and its doner and lamb kebab dishes are especially popular. Be sure to try their İskender kebab meal, made with tender, charcoal-cooked lamb, a meal of which costs around 170 TRY. Kasap Osman is open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Asitane

Dining at Asitane is both a culinary delight and a history lesson. Meals served here are based on recipes that date back 500 years to the origins of the Ottoman Empire. Some excellent choices include dolma made from nuts, fruits and cherries wrapped in vine leaves and the Bulgur pilavı, a 15th-century dish that uses seasoned rice, chestnuts and currants. Asitane is a short walk south of the Chora Church Museum and is open daily from noon to 11:30 PM. Prices here range from 50-120 TRY.

Kale Café

One of the best places to sample a traditional Turkish breakfast is at Kale Café. This former patisserie turned café overlooks the shores of the Bosphorus, just south of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. Here, you can enjoy a scenic view while indulging in various delicious Turkish breakfast options for around 20-50 TRY. Flavourful options available here include savoury pastries filled with spinach, menemen made with tomatoes, eggs and spices, and a mix of vegetable dishes, Turkish pancakes and bagels served with Turkish cream and halloumi cheese. Kale Café is open daily between 5:00 AM and 9:00 PM.

Şahin Lokantası

If you want to eat like a local, the best place to try is Şahin Lokantası. Not far from Taksim Square, Istiklal Street and other attractions, Şahin Lokantası is popular for its affordable (around 20 TRY) and tasty meals. There’s nothing upmarket about the food here: the focus is serving only delicious, authentic Turkish cuisine. Popular meal options include İzmir köfte (baked Turkish meatballs), pilaf (spicy rice dish), and the Fırın sütla (Turkish rice pudding). The restaurant is open between 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM daily.

Lades

Just a short walk north of Taksim Square, Lades is a popular venue for traditional Turkish meals that cost from 50 TRY. Starting as a dessert store in the late 1960s, Lades has expanded over the years to become a full restaurant serving various traditional dishes. Popular dishes include menemen, karniyarik (eggplants filled with meats, spices and vegetables) and Hünkar Beğendi (Turkish lamb stew). The restaurant still serves a rich selection of dessert options, including şekerpare (soft pastry in syrup) and ekmek kadayifi (Turkish bread pudding). This restaurant is very popular with locals and is open between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM.

Namli Rumeli Köftecisi

A short walk southeast of the Spice Bazaar leads you to Namli Rumeli Köftecisi on Hocapasha Street. One of the oldest restaurants on this now popular street, Namli Rumeli Köftecisi, is best-known for delicious köfte (Turkish meatballs) dishes. Some other dishes they serve there include piyaz, made from onions and spices, and a variety of shish kebab dishes. Expect to pay around 38 TRY for a meal, and don’t forget to try the semolina halva for dessert. Namli Rumeli Köftecisi is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.

Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası

On the Asian side of Istanbul, Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası can be found close to the Kadıköy fish markets and ferry terminal. Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası is one of the best traditional dining options in the area. The restaurant has been running for over a century, serving a selection of meals inspired by Istanbul’s Ottoman history. One of their specialities is Yanya köfte, which features spiced meatballs wrapped in eggplant, baked with tomatoes and served with a roasted eggplant puree. Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası is open daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and meals cost around 21-51 TRY.

Kanaat Lokantası

On the Asian side in Üsküdar district, is Kanaat Lokantası, a family-run restaurant that has become a prominent part of the local community over the past 80 years. All meals here are served in the traditional style, from pilaf dishes made with lamb and rice to eggplant kebabs, chicken puddings and stuffed celery. Prices are in the 21-51 TRY range. Kanaat Lokantası is centrally located and easy to reach from the Üsküdar ferry terminal. The restaurant is open from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM daily.

Hünkar

Hünkar, which was listed in “Restaurant Magazine” as one of the best restaurants in the world, is a family-run establishment that began in 1950 in Fatih and can now be found at Harbiye, Mim Kemal Öke Cd., in Nişantaş. One of the must-try dishes is Hünkar beğendi: crispy lamb on a bed of mashed eggplants. Hünkar has been serving delicious food since 1950 and is open daily between 12:00 PM and 10:30 PM. The price of a meal here is in the 51-121 TRY range.

Nato Lokantasi

Finally, on the European side in Karakoy district, not far from the ferry terminal, you will find Nato Lokantasi. Originally opened in 1952, it remains one of the most popular restaurants in the area. Here, you can sample a selection of traditional soups, kebabs, salads, and various dessert options for around 21-51 TRY. The restaurant operates between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, though it may close earlier once all food has been sold.