When you’re in Istanbul, you’ll soon realise that there are a lot of street vendors in every neighbourhood selling all kinds of delicacies. From the iconic Istanbul ‘simit’ to a fish sandwich by the Bosporus, the city has lots of food that you can eat on the go or very late in the evening when everything else is closed.
Istanbul is one of the world's largest cities — the official population is more than 14 million people, and many estimate it is a great deal larger — and its abundance of frugal diners drives an affordable street food and drinks scene. Plenty of specialties, like boza (a fermented millet drink), originated centuries ago and are synonymous with local culture, while others have arrived more recently as millions of Turks converge on Istanbul from Anatolia (Turkey east of the Bosphorus).
Istanbul's highly developed infrastructure, coupled with the public's insatiable hunger for hearty fast food, means that visitors can eat obscure Turkish specialties typical of distant villages without ever leaving Turkey's cultural capital. Cataloging all of Istanbul's street food is a full-time job, so here are some highlights of what's sold from mobile carts, market stalls, and modest storefronts all over town. Here's what (and where) to eat cheap in Istanbul.
Why Eat on The Street in Istanbul?
Whilst eating in Istanbul takes many forms and there’s certainly no shortage when it comes to fantastic Turkish restaurants in Istanbul, it is also true that Istanbul food includes some of the best street food Turkey has to offer.
To just follow the tour buses or hop blindly from one touristy ‘Tripadvisor says’ food joint to another, is to miss much of the city's culinary richness and diversity.
By all means visit the restaurants, as most of them are excellent. Definitely try a serpme kahvaltı (an unmissable Turkish breakfast experience) but to get a real taste of Istanbul, we advise taking a break from the sit-down meals to venture out in search of food that you can take with you as you explore.
Is it Safe to Eat Street Food in Turkey?
Eating street food in Istanbul and Turkey is entirely safe and highly recommended (as long as you know what to look out for). In Istanbul, the municipality issues certifications and permits for street food sellers. They are constantly being supervised by the municipality, making it safe to say that you can enjoy Turkish street food delicacies in Istanbul without any worries! You can identify certified street food sellers by their certification numbers displayed on their carts or stands.
Of course, there are some factors that you need to consider before enjoying your favorite street food in Istanbul. For instance, those with sensitive stomachs should stay away from tap-water-washed green vegetables and tap-water ice cubes.
Famous Street Foods to Try in Istanbul
Below you will find a list of 10 street food items that Istanbul visitors should not miss.
You may not be lucky enough to taste all of them during your stay unless you especially go and try to find them. So, let’s start!
1. Simit
Mornings in Istanbul start with simit. The twisted rings of bread are sold on what seems like every corner from carts pushed around the city or stacked on trays carried on vendors’ heads. Somewhere between a bagel and pretzel, they are firm in texture and studded with seeds, usually sesame, which impart a nutty flavor.
2. Balik Ekmek
Balik Ekmek (fish sandwich) can be found in many parts of Istanbul. However, when the locals think of fish sandwich, Eminonu is the first place that comes to mind. It is a great pleasure to eat fish sandwiches by the fish boats that stand alongside the sea in Eminonu. You can sit on the stools on the street and watch the Galata Tower while eating your fish sandwich.
There are a lot of fish sandwich shops near Galata Bridge, which connects Karakoy and Eminonu. If you want to sit in a proper place while eating, you can find a number of fish restaurants that offer tables under Galata Bridge and taste delicious mackerel. Galata Bridge is located within walking distance to Taksim and Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s most popular tourist destinations.
Alternatively, you can have Balik Ekmek by the Bosphorus at shabby but delicious restaurants. Some of the places you may want to visit are Nimet Abla Balik Ekmek and Taka Balik Ekmek, famous for its grilled anchovy, at Yenikoy (further up the Bosphorus).
3. Islak Burger
Mystery meat patties are served on spongy buns, which have been doused in a sweet tomato and onion sauce, then left to steam in glass cases. These so-called "wet burgers" cost the equivalent of about a buck and are sold 24 hours a day from the shops in the southwest corner of Taksim Square. Though they are available around the clock, there's an unsurprising surge on wet burgers right around the time the bars close.
4. Menemen (Turkish Scrambled Eggs)
Menemen is another dish commonly eaten for breakfast and may be compared to a soupy plate of scrambled eggs. Traditionally, it consists of eggs, green bell peppers, tomatoes, and a healthy helping of olive oil.
It is spiced with ground black pepper and may occasionally also contain chopped onion. To make the dish more hearty, you can also order meat with your menemen. 
The dish is usually served with a generous helping of fresh Turkish bread. All in all, this is a hearty breakfast that could also serve as a light lunch.
5. Midye Dolması
Midye dolması (stuffed mussels) is the other iconic seafood street food in Istanbul, and you’ll see people standing around the cart while the vendor squeezes lemon on each dolma before handing them out. People can usually eat a lot of these in one go, so you’ll have to let the vendor know when you’ve had enough. Midye dolması is available all around the city and is usually a very popular late-night snack.
6. Halka Tatlısı (Ring-Shaped Dessert)
Among Istanbul’s many tasty street food options is “halka tatlisi”, a type of dessert available almost anywhere in the city. This popular, delicious confection is made with a surprisingly basic recipe. The deep-fried dough is then dipped into syrup and cooled off. The result is a crispy and super sweet street dessert.
Istanbul streets are energy-sapping, but this Turkish street food can give you the full boost that’s needed.
7. Tantuni
Tantuni is popular street food in Turkey that consists of julienned beef or lamb stir-fried on a traditional Turkish sac (a thin metal pan used for cooking food at high temperatures) with sunflower oil. After the meat is cooked, it’s wrapped in lavash with chopped onions, skinless tomatoes, and parsley.
Tantuni is first cooked in the Mediterranean town of Mersin and became popular across the country around the 1980s. It was street food for poor people in the early days – beef lungs were the meat commonly used. One thing to be grateful for is that beef lungs are no longer eaten in Turkey.
Today, cheaper versions of this street food are made with chicken. It is equally delicious.
Keep in mind that this food is oily and not recommended for stomachs sensitive to such. Before you take a bite from your tantuni, don’t forget to squeeze a few drops of lemon juice into it.
8. Tavuk Pilav
Ever thought you’d eat chicken and rice on a street corner? Probably not, but in Istanbul, that counts as lunch for a greater number of people than you’d imagine. It’s fast, hot and filling. It’s easy to spot the men selling it in glass-covered carts around town, but locals swear that there’s something special about the cart located right in front of İstanbul Manifaturacılar Çarşısı in Unkapanı.
9. Kestane Kebap
Why exactly this one even counts as a kebab/kebap/kabob I haven’t actually gotten to the bottom of, though I suspect it is either down to the fact that it is slow roasted or it is a chestnuts sale ploy, because that is exactly what the kestane kebap is: roasted chestnuts.
A comforting, sweetly acrid smell that follows you around during winter, the kestane kebaps are sold from small carts of the same type from which you’d expect to purchase a simit and essentially consists of a bag of roasted chestnuts.
Though simple, they are an undeniably tasty, vegetarian and vegan friendly and surprisingly satisfying option, that will fill a hole as you explore the city.
10. Kumpir
Kumpir is one of the symbols of Ortakoy (a district located on the Bosphorus) and, naturally, there are tons of shops you can try this delicious snack there.
Kumpir (baked potato) is cooked in a special oven, filled with butter and goat cheese, as well as any toppings you prefer. Some of the items you can include in your baked potato are Russian salad, bulghur salad, mushroom, red cabbage with yogurt, and sliced olives.
You can just order your kumpir at one of the various shops in Ortakoy, sit on a bench and enjoy the Bosphorus and Ortakoy view.
