Corba : Delicious Soup
It may be hard to believe, but the simple soup dish is very popular in Turkey so do not be surprised to find some Turks eating it for breakfast. Popular choices are lentil or tomato soup but if you are adventurous with your culinary preferences try tripe, sheep brain or tongue soup. Black cabbage soup is traditional to the north east of Turkey, in the black sea region.
Kumpir : Baked Potato
Kumpir is another form of street food that is popular in the beach side resorts and cities. It is simply a jacket potato with a crisp outer skin and soft inside, mashed up with butter. Choose a variety of fillings to top it off, including cheese, sausage, pickles, and Russian salad. If you are in istanbul, the most popular area to eat it is Ortakoy.
Pide or Lahmacun
Pide is a popular dish in lokantas, that are Turkish restaurants serving cheap and traditonal turkish food. A thin crust of pastry is covered with toppings including cheese, egg, diced meat, chicken or tuna and then it is put it into a high heat stone oven. The nearest equivalent western food is pizza. Another version which is lighter is lahmacun. Both are traditionally served with salad. This is an ideal option for vegetarians as many fillings are available.
Kofte : Meatballs
Kofte is the Turkish version of meatballs. Sold in a wrap as street food or served on a plate with rice and salad in restaurants. There are many different types of kofte and their taste will vary depending on the region that recipe originates from. Çiğ kofte is unusual as it is raw meatballs originating from the south east of istanbul and these are traditionally eaten as a snack or appetizer.
Baklava : Sweet Pastry
Possibly the most popular Turkish food is baklava which will suit anyone with a sweet tooth. Taking it influence from the Ottoman Empire it is layers of filo pastries, filled with nuts and then covered with a sweet honey or syrup. Purchase baklava from most supermarkets or pastry stores.
Street kebab
There are more than 40 different types of kebabs in Turkey but the most popular is the traditional street kebab. Large skewers of rotating chicken or beef are cooked slowly before the cook slices stripes from the outside of the skewer, places them in a pastry wrap, and then fills it with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. A street kebab is especially delicious with a glass of Ayran. (Yogurt, salt and water.)
