Things To Eat in Istanbul

 What to eat in Istanbul, you ask?

Well, let me take you on a journey of food that you must eat when in Istanbul.

As many of you may know by now, food is a huge part of my life. the first thing we planned when we decided to go to Istanbul was to try different things to eat and not eat anything that we would find here in Oman and to stay in our budget while fully experiencing Turkish food, we decided to eat as much street food as we can.

The breakfast buffet at our hotel was incredible.

Breakfast!

Things you must eat when in Turkey

1. Kumpir

You cannot come back from Turkey without  trying this, just dont. You'll thank me later.

Its a giant baked potato with butter and cheese, topped with a variety of toppings of your choice.

I had kumpir thrice during our trip, its that good.

It usually costs around 13-16 TL (360-450 PKR - 1.5-2 OMR) 

Kumpir from 'Otantik Kumpir' at the Forum Mall

Restaurant at Istiklal Street

Restaurant at Istiklal Street

2. Balik Ekmek

If you dont like seafood than this is not for you. But I would still urge you to try it for once.
It is basically a fish sandwich sold on a decorated boat at Eminonu side of the Galata Bridge.
Cost of the sandwich is 8 TL (0.800 OMR / 220 PKR), which is pretty reasonable.
Grilled fish served on a bun with lettuce, a dash of lemon juice and you're good to go.

3. Islak Burger

Super spidy beef burger dunked in tomato sauce. Its nothing like you've ever had before, its that good. Its pretty cheap too, cost 3 TL each (0.300 OMR / 80 PKR)

The one pictured below is from Taksim Park Restaurant at Istiklal street.

4. Doner Durum / Sandwich

Basically flatbread filled with shawarma meat and greens. Pretty good, and sold literally everywhere! 

By all means try the one with doner kebab if you like mutton, we didnt. 

Cost around 4-5 TL.

5. Dondurma
The icecream for which you'll have to literally beg, yeah, that one.
It is one of the best icecream I've had. The texture of the icecream is not like what we ususally eat, its kind of slimy and sticky. Incredibly delicious.
The one which we had outside the Blue mosque was 4 flavors for 7 TL (0.700 OMR / 190 PKR), while it cost us 5 TL (0.500 OMR / 135 PKR) for 5 flavors at the princess island.

Outside Blue mosque. Flavors: Vanilla, Caramel, Chocolate, Strawberry.

At Princess Island. Flavors: Mango, Strawberry, Caramel, Blueberry, Vanilla

6. Turkish Tea

Tea is sold literally everywhere. You'll  find people selling tea out of a small dhabba in small alleyways.

We has the traditional turkish tea with Simit (Turkish bagel) in a small alleyway near Istiklal Street. I loved the tea, really warming in a chilly evening. Najia was not a fan.

We also tried apple tea from a small shop right opposite the Galata tower (dont have the picture for it though)

7. Chestnut and Corn

 You'll see numerous vendors selling chestnut and corn at Istiklal street and many other places.

Just something to snack on while walking. 

Corn was 2 TL (0.200 OMR / 55 PKR) while chestnuts were 5 TL for 100 grams (0.500 OMR / 135 PKR)

8. Turkish Rice Pudding

If you're from Pakistan, this will taste somewhat like kheer, the only difference is that its baked.
Delicious nonetheless. Try it, or no?
7 TL ( 0.700 OMR / 190 PKR)

9. Shish Touk Platter
This was one of the best meal we had during our stay from a small dhabba style place somewhere in the Grand Bazaar. I have no idea about the exact location or the name of the place. We randomly stumbled across this place and decided to eat because we were starving.
The chicken was grilled to the utmost perfection, served with barley, a piece of bread and a tangy salad. Yum yum yum.
22 TL (2.200 OMR / 600 PKR)

10. Bread
If you see anything like the one pictured below, do not, I REPEAT, do dont think that its just blah. This is the food that has been sent down from the heavens for us. Well, not really, but this thing is incredible, so soft. One of the best breads I've had.
You'll find these with variety of toppings ranging from meat, cheese, herbs. The one we had was pepperoni and cheese. I think it was around 4-5 TL.

Other Random things we ate:

Icecream topped with warm semolina. The contrast of hot and cold was amazing. 3 TL (0.300 OMR / 80 PKR)

Grilled chicken and vegetables dunked in tomato sauce. Good and hearty meal.

10 TL (1.00 OMR / 280 PKR)

Handmade toffee from a roadside vendor near Galata Bridge. 3 TL

Cinnamon rolls type something. I have no idea what it called, but delicious. Had this outside the Blue Mosque. 2 TL.

Doner platter. We had this right across the street from the Blue Mosque. 22 TL.

Falafel from a small shop opposite the Galata Tower. 5 TL.

Our view while we had Falafel and apple tea

Strawberries from a random fruit seller. These were the sweetest strawberries I have ever had in my life. If you are from Pakistan, I would definitely recommend that you try the fruit in Istanbul, specially berries, they are incredibly sweet, unlike the tart ones that we have in Pakistan.

Needless to say that I loved Turkish food.

Have you been to Turkey? How was your experience with Turkish food?

Leave a comment to share your thoughts.

The End. Bye.

Istanbul Part 5: Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar is one place that everyone visits on their stay in Istanbul, bustling with people of different nationalities and turkish vendors trying to strike a deal with the tourist. This bazaar is a sensory overload, its amazing.

The main bazaar is lined by different shops, the street is pretty wide initially it becomes narrower and narrower as you go further in the market. There are around 4000 or so shops, this place is truly huge, a maze of narrow streets. The general feel of the bazaar is like 'Zainab Market' in Karachi, without the ugly stares of the shopkeepers and the general 'awam' (I'm sure Karachi waley know what I'm talking about).

The easiest way to reach the bazaar from Taksim is via funicular and tram.

From Taksim take a funicular to Kabatas, from there take the tram to Beyazit-Kapalicarsi (Grand Bazaar)

You will find anything and everything here, from clothing to gold to household stuff and all of this at a very reasonable price. So buy whatever your heart desires.

If you are looking for souveniers to take home, this place is where you will get the best price, make sure you bargain. The vendor will go down 70-80% of the price he originally quotes, so there is a huge margin for bargain here.

We did buy a lot of stuff here, my most favorite are the coasters, such unique and pretty designs. I bought 12 for 20 TL (2.300 OMR / 615 PKR)

We saw beautiful bedding, towel sets, table and bed runners, which can make very nice gifts for new brides. So unique. (done ave a picture of those though)

We had lunch at a small Turkish dhaba type somewhere in the bazaar, I dont even recall the name, the only thing I remember is the fragrance that hit us when we walked by, the fragrance of grilled meat and turkish tea. Stopping for lunch right than was the best decision we made that day.

We both ordered chicken shish touk platter, which was 22 TL (2.5 OMR / 680 PKR)

This was hands down the best shish touk I've ever had. The chicken was oh-so-tender, perfectly grilled served on a bed of spiced barley with a piece of bread and salsa in a tangy sauce on the side.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it right now. So yum!

For dessert we had vanilla ice cream topped with sweet semolina from a small vendor in the bazaar for 3 TL (0.350 OMR / 100 PKR). I love contrast in my food, sweet and salty, hot and cold, so this was right up my alley. The ice cream was cold and the semolina was warm, this was marriage made in heavens. So so good. Must try.

So much of my banter already, I'll let the pictures do the talking below.

Suleymaniye Mosque, near the grand bazaar

Outside the mosque

While I wait for Najia

Until next time!

Bye!

Istanbul Part 4: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace

Visiting Sultan Ahmed Mosque a.k.a The Blue Mosque is one of the top touristy thing anyone would do when in Istanbul. This post is all about this mosque, neighboring Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.

Getting to the mosque is pretty straight forward. If you're not sure, literally anyone would help you with the directions. From Taksim take a funicular to Kabatas, than a tram from Kabatas to Sultan Ahmet stop.

The moment you get off the tram, you'll see people flocking towards the mosque (it's crowded most of the year). Just walk till you see the mosque.

We reached the mosque around 12. Decided to roam around for a while than offer 'zuhr' prayers.

Wear modest clothes and take a head scarf or you wont be allowed to enter the mosque.

Such a gorgeous sight.

Attention to detail.

The prayer area was HUGE!

Us!

Outside the mosque

We stopped for a snack and icecream before going to Hagia Sophia.

I have no idea whats this called but it was kind of a cinnamon roll but not very sweet. really delicious. 2 TL each (0.250 OMR/ 68 PKR)

you must've heard a lot about Turkish icecream, the one where the vendor makes you angry and literally makes you cry while the people around you laugh and joke before you can try this amazing sugary concoction. Yeah, that one.

You can choose any amount of flavors you like on one cone. I had vanilla, caramel, chocolate and strawberry. This was 7 TL each (0.900 OMR/ 238 PKR)

We had the icecream while walking towards Hagia Sophia which is right in front of the mosque.

The entry ticket per person is 40 TL (5 OMR/ 1360 PKR)

I wouldn't recommend going if you're with kids, they'd be bored and you wont be able to enjoy and take in all the history in this place.

To see everything in detail you need about 1 hour.

Hagia Sophia was built as a church in 537 AD but it was converted to an ottoman mosque in 1453 until 1931. It was converted to a museum in 1935 (AYASOFYA MUZESI)

Inside of the museum is filled with so much of both faiths. 

Its breathtaking inside, the ceiling is really high and the whole place has a feel of grandiose.

Roam around and take it all in, read about everything, you'll be amazed its so magnificent. 

The left side was undergoing restoration.

Allah, Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and virgin Mary with Jesus.

The 'Mirhab' pointing towards Makkah

Upstairs gallery.

Marble door

Deesis Mosaic.

I was fascinated with the mosaics, there were so many. They are made of the tiniest mosaic tiles. The bottom part is badly deteriorated.

After this we went to Topkapi Palace which is about 10 minutes walk from the Hagia Sophia. 

Topkapi Palace used to be a residence for Ottoman Sultans during their years of reign and converted into a museum in 1924.

The entry ticket is 40 TL. Visiting hours are from 9 am to 5 pm.

The palace has 4 courtyards and many small buildings. Be prepared to walk, as there is a lot of ground to cover.

The Imperial Gate

The Gate of Salutation. Entrance to the 2nd courtyard.

SubhanAllah

how gorgeous is this!

We saw a lot of Holy Relics in the palace, there are certain rooms dedicated to those. I dont really remember the names of the rooms but we saw swords of our Prophet Mohammad ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) 

companions, beard hair and piece from a tooth of our Prophet Mohammad ( صلى الله عليه وسلم), sword and bow used by out beloved  Prophet Mohammad ( صلى الله عليه وسلم), Seal and a letter written by  Prophet Mohammad ( صلى الله عليه وسلم).

In another room there is a key to Kaaba, casing of Hajre Aswad.  

They dont allow pictures inside though, if you try to sneakily capture some, a huge and dangerous looking turkish guy will start shouting and everybody would be looking at you with daggers in their eyes :D. We saw it happen to one poor guy. So just dont.

I cannot describe the feeling I had while looking at these sacred things, to see myself as a tiny part in a much much much bigger picture, it's a very humbling experience. 

The Palace is a must visit.

View of the Marmara sea from the palace.

Tired af.

We had a late lunch at a busy little restaurant right across the blue mosque. I had a doner platter, which was 22 TL (2.75 OMR/ 748 PKR) We were famished and the food was warm and hearty. Not spicy but packed full of flavor. Delicious!

All in a a good day spent well. 

Next up; Grand Bazaar and Princess Islands