What Food to Try in Turkey: 25 Essential Dishes 2026

Quick Answer: The 25 foods travelers should try in Turkey span four meals — kahvaltı (breakfast), öğlen (lunch), akşam (dinner) and late-night street food . Start with menemen, pide, lahmacun, Adana kebabı, mantı, çiğ köfte, balık ekmek, künefe and salep ; the full list below shows where to eat each and what you should pay. " What food should travelers try in Turkey? " is the single most-asked question we hear from new guests. The honest answer is: more than you can fit in a week, but here are the 25 dishes you genuinely cannot leave the country without tasting in 2026. We grouped them by mealtime so you can plan a day, not just a list. Pair this with our complete food pillar and our Istanbul food guide . What Should Travelers Try for Breakfast (Kahvaltı) in Turkey? Turkish breakfast is a national religion. Order the spread, not single items. Menemen — eggs scrambled with tomato, pepper, sucuk. USD $4–$8. Simit & beyaz peynir — sesame ring with sheep's cheese. USD $1.50. Kaymak & bal — clotted cream and honeycomb. USD $5–$10. Sucuklu yumurta — sausage eggs in a small pan. USD $5–$9. Van kahvaltısı — the legendary 20-plate eastern breakfast. USD $14–$22. Gözleme — village pastry stuffed with cheese/spinach. USD $3–$6. What Should Travelers Try for Lunch (Öğlen)? Pide — Turkish flatbread "boat" with cheese, sucuk or kıymalı. USD $5–$10. Lahmacun — thin Antep-style meat flatbread. USD $2–$4. Mantı — tiny dumplings with garlic yoghurt and chili butter. USD $6–$12. İskender kebap — Bursa's buttery döner over pide. USD $9–$16. Balık ekmek — Eminönü grilled-fish sandwich. USD $4–$7. Çiğ köfte — vegan bulgur-and-pepper rolls. USD $2–$5. What Should Travelers Try for Dinner (Akşam)? Adana kebabı — hand-minced spicy skewer. USD $10–$18. Testi kebabı — Cappadocia clay-pot stew, cracked open at the table. USD $14–$24. See our testi kebab guide . Beğendi kebap — lamb over smoked eggplant cream. USD $12–$22. Hamsi tava — Black Sea pan-fried anchovies. USD $6–$12. Mezze table + ra