Gaziantep Food Guide: Baklava, Kebabs & Türkiye's Best Cuisine City
Gaziantep, in southeastern Türkiye, is the country's undisputed food capital and a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2015. It is the origin of true pistachio baklava, of katmer — a pistachio and clotted-cream pastry eaten for breakfast — and of a kebab tradition built on local Antep pistachios, sour pomegranate, isot pepper and lamb. Most visitors come for two days and eat five times a day.
Quick facts
| City | Gaziantep (locally Antep), southeastern Anatolia |
|---|---|
| UNESCO listing | Creative City of Gastronomy since 2015 |
| Famous for | Baklava, katmer, beyran, Antep pistachios |
| Key ingredients | Antep pistachio, isot pepper, pomegranate molasses, lamb |
| Best-known baklava houses | İmam Çağdaş, Güllüoğlu, Koçak |
| Museum not to miss | Zeugma Mosaic Museum — the Gypsy Girl mosaic |
| Airport | GZT (Oğuzeli), ~2 hours from Istanbul |
| Best combined with | Şanlıurfa, Mount Nemrut, Göbekli Tepe |
The dishes to prioritise
- Baklava — Antep baklava carries EU protected geographical indication status; forty-plus layers, local pistachio, clarified sheep butter and no honey.
- Katmer — paper-thin dough folded around clotted cream and ground pistachio, baked in seconds, traditionally eaten the morning after a wedding.
- Beyran çorbası — a fiery lamb, rice and garlic soup eaten at breakfast, cooked overnight and finished over a roaring flame.
- Ali Nazik — grilled aubergine puréed with yoghurt and garlic, topped with cubed lamb.
- Yuvalama — meatball and yoghurt soup, the Bayram dish of every Antep household.
- Lahmacun and Antep kebabs — including the pistachio kebab (fıstıklı kebap), which exists almost nowhere else.
- Menengiç kahvesi — caffeine-free coffee from wild terebinth, served with milk.
Where to eat
- İmam Çağdaş, in the old bazaar — kebabs downstairs, baklava counter at the front; the classic single stop.
- Metanet Lokantası — beyran from early morning; expect a queue of locals by 07:00.
- Zekeriya Usta and Koçak Baklava — two of the most respected baklava specialists in the city.
- Orkide and Şirin Usta — the katmer addresses.
- Almacı Pazarı and the copper bazaar — for pistachios, isot, pomegranate molasses and pepper paste to take home.
Beyond the table
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum is the largest mosaic museum in the world, built to house the floors rescued from the Roman city of Zeugma before the Birecik dam flooded it. The Gypsy Girl mosaic alone justifies the trip.
Add Gaziantep Castle and the surrounding restored bazaars, the Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum, and the Bakırcılar Çarşısı copper market. Two full days covers food and sights comfortably.
How to get there and combine it
Gaziantep Oğuzeli airport (GZT) is roughly a two-hour flight from Istanbul with several daily services, and about 45 minutes from Adana. The city centre is 20 minutes from the terminal.
The natural regional loop pairs Gaziantep with Şanlıurfa (1.5 hours by road) for Göbekli Tepe and Balıklıgöl, and with Mount Nemrut for sunrise at the summit statues — a strong three- to four-day southeastern itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Gaziantep famous for food?
Gaziantep sits at the northern edge of the Fertile Crescent on the old Silk Road, with its own pistachio, pepper and pomegranate agriculture and a continuous culinary tradition documented for centuries. UNESCO named it a Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015, the first Turkish city on that list, citing more than 290 registered local dishes and a working apprenticeship system in its kitchens.
What food is Gaziantep known for?
Pistachio baklava above all — Antep baklava holds EU protected geographical indication status. Also katmer (a pistachio and clotted-cream breakfast pastry), beyran soup, Ali Nazik kebab, yuvalama, lahmacun, the pistachio kebab and menengiç coffee made from wild terebinth.
Where is the best baklava in Gaziantep?
İmam Çağdaş in the old bazaar is the most famous and still excellent, while Koçak Baklava and Zekeriya Usta are the connoisseurs' choices, and Güllüoğlu is the best-known name nationally. Buy from a dedicated baklavacı rather than a restaurant, and eat it the same day — proper baklava is never refrigerated.
Is Gaziantep worth visiting?
Yes, for two nights, if food or archaeology interests you. Beyond the kitchens, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum is the largest mosaic museum in the world, and the restored castle and copper bazaars fill an afternoon. It is also the best base for reaching Göbekli Tepe and Mount Nemrut in the same trip.
How do you get to Gaziantep from Istanbul?
Fly. Gaziantep Oğuzeli airport (GZT) is about two hours from Istanbul with several daily departures from both IST and SAW, and the airport is 20 minutes from the centre. Driving takes 12 hours or more, and the overnight bus around 15.
Is Gaziantep safe for tourists?
Yes. Gaziantep is a large, prosperous provincial capital and normal urban precautions are sufficient. It sits well back from the Syrian border areas that appear on government travel advisories; check your own foreign ministry's current guidance before booking, as advisory wording is region-specific.