Food Recommendations in Turkey for International Students

Ten of Turkey's Most Famous Dishes and their Origins for International Students

If you are an international student who enjoys trying different cuisines from various countries during your country travels, you can find many delicious and unique dishes from all corners of the world. However, Turkey stands out with its distinct regional dishes, making it one of the countries with the richest gourmet routes in the world.

Based on centuries-old tradition and enriched with a rich historical and cultural heritage, Turkish cuisine is one of the reasons why millions of tourists plan to revisit. With deep traces from every period of Anatolia, the cradle of civilizations, finding a dish suitable for every palate in Turkish cuisine is not difficult. Selecting just ten dishes from such a diverse cuisine is undoubtedly challenging, but there are some flavors that every local and foreign student must try.



1- Kebab:

When it comes to famous Turkish dishes, one cannot skip kebab, as almost every city in Turkey has its own unique type of kebab. Despite thousands of kebab varieties in the Middle East, Turkey can be called the "representative of kebab" both locally and internationally. Among hundreds of kebab types, Adana kebab, perhaps the most renowned, holds a special place among Turkey's traditional dishes.

Adana kebab, made with lamb meat and seasoned with salt and red pepper flakes, is cooked on charcoal grills and served with special pita bread and sumac-flavored onions. Its tender texture, where the minced meat crumbles in your mouth, and the gradual blending of flavors with each bite make it one of the most enjoyable kebab experiences in the world.

2- Manti:

Manti, known by different names and variations in various cultures from China to Italian cuisine, has its most popular type in Turkish cuisine, known as Kayseri mantı. One of the most notable features of Kayseri mantı is its size, which requires a bit more effort to prepare compared to other types. It is believed that young women in Kayseri were considered unfit for marriage if they couldn't fit 40 pieces of manti on a spoon.

Among Turkey's most famous dishes, mantı is served with garlic or plain yogurt and topped with a sauce made of spices and butter. It is worth trying different types of mantı prepared using various cooking techniques in different regions like Sinop, Thrace, Çorum, and Nevşehir.

3- Lahmacun:

Lahmacun, a famous Turkish dish, gets its name from the Arabic term "lahm bi ajin," which means "meat with dough." Also known as Turkish pizza, lahmacun was popular in the eastern regions of Turkey for centuries before becoming an indispensable dish on everyone's table in all cities, especially within the last 50 years, thanks to Turkish restaurants and kebab houses. Cooked in a stone oven and seasoned with unique spices, it offers a crispy and distinct taste. The cities of Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa are among the places most associated with this special dish.

4- Baklava:

Baklava, beloved not only in Turkey but also in the Middle East, the Balkans, and South Asia, can be made with various ingredients. One of the most preferred types is Antep pistachio baklava, which is a symbol of Gaziantep's cuisine. After years of heated debate about its origin, the EU Commission officially recognized baklava as a unique flavor of Turkish cuisine. The popularity of pistachio baklava from Gaziantep is attributed not only to the type of pistachio used but also to the special syrup that gives it a distinctive texture.

5- Kofte (Meatballs):

Like kebab, kofte (meatballs) is another Turkish dish with hundreds of variations. Among the various regional recipes for kofte, Izmir kofte, Tekirdag kofte, and Trabzon Akcaabat kofte are among the most well-known.

Izmir kofte is prepared with a unique sauce and served with potatoes and peppers, baked in an oven. Tekirdag kofte is grilled and served with piyaz, a bean salad with onions, olive oil, and lemon. Akcaabat kofte is made from natural beef sourced from the region, including forelimbs, rib meat, tripe fat, and kidney fat, and cooked on charcoal stoves.

6- Döner and İskender:



Similar to kebab types, Döner and İskender are also prominent ambassadors of Turkish cuisine abroad. While there is a rivalry between Kastamonu and Bursa regarding the origins of Döner, Bursa is considered the homeland of İskender kebab, where you can find the best versions of both Döner and İskender kebab in Turkey.

7- Hünkar Beğendi:



"Hünkar beğendi" is a palace dish that has survived from Ottoman cuisine to the present day. It is meticulously prepared and served in homes and some restaurants.

Eggplant, which arrived in Europe from the new continent of America with its discovery, is an essential ingredient in this dish. The dish also has a colorful story behind it. According to the tales, "hünkar beğendi" emerged as a fortuitous synthesis of two cuisines during the famous encounter between Sultan Abdülâziz, one of the innovative Ottoman sultans, and the French Empress Eugénie of that era. The preparation of the dish involves not only choosing the type of meat but also the careful cooking of the eggplant. The dish is created by combining roasted eggplant puree, prepared with milk and flour, with seasoned lamb meat. This exquisite dish is among the iconic flavors of Turkish cuisine.

8- Zeytinyağlı Sarma:

"Zeytinyağlı sarma" is another significant heritage from Ottoman cuisine that has survived to the present day and is associated with the Aegean Region, known as Turkey's olive depot. Zeytinyağlı sarma is prepared by wrapping vine leaves around a filling made with rice and various spices. While grape leaves are commonly used, there are also different types of sarma prepared with leaves from various trees. Although the zeytinyağlı (olive oil) version takes the lead, sarma with meat filling is also frequently made and enjoyed. One of the special examples of this is the one prepared with cherry leaves in Malatya.

9- Pide:



Pide, an indispensable delicacy on Ramadan tables, is not only consumed in Turkey but also widely enjoyed in many regions of the former Ottoman territories, including the Middle East and the Balkans. Sometimes replacing bread, pide is served alongside beloved dishes such as Adana kebab, İskender, and döner. However, there are pide varieties, like Trabzon pide, that can be a meal on their own. Just like meatballs (köfte), different regions of our country have various types of pide prepared with diverse ingredients.

Trabzon pide, also known as Karadeniz pidesi (Black Sea pide), which is one of Turkey's most famous dishes, has a dough rolled in a circular shape like a pizza. Delicious Trabzon cheese is added to the middle, and it is then placed in a wood-fired oven. Optionally, an egg is cracked on top near the end of the baking process or when taken out of the oven. You must definitely experience the joy of breaking the egg yolk in the middle of Trabzon pide and stretching the melting cheese while eating.

10- Lokum (Turkish Delight):

Lokum, which has dozens of different varieties depending on the ingredients used in its production, is also known as the traditional companion of Turkish coffee. Moreover, it is one of the most internationally renowned Turkish delicacies. The reason for this is that lokum was introduced to Europe as "Turkish delight" by English travelers in the 18th century.

Originating from the Persian word "rahat'l-hulkum," which means "throat-soothing," this sweet is prepared with regional touches in almost every part of Turkey. The recipes and ingredients of lokum differ from region to region, resulting in distinct textures and flavors. For instance, the pistachio lokum you eat in Gaziantep has a firmer texture compared to others, while the rose lokum of Isparta is softer, and the lokum of Afyon has a more creamy texture and is less sweet than its counterparts.

Bon appétit! - Afiyet Olsun :)

The diversity of Turkish cuisine is a result of Anatolia's thousands of years of history and cultural accumulation. Although there are similar dishes, small regional touches can allow you to experience dozens of different flavors during your journey to any city in Turkey.

Wishing you success for a delicious and enjoyable experience in Turkey.