Turkish Food: 15 Traditional Dishes to Try in Turkey

Turkey is famous for so many things, including history, beaches, nature, and its traditions, but I’ll let you in on a secret—the food in Turkey is like nowhere else on earth. If you’re a foodie, you’ve just found your match: every region is famous for something, and the top dishes are well-loved for a very good reason. Traditional dishes to try in Turkey are plentiful.

I lived in Turkey for several years, and I still visit frequently now. My husband is Turkish and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have opened my culinary mind and tried as many delicious types of Turkish food as I have. This is hands down one of the best places to try something new, and even if you’re a picky eater, you’re sure to be tempted to give new dishes a go simply because of how amazing they look and smell.

15 Best Foods to Try in Turkey

There’s so much famous food in Turkey, that you might struggle to know where to start—that’s where this list comes in. The first time I visited, I didn’t understand a lot when it came to the food, and as ashamed as I am to admit this now, I stuck with the regular international fare. Don’t make the same mistake; there’s far too much deliciousness to get stuck in a culinary rut.

In this list, you’ll find 15 of the tastiest and most famous foods to try during your visit to Turkey. It doesn’t matter where you’re visiting in Turkey, or what region, as you’ll find these foods everywhere, and they’re all pretty reasonable in terms of cost too. You might recognize some of them, but even if you don’t, be brave and sample them anyway: I promise you won’t be disappointed.

1. Döner Kebab
(Most Famous Food to Try in Turkey Overall)

When you think of Turkish food, you probably think of the döner kebab first. Now, I should point out that this is nothing like the dry or greasy kebab you get on a night out after the club back home; this is a juicy, delicious, and downright mouth-watering treat. You don’t have to smother this in ketchup and mayonnaise to make it taste good – it does all that on its own.

Döner kebab is typically either beef (most commonly) or chicken, and it’s cooked on a large rotisserie. The server slices pieces off the vertical “skewer” and layers them in your wrap, bread, or pitta, along with salad and often fries. You can tell them if you don’t want any specific ingredients added, and particularly with chicken, a yogurt sauce may be added.

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