The steel skewers at Şehzade Cağ Kebap hold layers of marinated lamb that rotate horizontally over a wood fire. This shop introduced the Erzurum-style cağ kebab to Istanbul in nineteen ninety-five. Guven Gunduz opened the small spot,…
Eminönü Street Food Walk
This self-guided walk leads you through the busy market alleys and waterfront docks of Eminönü to sample Istanbul's most iconic and historic street food.
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1. Şehzade Cağ Kebap
2. Kral Kokoreç Sirkeci
The dark, charred grill at Kral Kokoreç sits right by the sidewalk, sending plumes of smoke into the air that carry the heavy scent of cumin and roasted lamb intestines. This tiny shop serves a dish that remains a divider among food…
3. Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir Lokumları
A row of clear glass jars filled with colorful, dusted cubes of turkish delight lines the window of the Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir shop. Founded in seventeen seventy-seven, this is the oldest shop in Istanbul to sell lokum. Bekir Efendi came…
4. Hacı Şerif Eminönü
The Hacı Serif shop displays large copper trays filled with irmik helvasi, a semolina dessert served warm with melting ice cream tucked into the center. This family business began in eighteen thirty-eight in Denizli, focusing on producing…
5. Zümrüt Büfe
A small, weathered sign hangs above the narrow shop front of Zümrüt Büfe. Inside this cramped space, the air carries the scent of roasted meat and seasoned fat. For decades, locals have crowded the counter for a specific specialty, a…
6. Turşucu
The shop front is identified by tall glass jars filled with neon-bright vegetables, submerged in cloudy, seasoned brine. This small storefront specializes in traditional Turkish pickles, known as turşu. While Istanbul is filled with modern…
7. Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek
The three royal-blue, wooden boats docked against the concrete pier at Eminönü sway with the current of the Golden Horn. These floating kitchens serve grilled mackerel fillets tucked into crusty loaves of bread, topped with nothing more…