Best of Istanbul
Where locals eat in Istanbul
Start with Halil Lahmacun in Kadıköy for thin, crisp lahmacun, rolled up with parsley and lemon, Karaköy Güllüoğlu in Karaköy for classic pistachio baklava and Çiya Sofrası in Kadıköy for point at the day's stews and kebabs from Anatolia. Here are all 12, with what to get at each.
- Halil LahmacunKadıköy · counter
Get: Thin, crisp lahmacun, rolled up with parsley and lemon
Open since 1950 on the Asian side, a one-dish shop with a wood oven.
- Çiya SofrasıKadıköy · Anatolian Turkish
Get: point at the day's stews and kebabs from Anatolia. Menu changes with the season
Kadıköy institution celebrating regional Anatolian dishes rarely found elsewhere; order whatever stews and kebabs are on the daily counter.
- HünkarNişantaşı · Ottoman Turkish
Get: the hünkar beğendi and the stuffed vegetables. Cooking since 1950
Elegant Nişantaşı lokanta celebrated for hünkar beğendi and other refined Ottoman stews done with real care.
- Karaköy LokantasıKaraköy · Meze and rakı table
Get: Eggplant salad, muhammara, charred octopus, fish pastrami
- Kanaat LokantasıÜsküdar · Turkish home cooking
Get: the olive oil vegetables and a milk pudding. Open since 1933, busy all day
Long running Üsküdar esnaf lokantası serving homestyle Turkish classics like stews and rice, popular with locals.
- Yanyalı Fehmi LokantasıKadıköy · Turkish home cooking
Get: the stews from the steam table and the kazandibi. Open since 1919
Century-old Kadıköy esnaf lokantası known for slow-cooked Ottoman stews, hünkar beğendi and proper home-style breakfasts.
- Köfteci ArnavutBalat · family-run
Get: The square-shaped grilled meatballs, with trileçe if it is on offer
- Vefa BozacısıVefa, Fatih · institution
Get: A glass of boza topped with cinnamon and roasted chickpeas
- Dondurmacı Ali UstaModa, Kadıköy · café
Get: Any of the 50+ ice cream flavors; salep in cooler months
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What are the local restaurants in Istanbul?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Halil Lahmacun (Kadıköy), Karaköy Güllüoğlu (Karaköy) and Çiya Sofrası (Kadıköy). All 12 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Halil Lahmacun, get thin, crisp lahmacun, rolled up with parsley and lemon. At Karaköy Güllüoğlu, get classic pistachio baklava. At Çiya Sofrası, get point at the day's stews and kebabs from Anatolia. Menu changes with the season. At Hünkar, get the hünkar beğendi and the stuffed vegetables. Cooking since 1950.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in Istanbul?
Most of these are in Kadıköy and Karaköy. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Istanbul: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Istanbul
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.