Bite Me, Istanbul: The Ultimate Foodie’s Guide to Eating Like a Local

Bite Me, Istanbul: The Ultimate Foodie’s Guide to Eating Like a Local

Sarah Ahmad
This Istanbul food guide is only for those who want to go to truly authentic, good-quality local eateries. If you're interested in tourist traps - ask Google! After five years of living here and trying out way (and I mean wayyyyy) too many restaurants, I’ve rounded up the ABSOLUTE BEST places that serve up the real flavours of the city. Ready to eat like a local? Let’s dive in!
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Introduction

Ever since Can and I got together, Istanbul and food have been the centre point of our relationship which brought us closer together. There almost isn’t anywhere that we haven’t gone in Istanbul and our first date was actually him giving me a food tour! In the last five years of being in the most beautiful city in the world - we’ve had our best moments around food. And since we’re both very critical about quality, taste, vibes, and service - rest assured that this food guide takes you to only the best.

Midye Dolma - Stuffed Mussel

Oooh, let’s start with my personal favourite! I thought I was going to eat something fancy since mussels are usually sold at fancy restaurants, but Can told me they sell stuffed mussels here as street food, and you can find sellers lined up on the streets! The mussels are filled with a variety of flavoured rice from curry to spicy and of course with the vendor’s own “special sauce” flavour!

Where To Eat? 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Ahmad
Hi, I’m Sarah—yoga teacher, foodie, and your brutally honest guide to the best experiences out there. I’m a foreigner living in Istanbul for the past 5 years, and let me tell you, this city has me wrapped around its little finger. Between my Turkish husband, Can, and all the amazingness here, Istanbul has officially stolen my heart. Here's the deal, though: I’m *super* picky. I don’t just recommend places; I obsess over them. I’ve spent years eating, exploring, and ruthlessly cutting through the nonsense to make sure every suggestion I share is legit. Being in an intercultural relationship has strengthened my belief in embracing different perspectives, and it’s made me even more committed to finding the real, authentic gems that make a place special. If you’re ready to skip the tourist traps, we’re going to get along just fine. Lots of love<3
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Self-guided tours are self-paced, stop-by-stop experiences like a food crawls or history walks.
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