Middle Eastern restaurants
in Istanbul

About Middle Eastern cuisine

Middle Eastern cuisine spans the eastern Mediterranean and the Levant, prized for its mezes, grilled meats, legumes and warm spices. Olive oil, fresh herbs, flatbread and dishes built around chickpeas and grains are central to the table.

Turkish dining culture places great emphasis on freshness, hospitality and communal eating. A typical Turkish meal moves through meze (shared cold and hot starters), charcoal-grilled meats or seafood, and ends with tea and sweets. Breakfast is a cherished ritual of bread, cheeses, olives, eggs and jams, often enjoyed at length. Lokanta restaurants serve home-style daily specials at affordable prices, while kebab houses, pide salons and baklava shops line every high street.

The 8 neighbourhoods and districts in this listing are not equal in restaurant density. Kadıköy (3,151), Fatih (2,701), Beyoğlu (2,033) are the most restaurant-rich areas, each with its own dedicated page on this site for deeper exploration. Smaller districts are listed under the parent city page and accessible via the neighbourhood links below.

To explore Istanbul's restaurant scene, start with the cuisine filters for a food-type view or click a neighbourhood to narrow by location. Each card links to a restaurant's detail page with its address, phone number, website and any diner reviews posted on e.restaurant.

Signature dishes hummusfalafelshawarmatabboulehkebab

General description of middle eastern food. Individual restaurants vary.