Turkish food is one of the great pleasures of a trip to Turkey. It is fresh, seasonal and generous, and every region has its own specialities. Here are 16 dishes and drinks to look out for, from street snacks to slow-cooked classics.

1. Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı)

Not a single dish but a feast: cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, honey and clotted cream (kaymak), jams, eggs and endless tea. Weekend breakfasts can last all morning.

2. Simit

A crisp, chewy ring of bread rolled in sesame seeds, sold from street carts for a few lira. Have it with cheese and tea for the classic Istanbul breakfast on the go.

3. Menemen

Eggs gently scrambled with tomatoes, green peppers and spices, served bubbling in a small pan. Mop it up with fresh bread.

4. Lahmacun

A thin, crispy flatbread spread with spiced minced meat. Squeeze over lemon, add parsley and onion, then roll it up.

5. Pide

Turkey’s boat-shaped flatbread, baked with fillings such as cheese, minced meat or egg. Every region has its favourite version.

6. İskender kebab

Thin slices of döner over pieces of bread, topped with tomato sauce, sizzling butter and yoghurt. It was invented in Bursa, which is still the best place to try it.

7. Adana kebab

Hand-minced lamb, spiced with red pepper and grilled on a wide skewer over charcoal. The milder version from Urfa skips the chilli.

8. Mantı

Tiny dumplings filled with spiced meat, served under garlic yoghurt and melted butter with red pepper. Kayseri is famous for them.

9. Köfte

Grilled meatballs come in dozens of regional styles. Look out for İnegöl köfte and the cumin-scented köfte of Sultanahmet’s old restaurants.

10. Meze

Small cold and hot dishes to share, often with rakı: smoky aubergine, spicy ezme salad, haydari yoghurt dip, stuffed vine leaves and plenty more.

11. Balık ekmek

A grilled fish sandwich served straight from the boats at Eminönü in Istanbul. Simple, cheap and delicious.

12. Dolma and sarma

Vegetables or vine leaves stuffed with rice, herbs and sometimes meat. The olive-oil versions are served cold and make a perfect light lunch.

13. Kumpir

A huge baked potato mashed with butter and cheese, then loaded with toppings of your choice. Ortaköy, by the Bosphorus Bridge, is the place to eat one.

14. Gözleme

Thin dough filled with cheese, spinach or potato and cooked on a griddle, often by women at village roadside stalls.

15. Ayran

A cold, salty yoghurt drink that goes perfectly with kebabs on a hot day.

16. Turkish coffee

Thick, strong coffee boiled in a small pot and served with a glass of water and often a piece of Turkish delight. Turkish coffee culture is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

Tips for eating out

  • Lokantas (canteen-style restaurants) show their dishes in a counter. Point at what you want: it is cheap, quick and home-style.
  • Vegetarians do well with meze, olive-oil vegetable dishes, lentil soup and pide with cheese.
  • Tipping around 10% is usual in restaurants if service isn’t included. See our money guide.