Istanbul Street Food Guide

Istanbul's street food scene is one of the world's great culinary traditions — a city where the simit (sesame bread ring), balık ekmek (fish sandwich eaten from boats under the Galata Bridge), kumpir (stuffed baked potato), midye dolma (stuffed mussels), and roasted chestnuts have sustained the city's residents and visitors for centuries. The Eminönü waterfront is ground zero for Istanbul street food — the smell of grilling fish mingles with salt air and the calls of vendors selling everything from fresh pomegranate juice to kokoreç (offal sandwich) that is an Istanbul institution. Kapalıçarşı (the Grand Bazaar) and the Misir Çarşısı (Egyptian Spice Bazaar) also have excellent street food in the surrounding alleyways.