Hünkar
Opened in 1950 in the Nişantaşı neighborhood of Istanbul, Hünkar is one of the best local food restaurants in Istanbul with its quality food and stylish design. “Hünkar” is the word used to address the Ottoman Emperor (the Sultan) in Turkish, and the importance paid to quality in this restaurant reflects the name choice.
Excellent quality food and a rich menu, traditional decor, and vegan and vegetarian choice of food put Hünkar at the top of our list. Some recreations of Ottoman cuisine also deserve appreciation. Just like its name, their Hünkar Beğendi (mashed eggplant with cheese, milk and butter with chunks of roasted beef on top), and Sütlü Kadayıf (shredded dough desert with milk)
Location: Nişantaşı (accesible via M2 metro line)
Pricing: Approximately 10 euros per person
Closing time: 22:30
Alcoholic beverages: Yes
Signature dish: hünkar beğendi
Nato Lokantası
Nato Restaurant? Yes, NATO restaurant! Named in honor of Turkey joining NATO in 1952, Nato Lokantası is serving its customers’ delicious home-cooked stews, soups, and meat dishes for more than 70 years. Located in a very central place in Karaköy, Nato restaurant is in a very accessible place, close to most touristic attractions, yet doesn’t overcharge its customers. Great choice of foods and an exceptionally idealistic approach to the restaurant business puts Nato Lokantası at #2 on our best local food restaurants in Istanbul list. Nato Lokantası only cooks and serves once per day, doesn’t half cook for a second time, and mix it with the old food. Hurry up because once the first batch is over in the afternoon, the restaurant closes. They don’t prioritize quantity, they prioritize quality.
Location: Karaköy
Price: Approximately 10 euros per person or less.
Closing time: afternoon when food is over, typically before 16:00
Alcohol: No
Not suitable for dinner as it closes early
Related:
How Do I Go to Karaköy?
How Do I Go to Galataport?
Hacı Abdullah Lokantası
Located on one of the backstreets of the famous Istiklal Avenue, Hacı Abdullah Lokantası has the longest history among all the restaurants on our best local food restaurants in Istanbul list. The original restaurant opened next to the Bosphorus in Karaköy in 1888, while Ottoman Empire still existed. Opened with direct permission from Sultan Abdülhamit II, Hacı Abdullah Lokantası used to be the go-to restaurant of official state guests from foreign countries. After the end of the Ottoman era and many changes, Hacı Abdullah Lokantası finally ended up in its final location on Istiklal Avenue. Hacı Abdullah Lokantası has an excellent choice of food, no-contact food delivery, a historical vibe in its interior design, and sets a family-friendly ambiance.
Location: near Istiklal Avenue
Price: around 10 euros per person
Closing time: 23:00
Alcohol: No
Suitable for dinner
Signature dish: kayseri kebabı
Related: How Do I Go to the Istiklal Avenue/Taksim Square?
Book a guided walking tour on the Istiklal Avenue with Galata tower entrance ticket
Havuzlu Restoran
Havuzlu Restoran wins the most authentic setting out of all the other restaurants on our list by a long stretch, because it is literally inside the Grand Bazaar. One of the very few restaurants in the Grand Bazaar, Havuzlu Restoran serves its customers with excellence since 1959. The name comes from the fountain built inside the Grand Bazaar located just outside the restaurant the same year it opened. “Havuz” means “pool” in Turkish, since the fountain has a little pool, the restaurant was named after the “fountain with pool”. Even though Havuzlu Restoran opened in 1959, it is built in one of the original halls of Grand Bazaar that date back to 15th century AD. Dining or having lunch in this historical setting resonates differently with history enthusiasts and those who seek exotic settings during their travels. Also has a cafe on its second floor with desserts, and hot and cold beverages.
Location: Grand Bazaar
Price: 10-15 euro per person
Closing time: 17:00
Not suitable for dinner as it closes early
Signature dish: tas kebabı
Related: How Do I Go To the Grand Bazaar?
Book a Walking Tour to the Grand Bazaar
Karaköy Lokantası
Karaköy Lokantası isn’t exactly a home food restaurant, but more like a fine-dining restaurant that has a home food restaurant theme to it, nevertheless deserves a spot on our list with its high-quality ingredients, superior cooking, and service. Located in the center of Karaköy, Karaköy Lokantası is the newest business on our best local food restaurants in Istanbul list, operating since 2000 and has the most modern design. Beware that Karaköy Lokantası requires reservation as it is more like a fine-dining restaurant rather than a canteen.
Location: Karaköy
Pricing: 10-20 euros per person (depends if you drink or not)
Closing time: 00:00 midnight
Alcoholic beverages: Yes
Suitable for dining
Reservation Required.
Phone: +90 212 292 44 55
Kanaat Lokantası
Kanaat Lokantası is hand-down the most well-known and popular home food canteen on our list. Almost every true Istanbulian would know Kanaat Lokantası, even if they’ve never been. Many local Istanbulians have been there at least once for three or more generations, as this restaurant operates since 1933. Excellent service, great quality food, long working hours, and phenomenal desserts put Kanaat Lokantası in a special place on our best local food restaurants in Istanbul list.
Location: Üsküdar (on the Asian side)
Pricing: 10-15 euro per person
Closing time: 23:00
Alcohol: No
Vegan/Vegetarian options: Vegetarian yes, vegan maybe
Signature dish: çoban kavurma, kazandibi
Related:
How Do I Go To the Asian side?
Best Places to Visit in Üsküdar
Book a guided tour on the Asian side of Istanbul
Çiya Sofrası
The only restaurant on our list with a famous chef, Çiya Sofrası is also the youngest restaurant on our list. Located on the Asian side, in the heart of Kadıköy district, Çiya Sofrası specializes in something a little bit different: forgotten recipes. Found in 1987 by chef Musa Dağdeviren, Çiya Sofrası aims to study and recreate forgotten dishes from Turkey and neighboring regions. Recreating over 100 Anatolian and Mesopotamian dishes, Çiya Sofrası does not have a fixed menu and offers different menus to its customers every day. On different days you can find different exotic Anatolian dishes ranging from “sour cherry kebab” to “apricot stew with lamb”, and also unusual desserts such as eggplant dessert or wild orange dessert.
Interesting fact: the chef of Çiya Sofrası, Musa Dağdeviren, was interviewed in the Netflix show, Chef’s Table, on Season 5, episode 2.
Location: Kadıköy (on the Asian side)
Pricing: 10-15 euros per person
Vegan/Vegetarian: yes
Alcohol: No
Signature dish: menu changes daily, dish of the day
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