This post contains affiliate links.
I’m not ashamed to admit I ate at a lot of the best cheap restaurants in Istanbul during my two month stay in the city.
While I was munchin’ my way through the many neighborhoods I found that most restaurants in Istanbul are pretty affordable, so I made this roundup to narrow down your list of must-trys to only the best of the best. It includes:
- Tex-mex
- Thai food
- Turkish dishes (of course)
- The perfect hangover meal
- And so much more
Whether you’re looking for traditional Turkish cuisine or comfort food or anything in between, this list of the best cheap eats in Istanbul has something for everyone and every budget!
So simple but so good – Tarihi Kalkanoglu Pilavcisi is my favorite restaurant in Istanbul
1. Tarihi Kalkanoglu Pilavcisi
Neighborhood: Beyoglu
Price: 22 lira / 4 usd per person
Cuisine: Turkish
This isn’t just the best meal I had in Istanbul, it’s one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life.
Yes, it’s really that good.
Tarihi Kalkanogly Pilavcisi serves three things: beans, meat, and rice. You can mix and match the three options any way you like, but I recommend getting a plate with all three for 22 lira.
The beans are buttery and flavorful and the beef was cooked perfectly every time. Plus, the massive serving means you’ll definitely be full for the rest of the day.
My tip: go for lunch or an early dinner. I tried to go around 8 pm twice and both time they were out of food for the night!
Traditional Turkish food at Ciya Sofrasi
2. Ciya Sofrasi
Neighborhood: Kadikoy
Price: 75 lira / 14 usd for two
Cuisine: Turkish
This isn’t the cheapest Istanbul restaurant on the list but the value is phenomenal.
Ciya Sofrasi is a restaurant dedicated to bringing back traditional Turkish foods – the chef was even featured on an episode of Chef’s Table on Netflix!
Of course, the food is served the traditional way – with lots of small plates.
First, we served ourselves from a small buffet of appetizers that are priced by weight. Then, we chose our main dishes from a second buffet, where a helpful waiter took the time to explain each one to us.
Point out what you want, sit down, and they’ll serve them to you with fresh bread. Dan and I split a plate of appetizers and ordered five more small plates to share (I was stuffed afterward!) and our bill with water came to 75 lira / 14 usd total.
My tip: Visit Ciya Sofrasi for dinner so you can also enjoy sunset views of Istanbul on your ferry ride to Kadikoy.
Only about half of our breakfast spread at Rumeli Kale Cafe
3. Van Kahvalti Evi or Rumeli Kale Cafe
Neighborhood: Cihangir or Bebek
Price: 25 to 35 lira / 4.50 or 6.50 usd per person
Cuisine: Turkish breakfast
If you haven’t tried a Turkish breakfast yet, you’re in for a treat.
These massive spreads are incredibly budget-friendly and incredibly delicious. I tried quite a few, but these two restaurants outshone the rest.
Rumeli Kale Cafe is the best, but somewhat inconveniently located in the Bebek neighborhood. It can be a bit of a trek to get there, but the restaurant is on the waterfront and recommended by Anthony Bourdain.
For something more central, I also recommend Van Kahvalti Evi in the Cihangir neighborhood. Both meals come with tons of fresh veggies, unlimited tea, cheese, bread, honey, spreads, and so much more.
My tip: Order menemen, a traditional Turkish egg dish with veggies, to round out your meal and ensure you won’t need to eat again for at least a week.
Balik Durum is great for a low-key and cheap meal in Istanbul
4. Balik Durum
Neighborhood: Karakoy
Price: 15 lira / 2.75 usd per person
Cuisine: Turkish
This is a bit of a hidden gem, recommended by one of my friends who has been living in Istanbul for a few years.
Balik Durum sells super cheap fish wraps in Karakoy, a hipster up-and-coming neighborhood on the waterfront.
The restaurant is tiny and unpretentious and I could tell the no-nonsense chef has definitely been making fish wraps for longer than I’ve been alive.
It’s hot, it’s tasty, and it’s one of the best cheap restaurants in Istanbul to fill up with on a casual night out. Plus, you can save more money for drinks when the wraps are only 15 lira each!
Wraps from Ek Biç Ye İç are a cheap, light, and healthy option in Istanbul
5. Ek Biç Ye İç
Neighborhood: Beyoglu (near Taksim Square)
Price: 22 lira / 4 usd per person
Cuisine: Soups, salads, and wraps
When the heavy Turkish dishes become too much, stop in for a light, healthy meal at Ek Biç Ye İç.
It doesn’t matter that you can’t pronounce the name because the workers speak English and will walk you through the process of building your own wrap or salad with their fresh ingredients.
It’s not vegan or even vegetarian, but it’s one of the best cheap restaurants in Istanbul because it’s super sustainable – they even grow their own greens right there along the walls!
My favorite wrap creation was cheese, chicken, sunflower seeds, onion, greens, and honey mustard, but you can mix and match so many different combos and my educated guess is that they’re all pretty damn delectable.
If you’re still hungry, pair your meal with a bowl of soup for 8 lira more or add on fresh juice or even a fruit smoothie 🙂
Tasty beef burrito at Tacofit
6. Tacofit
Neighborhood: Levent
Price: 35 to 40 lira / 6.50 to 7.50 usd per person
Cuisine: Mexican
Two months is way too long to go without burritos – luckily, Tacofit was there to satisfy my craving.
I’ll just start out by saying it’s not as good as the Tex-Mex you’re used to in the US, but it’ll definitely do in a pinch. They have outdoor seating (with heaters in the winter) and a small menu mostly made up of tacos, nachos, and burritos.
Dan got the large chicken burrito for 35 lira and I got the large beef burrito for 38 lira. Both were good, but I have to say the beef is definitely the better choice.
7. Az Cok Thai
Neighborhood: Beyoglu
Price: 30 lira / 5.50 per person
Cuisine: Thai
I was pleasantly surprised to find good Thai food in Istanbul.
We stayed in Istanbul in the winter (click here to read why I recommend it) so this was the perfect place to pick up takeout for a cozy night in watching Netflix.
The red curry, spring rolls, and pad thai were all good and I wish I could have tried more – check out the full menu and I’m sure your mouth will start watering as well.
Buffalo chicken grilled cheese, fries, and the Nutella oreo milkshake at Melt
8. Melt Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Sisli
Price: 33 to 38 lira / 6 to 7 usd per person
Cuisine: Sandwiches
I know at least some of you guys out there reading this have a hangover right now, and this cheap Istanbul restaurant is for you.
Melt Grilled Cheese Sandwiches is a small, modern place located a bit off the tourist track in the Sisli neighborhood.
The menu has grilled cheese with buffalo chicken, grilled cheese with avocado, grilled cheese with mac n’ cheese, I think you get the idea. It’s terrible for your body but good for your soul.
I’m actually super picky about grilled cheese ’cause I think it usually has too much cheese, but Melt gets the ratio just right. Plus, they have Nutella oreo milkshakes – I mean, what more could you need in life?
Bonus: Take a Cooking Class or Food Tour
Like I said in the intro, Istanbul is an affordable city. That means that the cooking classes and food tours that are out of your budget in other places may fit right in here!
Airbnb offers experiences now and there are over 100 food tours and cooking classes in Istanbul alone. Prices range like crazy, but some are as low as $23 each, so I think it’s worth taking a look if you’re interested.
So, What are the Best Cheap Restaurants in Istanbul?
If you only have time to try one of these Istanbul cheap eats, I strongly recommend ordering the meat, rice, and beans at Tarihi Kalkanoglu Pilavcisi.
If it doesn’t blow your mind, you can come back and chastise me in the comments below (but I know it will).
Afterward, make your way to Kadikoy to dine at Ciya Sofrasi and then continue eating your way through the rest of the city on a budget with this guide! Bon appetite!
Ready to go?
Explore unique stays on Airbnb – like this colorful suite or this apartment with absolutely insane views – and the top-rated hotels on Booking.com to plan the perfect night, weekend, or long-term stay in the city!
Then, browse more art, culture, and food experiences in Istanbul to round out your itinerary! Or, check out these multi-day Turkey tours from Intrepid to finish your travel planning in one click ?
This article is part of the Instant Istanbul Itinerary series. Read the rest below:
13 Things to Do in Istanbul at Night
27 Best Instagram Spots Around Istanbul
9 Best Istanbul Neighborhoods to Visit During Your Stay
How to Visit the Prince Islands in Istanbul
How to Take a Day Trip to Bursa From Istanbul
Tourist and Locals Alike Can Help Strays in Istanbul with TOI
14 Istanbul Travel Tips You Need to Know Before You Go
Or, explore all 20 articles in the Turkey Series for more insider tips on what to see, eat, do, and discover in the country!
Like it? Pin it!
Did you know every time you read an article on Slight North, you're also planting trees for the monarchs in Mexico? Start here to learn more about our mission and how to get the most out of the site!
0 Comments