Roberta Aguirre
Istanbul Airport has been voted the best international airport for 2024, and its reputation for world-class dining is a big part of that. The airport offers a diverse range of dining options, from fast food to gourmet restaurants, Turkish specialties to international dishes. With over 100 pit stops, you're sure to find something to suit your taste. In this guide, we'll explore some of the best places to eat and the must-try dishes at Istanbul Airport. Whether you're looking for a quick bite or a full-service dining experience, Istanbul Airport has something for everyone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Variety of food | Turkish specialties, Italian, American, International |
| Dining options | Fast food joints, gourmet restaurants, food stands with grab-and-go options, full-service dining experiences |
| Examples of restaurants | Enud, Mvnch, Cups and Clouds, Simit Sarayı, Salt Bae, Kaimakk, Happy Moons, Eat&Joy, Cafe Yanımda, Burger King, Popeyes, Sbarro, Seferi |
| Examples of food | Köfte, sesame-coated Turkish bagels (simit), baklava, börek, Turkish delight, gözleme, smoked beef on a squid-ink bun, steaks, ribs, chops, linguine bolognese, linguine köfte, Turkish ice cream, lokum (Turkish delights), pizza, pasta, pide (Turkish flatbread) |
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What You'll Learn
Turkish cuisine: Try köfte, börek, simit, and gözleme
Istanbul Airport has been named the best international airport for 2024, largely due to its reputation for world-class dining. The airport offers a wide range of Turkish specialties, including köfte, börek, simit, and gözleme.
Köfte is a type of meatball or patty that can be made with various meats, including beef, lamb, or a combination of the two. It is often seasoned with spices and herbs and can be grilled, baked, or fried. At Istanbul Airport, you can find köfte at Enud, where it is said to be as big as a baseball, or at Kaimakk, where they serve linguine köfte with bulgur wheat instead of meat.
Börek is a flaky pastry topped with seeds and coiled around various fillings. Common fillings include feta cheese, spinach, and potato. The most common type of börek is called Su böreği, which resembles a sauceless square of lasagna with layers of cheese, herbs, and phyllo dough. You can find a wide variety of börek at Simit Sarayı, located at several gates within the airport.
Simit, a circular bread encrusted with sesame seeds, is another popular food option at Istanbul Airport. It is often served plain or for breakfast with tea, fruit preserves, cheese, or ayran, a traditional Turkish yogurt drink. Simit has been a staple in Istanbul since 1525 and is considered an important symbol for lower and middle-class people in Turkey. At Istanbul Airport, you can find simit at Mvnch, where they sell sesame-coated Turkish bagels, and at Simit Sarayı.
Gözleme is a thin pastry filled with various savoury fillings and grilled to perfection. It is a popular dish in Turkey and can be found at many food stands and restaurants throughout Istanbul Airport.
Whether you're looking for a quick bite on the go or a more leisurely dining experience, Istanbul Airport offers a plethora of options to satisfy your cravings for Turkish cuisine.
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International options: Italian, American, and more
Istanbul Airport has a wide range of international dining options to suit every traveller's taste. For a taste of Italy, check out Eat&Joy, which serves up pizza, pasta, and other Italian favourites. Mvnch is another great option, offering a diverse and vibrant menu with something for every palate. You can also find freshly pressed juices, house-made natural teas, and exclusive specialty coffee at Mvnch.
If you're craving American cuisine, head to Happy Moons at Gate G2. This popular chain serves up American classics, and you can check out the menu beforehand to suit your budget. For fast food, Istanbul Airport has familiar options like Burger King and Popeyes. Sbarro offers New York-style pizza by the slice, as well as calzones and stromboli.
For those seeking celebrity chef fare, Turkey's Salt Bae has a restaurant near the D gates, serving up burgers, steaks, ribs, and chops. The restaurant also has one of the airport's few full bars and offers elaborate milkshakes for kids. For a quieter dining experience, Kaimakk in the corridor between the D and E gates serves both international and Turkish dishes in a serene white-on-white dining area. Sample dishes like linguine bolognese and bulgur wheat köfte, and finish with sweets like Turkish delight and baklava.
Istanbul Airport also has plenty of grab-and-go options around every corner. Enud serves up baseball-sized köfte, while Cups and Clouds offers baklava and coffee. Simit Sarayı, found at multiple gates, offers a wide variety of börek, a flaky pastry topped with seeds and coiled around fillings like feta, spinach, and potato.
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Celebrity chefs: Salt Bae's burgers and steaks
Istanbul Airport has been named the best international airport for 2024, largely due to its world-class dining options. With over 100 pit stops, most offering Turkish specialties, the airport is a haven for food lovers. One notable dining option at the airport is the celebrity chef "Salt Bae's" burger and steak restaurant. Located in the main hall near the D gates, the restaurant offers a variety of burgers and steaks that have received mixed reviews.
Salt Bae, the renowned Turkish chef known for his unique seasoning technique, has brought his signature style to Istanbul Airport. The restaurant is a popular choice for travellers, offering a range of burgers, steaks, ribs, and chops. The burgers are a highlight, with options like the signature smoked beef on a squid-ink bun. The restaurant also has a full bar and elaborate milkshakes for those looking for a more indulgent treat.
While the restaurant has its fans, some reviewers have criticised the high prices and small portions. One reviewer on TripAdvisor mentioned paying €140 for a portion of salad and two meat main dishes, plus sodas, and described the quality as "crap". They also noted that the service was lacking, with arrogant waiters who expected high tips. However, other reviewers have praised the friendly service and the convenience of the location, making it a decent choice for a quick bite at the airport.
Despite the mixed reviews, Salt Bae's restaurant at Istanbul Airport offers a unique dining experience for travellers looking to indulge in a celebrity chef's cuisine. The burgers and steaks, though pricey, can be a welcome treat for those craving a grilled piece of meat. For those willing to splurge, the full bar and elaborate milkshakes add to the experience. So, if you're passing through Istanbul Airport and craving a taste of Salt Bae's signature dishes, this may be a destination to consider.
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Quick bites: Grab-and-go options like Enud and Mvnch
If you're in a rush and just need a quick bite to eat, Istanbul Airport has plenty of grab-and-go options. Enud, for example, serves köfte as big as baseballs. If you're looking for something more typically Turkish, head to Mvnch, where you can pick up a simit, a sesame-coated Turkish bagel. For something sweet, Cups and Clouds offer baklava and coffee, or try Kaimakk, a sweets specialist serving Turkish delights covered in rose petals or flavoured with pomegranate and black mulberry, as well as various types of baklava.
If you're after something more substantial, but still quick, Cuisine Anatolia in the central hall near the A and B gates offers traditional Anatolian cuisine. Istanbul Airport also has several Unifree Duty-Free shops where you can pick up some lokum (Turkish delights) and baklava as souvenirs. Simit Sarayı is another option for a quick bite, serving simit, a popular Turkish street food/pastry with sesame seeds on the outside. Pair it with çay or ayran, and some cheese, for a typical Turkish breakfast.
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Turkish treats: Baklava, Turkish delight, and Turkish ice cream
Istanbul Airport has been voted the best international airport for 2024, and it's not hard to see why. With its glitzy, mall-like atmosphere, the airport offers a wide range of Turkish specialties and treats.
Baklava, Turkish delight, and Turkish ice cream are some of the most popular Turkish treats, and you'll find plenty of options to satisfy your sweet tooth at Istanbul Airport. For baklava, head to Cups and Clouds for a nugget of this sweet, nutty pastry, best paired with a coffee. You can also find baklava at the Old Bazaar, located at both ends of the mall, where you can buy it alongside Turkish delight, chocolates, dried fruits, and nuts. If you're looking for a more traditional experience, try the famous Karaköy Güllüoğlu, which started as a small shop in 1949 and now owns the world's first baklava factory. They produce approximately 2.5 tons of baklava per day, so you're sure to find a variety that suits your taste.
For Turkish delight, the Old Bazaar is again a great option, with a dizzying variety to choose from. If you're looking for a sit-down dining experience, Kaimakk, located between the D and E gates, serves Turkish delights covered in rose petals or flavoured with pomegranate and black mulberry, alongside other Turkish sweets such as carrot, walnut, or pistachio baklava and chewy, stretchy Turkish ice cream.
If you're after a more comprehensive Turkish food experience, head to Simit Sarayı, found at several gates throughout the airport. While they are known for their simit (a sesame-coated Turkish bagel), they also offer a wide variety of börek, a flaky pastry topped with seeds and coiled around fillings like feta, spinach, and potato.
So, whether you're looking for a quick bite to eat, a sit-down meal, or some treats to take home, Istanbul Airport has plenty of options to satisfy your cravings for Turkish delights, baklava, and Turkish ice cream.
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Frequently asked questions
Istanbul Airport offers a wide range of dining options, including fast-food joints and food stands with grab-and-go options around nearly every corner. Some of the quick bite options include Burger King, Popeyes, and Sbarro. For a taste of Turkish cuisine, try Seferi, which serves traditional Turkish pide (a type of flatbread). Other options include Enud, Mvnch, and Cups and Clouds.
Yes, Istanbul Airport offers a diverse range of full-service dining experiences, including gourmet restaurants. Eat&Joy serves Italian cuisine, including pizza and pasta. Happy Moons at G2 gate offers American cuisine. For Turkish cuisine, Turkey’s celebrity chef Salt Bae has a restaurant in the main hall near the D gates. Kaimakk, located between the D and E gates, serves both international and Turkish dishes in a white-on-white dining area.
Istanbul Airport is a great place to sample Turkish snacks and pastries. Simit Sarayı, found at many gates, offers a wide variety of börek, a flaky pastry topped with seeds and coiled around fillings like feta, spinach, and potato. You can also try Turkish delights (also known as lokum) and baklava, which can be purchased at duty-free shops or specialty shops like Cups and Clouds.
