Istanbul Asian Side Food Tour

Istanbul Asian Side Food Tour

Immerse yourself on this Istanbul Asian Side food tour to blend in with and eat just like locals.

Istanbul is definitey an amazing city with tons of historical sights but what about the real local life ?

Tour Schedule

Taste of Istanbul's Asian Side tour starts at 14:30 PM every day and ends around 17:30 PM. The total duration is around 3 hours.

What is included ?

- The tour price includes all the food and drinks through the tour. Bottled water is also provided when necessary. - The tour is instructed by one of our knowledgable, friendly and enthusiastic guides that aims to provide culinary, historical and cultural insights of the city including a local's personal suggestions.

Group Size

- All our tours consist of a maximum 10 people but we do our best to run the tours even with only a few people. - Private groups are also welcomed.

Price and cancellation policy

- The tour price is 3.000 Turkish Liras for adults. For children under 12 years old, please contact us. - The tour price is fully refundable if you cancel 24 hours before the tour starts.

Meeting and finishing point

- Taste of Istanbul's Asian Side Food Tour starts just in front of the Kadikoy Ferry Station and explores the hip streets Kadikoy. - The tour ends where it starts; in front of the Kadikoy Ferry Pier.

What to bring?

- Your appetite for sure! - Comfortable walking shoes - Umbrella if necessary. - If winter season please wear warm clothes, a hat, scarf and gloves. We will spend some time at open air and might be cold.

Tour Itinerary

Meeting at 14.30 PM
You will meet your guide in front of Kadikoy Ferry Pier. We look forward to having you!
Menemen
First experience will be a unique Turkish breakfast which is called menemen. This traditional Turkish dish is made of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, cheese, green peppers and spices. It is extra-delicious when served up with some good crusty bread.
Merengues
While exploring the lively Bahariye Street as real locals do we will give a break to taste some bezes, Turkish-style merengues, in a little patisserie which is in action since 1958.
Mussels and pickle juice in fish market
Walking along the famous bar street of Kadıköy, your guide will be telling stories about the daily life in Kadıköy. Next food stop will be a Kadıköy classic; mussels followed by some fish and bread in the middle of the market. While the fisherman keep yelling around to sell the fresh fish we will be having our pickle juices from a 85 year old store which is only focusing on pickles, nothing else.
Murals
Since Kadıköy is center of art, the murals of the town are also must-to-see. We will walk past some of them.
Local restaurant featured on Netflix
We will then taste the traditional Turkish dishes at a world-famous restaurant which was also on air in Netflix’s famous Chef’s Table.
Turkish coffee
Turkish coffee is always best after a perfect meal. The coffee is prepared using very finely ground coffee beans without filtering and it is perfect for the ones who love it strong!
Perfect end with Baklava
Finally, we will indulge ourselves with the famous Turkish dessert; Baklava!

700+ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews on Airbnb Experiences, TripAdvisor and Google

  • star rating  5 star tour – Oskan is the ultimate food tour guide in Istanbul! His meticulous attention to detail and incredible dedication to discovering the city’s culinary gems is unparalleled. This guy has tried countless… read more restaurants to curate the best breakfast, candies, coffee and tea, kebab, kafta, and baklava experiences for his guests.

    What’s truly impressive is Oskan’s commitment to excellence—he personally visits 4-5 new shops daily until he finds the perfect mix. During our tour, he went above and beyond, making two extra stops just to fulfill our specific cravings. His passion for food and knowledge of Istanbul’s culinary scene made my birthday unforgettable.

    Oskan gets my highest recommendation. If you’re in Istanbul, do yourself a favor and book a tour with him. It’s a must-try experience that will leave you with a full heart and an even fuller stomach!

    avatar thumb dhayek22
    November 16, 2024

    star rating  Ozkan, you are amazing  – 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

    We had the absolute pleasure of experiencing Istanbul through the eyes of our incredible food tour guide, **Ozkan**. From the moment we met him, his charismatic personality made… read more the whole experience truly unforgettable. His knowledge of the city’s culinary gems is unmatched.

    What stood out most was Ozkan’s genuine passion for the food and culture of Istanbul. He took us to the best hidden spots, each more delightful than the last. His recommendations were spot on every time. If you’re planning a food tour with Ozkan, my best advice is: **don’t be demanding, just trust him**. He knows exactly what he’s doing and will make sure you have the best experience possible.

    Thank you so much, Ozkan, for giving us the best day of our lives. We’ll always cherish the wonderful memories and flavors you shared with us. If you’re considering a food tour in Istanbul, look no further—Ozkan is the guide you need!

    avatar thumb Fernanda H
    November 16, 2024

    star rating  The sweet and savoury tastes of an evening walk in Istanbul  – Sude was a knowledgeable and friendly guide, who made our tour a fabulous experience. She introduced us to the distinct flavours of Istanbul and to food shops and restaurants we… read more would never have found on our own. Totally delicious, from fish wraps, to mystical Turkish coffee, divine mussels and decadent desserts, the evening was a treat. And the perfect introduction to Turkish cuisine.

    avatar thumb patricia s
    November 13, 2024
  • star rating  Great guide, great food, great neighbourhood  – Sude is a highly knowledgeable, warm + enthusiastic guide to the authentic flavours of Istanbul in places you’d never find on your own. This tour is well worth the time + money!!

    avatar thumb Q4841DFpeterh
    November 12, 2024

    star rating  Sude is a great food guide!  – Our guide, Sude, was an excellent guide to the wonderful foods of Istanbul. From the first mouth-watering fish wraps to the fortune-telling Turkish coffee, to the delicious dessert ending of… read more our evening together, she was always an enthusiastic and knowledgeable food guide. Our group of three was provided with a private tour in Istanbul’s New Town, and the price included all food and drinks. The 3-hour walking tour was not strenuous, and we were also introduced to many sights and features of Istanbul. All in all it was a great experience, and a wonderful introduction to Istanbul and the food of Turkey

    avatar thumb Peter H
    November 12, 2024

    star rating  Good food tour  – Suda was a good guide showing us backstreets and local restaurants in good spirit and sympathetic to our walking abilities. We had more good food than we could eat!

    avatar thumb michaelnW1133CZ
    October 18, 2024
  • star rating  Had a lovely evening walk with the charming guide, Didem. Meeting point was easy to find. The food offered on the tour was freshly made, and smelled and tasted really… read more good. The walk was really nice, and provided a break in between all the stops, where the portions were just right that you get a good taste of what turkish cuisine is like, but not too big that you end up overstuffed at the end of the tour.

    Make sure you read your fortune after your Turkish coffee. That made pretty lively and interesting conversations.

    avatar thumb 891AndrewW891
    February 12, 2023

    star rating  A fantastic experience and delicious culinary offerings. – The evening food tour was an incredible experience. We sampled a wide variety of foods, all delicious, and got a great taste of local culture and history too. Our guide… read more Elif was lovely; welcoming, laid back, friendly, and gave us some great recommendations for dinner spots for our remaining time in Istanbul. As two foodies, we enjoyed every minute of the tour and the dinner recommendations made were also excellent. Highly recommend! A great way to get yourself oriented and acquainted with the city and the beginning of your trip.

    avatar thumb shaunan2018
    February 7, 2023

    star rating  Unforgettably wonderful food (and city sights) tour!

    The highlight was meeting not just quality people in the tour who really wanted to be there and emmerse themselves in… read more Turkish culture, but our local born and bred guide Ezgi. She has the most beautiful personality well suited to hosting visitors to her country and took the time to explain (in perfectly fluent English) customs and rituals as well as flowing with group dynamics and banter, reading the room and always being aware and accomodating of people’s needs and preferences. She took the experiance up several notches by this professionalism yet also gave a real genuineness in sharing parts of her own life as a local. After the tour she offered assistance with recommendations and advice for our remaining stay. If I lived here permanently, I would definitly make room for as quality a human being as her in my life.

    avatar thumb A C
    December 4, 2022
  • star rating  Perfect balance of food tasting, gastronomy tips and local history. Very easygoing and relaxed guide who is ready to answer any questions you have. Definitely recommend – well spent 4… read more hours and well worth the money.

    avatar thumb branor2022
    October 29, 2022

    star rating  One of the best tours we’ve ever done. What a fantastic experience and Didem was the most fabulous, enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide we’ve ever had! The tour was such a… read more joy and we ate soooo much and learnt so much about Turkish life

    avatar thumb ElisePro
    October 22, 2022

    star rating  We did the evening food tour with Elif. She was a wonderful host and we had so much fun trying new foods that we hadn’t tasted yeteven after traveling… read more in Turkey for 4 weeks. We learned lots of interesting tidbits of info that helped make Istanbul and Turkey come alive. Thanks Elif.

    Joanne P
    October 9, 2022
  • star rating  We had a brilliant morning with Didem showing us around the markets and to some of the old and unusual food outlets of the city. Each place we went to… read more had fascinating history and delivered amazing food. The walk through the markets was informative and we were given a whole variety of weird and wonderful things to try from the stalls. Would definitely recommend this as part of your visit to Istanbul.

    escapeebristol
    October 7, 2022

    star rating  Ezgi was so nice and gave us so much information about Istanbul in so many ways. We felt we were talking to a friend instead to a guide. The food… read more was amazing

    She is and open book

    846brendav
    October 5, 2022

    star rating  Didem was amazing! My friends and I did the "Local Food and History Walk at Night, " which was a highlight of our trip to Istanbul.

    We tried food… read more we would have never come across by ourselves, explored the Karakoy and Beyoglu area, and Didem even gave us recommendations for more restaurants to visit during our trip.

    Highly recommended!

    ghaneeludin
    October 5, 2022
  • star rating  Out host, Ezgi was excellent! She took us to some secret spots and famous ones as well – overall, great food selection! She had a wealth of knowledge not just… read more about the food, but also about history, culture and the people of Istanbul and Turkey in general.

    We appreciate how patient she was with our questions, and she had a very amiable personality which made the whole tour feel like we’re just hanging out with a friend.

    maryannem601
    October 4, 2022

    star rating  This tour was simply wonderful. Elif our guide was so kind and patient even though we were running late . She took us to the little places that… read more I would never have found myself . On the whole it was a great experience. Loved it .

    DayTrip231770
    October 4, 2022

    star rating  Our host was Didem who was wonderful, warm, friendly, professional and very knowledgeable. There was a wide variety of food to eat at lovely restaurants which we would never have… read more discovered if we had not been in this tour. The meetup was easy and Didem told great stories about Turkish culture that went with the food. Thanks for everything!

    robertbobbutler
    September 27, 2022
  • star rating  even as a Turkish that know the local food they manage to surprise me with amazing selection of great food and history information . ask for Didem. she… read more is AMAZING!!
    Thank you

    227nissimb
    September 22, 2022

    star rating  We had such a great time on this food tour. We spent 3 hours eating and strolling through the new town Istanbul, going through a few passages along Istiklal St.… read more The food was so great and we were stuffed by the end, and Elif offered to take us to more places if we were still hungry! It was a great tour, highly recommend.

    JABradleys
    September 21, 2022

    star rating  My mother, sister, and I had a phenomenal time with Didem. She is truly a gem! She showed us all the highlights Istanbul has to offer and gave us amazing… read more recommendations for the rest of our trip. Her English is perfect, and she was able to articulate everything so clearly! Our tour was the highlight of our trip, and we will definitely be in touch when we come back! Although the trip required a lot of walking, she was very patient and even changed up our tour so that we could take optimal breaks and rest while still getting a full experience. Speaking of full! The value of the tour was so worth it. The three of us were struggling to make room in our bellies to try all the great dishes the tour includes!! Definitely make sure to pace yourself if eating food isn’t a great passion of yours. Our favorite was the mackerel Well done Didem, we love you!

    stuarthendrick68
    September 21, 2022
  • star rating  Hands down the best walking food tour in Istanbul. The good is delicious, the guide is amazing and very knowledge and overall the atmosphere is great. Would definitely recommend!!

    franciscogN2888FK
    September 18, 2022

    star rating  We had a wonderful foodtour with Didem. Everything was flawless and we enjoyed every dishes and have learned a lot about Istanbul. Don’t hesitate to ask any recommendations ! <br… read more />
    Thanks again

    genovesiol
    September 14, 2022

    star rating  Wow, what an afternoon! We had the most enjoyable time. From the choice of food and stops, coupled with stroll through the city & stories from the past – this… read more is a must do tour! Our guide Elif was do delightful & made the tour.
    The value in this tour is amazing – you will not be sorry.
    Thank you so much!

    Y2893AXmarlened
    September 14, 2022
  • star rating  My favorite part of the tour was being with a local who knows the city, food and culture. Elif added even more being an architect and helping us understand the… read more buildings where we were enjoying the delicious, fresh and authentic cuisine.
    I highly recommend this tour when visiting Istanbul.

    SusanJaneL
    September 13, 2022

    star rating  This was an exceptional tour and our highlight in İstanbul! We went to so many amazing food spots that we would never have been able to find by ourselves. Our… read more host also was incredibly knowledgeable and provided so many interesting history and cultural facts. Couldn’t recommend this tour enough!

    Z3611PEjoannag
    September 4, 2022

    star rating  My husband and I had a wonderful tour with Elif. She brought us to places we would never have found on our own. We were fortunate to be the only… read more ones on the tour which allowed us to explore organically between stops. Elif took notes of our questions and sent us detailed info with a recap of all the places we visited. Super impressed. Highly recommend. This is much more than a food tour and a great way to learn about Istanbul.

    heididW8390QR
    August 29, 2022
  • star rating  This is a terrific tour. My wife, 20yo son and I all had a great time, even though we aren’t normally into any kind of group tour.

    From an… read more almost hidden 100 year old Turkish pizza place to the birthplace of Turkish Delight, from a working class home-food restaurant that you’d never be able to go to without special knowledge to a hidden courtyard in the grand Bazaar with history, diamonds and cats, we spent 3-4 hours at 7-8 places we’d never find on our own. Not too fast, not too slow.

    Didi was a generous, enjoyable and knowledgeable host, who is happy to answer questions and provide recommendations not only during your tour but during the rest of your stay in Turkey.

    If any of this sounds good to you, sign up and enjoy. It’s well worth your time and the price.

    readv
    June 3, 2022

    star rating  I joined the group by luck, after getting stuck in the restaurant and lovely Didem helped me out. After that she was kind enough to let me join her tour.… read more And tour was amazing her knowledge and trivia and of course food stops where amazing. Really opened my eyes about what this city can offer and how much you can miss without super guide.
    Also another big plus was that after the tour ended she kept in touch and her recommendations were amazing, were do go , what to see etc. 110% improved my visit

    JoseS781
    May 30, 2022

    star rating  Wow! This was the best tour I’ve ever done. If you’re reading this you need to book this right now and on your first day would be best. Not only… read more does this tour offer AMAZING value for money, you basically get 6 meals, but you also learn a lot about the city and tips for what to do the rest of your trip.

    Didem is THE BEST tour guide ever! She is a native to the area and has so many recommendations. I recommend doing the morning and night tour with her to maximize your trip!

    The food at all the stops is included in the tour price. You get a ton of food and as much water as you can drink. See something you love along the way? didem was so kind and flexible letting us stop to shop as needed.

    445alison
    May 28, 2022

See more reviews on our Airbnb ExperiencesTrip Advisor and Google pages. 

3.000 TRY

Does this look like fun? Book tickets today!

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