Map of All Below:
Restaurants:
Sayla Manti – Turkish dumplings but they are so much better than ravioli. You want garlic yogurt on top.
Kadıköy Saray Muhallebicisi Their Tavuk Gogsu or Kazandibi (same as before but burnt at the bottom) are my favorite desserts ever. Must try.
Bilgeoglu Baklava – Amazing Baklava. Try the Sobiyet and kaymak as a side (kaymak is Turkish style clotted cream and goes with honey, ice cream or dessert)
Kebapçı İskender – Iskender kebab is awesome. It is made with doner kebab.
Yanyalı Fehmi Lokantası – Home cooking style old school Turkish food.
Halil Lahmacun – lahmacun is awesome. you put the greens they give you inside and roll the whole thing up and eat it. Put some sumac inside too.
Çiya Sofrası – Old ottoman food, make sure to go to the Ottoman food section and not the kebab section which is across the street.
Mercan Kokoreç (eat kokorec, fried mussels and mussel dolma also known as midye dolma)
Hacibekir Lokum – Best Turkish delights in the city. This place is hundreds of years old.
Allpato Kumpir – Kumpir is stuffed potato. You choose the toppings. I would order American salad, ezme, and whatever you want on it.
Durumcu Emmi – their iskembe corba and lahmacun is really good.
Breakfast:
Kuleli Yakamoz – has gorgeous views. a bit pricey but also good quality. make reservations, and ask for window side.
Kadikoy carsi (bazaar) is where most of these are located and they have a very vibrant energy. Lots of Turkish coffee places.
Also make sure to drink Ayran and Salgam Suyu. Try the pickles, they are so good. Turkish breakfast is excellent esp. buffet style on weekends, I would do that for sure. Try Turkish coffee, and also kumpir