Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is a Must Go for Every Foodie

The ever busy streets of Grand Bazaar not only offer some fine fabrics but are also home to exquisite delicacies. With 61 streets and more than 4000 shops, this tourist hotspot is a colorful labyrinth of clothes, carpets, jewellery, artifacts, aromas, spices and authentic local dishes.

Often regarded as the first shopping mall of the world, it won't be wrong to say that it is also one of the oldest and most authentic food courts of the world. Drenched in colorful lights and traditional architecture, the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul offers some world renowned kabaps, sea food and desserts.

So while you're in Istanbul, the melting pot of diversities here are some of the things you shouldn't miss out in the Grand Bazaar.

1. Menemen

Found almost everywhere in the culinary backstreets of the Bazaar, menemen is a Turkish style omlete that is made by lightly scrambling the eggs in creamy butter. This lavish breakfast is usually served with a side of spicy and succulent meat. The tomatoes added in menemen are thoroughly cooked to add a saucy twist along with the onion and green pepper topping.
 

_{Found almost everywhere in the culinary backstreets of the Bazaar, menemen is a Turkish style omlete}2. Ayran

This Turkish delight is a yoghurt based drink. The special Turkish yoghurt is stirred slowly with water and salt till it is smooth. This is enjoyed throughout the year with meals and people often stop at shops when they get tired of shopping to savour this satisfying drink.

_{This Turkish delight is a yoghurt based drink​}3. Durum

This common Istanbul affair is considered a complete meal in itself. You can find many corner shops serving durum after a lane of fabric stores. Durum is basically a barbecued meat wrap. Grilled meat along with vegetables and sauces is wrapped into a Turkish bread called Lavash. The vegetables make the whole wrap crispy while the yoghurt based sauces bind all of it together into a perfect wrap.
 

_{This common Istanbul affair is considered a complete meal in itself​}

4. Iskender kebap

The name comes from its inventor, Iskender Efendi and is one of the most popular dishes you will find around here. Almost all the restaurants serve this delicacy in Grand Bazaar, it is generally consumed with sira as a drink. It is made with thin grilled lamb and a hot tomato sauce that is spread over pita bread and topped with sheep butter and yoghurt. Most of the restaurants serve it with complimentary kofte.
 

_{The name comes from its inventor, Iskender Efendi and is one of the most popular dishes​}5. Kunefe

Served hot out of the oven, Kunefe' is a crispy, cheese-filled dessert made with 'kadayif'. A round metal pan is specially designed to serve this popular dessert and it is so widely appreciated by Turks and tourists that shops are always crowded with people ordering Kunefe along with kebaps.
 

_{Served hot out of the oven, Kunefe' is a crispy, cheese-filled dessert made with 'kadayif'}As much as Turkish cuisine is famous around the world, so is the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul for serving the best of the best. Ranging from spicy meat dishes to yoghurt drinks to cheesy desserts to mouthwatering kebaps, the Grand Bazaar is the real deal and if you haven't yet added it to your bucket list, what are you waiting for?