How to avoid tourist trap restaurants and find authentic good food in Istanbul?

From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 18 days ago

TL;DR

Skip the first cafe you see near major sights in Istanbul — it's often overpriced and low quality; look for spots recommended by locals/expats instead of relying on hotel all-inclusive food.

What the community said

For beer, leave the overtly touristy streets and try a side street parallel to Narmanlı Han, which has a less tourist-oriented atmosphere.

32 days ago side street parallel to Narmanlı Han

Travelers who only stay at Turkish all-inclusive resorts often never try authentic, high-quality local dishes and desserts (like a proper San Sebastian-style cheesecake) — they simply have nothing to compare it to.

San Sebastian cheesecake

General rule that applies in Istanbul too: don't walk into the first cafe or restaurant you see near tourist attractions — you'll likely overpay for mediocre food. Better to search local traveler/expat community recommendations first.

Eating at places mainly frequented by locals rather than tourists is completely fine and welcomed — restaurants need the business, and there's enough food to go around for everyone.