Where can I eat affordable, filling local Turkish food in Istanbul, and what should I order?

For a straightforward meal, try the municipal IBB Cihangir Sosyal Tesisi in Cihangir. For dessert, Karaköy Güllüoğlu is recommended.

For a more distinctive local option, try işkembe, a soup with a characteristic broth. In winter, also consider salep, a hot drink sold from samovars.

Try lahmacun: it is best finished with lemon juice and rolled up. It is commonly served with salads and ayran, and one portion may be filling enough for one person.

If food is a priority on your trip, plan for proper Turkish meals and desserts rather than relying only on light snacks.

For a very low-cost lunch, look for a cafeteria-style lokanta: soup plus rice with chickpeas in sauce was described as a typical local meal for about TRY 50.

For dishes that are less common abroad, start at a simple lokanta: order lentil soup, rice with chickpeas and sauce, then add a Turkish dessert separately.

Ortaklar is recommended for tasty Turkish food and künefe. Portions are notably large, so sharing a dish can be practical; a Russian-speaking waiter named Muhammad was also mentioned.