Where to find affordable, good food near Sultanahmet (Old City) in Istanbul?

From messages by 6 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 97 days ago

TL;DR

Food right around Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque tends to be overpriced; head toward the Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar area in Eminönü for cheaper options, though it's crowded. Also watch out for meat quality — some places serve meat with a sour taste.

What the community said

One traveler complained it's hard to find good meat in Sultanahmet restaurants — almost everywhere it tastes sour, so it's worth choosing a place carefully or asking locals for recommendations.

General consensus is that eating around Sultanahmet is almost always expensive — jokingly, the only free activity there is feeding the pigeons in the square.

Food near the Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar in Eminönü is cheaper than in Sultanahmet, though the area is crowded and touristy.

Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar, Eminönü