foodistanbul: Kahvaltı (breakfast)

As coffee gained popularity during the Ottoman Empire, a custom emerged to soothe the stomach with soup or light snacks before drinking coffee. Simple treats like cheese or jam were also added at this time. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, breakfast began to establish itself as an important part of Ottoman culture. Turkish cuisine is gaining global attention thanks to its unique geographical characteristics and cultural heritage. One key aspect of this cuisine is breakfast, influenced by the Middle East, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Ottoman cooking. Turkish breakfast is a perfect example of a rich breakfast culture that includes a variety of foods. Enjoyed both at home and outside, it features a diverse menu, including cheese, olives, various egg preparations, jam, pastries, fried foods, pancakes, honey, and bread.

Breakfast menus at restaurants

Most breakfast menus are divided into two categories, with additional items available for order. These are primarily ‘Serpme Kahvaltı’ and ‘Kahvaltı Tabağı.’ ‘Serpme Kahvaltı’ includes a variety of foods, with unlimited tea served, while ‘Kahvaltı Tabağı’ requires separate ordering of egg dishes (like fried eggs or menemen). Although there may be variations among restaurants, the main differences lie in the types of food offered and whether unlimited black tea is provided.

In terms of typical breakfast offerings, you’ll find fried eggs, boiled eggs, cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, honey, jam, and butter as staples, along with various types of cheese. Some examples include:

• Tulum Peyniri: A fragrant, fatty cheese famous in the Erzincan region, made from the milk of white Karaman sheep grazing on diverse flora in the highlands.
• Beyaz Peynir: A fundamental cheese in Turkish breakfast culture, made by soaking sheep, cow, or goat milk in brine, known for its varied flavors.
• Ezine Peyniri: A soft, low-fat cheese made from a mix of milk from sheep, goats, and cows that have grazed on the natural vegetation of the Kaz Mountains.

Additionally, the breakfast menu often features strawberry jam, apricot jam, cherry jam, fried potatoes, various types of bread, and the famous kaymak!

Not done yet!

Sucuk: A type of fermented meat product mainly consumed in the Balkans, the Middle East, and Central Asia. It is made from ground meat seasoned with garlic and various spices, which is then stuffed into dried intestines.

Menemen: A breakfast dish made with sautéed tomatoes, peppers, eggs, and onions, perfect for pairing with bread.

Kuymak: A breakfast dish made by melting butter with cornmeal and special cheese, famous in the northern Turkish region of Trabzon.

It may sound more like a lunch or dinner dish, but a hearty breakfast is essential for an energetic Istanbul trip! 🏃

Now, let’s explore some breakfast spots!

European Side:

1. Van Kahvaltı Evi

Address: Teşvikiye mah.poyracık No:38 D:A, 34214 Şişli/İstanbul

2. Privato Caffe Ristaurante

Address: Şahkulu, Tımarcı Sk. No:3, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul

3. Hadika Kahvaltı Evi

Address: Meşrutiyet, Ebe Kızı Sokağı No: 16/40, 34363 Şişli/İstanbul

4. Süreya Kahvaltı

Address: Ergenekon Cad, Bilezikçi Sk. No:21-23, 34375 Şişli/İstanbul

5. Saade Kahvaltı

Address: Sultan Ahmet, Darussaade otel, Akbıyık Cd. No:90, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul

Asian (Anatolian) Side:

1. Cafe Cadde

Address: Erenköy, Caddebostan Mahallesi, Bağdat Cad. No:349, 34728 Kadıköy

2. Hatay Gurme

Address: Küçükbakkalköy Mah. Kayışdağı Cad Metal İş Mrk, No:37/A-B, 34750 Ataşehir/İstanbul

3. Çengelköy Tarihi Çınaraltı

Address: Çengelköy, Çengelköy Mah. Çengelköy Cad, Çınarlı Cami Sk. No:4, 34680 Üsküdar/İstanbul

4. Ethem Efendi Kahvaltı

Address: Göztepe Mh, Tütüncü Mehmet Efendi Cd. No:1/1, 34060 Kadıköy/İstanbul

5. BigChefs

Address: Anadolu Hisarı, Küçüksu Cd. No: 4, 34810 Beykoz/İstanbul