Dish records, filters and labels are in English. Venue records come from OpenStreetMap and keep their Turkish names.

What are you in the mood for in İzmir?

Tell us what you are craving and we will do the rest. The suggestions shift as you choose, and each one says why it appeared and what balances it at the table.

Pick a craving (You can choose more than one.)

Sweetsyrupy, milky, lightly sweet Sourlemony, egg-lemon, yogurt-based Hotisot pepper, chili flakes Saltycheese, cured meat Spicedcinnamon, cumin, garlic Lightolive oil, vegetables, cool Fillingmeat, dough, oven-baked Refreshingyogurt, mint, served cold

Dietary preference

all vegetarian vegan gluten-free clear selection

9 suggestions

Barbunya Pilaki
in season
A beloved example of the pilaki tradition, made with fresh or dried kidney beans cooked in olive oil with onions, garlic, carrots, and tomatoes. It is served cold and is a classic of local eateries.
Why this: Filling → medium · richness
Table balance
Alongside
A lemon wedge and fresh bread; a heavy meat plate alongside would hide the dish entirely.
Easy to miss
Olive-oil dishes are not eaten straight from the fridge; the aroma opens near room temperature.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Ekmek Kadayıfı
A dessert made from a special porous bread base soaked in syrup and served with clotted cream; it is associated with Afyon clotted cream.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Gaziantep Baklava
A sweet architecture made with nearly forty layers of thin pastry, pistachios, and clarified butter. Gaziantep Baklava was the first Turkish product to receive EU geographical indication registration (2013).
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Tulumba
A crispy, syrup-soaked dessert made by frying dough that is piped through a star-shaped nozzle and hardened with cold syrup.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Kemalpaşa Dessert
Kemalpaşa Dessert from Bursa-Mustafakemalpaşa is made from cheese dough that is dried and cooked in syrup; it is topped with clotted cream.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, salty, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Kumpir
Baked potato that is softened over coals, mashed with butter and cheese, and filled with a variety of rich toppings; a modern street classic associated with the Ortaköy waterfront.
Why this: Filling → filling · richness, salty
Table balance
Alongside
Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Künefe
A classic from Hatay and Southeastern Turkey, made by placing unsalted fresh cheese between strands of shredded pastry, fried on both sides and served with hot syrup. The stretching of the cheese is a testament to skill.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, salty, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Mıhlama
A classic breakfast dish from the Eastern Black Sea region, made with cornmeal, butter, and stringy fresh cheese cooked in a copper pan. The quality of the mountain butter is essential to the dish.
Why this: Filling → filling · richness, salty
Table balance
Alongside
Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Şöbiyet
A dessert from Gaziantep made of thin baklava dough folded into triangles with a filling of clotted cream and pistachios; it has a creamier filling than baklava.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir

Suggestions are about taste balance, not health or nutrition advice. Scores are derived from each record's own flavour description.

What are you in the mood for in İzmir?

Tell us what you are craving and we will do the rest. The suggestions shift as you choose, and each one says why it appeared and what balances it at the table.

9 suggestions

Barbunya Pilaki
in season
A beloved example of the pilaki tradition, made with fresh or dried kidney beans cooked in olive oil with onions, garlic, carrots, and tomatoes. It is served cold and is a classic of local eateries.
Why this: Filling → medium · richness
Table balance
Alongside
A lemon wedge and fresh bread; a heavy meat plate alongside would hide the dish entirely.
Easy to miss
Olive-oil dishes are not eaten straight from the fridge; the aroma opens near room temperature.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Ekmek Kadayıfı
A dessert made from a special porous bread base soaked in syrup and served with clotted cream; it is associated with Afyon clotted cream.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Gaziantep Baklava
A sweet architecture made with nearly forty layers of thin pastry, pistachios, and clarified butter. Gaziantep Baklava was the first Turkish product to receive EU geographical indication registration (2013).
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Tulumba
A crispy, syrup-soaked dessert made by frying dough that is piped through a star-shaped nozzle and hardened with cold syrup.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Kemalpaşa Dessert
Kemalpaşa Dessert from Bursa-Mustafakemalpaşa is made from cheese dough that is dried and cooked in syrup; it is topped with clotted cream.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, salty, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Kumpir
Baked potato that is softened over coals, mashed with butter and cheese, and filled with a variety of rich toppings; a modern street classic associated with the Ortaköy waterfront.
Why this: Filling → filling · richness, salty
Table balance
Alongside
Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Künefe
A classic from Hatay and Southeastern Turkey, made by placing unsalted fresh cheese between strands of shredded pastry, fried on both sides and served with hot syrup. The stretching of the cheese is a testament to skill.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, salty, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Mıhlama
A classic breakfast dish from the Eastern Black Sea region, made with cornmeal, butter, and stringy fresh cheese cooked in a copper pan. The quality of the mountain butter is essential to the dish.
Why this: Filling → filling · richness, salty
Table balance
Alongside
Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir
Şöbiyet
A dessert from Gaziantep made of thin baklava dough folded into triangles with a filling of clotted cream and pistachios; it has a creamier filling than baklava.
Why this: Filling → filling · sweet, richness
Table balance
Alongside
A spoon of plain clotted cream or unsalted walnut deepens it without adding weight. Pickles or an onion-and-lemon salad: acidity cuts the fat and lightens the plate.
To drink
Unsweetened Turkish coffee or plain brewed tea — it resets the palate after syrup. Ayran (salted yogurt drink) or turnip juice — the classic partner to a rich meat plate.
Afterwards
Plain brewed tea; if you still want dessert, keep the portion small and wait a little.
Easy to miss
Skip sweet drinks next to a syrupy dessert — they flatten it. Plain water carries it better. A heavy main plus a syrupy dessert doubles the weight of one meal; share one of them.
Open the record Where to eat — İzmir

Suggestions are about taste balance, not health or nutrition advice. Scores are derived from each record's own flavour description.