Eskisehir Eskisehir, Turkey Travel Guide
Usual ingredients include lamb, beef, chicken, fresh vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers), legumes (lentils, chickpeas), yogurt, olive oil, and butter.
Spices like paprika, cumin, mint, and thyme provide a warm, savory base. Flavors are often robust and well-balanced, sometimes with a pleasant heat. Sweet pastries and desserts also hold a prominent place.
Turks are famous for their hospitality. Expect tea or coffee in family-run establishments. Accepting these offers is polite.
Meze (appetizers) are frequently shared. Main courses are individual. A knife and fork are standard for most meals.
Fresh bread accompanies almost every meal, used for scooping sauces. Raise a glass with 'Şerefe' (Cheers!). Remove shoes in traditional homes, but not restaurants.
A thin, half-moon-shaped pastry, deep-fried to a golden crisp. Typically filled with spiced ground meat (kıyma) or cheese.
A specialty of Eskişehir, brought by Crimean Tatars. Find at local 'Çibörekçi' eateries.
A delightful, fibrous Turkish dessert, similar to pişmaniye but denser. Made from flour, sugar, butter, and lemon juice, pulled into fine strands.
Find at specialty sweet shops and local markets throughout the city.
Grilled meatballs (köfte) served on pita bread, topped with tomato-based sauce and creamy yogurt. Roasted peppers often accompany it.
Find at restaurants specializing in Turkish kebabs and meat dishes.
Çay (Tea): Black tea in tulip-shaped glasses, the national drink. Türk Kahvesi (Turkish Coffee): Strong, unfiltered. Ayran: Savory yogurt drink. Boza: Fermented millet drink (winter). Şalgam Suyu: Savory turnip/carrot drink.
Lokum (Turkish Delight): Gel-like confectionery. Baklava: Layers of phyllo pastry with nuts and syrup. Künefe: Hot, cheesy dessert with shredded phyllo and syrup, served with pistachios.
Eskişehir features upscale restaurants, often within luxury hotels or in the modern city center. These offer refined Turkish or international cuisine for an elegant experience.
Abundant throughout the city, mid-range restaurants offer a wide variety of Turkish dishes, kebabs, meze, and a few international options.
Esnaf Lokantası (Tradesmen's Restaurants) serve traditional home-style Turkish food at affordable prices, with rotating daily menus.
You find Italian, Chinese, and various fast-food chains (McDonald's, Burger King) in Eskişehir, especially in shopping malls and modern areas. They offer alternatives to Turkish fare.
Many options in Espark AVM.
Local bazaars (e.g., Odunpazarı Halk Pazarı on Saturdays) offer fresh produce, local cheeses, olives, and sometimes prepared foods.
A truly immersive culinary experience.
Many restaurants welcome children.
Common in cafes and modern restaurants.
Most accept cards; smaller places may prefer cash.
Outdoor seating often allows smoking.
Turkish cuisine offers many naturally vegetarian dishes, including meze, vegetable stews, fresh salads, and lentil soup. Vegan options are possible, with "Zeytinyağlı" foods commonly being vegan.
Communicate needs clearly to staff.
Gluten-free can be challenging; communicate clearly. Using translation apps or carrying an allergy card written in Turkish is advisable.
Roasted meats, salads, rice (pilav), and some vegetable dishes can be gluten-free.
These provide scenic dining experiences, especially enjoyable during the evenings with the city lights reflecting on the water.
Turkish cuisine provides many naturally vegetarian dishes, including a wide array of meze (appetizers), vegetable stews (sebze yemekleri), fresh salads, and lentil soup (mercimek çorbası).
Vegan options are also possible, though sometimes require careful ordering (e.g., ensuring no butter or yogurt is used). "Zeytinyağlı" dishes, cooked in olive oil, are often vegan.
Many restaurants are accommodating and can adjust dishes to suit dietary needs on demand.
As a predominantly Muslim country, nearly all meat served in Turkey is halal.
Widely available without special requests.
Kosher food is generally not widely available outside of certain Jewish communities in Istanbul.
Travelers with strict kosher requirements should plan to bring their own food or rely on fresh produce.
Utilize Google Translate or similar apps to effectively communicate allergies and dietary restrictions.
Ask hotel staff for recommendations on restaurants that cater to specific dietary requirements.
Research eateries in advance using reviews on the internet and menus to find suitable options.
Eskişehir offers a food scene. Try local delicacies like Çibörek and Met Helvası.
