Where To Eat: Best Vegan & Vegan Friendly Spots & Street Foods in Istanbul, Turkey
Looking for where to eat in Istanbul? What I find fascinating about Turkish food is that it is considered part of Mediterranean cuisine. It incorporates influences from the Mediterranean, Balkan, Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and Eastern European regions, with shared ingredients like olive oil, garlic, and fresh vegetables.
There’s plenty of vegan options when it comes to the cuisine itself, but Istanbul especially has a great food scene with many vegan and vegan friendly cafes, restaurants, and even vegan friendly street foods!
Here are some places as well as foods I recommend to try! I also share the best Turkish vegan cooking class some vegan friendly neighborhoods to stay in so you can have the best vegan experience in Istanbul!
All Vegan Restaurants in Istanbul
Vegan Masa - For the best vegan versions of traditional Turkish foods! 2 Locations!
Here I got the pide with sucuk (Turkish sausage but vegan) and lahmacun. Photo by Vegan Ventures
A favorite from my most recent trip to Istanbul! Masa Vegan has two locations in the city, one in Kadıköy on the Asian side and one in Beşiktaş on the European side. I went to location on the Asian side and it did not disappoint!
Here you can enjoy Turkish classics such as lahmacun, often referred to as “Turkish Pizza”. It is a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a mixture of minced meat, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spices and is cooked in a wood-fired oven. The vegan version at Masa Vegan does the dish justice (I lived in Istanbul 2015-2016 before going vegan). They also have pide, a boat-shaped flatbread with a soft, chewy dough and a variety of savory toppings, and the classic dessert, künefe, a rich hot dessert made from shredded phyllo dough (kadayıf), layered with a soft, unsalted melting cheese, and soaked in a sweet, lemon-infused sugar syrup, and so much more! A must if you want to try the local cuisine.
Here is a vegan kunefeh with a side of Turkish tea. Turkish tea is always a must after a meal in Turkey and tends to be paired with something sweet. Photo by Vegan Ventures
The best vegan kebab! Their mantı and Turkish borek are also delicious! Photo by Vegan Ventures
Another must to enjoy Turkish cuisine! Vegan Dükkan Lokanta is a plant-based restaurant that focuses on health foods with Western dishes as well as traditional Turkish dishes, such as mantı (also known as Turkish Ravioli) and Kebab. They by far had the best vegan kebab. They also do a vegan version of ayran, which is a savory Turkish yogurt drink. They’re vegan version is made with cashews. It is a super small restaurant so go early if you want to be seated quickly. Be sure to also check out their sister business: Vegan Dükkan market, a vegan store that is right next door!
Wegain - An awesome vegan cafe in the heart of Beyoğlu
Delicious döner and Turkish coffee at Wegain.
Wegain is a cozy spot is a family-owned vegan restaurant in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district. They have döner, falafel, and desserts that pair well with tea and coffee.
Vegan Friendly Restaurants in Istanbul
Vacilando - A sustainable cafe in Istanbul!
Galettes are made fresh daily and is perfectly seasoned. It makes for a delicious and satiating meal! Photo by Vegan Ventures
Vacilando is truly a special place. Near the Galata tower is a woman-owned vegetarian cafe that has been around since 2015. Owner, Özge Kırış, focuses on using quality and local ingredients, primarily sourcing her ingredients from other women producer cooperatives. The menu includes savory galettes and quiches all made fresh daily and desserts offering even gluten-free and refined-sugar free options. The menu also has many vegan options so there really is something for everyone. Here you’ll enjoy quality teas and coffee including a traditional Turkish coffee. This place was one of my favorite spots during my most recent visit to Istanbul that we went twice two days in a row!
Karaköy Güllüoğlu - The most famous baklava in Istanbul!
The vegan baklava with pistachio is absolutely delicious! Photo by Vegan Ventures
For the best baklava in Istanbul and possibly ever, you have to go to Karaköy Güllüoğlu located in the Karaköy neighborhood. They have a vegan baklava with pistachio that is incredible!
As you walk in and approach the counter, you have to ask for ‘baklava vegan’ (pronounced ‘veh-gahn’ in Turkish) as its not in the display case. The vegan baklava is prepared in a separate production area and is stored separately from the other desserts to avoid cross-contamination. Just say how many you’d like (4 is the minimum but you can order dozens of them if you’d like).
Enjoy this with a Turkish tea and it is truly the best treat! I found it not to be too sweet and the flakiness of the pastry was perfect. This place is worth the hype in my opinion! Since they don’t close until 1 am, I even came here for a second time at 11:30pm to enjoy their baklava one last time before my early morning flight. Worth it!
Watch my video of Karaköy Güllüoğlu on Youtube.
Çiya Sofrasi - Home style Turkish Food
Dishes at Çiya Sofrası are meant for sharing. Photo by Vegan Ventures
For a unique, Turkish experience, Çiya Sofrası on the Asian side in the Kadıköy neighborhood is a must! How it works is you order by walking up to a counter with a variety of daily changing, seasonal dishes and pointing to what you want. It operates like a self-service "lokanta" or workers' restaurant, where the menu is determined by what's fresh and in season, so there is no traditional printed menu.
You get your food on a plate and are then charged by weight for the main dishes and salad bar items, which often include unique regional recipes from across Turkey. There’s many vegan options, just ask! The Turkish word for vegan is ‘vegan’ but is pronounced: “veh-gahn”.
Try A Vegan Cooking Class for a Home Cooked Meal in Istanbul!
One of the best meals we had in Istanbul was the home cooked meal we helped prepare. Photo by Vegan Ventures
For a true, local experience, a cooking class and especially in a local’s home is the best way. While on my most recent trip to Istanbul, we did a cooking class that was a real highlight of our trip! We arrived at a woman’s home and she had prepared some bread as an appetizer to enjoy with tea to start. Afterwards, we made 3 dishes together. The entire process felt like we were in our aunt’s home preparing dinner together.
What we made was delicious, the conversation was great, and there was a lot of food! She even gave us to go containers to take back to our Airbnb so no food would go to waste. If you’re interested in a vegan cooking class, this is the one we did and I highly recommend it!
Vegan Friendly Turkish Street Foods To Try
Throughout the city, there’s many street food stands that make it easy for a quick bite on the go. Here are some I highly recommend that are naturally vegan or vegan friendly.
Roasted Chestnuts - Popular in the fall/winter months!
Roasting chestnuts is a centuries-old street food tradition, with vendors selling "kestane" on street corners, especially in winter, as a warm, sweet, and nutty snack. You’ll see these vendors everywhere in Istanbul. Just walk up, point to how many grams you’d like (there’s a sign so you can point) and watch them roast chestnuts right in front of you. They typically only take cash and depending how many grams you ask for, it can range from 200-600 Turkish Lira.
Mısır - Street Corn
You’ll find these street carts selling corn throughout the city and they tend to be alongside those selling roasted chestnuts. The corn steamed or boiled, then grilled for a charred flavor. You can get it served with salt and omit the butter to make it vegan.
Simit - Turkish Bagel
You can simit at stands throughout the city! Photo by Vegan Ventures
My favorite Turkish street food! It is a ring-shaped Turkish bread, often called a "Turkish bagel,". It is soft on the inside and has a crispy, sesame-seed-crusted exterior. Not only is it a traditional street food but it’s also a breakfast staple throughout Turkey. Made from a simple dough of flour, water, and yeast. It is then dipped in a molasses or pekmez mixture before being rolled in sesame seeds and baked. Simit is enjoyed on its own, with tea, or as part of a breakfast spread with items like olives, and tomatoes. If you get one from a street vendor, they tend to be 15-20 Turkish Lira.
Kumpir - Loaded potato!
There’s many vegan friendly toppings to choose from! Topped mine off with a spicy Turkish style salsa. Photo by Vegan Ventures
A famous street food that originated in the Ortaköy neighborhood of Istanbul. It is a baked potato that is smothered in toppings. While now you can find this throughout the city, you have to go to Ortaköy for the true kumpir experience. Near the Ortaköy mosque is where you’ll find a lineup of kumpir stands. They’ll all be trying to get your attention but don’t fret. Just walk up to a stand and begin your order.
They’ll first season it with some salt and to make it vegan, be sure to say no butter and no mayo. The toppings are in the display case which makes it easy to see and to pick and choose. You’ll see olives, corn, spiced couscous, pickled vegetables, and so much more. The result is a loaded potato that is best shared between two unless you’re really hungry!
Watch my kumpir experience on Youtube
Tipping in Turkey
Tipping is expected but it is modest compared to the U.S. Tipping 5-10% is appropriate for most establishments but if you’re going to a more a high-end restaurant, 15% is more expected.
Plan your Trip
Vegan friendly neighborhoods to stay in on the European side:
Beyoğlu on the European side is a neighborhood where the most vegan and vegan friendly restaurants are concentrated.
Where to stay:
The Maestro Hotel: Has a dedicated vegan room option that has certified vegan products. Be sure to select the ‘vegan room’ when booking.
Vegan friendly neighborhoods to stay in on the Asian side:
On the Asian side, the Moda district (one of my favorite districts in Istanbul) located in Kadıköy is another area where you’ll find vegan and vegan friendly restaurants and cafes nearby.
Where to stay:
Riva’s Moda: A beautiful boutique hotel that has great vegan options when it comes to their food upon request! Plus, many walkable vegan friendly spots in the area!
You can also check out accommodations on Vrbo for more local stays.
Hi, I’m Ashley, owner of Vegan Ventures. I’ve been vegan for 8+ years and have traveled all over for over a decade. I’m a foodie and traveler who loves finding the best eats and experiences.
