How to Experience Istanbul’s Asian Side Like a Local

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Because they visit the more popular areas, most first-time visitors skip the Asian side of Istanbul. That’s a shame, since it’s one of the best places to enjoy authentic Turkish food and drink. While the European side has the big tourist attractions, the Asian side offers a calmer pace, welcoming neighborhoods, and markets like Kadikoy that overflow with flavors you won’t forget.

Asian Side

Unlike the European side, the Asian side of Istanbul feels less touristy and more grounded in daily life. Streets here are filled with family-run bakeries, corner grocers, and small cafes where regulars greet each other by name. Markets brim with fresh produce, spices, and seafood, and the pace is slower. It’s a place to linger, watch life unfold, and feel like you’re part of the neighborhood.

Kadikoy Market

Kadikoy is where the Asian side of Istanbul feels the most alive. It’s the cultural hub here and one of the city’s fastest-changing neighborhoods. You’ll find plenty of small cafes, busy bars, good restaurants, and lively markets. On Tuesdays and Fridays, Kadikoy Market is packed with stalls selling clothes, fresh produce, spices, and street food.

We tried mussels two ways. Latif took us to Mercan, a small stall serving steamed mussels stuffed with rice, spices, and a squeeze of lemon. They tasted fresh and salty, with just a little sand—which I didn’t mind. We also had breaded mussels fried on a stick, crispy and golden. I could eat those all day.

People here are friendly and love talking with visitors, especially over food. Along the waterfront, you’ll find restaurants serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes with a view of fishermen working on the Bosporus.

Rasimpaşa, Yavuztürk Sk. No:32, 34734 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye

Çiya Sofrasi

If you search for places to eat on Istanbul’s Asian side, this spot always pops up near the top. It serves the kind of food your Turkish grandma might make—simple, hearty, and full of flavor. It’s tucked inside Kadikoy Market and is a favorite of our tour guide, Latif, who seems to know everyone there. He’s been leading food tours for four years and still brings his own family here. That says a lot.

The owner, Chef Musa Dagdeviren, has cooked around the world, but his real passion is collecting recipes from every corner of Turkey. The seasonal menu features regional dishes you won’t easily find anywhere else. Ciya isn’t fancy, but it’s the kind of place you’ll remember long after you’ve left. Best of all, you can enjoy a full meal for $12–15. That’s hard to beat.

Closing Thoughts

It certainly makes sense; they want to see the popular tourist attractions like Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Galata Tower, and İstiklâl Caddesi. Similarly, the Asian side has its share of attractions, like the Kadikoy Market, where my favorites require a knife and fork. And one final thing. I can’t stress enough that the Turks eat more than kabobs.

Güneşlibahçe Sokak 43, Kadikoy, +90 216 330 3190, ciya.com.tr, mains TL14 (£5). Open noon-10pm.

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