How expensive is eating out in Istanbul, and what are the better-value cheap food options like fish wraps, kebabs, and doner?

One recent traveler said it was surprisingly hard to find a satisfying meal in Istanbul and that the best thing they had was a pre-made sandwich from a gas station fridge. That suggests quality depends heavily on the specific place, not just the type of food.

Another traveler pushed back on the food criticism and said Istanbul is especially strong for meat dishes, naming döner, köfte, steaks, and grilled lamb chops as standouts. The practical takeaway is to switch venues if the first place disappoints, because quality varies a lot by cook and restaurant.

An earlier report said that even basic eateries outside the center can feel expensive, roughly comparable to a good restaurant in Russia. To save money, the traveler switched to balık dürüm in the last days of the trip as a simpler, better-value option.

The original question in the chat was specifically about how much food prices have gone up and what fish and kebab cost now. No exact numbers were shared, but the overall message was clear: don’t expect Istanbul food to be cheap, and focus instead on places with good value and filling dishes like balık dürüm, döner, and köfte.