Our Izmir and Ephesus Restaurant Guide below will give you some handy information about eating out in Izmir and Ephesus, as well as the types of cuisine you are likely to encounter. For some general information about food and cuisine in Turkey see our Turkey Restaurant Guide. Enjoy a pleasant meal between shopping sprees, some tips and suggestions can be found in our Izmir and Ephesus Shopping Guide.
Food & Cuisine in Ephesus and Izmir
Izmir's history has been influenced by many cultures, so also its cuisine, which has the essence of the Anatolian, Aegean, and the Mediterranean cultures. Further, the region has large tracts of land where a wide array of vegetables are grown, offering a great deal of variety in the dishes. Most popular are the small family owned Izmir and Ephesus restaurants serving simple but delicious dishes at reasonable rates. Restaurants are usually casual and informal. So much so that if customers do not understand the name of a dish, they enter the kitchen and select their preferred dish from the display there...eating out in Izmir and Ephesus is an enjoyable experience.
A few popular dishes in Izmir are:
Çipura: The legendary fish of Izmir! Local to both the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, the Çipura is silver with a dark blue back. This tasty fish is available easily. Grilled Çipura with a salad of local herbs and olive oil is the best way to enjoy the fish.
Izmir köfte: Loved all over Turkey, köfte is Izmir's most famous dish. The best place for the finest köfte is at the home of a local family, or in an old style restaurant found in the back streets of Izmir. Köfte is made by mixing onion juice, fresh breadcrumbs, pepper, and salt with finely minced meat. The mix is then turned into balls or fingers, fried, and then placed in a shallow pan containing a bed of fried potatoes, green peppers, and tomatoes. It tastes best when served hot.
Lokma: The celebrated sweet pastry of Izmir! Yeast dough is rolled into tiny balls, fried in hot oil, and soaked in sugar syrup. Customers crowd around the best lokma outlets.
Tarhana Soup: This soup is made with tomatoes and dried yoghurt.
Keşkek: This is boiled wheat accompanied by meat.
Zerde: This is a dish that mixes saffron with sweetened rice.
Mücver: Eggs and zucchini are the ingredients of this pancake.
Kumru: Special bread baked with sesame seeds is used to make this warm sandwich. The sandwich fillings are grilled cheese, Turkish sausage, and tomatoes.
Tulum Peyniri: This is a variety of cheese local to the region.
Where to Eat in Izmir and Ephesus
Kordon Boyu is the place with the greatest choice of Izmir restaurants, pubs, and beer houses. Bars and restaurants line this sea facing promenade. The fine restaurants serve a variety of green vegetables with their meals, especially greens such as cress and salad rocket.
Deniz is reputed to be the best seafood restaurant in Izmir while the Sini Sofrasi serves the best traditional Turkish cuisine. The belly dancing at Sini Sofrasi is another reason for its popularity.
Nightlife
Izmir offers many avenues for entertainment in the evenings. Krsiyaka, Kordon Boyu, and Passport Pier are the most popular nightspots in Izmir with the lively bars and nightclubs staying open till the wee hours. The culturally inclined love the performances by the Aegean Philharmonic Orchestra. June and July get especially lively because of the annual International Arts Festival, and August ends with the International Fair, which has a carnival like atmosphere.
