One of Turkey’s biggest advantages for Muslim tourists is serving halal meat and food made according to Islamic rules. Almost all of the restaurants serve halal meat and avoid pork in their kitchens. Turkish Standards Institute is now offering a halal certificate for many restaurants, which prefer to get certified. A halal expo fair is organized annually to bring international halal food producers together and to create a joint platform for companies who want to discover and invest in Istanbul. Halal food is certainly very important for Turkish society, therefore there are many restaurants where can have your lunch and dinner without single hesitation. There are also some special gourmet restaurants that offer their specific delicious food in a non-alcoholic environment. Don’t leave Istanbul before visiting one of these restaurants.

Buhara 93 Restaurant, Sultanahmet

Buhara 93 is one of the best restaurants for kebab and pide (Turkish flat bread topped with various ingredients). You will have the chance to taste various kinds of Turkish kebabs, grilled meatballs, chickens and pizzas. Rest your stomach with a delicious herbal tea at the end of your lunch. It is located in Sultanahmet, the most famous touristic zone of Istanbul. Don’t miss taking a tour of this fascinating zone where there are many mosques, museums, authentic walk trails and historical Istanbul properties.

Lazistanbul, Kadıköy

Lazistanbul brings special regional Black Sea fish food recipes to Istanbul. Besides its rich pide menu, it offers unique flavor of famous Black Sea anchovy, hamsi. You can either have your hamsi poached with green peppers and tomatoes or with rice. It is located in Kadıköy, the largest district of Istanbul. Kadıköy is home to many stores, cafes, a long walking trail and the beautiful residential neighbour of Moda, which is famous for its cats and luxury investment. 

Can Oba, Sirkeci

This hidden gem is famous for its special recipes prepared by fresh seasonal vegetables and fish. The chef and owner Can Oba has great taste to serve the best food with reasonable prices and a smiling face. Having significant gastronomy experience in many locations of the world, he has special recipes from international cuisines and prepares them freshly after taking your order. It is located in Sirkeci, one of the busiest zones for the tourists with its boutique hotels, cafes, passages. It also took its share of ongoing property investment in Istanbul. It is really worth visiting this zone and trying the delicious gourmet flavors of Can Oba.

Adem Baba, Arnavutköy

Adem Baba is one of the oldest fish restaurants in Istanbul. It is most famous for serving fresh fish and generally preferred for lunch. There is a variety of fish in the menu and you should definitely taste the corn bread and salads beside your fish. It is one of the best places to eat fish with reasonable prices. The restaurant is located in Arnavutköy, one of the most beautiful sections of the Bosphorus. Arnavutköy is close to Beşiktaş and is well known for its gorgeous Bosphorus view, fishermen, old wooden houses and luxury properties and mansions. 

Ramazan Bingöl Steak Restaurant, Bayrampaşa

Ramazan Bingöl Restaurants are specialized in Turkish cuisine, with a focus on meat and kebabs. Offering their customers a comfortable seating area, it is very popular among tourists and locals, who prefer to eat in a non-alcohol environment. Their menu is very rich and the presentation is so unique that you will want to taste everything on the menu. Try their steak tartar a la turca, çiğ köfte (raw meatballs) as the recipe is brought from Şanlıurfa, one of the cities in eastern Turkey famous for the çiğ köfte. There are three branches of the restaurant in Bayrampaşa, Ümraniye and Esenler. It is no surprise that these areas were picked, as they are major zones for business and real estate investment in Istanbul. Take a day trip to those areas and explore in detail after having tasted the best Turkish meat and delicious desserts.