The warm hospitality and sublime cuisine of Turkish cuisine are one of the strong marks of Turkish culture. It is generally claimed that Turkish cuisine ranks among the three best cuisines in the world.
From Turkish kebap to Turkish-style pastries like baklava, from menemen -- which consists of tomatoes, peppers, onion, olive oil and eggs-- to special meatballs, dolma and to mantı, Turkish cuisine is gaining popularity among foreign visitors, and becomes a “must-eat” for all tourists and investors travelling to Turkey.
Lamb and vegetables are the essential ingredients of Turkish kitchen, while traditional dinners start usually with soup. The uniqueness of Turkish cooking comes from its use of various spices and herbs, fresh ingredients, abundant use of olive oil and various cooking techniques.
Dining is an integral part of social life in Turkey, while sophisticated restaurants and snack bars gain popularity among different social segments in various cities of the country, depending on the purchase power of the residents.
Foreign investors are more and more present in the restaurant sector in Turkey, benefitting from the ever-increasing population of the country, reaching almost to 80 millions.
These restaurants are not always located in the fashionable streets or districts, but they are also more and more gaining ground in the shopping malls of Istanbul, although the rental prices depend on the strategic location and prestige of the mall.
Another asset of Turkish cuisine is its historical and cultural heritage tied with the Ottoman past, bringing together different flavors from Central Asia, Middle East and Balkan countries.
Turkey’s southeastern province of Gaziantep has been recently added to the gastronomy category of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, somehow the “Nobel” of the cuisine for a city.
The growing reputation of Turkish gastronomy calls many foreign investors and foreign gourmets to consider opening restaurants in Turkey and sometimes initiate “exotic fusion” restaurants to merge Turkish cuisine with international taste to make it much more unforgettable.
In this regard, proceeding into joint ventures with Turkish partners in gastronomy sector would be a very smart move for the investors, first to know better the sector, attract clientele, implement a good marketing plan and then to make profit in the strategic and untapped areas in a good location.
It is advisable to reach to the right real estate experts before purchasing any building or location for opening a restaurant in Istanbul or another city because usually the location determines the clientele and the extent of the popularity of a restaurant.
Another possible investment areas for the foreign investors are opening new gastronomy courses both for nationals and foreigners to get necessary qualifications to cook in Turkish restaurants or to deepen their personal experience. The number of those courses is growing each day in line with the increasing demand.