Yahya Ozgur Tavlan
In the hustle and bustle of daily life in Istanbul, students, office workers and many other inhabitants find themselves in search of inexpensive but healthy food as they run from one place to the other doing their daily chores. Eating outside is almost always either hurts your wallet or it is not good for your health. Fast food joints that are abundantly lining Istanbul streets are not recommendable judging from the profusion of warnings coming at us from healthy living literature.
But if you know your way in this city, you can safely subdue your hunger for even as little as 5 TL.
We tried several tuck shops to give you an idea and serve as a guide for those who feel peckish as they go about their daily tasks on the Istanbul streets.
Umut Büfe (Kucuk Bayram Sokak. No.8 Beyoglu)
Mustafa Teker, the owner, says they have recently opened and their clientele consists of people working in the neighborhood. “Our objective is to attract as many customers as possible. We are buying the foodstuff at discount prices and we cook ourselves, so we don’t have personnel expenses. This makes us offer lower prices than other restaurants in the area,” says Teker.
At Umut Bufe a morning breakfast consisting of, white cheese, kasseri, butter, honey, olives, egg and Turkish pastry costs 3 to 4 TL. While you can have lunch or dinner for 4 to 5 T.L.
Damak Tadi Meat Restaurant (Beyoglu)
Zeki Kadri Zenginal who operates Damak Tadi restaurant says he belongs to a group of relatives running five restaurants in Beyoglu. “We all buy our stuff collectively. This gives us cost advantages,” he says.
“I am working 16 hours a day. They are asking me why your prices are so low. We buy a kilo of rice for 2 liras. From a kilo of rice an average of 10 to 12 portions of pilav are made. We sell aportion of pilav for 2 liras,” Zenginal explains.
At Damak Tadi you can have a portion of braised lamb meat for 3.5 TL, Izmir meat balls for 2 TL, beans for 1.5 TL and vegetable dishes for an average of 1.5 TL.
7/24 Restaurant (Mustafa Celebi Neighborhood, Tel Sokak No:12, Beyoglu)
Hasan Beslioglu, the owner says he has been in the business for 15 years. “For the last two and a half years we are operating in Beyoglu. Since our shop is not on the main Istiklal street, we pay a lower rent. Me and my assistant are cooking in the kitchen and I buy my stuff from the wholesale market. We have a clientele of professionals and students. I am looking forward to open a larger shop, this one is small,” Beslioglu says.
Prices here range from 1.5 TL fo beans, 1 TL for soups and 2 to 4 TL for meat dishes.
Birtat Meat Restaurant (Sadri Alisik Sokak No: 16, Beyoglu)
The owner, Hasan Zenginal is a relative of Zeki Kadri Zenginal who runs the Damak Tadi restaurant in the same area. “Our difference with the more expensive restaurants is our price policy. We sell the same dish for 3.5 TL that they sell for 7.5 TL. The quality is the same,” he says.
At Birtat Restaurant meat dishes go for an average price of 3.5 TL and others range between 1 to 1.5 TL.
Nemrut Meat Restaurant (Beyoglu)
“I am in the business since 1982. I started as an employee at restaurants then I opened my own business. The reason we can offer lower prices is that we buy our stuff from the wholesale market and I cook personally with my assistant.Our customers usually come from middle income earners,” says Arif Encil, the owner.
You can have dish of spaghetti for 1 TL while meat dishes range between 2 to 3.5 TL. A dish of beans goes for 1.5 TL.
“The reason I prefer this shop is its reasonable prices and a rich variety of choice it offers. It is clean and healthy. Also you get a friendly treatment here. I have been eating here for the last two years. I generally choose vegetable dishes and it costs me something like 2 liras.”
Mustafa Adakli (Shoe Maker)
“First of all this restaurant is my neighbor. Secondly, the prices are cheap and thirdly we see that it is very clean and hygienic. We can walk into the kitchen and see. I am eating here for the last nine years. I rarely saw somebody paying 10 TL. We generally have a meal for 3 to 5 liras. Sometimes the boss also sits with us to eat. That is very important.”
Sait Besli (Camera Assistant)
“Here all the dishes are cooked daily. Another reason for me to choose this shop is that it is very near my home. I can have a dish of beans and pilav for 2 TL.”
Yasar Bayram (Government Employee)
“I think what attracts me here is the friendliness of the people running the restaurant. Of course, the reasonable prices also count. Compared to other restaurants in Istanbul this is almost like a free meal. For 5 TL I can have a dish, salad, sweets and refreshments.”
Vedat Demir (Bar Tender)
“I have been eating here for three, four years. I pay an average of 3 to 4 liras. For that money I can have two or three dishes.”
Ozan Turan (Student)
“We come and eat here as groups of friends. It’s like eating at home. For one and a half years I am a customer here. I can have three dishes any pay only 5 to 6 liras. People are prejudiced against these restaurants. They claim that there are not enough variety, the dishes are cold.etc. But this not true.I also had such prejudices before I tried. I think people should try these restaurants.”
Doruk Akcicek (Student)
“I am eating here for almost a year. I pay 5 to 6 liras for beans, pilav with chicken, dessert and cold drinks. That kind of meal costs 10 to 15 TL at other restaurants.”
Funda Ozokcu (Teacher)
“I am eating at these restaurants for about four years. A meal costs me 3 to 4 TL. For that money I can have three dishes and sweet dessert. Some of the dishes are not excellent quality. Some of them are greasy. But the prices are very reasonable.”
