Travel video guide
Where to Eat in Mersin: Tarmer Çorbası From Ayaküstü Lezzetler | Varedelo
This guide turns Ege ve Akdeniz Lezzetleri | Ayaküstü Lezzetler from Ayaküstü Lezzetler into a practical restaurant map with 6 saved spots around Tarsus, Akdeniz, and Denizli Merkezefendi. The mapped places include a restaurant stop and a food store. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Ayaküstü Lezzetler was exceptionally impressed by the Tarmer soup, ranking it as one of the top ten soups in Turkey due to its unique blend of chicken, lentils, and tahin. They noted that the creamy, fluid consistency of the local humus and the rich layers of the humus paça offered a superior flavor profile compared to versions found in Istanbul. The creators emphasized that the use of high-quality local ingredients like Tarsus tahin and specific 8.5mm chickpeas makes Murat Usta's 50-year expertise truly stand out.
What this map is good for
- Planning a restaurant stop or short itinerary in Tarsus.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 6 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Volkan Şişçi Kadirin Yeri
Restaurant in Yeni Toptancı Hal, Güneş, Altınova Cd. No:840, 07260 Kepez/Antalya, Türkiye, Güneş, Kepez, Antalya, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Hüsamettin Usta Kocabaylar Kebap Salonu
Restaurant in Bayramyeri Kaleici, 486. Sk., 20010 Denizli Merkezefendi/Denizli, Türkiye, Bayramyeri Kaleici, Denizli Merkezefendi, Denizli, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - KAPTAN BALIK EKMEK VE BALIKÇILIK
Food Store in Yeni Ömerli, Atatürk Cd 60/D, 33420 Tarsus/Mersin, Türkiye, Yeni Ömerli, Tarsus, Mersin, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available - Tarsuslu Murat Usta
Restaurant in Kiremithane mah Eraslan apt, Kiremithane, 4406. Sk. 16/B, 33010 Akdeniz/Mersin, Türkiye, Kiremithane, Akdeniz, Mersin, Türkiye
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available - OD Urla
Restaurant in Süt Pınarı Mevkii, Rüstem, 2018/9 Sokak No:28, 35430 Urla/İzmir, Türkiye, Rüstem, Urla, İzmir, Türkiye
Price level: Expensive
Hours: Hours available - Kardeşler Lokantası
Restaurant in Caminur, 0801. Sk. No:27, 33440 Tarsus/Mersin, Türkiye, Caminur, Tarsus, Mersin, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- Tarmer çorbası
- Humus
- Humus paça (Fethi)
- Sade tavuk çorbası
- Mercimek çorbası
- Küçük soğan
Experiences captured
- Visited Murat Usta in Tarsus
- Observed traditional humus preparation techniques
- Learned the origin of the name Tarmer
- Tasted 40-year-old trademarked soup recipes
- Discussed local tahin quality and brands
- Explored Levantine culinary influences in Mersin
Planning notes for Tarsus
Şehitkerim is a centrally located neighborhood in Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey, serving as a focal point for the city's ancient and Ottoman-era history. The area sits atop layers of civilization dating back to the Neolithic period, with documented governance by the Hittites, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines.
Must-try foods nearby
- Tarsus Kebabı
While often compared to the Adana kebab, the Tarsus variety is distinct for its inclusion of finely chopped onions, parsley. - Humus (Tarsus Style)
In Tarsus, Humus is served as a hot main dish rather than a cold appetizer. The chickpeas are mashed to a velvet consistency and topped with a generous pool of sizzling hot butter. - Fındık Lahmacun (Kuşgözü)
Known locally as 'Kuşgözü' (Bird's Eye), these are bite-sized, circular versions of the classic Turkish pizza. - Tantuni
A quintessential Mersin-region street food, Tantuni consists of julienned beef or lamb first boiled in salted water. - Cezerye
The most iconic sweet of Tarsus, Cezerye is a dense, chewy confection made from caramelized carrots, sugar, and various nuts like pistachios or walnuts.
When to go: The best time to visit Şehitkerim is during the spring (April to June) or autumn (September to November) when temperatures are mild and pleasant for walking through the historic district. Summers are intensely hot and humid.
Local tips
- Dress modestly by covering your shoulders and knees to show respect for the conservative character of the historical Şehitkerim neighborhood.
- Accept offers of tea or coffee from local shopkeepers in the Kırkkaşık Bedesten as it is a standard gesture of hospitality and social connection.
- Always remove your shoes before entering a local home or the carpeted areas of historic mosques in the district.
- When dining at local restaurants, wait for the eldest person at the table to begin eating before you start your meal.
What travelers are noticing
- The 4th Annual Tarsus Narcissus Festival (Nergis Şenliği) in the Pirömerli village hills, featuring mountain trails and traditional 'Sıkma' street food.
- Taarsa Heritage Restaurant, a new zero-waste fine dining spot focusing on 'Sarı Ulak' olives and Girit-inspired family recipes.
- Renewed tourism interest in the Tarsus Old Town and Cleopatra’s Gate following the full operation of the new Çukurova International Airport.
Planning questions
What is this video map?
It is a crawlable guide to the mapped places from Ege ve Akdeniz Lezzetleri | Ayaküstü Lezzetler, with the creator video, a static map preview, and selected spots from the trip.
Can I save these spots?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save the places, keep planning notes, and revisit the guide from your phone.
Does this replace watching the video?
No. The video remains the source, and the map makes the places easier to scan, compare, and save while planning.
Use it on your trip
Save this restaurant map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.