Travel video guide
Where to Eat in İstanbul: Kelle Paça (head Soup)
This guide turns EXTREME STREET FOOD IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY - CRAZY LAMB HEAD + STREET FOOD TOUR IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY from Abroad and Hungry into a practical restaurant map with 3 saved spots around İstanbul. The mapped places include a restaurant stop. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Abroad and Hungry was particularly impressed by the creamy, butter-like texture of the lamb brain and the intense flavors of the Kumru sandwich from Izmir. Max highlighted the incredible Turkish hospitality, noting how local vendors frequently offered him free tea and fruit while sharing their family histories. He concluded that the combination of well-balanced spices and the melting texture of the meats made the street food in Gaziosmanpasa a standout experience.
What this map is good for
- Planning a restaurant stop or short itinerary in İstanbul.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 3 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
- Hancı İşkembe Salonu
Restaurant in Hürriyet, Eski Edirne Asf. No:90, 34250 Gaziosmanpaşa/İstanbul, Türkiye, İstanbul, Gaziosmanpaşa, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Meşhur Pilavcı Mumpi
Restaurant in Barbaros Hayrettinpaşa, 1061. Sk. No:2, 34250 Gaziosmanpaşa/İstanbul, Türkiye, İstanbul, Gaziosmanpaşa, Türkiye
Price level: Cheap - Kumrucu Birol
Restaurant in Muratpaşa, Kamil Cd. 30/a, 34040 Bayrampaşa/İstanbul, Türkiye, İstanbul, Bayrampaşa, Türkiye
Food notes from the video
- kelle paça (head soup)
- brain, tongue, cheek, and eye meat
- pilav (aromatic rice)
- pickled chili peppers
- kumru (sesame bun with sausage, sucuk, and cheese)
- turkish tea
- chickpea pilav with crispy chicken
- ayran
- 1 more included in the app.
Experiences captured
- visited Gaziosmanpasa neighborhood in Istanbul
- watched the preparation of head soup
- ate at a local kumru shop
- met a second-generation pilav shop owner
- experienced traditional Turkish hospitality
- tried extremely spicy pickled peppers
- observed a traditional street food pilav cart
Planning notes for Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey, is a transcontinental city located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, divided by the Bosphorus Strait. Historically known as Byzantium and later Constantinople, the city served as the capital for the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires over a period exceeding 1,500 years. The architectural landscape features structures from various historical periods. The Hagia Sophia, originally a 6th-century Byzantine cathedral, displays a massive dome and mosaics.
Must-try foods nearby
- Simit
The quintessential Istanbul street snack, often called a 'Turkish bagel.' This circular bread is encrusted with toasted sesame seeds and molasses. - Balık Dürüm
A modern, trending evolution of the classic fish sandwich (Balık Ekmek). While the traditional version is served in a bun. - Cağ Kebabı
Originating from Erzurum but a massive trend in Istanbul for 2026, this is a horizontal rotisserie kebab. - Midye Dolma
Stuffed mussels that are a staple of Istanbul’s late-night food culture. These are mussel shells filled with a fragrant mixture of herbed rice, pine nuts, and currants. - İskender Kebap
A decadent classic consisting of thinly sliced döner lamb laid over pieces of warm pide bread.
When to go: The best times to visit Istanbul are during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October).
Local tips
- Purchase an Istanbulkart for all public transport as cash is not accepted on buses and trams, and one card can be used for multiple passengers.
- Always carry Turkish Lira in small denominations for tips and street food, as credit card machines rarely allow adding gratuities to the bill.
- When dining at sit-down restaurants, a 10% cash tip is customary unless a service charge is already explicitly included on the receipt.
- Use official ride-hailing apps like BiTaksi or Uber to ensure transparent pricing and avoid common taxi fare disputes.
What travelers are noticing
- 2026 UEFA Europa League Final at Beşiktaş Park
- Transformation of historic Haydarpaşa and Sirkeci stations into major cultural hubs and archaeology parks
- The 18th Istanbul Biennial's public-program and community academy year
Official tourism resource
The official tourism portal of Istanbul, managed by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Tourism Branch Directorate.
Planning questions
Where did Abroad and Hungry eat in İstanbul, Gaziosmanpaşa?
This guide maps all 3 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in İstanbul, Gaziosmanpaşa.
What are the must-try foods in İstanbul, Gaziosmanpaşa?
Creator picks from the video include kelle paça (head soup), brain, tongue, cheek, and eye meat, pilav (aromatic rice), pickled chili peppers. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
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.