Travel video guide
Where to Eat in İstanbul: Acılı Lahmacun
This guide turns EN SEVDİĞİMİZ LAHMACUNCULAR - TOP 5️⃣ - Ayaküstü Lezzetler from Ayaküstü Lezzetler into a practical restaurant map with 5 saved spots around Beşiktaş, Fatih, and Güngören. 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
Ayaküstü Lezzetler explored the traditional butcher-oven culture, praising the succulent lamb chops and wood-fired lahmacun at Kardeşler. They were particularly impressed by the hand-rolled, pomegranate molasses-infused lahmacun at Kebapçı Etiler, noting its superior texture compared to machine-made versions. The creators highlighted the importance of craftsmanship and high-quality ingredients in achieving the perfect crunch.
What this map is good for
- Planning a middle eastern restaurant stop or short itinerary in Beşiktaş.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 5 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
- Öz Kilis Kebap and Lahmacun Restaurant
Middle Eastern Restaurant in Akşemsettin, Bedrettin Simavi Sk. 5/A, 34080 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye, Akşemsettin, Fatih, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Diyarbakır Lahmacun Merkezi
Restaurant in Cami Kebir, 21300 Sur/Diyarbakır, Türkiye, Cami Kebir, Sur, Diyarbakır, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available - Hizmet Kardeşler Lahmacun Fırınlı Kasap
Middle Eastern Restaurant in Merkez, İkbal Sk. No:6, 34164 Güngören/İstanbul, Türkiye, Merkez, Güngören, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Satırdan Lahmacun
Middle Eastern Restaurant in Çakmak, Saatçi Sk. No:3, 34771 Ümraniye/İstanbul, Türkiye, Çakmak, Ümraniye, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Etiler Kebapçı
Restaurant in Etiler, Nisbetiye Cd No:76, 34337 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye, Etiler, Beşiktaş, İstanbul, Türkiye
Price level: Expensive
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- Acılı lahmacun
- Sade lahmacun
- Kuzu pirzola
- Kuzu kaburga
- Koçak baklava
- Nar ekşili lahmacun
- İsotlu lahmacun
Experiences captured
- Visited Kardeşler Fırınlı Kasap
- Inspected ready-to-bake meat trays
- Toured the butcher section and meat displays
- Observed traditional wood-fired oven cooking
- Visited Nusret's Kebapçı Etiler branch
- Interviewed Selahattin Usta about hand-rolled dough
- Compared machine-made vs hand-rolled lahmacun
- Discussed the use of Italian pizza ovens
Planning notes for Istanbul
Istanbul is a city located on two continents, separated by the Bosphorus Strait. It served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. The city’s historical center is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains landmarks from multiple eras. Historical Heritage and Architecture The architectural landscape includes structures from the 4th to the 21st centuries. * Hagia Sophia: Built in 537 AD.
Must-try foods nearby
- Simit
Often called the 'Turkish bagel,' this circular bread is encrusted with sesame seeds and molasses-dipped before baking. - Balık Dürüm
A modern evolution of the classic 'Balık Ekmek' fish sandwich. This version features grilled mackerel wrapped in a thin lavaş with a signature blend of pomegranate molasses. - Hünkar Beğendi
A majestic Ottoman-era dish consisting of tender lamb stew served over a velvety bed of 'beğendi'—a smoky eggplant purée enriched with butter and cheese. - Midye Dolma
Plump mussels stuffed with aromatic herbed rice, currants, and pine nuts, served with a mandatory squeeze of fresh lemon. - Cağ Kebabı
Originating from Erzurum but now a major Istanbul trend, this is a horizontally stacked lamb kebab marinated in onions, salt, and black pepper.
When to go: The best time to visit Istanbul is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October), when the weather is mild and pleasant for sightseeing. Summer (July and August) is the peak tourist season with hot.
Local tips
- Purchase an Istanbulkart at major transit hubs to pay for all public transportation, including ferries, trams, and buses.
- Always check that the taxi meter is turned on before starting your journey or use a ride-hailing app to ensure fair pricing.
- When dining, it is customary to leave a cash tip of 10% as service charges are rarely included in the bill.
- Dress modestly by covering shoulders and knees when entering residential neighborhoods or historical sites to respect local social norms.
What travelers are noticing
- Semiha Berksoy: Aria of All Colors (Major retrospective at Istanbul Modern)
- Galataport Jazz Festival (Free waterfront music events in June)
- Panorama: Dreams and Places (AI and lens-based art exhibition)
Official tourism resource
The official visitor portal of the Beşiktaş Municipality, providing information on historical sites, museums, and local services for tourists in Istanbul.
Planning questions
Where did Ayaküstü Lezzetler eat in İstanbul?
This guide maps all 5 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in İstanbul.
What are the must-try foods in İstanbul?
Creator picks from the video include Acılı lahmacun, Sade lahmacun, Kuzu pirzola, Kuzu kaburga. 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.