Travel video guide
Where to Eat in Konak, İzmir: Chickpeas (nohut)
This guide turns 15 LİRAYA KARIN DOYURURUM! | KEMERALTI SOKAK LEZZETLERİ from Ayhan Mortepe into a practical restaurant map with 2 saved spots around İzmir and Konak. 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
Ayhan Mortepe visited a unique street food stall in Izmir's Kemeraltı run by Adnan Usta, a former school principal and psychologist. He was particularly impressed by the 1952 family recipe for rib meat meatballs and the affordable prices offered to the community. The experience highlighted the blend of deep intellectual conversation and high-quality traditional flavors found in the historic bazaar.
What this map is good for
- Planning a family restaurant stop or short itinerary in İzmir.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 2 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
- Meşhur Adnan Usta
Family Restaurant in Yenişehir, 1145/6. Sk. No:20, 35250 Konak/İzmir, Türkiye, Yenişehir, Konak, İzmir, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available - aktaş sokak lezzetleri
Restaurant in Efeler, Forbes Sk. no:106/a, 35000 Buca/İzmir, Türkiye, İzmir, Buca, Türkiye
Price level: Medium
Food notes from the video
- Edirne style liver (ciğer tava)
- Rib meat meatballs (kaburga köftesi)
- Chicken with rice (tavuk pilav)
- Chickpeas (nohut)
- Chicken cutlet (tavuk pirzola)
Experiences captured
- Visited Kemeraltı bazaar in Izmir
- Met a chef who is a psychologist and teacher
- Learned about a 1952 family meatball recipe
- Observed street food preparation on a mobile cart
- Discussed the history of Havra Street shops
- Tasted affordable local street food combinations
Planning notes for Konak
Kadifekale, situated on Mount Pagos in the Konak district of Izmir, is a fortification with a history spanning over two millennia. Established in the 3rd century BC by Lysimachos, a general of Alexander the Great, the site served as the acropolis for the relocated city of Smyrna. The current structure contains architectural layers from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine.
Must-try foods nearby
- Boyoz
İzmir’s most iconic breakfast pastry, this flaky, unleavened bread was introduced by Sephardic Jewish immigrants in the 15th century. - Kumru
A signature sandwich of the region, specifically unique due to its artisanal chickpea-yeast bread. - Gevrek
While it looks like a simit, locals will firmly correct you: İzmir Gevrek is distinct. - Şevket-i Bostan with Lamb
A quintessential Aegean 'herb' dish featuring the Holy Thistle. This upscale traditional stew uses the root and leaves of the plant, slow-cooked with tender chunks of lamb, onions. - İzmir Köfte
Unlike standard Turkish meatballs, İzmir Köfte consists of oblong-shaped patties baked in a tray with thick wedges of potatoes, green peppers, and tomatoes in a rich.
When to go: The best time to visit Kadifekale is during the spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October) when temperatures are mild and ideal for walking the uphill terrain. Summer months can be oppressively hot with little shade at the summit.
Local tips
- Use the Izmir City Tour Bus or a taxi to reach the summit, as the 2-kilometer walk from Konak Square is very steep and passes through isolated areas.
- Visit the castle during daylight hours and remain within the main fortress walls to ensure personal safety and avoid the surrounding lower-income neighborhoods after dark.
- Keep a close watch on your personal belongings and avoid displaying expensive jewelry or electronics while exploring the ruins and nearby cisterns.
- Dress modestly by covering your shoulders and knees to respect the local community, as this area is more conservative than the coastal districts of Izmir.
What travelers are noticing
- UNESCO World Heritage Bid: Increased focus on the 'Historical Port City of Izmir' initiative, with Kadifekale serving as a primary site for cultural preservation and heritage tourism.
- Golden Age of Archaeology: Ongoing excavations at the ancient Smyrna site and the castle's Byzantine cisterns, part of a national push to reach 800 active archaeological sites by 2026.
- Golden Hour Photography: The castle has become a viral 'Instagrammable' spot for panoramic sunset views over the Gulf of Izmir, frequently featured in 2026 travel itineraries and 4K city walk videos.
Official tourism resource
The official digital tourism portal for İzmir, providing comprehensive guides to the city's historical, cultural, and natural heritage.
Planning questions
Where did Ayhan Mortepe eat in Konak, İzmir?
This guide maps all 2 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in Konak, İzmir.
What are the must-try foods in Konak, İzmir?
Creator picks from the video include Edirne style liver (ciğer tava), Rib meat meatballs (kaburga köftesi), Chicken with rice (tavuk pilav), Chickpeas (nohut). 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.