Where to eat in Kusadasi - from kofta to kebabs and everything in between

Turkish cuisine has become a fusion of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan influences. The Aegean region has inherited the style of Ottoman Court cuisine, with lighter spices, the use of rice over bulgur wheat and lots of seafood due to its proximity to the coast. However, if Turkish doesn’t tickle your fancy, Mediterranean cuisine is also popular and the region caters for a wide range of international menus too.

Turkish

 

Opened back in 1972, Antepli in Kusadasi town centre serves authentic Turkish fare. The friendly, family run business has a rich menu – array of south eastern Turkish dishes like the well-known kebabs, and kofta galore. Alternatively, Erzincan Restaurant also in the town centre serves authentic Anatolian cuisine. The menu is a plethora of delicious dishes with breakfasts, kebabs, pies, casseroles, soups and fresh fish aplenty. Two minutes from the harbor it’s the ideal stopping point prior to an evening stroll and a bit of boat watching

 

Mediterranean

 

Coming originally from the south coast of Turkey and similar to dishes found across Greece, Mediterranean cuisine is highly popular in Kusadasi. The Blue Fish Restaurant in the town centre, as the name suggests, serves an array of fresh fish, which is truly tasty. The Turkish ambiance is littered with a Greek twist and the enthusiastic staff serve alongside authentic music played throughout the evening. Due to its popularity, booking is recommended on Fridays and Saturdays.

 

Entertainment

 

If you fancy combining your evening meal with your evening entertainment, then Kusadasi can provide it all. BeBop inside the marina in Kusadasi town is a jazz club come café come restaurant. They serve up food throughout the day with a delicious lunch and evening menu. The sea views make it an ideal spot for people watching and you can either dine inside, or out in the tree filled garden or alongside their own pristine swimming pool. Also in town, the Dejazar Wine Bar is a casual yet sophisticated bistro and wine bar. Their roof terrace bar offers great views of the Kusadasi bay and is a great place to sample their seasonal menu. Later in the evening the terrace becomes a hot bed of entertainment with DJs, live music and even karaoke to keep you partying until the early hours.

 

International

 

If you fancy something slightly different one evening, Kusadasi has many international restaurants on offer. Indian Gate in Altinkum serves top quality Indian dishes with a truly authentic taste all for a reasonable price. Altinkum beachfront is also home to Big Bens Restaurant, which is particularly popular, with a large base of regular customers. With a range of dishes from all over the globe, they even offer a pick up and drop off service to and from the restaurant should you need it. During the summer months they host entertainment nights, and football fans will be glad to see the big screens showing the latest games. Alternatively, Marina Chinese Restaurant offers a range of exotic Chinese dishes right next to Kusadasi harbor and the interior is welcoming, with colorfully decorated large paper lanterns throughout.

 

Typical Turkish Dishes

 

Almost all food in Kusadasi is prepared using fresh ingredients with plentiful supplies of fish, fruit and vegetables. Typical breakfasts are comprised of beyaz peynire (a traditional white cheese), olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and bread. Come lunchtime, jacket potatoes, as well as gozleme, a flat bread stuffed with fresh ingredients are popular. Most of the main dishes served in Kusadasi are quite well known internationally, such as kebap, grilled skewers of chicken or lamb, kofte (meatballs) and pide, a Turkish pizza bread, with melted cheese and spicy sausage being the most popular topping. And if you just fancy a light snack, the Turkish are famous for their meze platters, small servings of dishes like hummus, vine leaves, kalamari and aubergine. Truly tasty.

 

So, if you’re tired after a day enjoying yourselves and couldn’t think of anything worse than cooking and washing up, then Kusadasi is awash with plenty of restaurants serving all kinds of food so you don’t have to.