Try the hamsi (Black Sea anchovies) in the fall when they're in season or ask Hayri which fish he recommends. We generally like Adem Baba better but Hayri Balik serves alcohol. Read more.
Serves Black Sea cuisine; plan for a multi-course feast. We recommend fried hamsi (Black Sea anchovies), muhlama (cheesy cornmeal fondue), and hinkali dumplings. Read more.
Black Sea soul food; We recommend the lightly fried hamsi (anchovies) and cornbread. Read more.
Affordable and fresh fish. Try balık koftesi (grilled fish cakes with basil aioli), manti (little dumplings stuffed with fish here), hamsi (anchovies), and the classic balik durum (fish wrap) for 4TL. Read more.
Low-key waterfront fish restaurant with a great environment. The food and fish offerings are humble but tasty; it's affordable and is not overrun with hungry crowds. Read more.
A great old-school meyhane. For meze, try pilaki (beans in olive oil), haydari (tangy yogurt dill dip), and lakerda (pickled tunny). For fish, we like çipura (grilled bream) and çinekop (bluefish). Read more.
Head to Reşat Balık, a third-generation family business that has supplied traditional meyhanes around town with lakerda (pickled bonito) since the 1940s. Read more.
The best place to try lakerda (pickled bonito) made by the masters at Reşat Balık market. Other highlights include soslu patlıcan (eggplant smothered in tomato) and Arnavut ciğeri (Albanian liver). Read more.
Küçük Ev is a small fish shack that provides a front-row seat onto the hustle and bustle of the fish market and is our favorite spot in Samatya. Everything here is fresh, local, and inexpensive. Read more.
Reason in and of itself to organize a day trip to the Princes' islands. The perfect combination of inspired food, chill ambiance and small-label Turkish wines, all at ridiculously low prices. Read more.
