1. Gozleme (Turkish Pancakes)
Head to any of the Fethiye street markets; the big Tuesday central pazar, Calis market on a Sunday, Tasyaka on a Saturday or Hisaronu of a Monday, and you are sure to find stalls selling Gozleme. Sit yourself at one of the plastic chairs and watch as the local women expertly hand roll dough into big circular pancakes and cook them over a traditional ‘sac’ griddle. Just a few lira gets you a big portion filled with your choice of feta, yellow cheese, herbs, mince meat, potato or onion. Alternatively opt for lemon and sugar, chocolate or honey if your tastes are on the sweeter side.
2. Bazlama
Bazlama is again found at the markets on many of the Gozleme stalls. It is traditional flat, circular leavened bread normally served warm with a filling of choice but normally cheese. Think big round and thick cheese toastie.
3. Midye Dolma (Stuffed Mussels)
In our opinion these are one of the world’s greatest street foods. If you’re partial to shellfish, Turkish stuffed mussels are a must try. As you are wandering around Fethiye, Oludeniz or any of the resorts here on the Med, watch out for the ‘Mussel Man’. He’s normally found of an evening, sporting a wicker basket full of mussels, and is carrying a collapsible stool to rest his basket on, a bag of lemons and some wet wipes. Stop him as he passes and buy a few of these tasty mussel pockets filled with rice and spice, served in their shell with a refreshing squirt of fresh lemon. Be warned…they are addictive!
4. Balik Ekmek (Fish Sandwich)
Head across the road from Oceanwide Properties office, along the seafront promenade towards the town centre and on the corner of the harbour, as you turn towards the new town square, you will see Popeye’s and another little floating boat moored up to the side selling Balik Ekmek. Basically a Turkish fish butty, they are cheap, cheerful and remarkably tasty. Kick your shoes off and crawl onto the boat. Sit on cushions and drink cay (tea) or sodas and watch the world pass by whilst your sandwich is freshly prepared and served to you.
5. Simit (Turkish Bagels)
The love for Simit’s spans all ages and social classes in Turkey. Brought for around a lira each, these sesame-crusted dough rings, almost resembling a bagel, are brought fresh from bakery’s each morning and enjoyed with breakfast, or sold via the Simit Man who wanders around the streets with a tempting pile precariously balanced on a tray on this head. I have seen toddlers chomping on simits as teethers in their prams as their parents strut them up and down Fethiye’s promenade; I’ve also seen the local elite stop their fancy cars next to a street vendor and happily demolish a simit on their way to work. Personally, I prefer to take them home and enjoy them warm with a generous spread of cream cheese.
6. Misir (Sweet Corn)
Turks love their sweet corn and what’s even better is that it’s in season at the moment so can be found all over town.Throughout the year you find the street vendors selling either boiled or BBQ cobs along the seafront in Fethiye, at markets and in resorts. A couple of lira or so gets you a corn, served in its husk with a sprinkle of salt (or butter if you’re lucky). You may also spot people tucking into little tubs of Misir (especially popular with Turkish children). These are again brought from street vendors and normally served with a dollop of ketchup and mayonnaise.
7. Kokorec (Sheep Intestines)
Many a western mind may find Kokorec an acquired taste or be put off by the ingredients, but in Turkey it is a standard street food and loved by many. Made from lamb intestines, it is normally sold from a converted van found parked up at night in resorts and village squares. Usually cooked over hot charcoals that adds a unique depth of flavour, it is served in bread and a staple go to snack for many Turks after a night out on the town.
8. Doner Kebab and Durum (Doner Kebab Wrap)
Anyone visiting Turkey should really try a Doner at least once during their stay. Turkey is the home of kebabs. They are the most popular street foods in Fethiye and even appear on the main menus of some of the best restaurants in Town (had a very tasty portion at Buzz Bar in Oludeniz recently!). Essentially ‘doner’ refers to a ‘roll’ thus the roll of meat (usually lamb or chicken) cooked on a rotating vertical stake. The meat is shaved from the rotisserie on demand and served either as a ‘porsiyon’ (over rice), or with salad and choice of yogurt and chilli sauces in a ‘durum’ (flat bread wrap), ‘pide’ (as pictured and also known as gobit), or half a normal Turkish bread loaf. Found all over the country, A Doner kebabs is the king of street foods in Turkey. Simply sit yourself at a street side cafe, or eat it on the go – they are good value and not as unhealthy as you may imagine.
9.Borek
Borek, also known as ‘Burek’, are baked pastries filled with a variety of savoury ingredients. Made with thin pastry akin to filo, known as ‘yufka’, they are usually sprinkled with sesame or nigella seeds and sold in bakery’s throughout Turkey. There are many different types and a number of regional varieties. The most popular in Fethiye is ‘su boregi’ (water borek) where layers of yufka are boiled for a short time in pans then layered with a mix or herbs and feta cheese, laid out in a big pan, covered in butter and baked. Normally served warm with breakfast, you can buy a square portion in most of the patisseries, borek shops and even Migros supermarket of a morning. ‘Sigara boregi’ is another popular borek, so called due to its resemblance to cigarettes. Often served as a meze or starter in restaurants or snack, these cheese rolls are a popular with the tourists. Gul boregi’ (Rose borek) is another variety, again usually cheese filled, they are found in patisseries and some of the larger supermarkets so called as they look a little like a rose.
10. Tost (Toastie)
Lots of street side stalls and kiosks around Fethiye sell ‘Tost’ or toasties as us foreigners may know them. Perhaps one of the most frequented in Fethiye is the little place with the brightly coloured tiny tables and chairs opposite the blue Kultur Centre, near the new town square on the seafront. This little place does a roaring trade simply selling toasties in a choice of cheese, ‘sucuk’ (Turkish spicy sausage), or mixed (combination of both), along with freshly squeezed juices and sodas. Popular with all ages, they cost just a few lira and come served with a little plate of chillies and pickles and a choice of ketchup and mayonnaise.
Well, hopefully you will try a few of these Fethiye street foods during your travels in town. If you do, or you know of more worth a mention, please comment below and let us know.