I'm an Istanbul Local and This Is the 1 Dish I Recommend Every Traveler Try

"The one dish I recommend travelers start with is deceptively simple but consisitently delicious: lahmacun. A thin layer of circular dough is rolled out and topped with a mixture of minced lamb and spices, then baked in a brick oven until the edges turn perfectly crispy. It's served hot, and the proper way to eat it is to squeeze some lemon juice, sprinkle it with spices like sumac and Aleppo pepper, and pile on a handful of parsley."

"One or two is usually enough to satisfy your appetite. It's best paired with a cold glass of ayran, a salty Turkish yogurt drink that perfectly balances the spiced meatiness of the lahmacun. A lahmacun restaurant sits somewhere just above fast food-meant for people on the go, but still offering something you can savor. It's food of the people, equally enjoyable for tourists and locals alike."

Istanbul offers a varied cuisine spanning street food, reinterpretations of Turkish classics, and regional flavors from Anatolia and neighboring countries. Lahmacun is a deceptively simple, consistently delicious dish: thin circular dough topped with minced lamb and spices, baked in a brick oven until edges turn crispy. Serve hot with lemon juice, sumac or Aleppo pepper, and parsley, then roll to eat. One or two pieces usually satisfy, and a cold glass of ayran balances the spiced meatiness. Lahmacun restaurants sit above fast food but remain quick and affordable. Borsam Tasfirin in Kadikoy is a bustling example with a massive stone oven and window seating.

Read at Travel + Leisure