Food Stalls at the Port

On the Golden Horn side of the Galata Bridge, I found one of the things I always look for during my travels: a cheap, authentic meal with the locals. If you're looking for a nice lunch, skip the restaurants on the bridge itself, which are pushy and really expensive, and wander over to the two or three brightly-colored boats docked just to the left of the bridge. The boats sell grilled-fish sandwiches for 3 lira each and there are stools set up around the boats where you can crowd in and eat. The sandwiches are delicious and the fish is fresh and smokey, and it's served with a little parsley and onion.

The banks of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn are lined with food stalls where both tourists and villagers alike can enjoy a freshly caught fish, some tomatoes and grilled asparagus or a perhaps even try a plate of "sharma" (spicy rice wrapped in palm leaves). Turkish food is delicious, healthy, Mediterranean and very spicy. There are a variety of vegetables, fish, pizzas and rice dishes. Eating here is a great option if you want to try and save money while visiting Istanbul. Everything is really delicious!