Istanbul’s best soups

Since 1947 Istanbul’s most famous place for tripe Apik has been welcoming customers in Dolapdere, in a venue squeezed between auto mechanic shops. 

If you’ve heard about Can Oba before you’ve mostly likely heard great things. If you haven’t heard about it yet, don’t be surprised; the venue is more concerned about serving great food at a great price. Named after the master chef in the kitchen, this restaurant is a minor phenomenon, described by Vedat Milör as “a restaurant befitting of Istanbul”.  

• Even though Shorba, meaning ‘salted water’ in Farsi, features a menu focused on soup you can also find recipes from Turkish and international cuisine. As expected the menu features a wide variety of soups. This venue is actually the continuation of Çorba da Çorba (Soup Soup) in Ataşehir but it changed its name to Shorba for they aim to become an international chain. 

The kesme soup (noodle soup), authentic yuvarlama soup (Turkish gnocchi soup) and cold soup are the most popular. The kesme soup, which is especially made in Erzurum and Erzincan, uses lentils, potatoes, dozens of spices, and noodles. 

Hünkar Lokantası, famous for its paça (calves-foot) soup, opened in 1950 in Fatih, continued operating in Nişantaşı for a while and also has a branch in Etiler. The other soup varieties change on a daily basis. Among them are yayla (yogurt) soup, strained lentil soup, milky hunker soup, milk spinach soup, milky noodle soup, tripe soup, vegetable soup, and green lentil soup. 

Tarihi Haliç İşkembecisi, located in the Golden Horn, the symbol of old Istanbul, across from the Fener ferry pier, is one of the district’s oldest venues. Serving customers since 1938, the venue’s soups are as appealing as its views of the Golden Horn. 

This is one of Istanbul’s oldest meyhanes and the fish soup is the all time favorite. In fact it is said to be the best place that makes fish soup. Actually Agop Usta was the one who added the seasoned fish soup to the meyhane culture. 

Located in Gayrettepe and Etiler, Şayan is one of the city’s most famous and fashionable restaurants. Among the most delicious soups on the menu, prepared by chef Hüseyin Özen, are the tripe, damar (vein), and calves-foot soup. Of course for those who don’t like meat lentil soup and tomato soup are also available. Şayan, one of Istanbul’s most fashionable venues, can accommodate 100 people, with a 50-person capacity indoor area and a 50-person capacity garden. This is the last stop for many people after a long night of partying, especially football players and singers. It is especially full on the weekends in the middle of the night.