Vegetarian Restaurants and Vegan Restaurants in Istanbul

Vegetarians who are just traveling through Istanbul may think it's hard to eat vegetarian food in Turkey. It couldn't be farther from the truth!  There are tons of vegetarian meals in Istanbul, and many more vegan options than most places.


The way to say vegetarian is "vejetarian" (veh-zhe-tahr-e-ahn) while the way to say without meat is "etsiz".

An important note is that sometimes people may consider fish, chicken or ground meat to be 'etsiz'.

Vegetarian Restaurants in Istanbul, Turkey
Govinda: KM Celebi Mah Ipek Sokak 15, Beyoglu (Parallel to Istiklal St closer to Cihangir)
Zencefil: Kurabiye Sokak 8-10 Taksim (parallel to Istiklal, closer to Tarlabasi)
Nature and Peace: Buyuk Parmakkapı Sokak 15/A, Beyoglu
Parsifal: Kurabiye Sokak, 13 Beyoglu (near Taksim end of Istiklal Caddesi)

Veggie Friendly Fast Food:
Falafel House: Sehit Muhtar Cad. 19/1 A, Telimhane/Taksim
Pita Khubiz in Taksim: Meşelik Sok. No: 5/B (near BK)
Burger King: Veggie Burgers
Salad Station
Nu Noodle
Pizza
Bambi has tost and pretty good salads
Cilgin Durumcu by Taksim square has veggie durums

Vegetarian Street Food
Nohutlu Pilav
Kumpir (vejetarian)
Simits, nuts, pickled foods, etc.


Very Veggie Friendly Restaurants
Indian Cultural Center (Hare Krishna food)
Dubb (Indian): Alemdar Mh., İncili Çavuş Sokak 10, Istanbul
Tandoori Indian Restaurant (Indian): Akaretler Suleyman Seba Spor cad. Cavdarci sok. no:1/1
Musafir (Indian): Receppasa Cad. 7 - C Talimhane/ Taksim
Cicos (international): Kurabiye Sokak
Deep (international, many veggie options): Kurabiye Sokak
Cin Bufe (Chinese)
Wish Burger (veggie burgers)
Chinese Time has relatively affordable veggie sushi and edamame

Vegetarian and Vegan food in Istanbul
Ev yemekleri places (very veggie and vegan friendly)
meze restaurants (very veggie and vegan friendly)
Hala restaurant chain has vegetarian manti and gozleme
breakfast foods (including tost, which has cheese in it)
cheese pide
cheese lahmucan (etsiz)
if you go to lokantas (where food is already prepared) and ask hangi yemek etsiz? they'll point out meatless dishes.
Ciya's a great restaurant with a ton of veggie options on the Asian side.


Hard to find items:
Cin Market - By the Gumussuyu Park (where the dolmuses to besiktas run): tofu, sushi materials, dried mushrooms, curry pastes
Carrefour, Migros, Macrocenter: tofu in containers, sushi materials, curry pastes, and sometimes even edamame
Namli (in Cihangir): variety of English foods, including mustards, variety of asian-style noodles, couscous, and curries.