Ceren was excellent. Warm, engaging and knowledgeable of the area. She was flexible on number of stops, types of food and also showed us gourmet street food. Worth the trip to try real local food.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Private Tour - only you and your local
- 10 Food & Drinks Tastings
- Vegetarian alternatives
- Private Local Foodie Guide
Excludes
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- In front of Sekerci Cafer Erol.
Return
- In front of Sekerci Cafer Erol.
Itinerary
On this food tour, you won’t just explore Istanbul, but you’ll go to an area in the city known for its food, Kadikoy. Follow your local host to this foodie paradise where 10 food and drink tastings are waiting for you! Enjoy a bite of the ultimate classics, pide and Turkish delight, and taste them in their true local flavor!
This tour is more than just food, it’s a cultural experience! In between food stops, discover highlights in the area for a well-rounded experience that will satisfy your appetite for Istanbul. From food, drinks, must-sees, and local hot spots; this tour has everything on the menu!
Like many pieces of art, it lived a nomadic life before finding its permanent home here. Istanbul resident Mindy Yartaşı traces its journey to becoming the neighbourhood's most famous artwork.
See an elegant, three-story, ottoman-era house on Hacı Şükrü and hear local stories
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Emre was amazing! This was more than just a food tour - he shared lots of historical information and fun facts about the areas we were exploring in between restaurants so it was almost like a food tour mixed with a walking city tour. Exceeded all expectations, and if I had one tip for people doing this, it's COME HUNGRY!
We had such a great time with Tolga on this tour!! He was very, very knowledgeable as well as personable and happy!! We laughed a lot as we discovered not only food, but the rich history of Turkey and Istanbul. We would highly recommend him to anyone!
This was an absolutely delightful experience. Tolga is a charismatic and unbelievably knowledgeable guide who took us to so many places and the each was wonderful. Tolga also knows the history of Istanbul and turkey and shared many facts with us. He also taught us how to read “coffee grounds” after we finished our Turkish coffee.
Guide great problem with transportation not sure on u. Car arrived one hour late but guide called u move up time one hour. Got stuck with car bill
We had a lovely evening with Emre and so enjoyed learning about and tasting the foods of Istanbul. Emre was an excellent guide sharing not only the interesting food, but some of the history and cultural nuances of the area. We had the best time. Would definitely recommend a food tour with Emre. You will meet as strangers and part as friends.
Emre was extremely friendly and a great guide. We had particular things we could not eat and he adjusted the tour accordingly. A very accommodating guide with lots of knowledge and gave plenty of suggestions for things to do and see in Istanbul.
What a wonderful afternoon we had with Sozum. We tried so many Turkish foods and enjoyed the conversation in a relaxed, well paced afternoon. Would definitely recommend this tour as a way to taste a little of Turkiye.
Our experience was wonderful! Our guide was helpful, friendly and well informed! We would absolutely recommend this tour.
Mohammad was a great guide ,kind and knowledgeable went extra and beyond. The reason for my 3 stars was because the tour was supposed to get us to see the opera house and the theatre also I was overcharged than what was advertised. Felt that I have been scammed by your app
Emre was a wonderful guide. Lots of useful information about the great food we ate. Plenty of food so you definitely won’t go hungry. What a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the Turkish food culture
We really enjoyed the different food items we were given and our guide really tried hard to give us allot of variety and even extras! Only thing was our guide wasn’t a foodie. So she didn’t have a passion for food and very little knowledge about the food itself or history of the food culture in Istanbul. Seems like our tour was outsourced to another tour company which explains the above situation. But if we had wanted to go with this other company we would have booked with them.
We did the private Withlocals 10 Tastes of Kadikoy with Ays & it couldn’t have been better. Ferry to Kadikoy from Galata area no issues & Kadikoy seemed very different to where else we had been in Istanbul. The food was amazing & we had the best mezze we’d ever had. Ays was great & we would highly recommend this tour.
Great time exploring Kadikoy with Ibra! He was super knowledgeable about the food send the neighborhood. It’s a ton of food so definitely come hungry. He also took us around some cool hipster-y shops and helped point us to the beach! Great experience overall
The tastings were wonderful, but our guide, Emre Oguducu, made the entire experience even more enjoyable! His knowledge of local cuisine was bested only by his willingness to accommodate our special requests (like where to purchase some good wine at the conclusion of our tour)! We have taken food tours in many locations around the globe, and this clearly ranks among the best. And we would gladly award it a Sixth Star if one were available.
We loved this tour and Ahmet was amazing. He was very accommodating and met us at a different spot when we didn’t arrive where we were supposed to. All of the stops were wonderful and he went out of the way to make sure we enjoyed the tour and gave us some ideas for where to go afterward, before heading back to our cruise ship. Highly recommend this!
We had the most wonderful day with Dilek. It started a couple of days before as she responded to our query about the meeting point by providing us with a much easier alternative. She also helped with our questions in the days & hours before we met, always prompt, helpful & informative. When we met, she was a delightful host & showed us some wonderful parts of Istanbul we’d have never found on our own. She also taught us about the various transport systems, which we can now navigate as if we were locals! Then to the food! What can we say? Dilek made so many suggestions , showed us so many Turkish dishes & delicacies and encouraged us to try platters outside our UK palates. We sampled everything & came away with broadened minds & waistbands! We couldn’t recommend this tour - or Dilek as our host - any more highly. Thank you so much
My husband and I spent three hours with Faruk, eating our way around Kadikoy, and it was time and money well spent! Faruk was kind and generous and wonderful to spend time with, and everything we ate was incredibly delicious. It was really nice having the private tour experience, as we were able to ask lots of questions during our time together. Highly recommend!
Emre guided us through Kadikoy in a professional yet personalized manner. He was full of knowledge and very informative, and helped make our trip richer and more enjoyable. Withlocals tours are great because you have a dedicated private guide who is often full of knowledge. Emre is like that... he knows a lot about Turkish cuisine, of course, but he is happy to discuss history and current events as well. We peppered him with questions throughout our time with him, and the time flew by. He gave us thoughtful tips and recommendations (how-to, where-to, and what-to do sorts of things) that we used throughout our visit to enrich our experience. It was a great way to begin a journey, and we left him with a better concept of local food and of Kadikoy and Istanbul as well. The food stops we made were absolutely delicious and we were fully satisfied. We love to eat well, and, with Emre, can guarantee that you will eat well. He helps make a varied and culturally diverse cuisine more accessible to visitors, and we wholeheartedly recommend him as a guide.
Ugur led us on an amazing culinary experience tasting foods we would have never found on our own. He introduced us to some of his favorite restaurants where the locals go. We learned that Turkish food is a culinary fusion of Armenian, Greek, French, Albanian, Arab and Turkish cuisines. The flavors are unique and all the food samplings were delicious! Ugur was helpful navigating us back to our apartment and gave many helpful hints and links for things to do during our stay.
We had a wonderful food tour on the Asian side of Istanbul with Umut! Not only did he acquaint us with a diverse variety of yummy Turkish specialties, he gave us much insight into the Turkish culture and history! We can highly recommend this tour!
This was a great experience, specially when our guide was willing to change the schedule to suit our requests. Muhammed is a young person with lots of potential and he made the experience unforgettable.
Absolutely book this experience! Our guide, Emre Aygun, could not have been a better guide and the overall experience exceeded our expectations! Not only did we get to try amazing foods - including street foods - that we might otherwise have even thought to try, Emre's knowledge of the Istanbul food scene, its neighborhoods, as well as the history of Istanbul and Turkey in general was interesting and comprehensive. Due to the wide variety of food and discussions as we made our way from one location to another, the four hours flew by. I would have rated this a "6" had there been one option higher than "5."
Very interesting food tour in Asian part of the city, including lots of snacks and a lot of information from our guide, Lorena. It was cold and we were very tired from the flight in, so we were dragging by the end. Arrive hungry.
After many visits to Istanbul over the years, we wanted to try something new, and chose the 10 tastings of Istanbul: Kadiköy. What a lucky choice. Our guide Emre was absolutely fantastic. Even before we started the tour we had got a very good impression of him, as he had sent us a lot of information about what to do and not to to in Istanbul. It did also include practical tips for travelling and moving around the city. What was unique on this tour was how he managed to combine his interest and love for local food with his immense knowledge about this part of Istanbul. We had the impression we were let into a new secret every time we turned a street corner. Amazing! The food tasting experience could not have been better. Since we came to Turkey first time 46 years ago, I have avoided the dish Kokurec, made of small and large intestines and sweetbreads which are grilled on a rotating spit. This tour was the perfect time to sample it! It was really delicious!!! Emre was very good to improvise. Because of a food allergy I could not eat the stuffed mussels, so in stead we made a detour, where I was given my favourite dish, Subörek, filo pastry filled with feta cheese and parsley. We ended up in an historic pastry shop/ cafe that was worth a tour on its own. Emre was the perfect host and we feel that we have got a new friend. We are already planning to come back ant take a similar tour on the European side of Bosphorus. Thank you Emre for a perfect day!!!!
Our guide, Mohammad, was very helpful and concerned about our comfort and experience. His love of his community and food was obvious. He even made recommendations for other tours outside of Istanbul. He also made a couple of great suggestions for restaurants on the European side.
We wanted to explore the Asian side of Istanbul and understand the culture through its food. Our guide Emre--who is both charming and knowledgeable--succeeded in introducing us to the world of mezzes, mains, and sweets that comprise a traditional dinner in Istanbul. It was a great mix of the expected and the adventurous that was suitable for many palettes. We had the benefit of enjoying the tour in a 2-on-1 fashion and he was able to bring some customizable elements to the tour. He was easy to relate to, open to answering our questions, and both personal and professional in his explanations of the various cuisines and cultural norms of dining in Istanbul. highly recommended!
We really enjoyed our tour, our guide (Lorena) was very plasant to be arround with, she introduced us to lot of delicious foods. We are very happy with this guided tour.
Emre was the best tour guide for exploring Istanbul! Very knowledgeable, and fun experience…..and all food tastings were excellent. Thanks for wonderful evening!
My Husband and myself had a lovely evening tasting many specialist in the Kadikoy region of Asian Istanbul. Our guide was so lovely and a real pleasure to spend time with. We tried so many things including soups, steamed burgers, pizzas, mussels, stuffed and fries, deli items, desserts and more. Honestly, from a true foodie we had a great night with amazing company and food we would have never been bold enough to try otherwise. Great value and great tastes. Xx
My husband and I can’t say enough good things about our time eating our way through Kadikoy with our guide, Sözüm. It wasn’t just a tour- it was more like hanging out with your cool friend who knows all the best spots. She also took us to amazing places we wouldn’t have tried on our own. Can’t recommend enough! :)
Awesome experience! We loved touring around Kadiköy with our guide, Emre. Emre was very knowledgeable about the area, history of Turkey, and of course, the food. Our tour included 10 stops with food and drink from small snacks to larger plates and desserts. We hope to take another tour with Emre in the future on the European side of Istanbul!
Our tour was amazing - Aysegul was knowledgable, personable, flexible and just warm and wonderful as our guide. She took me and my daughter to so many places in Kadikoy and even fulfilled our request to shop for Turkish spices at the market there. We had meze and dessert at the restaurant featured in Netflix’s “Chef’s Table, ate our way through the neighborhood and learned so much about Turkish cuisine. She even helped us get back on the ferry after our tour. Definitely a highlight of our Istanbul trip - if you get a chance to take a food tour with Aysegul, don’t miss it!
Ceren was a delightful guide through this vibrant district of Istanbul. We tasted some delicious food that we would not have experienced otherwise, enjoyed the waterfront view of the European side, checked out a couple skateboard shops (our son’s hobby), and enjoyed a beverage in one of the hip bars on a breezy boulevard. Highly recommended!
The food tastings were great - but we probably only made it to eight as our tummies were full after just 5-6 stops! Nonetheless we enjoyed pretty much everything. The tour is centred on the Kadikoy area (on the Asian side) - which is a very compact and cool "arts, and crafts" district - with a much "younger vibe" than the more crowded European side. Our guide, Ceren was fantastic! Smart, well informed and clearly popular with the shop keepers and restauranteurs. She also provided us with helpful tips of where to spend time afterwards - where to see the street art and grab a craft beer or two.
We completed this tour on our first full day in Istanbul. Emre, our guide, was excellent. His passion and knowledge for the food/culture of Kadikoy made this trip great. We tried many different varieties of food-each we had never experienced before. Because it was the first day of our trip, Emre recommended many different local restaurants for us to try which was much appreciated. If we ever go back-we will definitely visit Emre!!!
What a splendid experience! We started out with a gozleme and a Turkish tea and ended with a Turkish coffee and a bit of Turkish delight. In between we sampled the best Turkey had to offer with wonderful conversation. Aysegul was so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. She even took us to the ferry! Highly recommend this adventure.
Our guide didn’t seem well experienced in how to effectively meet and plan an outing. I called him an hour before to indicate that I didn’t have phone or internet access so I can make sure we are meeting at the correct place. (Hindsight, I should’ve told him what color shirt I had on) After waiting 30 minutes at our meeting location I had to find someone at an English language school down the street to help me. (The staff at the meeting place weren’t helpful and didn’t know who our guide was.) When I finally realized it was the guy sitting in front, he said he didn’t ask me if I was his guest because he thought I was a Turkish local. When I asked if he can show us a map of the places he is planning on taking us or an itinerary, he didn’t have one. He was very knowledgeable and entertained deep conversations, but I would have like to learn more about the culinary experience.
It was awesome!! Amre was so knowledgeable and kind. We so enjoyed our day with him. I would recommend his tour to all my friends. My mother and I really enjoyed the experience.
Such a fun experience with our guide Ceren, very informative and some great food sampled. Highly recommend a food tour in Kadikoy. It’s a really different part of Istanbul.
We scheduled our tour to take place a day after we arrived to get familiar with local cuisine and culture. Safiye was our local tour guide for this booking and she was phenomenal! Safiye has extensive knowledge of cuisine, culture, history, and everything in between. She is also well versed in both English and Spanish so we were able to communicate perfectly. She graciously catered the tour to our small group and it made the experience that much more rich and enjoyable. You can tell that every single spot we stopped at was just as delicious as the one before! Safiye even went as far to walk us to a different location, after the tour had ended, just to ensure we made it to the right spot. That speaks volumes of Safiye genuine love for what she does, speaks of her caring nature, her love and respect for her culture and...what better introduction to Istanbul than having Safiye with us! This is the booking to make, to get you familiarized, oriented and enjoy local, off-the-beaten path experiences. Thank you, Safiye!!!
We had the most authentic personalised food tour with Ceren. She showed us a wide variety of food and was happy to answer all our questions, even the very many about Istanbul and it’s people. She was so kind to give us a further tour of the Kadikoy area afterwards and give us suggestions of where to go and what to do. We had the most wonderful time with her and feel extremely lucky to have had her as our guide! We would highly recommend booking this tour.
Ceren was very personable. Meeting with her felt like meeting with a long-time friend. She was very courteous and adjusted our tour to accomodate for my wife's allergies. She also answered questions we had about Istanbul, the culture, and places to eat, see, and shop. I would recommend her to anyone visiting Istanbul. Ceren really made our first day in Istanbul start on a great note.
Ibrahim was a knowledgeable guide who helped us explore and taste many foods we otherwise may not have. This visit went beyond a food visit as he was able to explain the area, culture and history. We enjoyed the three+ hours we spent with him.
So far the very best food tour I have ever made with. Emre was a perfect guide, very interesting and competent. Beautiful discovery of some Turkish culinary delights.
We had an amazing the day exploring the city and tasting so many things! We definitely left happy and with full bellies! We would recommend this for other families as well!
Very nice overview of the food, tailored to what we were looking for. Emre did a great job and explained the food/area/etc.
I had a great day with Emre. His knowledge on food, history, culture, Sport etc was very impressive. The food was also incredible, try the original and best Iskander!! Thanks Emre!
Our tour guide Ceren was did a great job and the food was amazing as well, of course. Ceren made sure to accommodate our individual preferences.
Having been so fortunate as to have visited Istanbul many times over the years, we decided we wanted to experience something new this time. As we do not know the Asian side of the city so well as the European part, we booked the food sampling walking tour in Kadiköy. What a good choice it was!!! Our guide, Emre, could not have been better. A superb host that presented the food and the neighbourhood in a very interesting and personal way. His immense knowledge and his very pleasant nature made the three hour tour the highlight of our stay in that wonderful city this time. He took us to places we would never have found on our own. We had the impression that whenever we turned around a street corner a new secret was waiting for us. The food tasting was superb and very varied. Here Emre also showed that he was good at improvising. Because of an allergy I could not sample the stuffed mussels that my wife loved. But then he took me to a special shop to give me my favourite Turkish snack; Subörek- (Filo pastry with feta cheese and parsley) For more than 40 years I have avoided the Turkish dish Kokorec. It is made of small and large intestines and sweetbreads from lamb wrapped onto iron skewers to be grilled over charcoal. Very popular street food! With Emre as my culinary guide I braved my first sample of the specialty. It tasted delicious!!!! Everywhere we went we met nice shop and restaurant owners. We ended up at a historical confectionery shop, which was so nice that it would have been worth a tour on its own. We felt that we during this tour had got a new Turkish friends. It was such a pleasant and interesting tour that we have already decided to repeat it on our next visit, but this time we will do it on the European side. Thank you Emre!!!!!
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