What to Eat in Antalya: 8 Local Dishes to Try
Antalya's signature dish is tahinli piyaz, a white bean salad dressed with tahini, lemon and vinegar, eaten with şiş köfte, skewered meatballs of minced meat and salt. Also try hibeş, a tahini and paprika dip; gülüklü çorba, a wedding soup from Alanya; stuffed courgette flowers; kabak tatlısı; burnt ice cream and bağaça.
Antalya's kitchen is built on beans, sesame, citrus and grilled meat. Tahini, from the region's sesame, turns up in starters, mains and desserts, and sets the local versions apart from the rest of Türkiye.
Eight dishes to look for
- Tahinli piyaz. White beans with onion, tomato and boiled egg, under a lemony tahini sauce. Elsewhere in Türkiye piyaz comes without tahini.
- Şiş köfte. Long meatballs of minced meat and salt, charred on a metal skewer and served with bread, parsley, tomatoes or grilled peppers. Order it with a shared plate of piyaz.
- Hibeş. A meze of tahini, lemon, garlic, red paprika and cumin, for dipping bread or as a sauce with meat.
- Gülüklü çorba. A wedding soup of chicken broth with small meatballs, chicken, rice and chickpeas, easiest to find in Alanya.
- Kabak çiçeği dolması. Courgette flowers stuffed with rice and herbs, cooked in olive oil and served warm or cold.
- Kabak tatlısı. Pumpkin cooked in sugar, served chilled with tahini and chopped walnuts.
- Yanık dondurma. Antalya's "burnt" ice cream, deliberately scorched at the bottom for a smoky taste.
- Bağaça. A local cookie of flour, tahini, cinnamon, sugar and mastic, often baked for Ramadan.
Ordering tips
- Piyaz restaurants usually serve one portion of piyaz for the table and a portion of şiş köfte for each person.
- Piyaz suits vegetarians; ask for it without egg (yumurtasız) if you prefer.
Want to try piyaz in Aksu or the old town on your way from the airport? Add an extra stop to your transfer for €20, or book a car with a driver for a food day.
Frequently asked questions
What is Antalya's most famous dish?
Tahinli piyaz, a white bean salad with tahini sauce, usually eaten with şiş köfte.
Is tahinli piyaz vegetarian?
Yes. It is beans, onion, tomato, egg and tahini; ask for it without egg for a vegan version.
What is burnt ice cream?
Yanık dondurma, an Antalya speciality whose bottom is deliberately burnt to give it a smoky flavour.