Last Updated on March 27, 2026 by Adrienne
Food is a huge part of travel for me, and while kids don’t tend to be as adventurous as us grown-ups, we found a lot of excellent kid-friendly local food to enjoy on our recent family trip to Turkey.
Dondurma (Turkish ice cream)
What kid doesn’t like ice cream? I think Turkey has some of the best ice cream in the world, and you know how much I love gelato, so you know what a bold claim that is. They add ingredients to make it chewier and less melty than regular ice cream and it’s so good. Pistachio is a classic flavor but there are also tons of more kid-friendly options like chocolate and vanilla everywhere.
Parents should know that street ice cream vendors love to play around with kids and pretend to offer the ice cream before quickly pulling it back (and then usually adding a bit more before giving it back). Older kids will likely find this amusing, but toddlers and preschoolers may need a head’s up to avoid tears.
Pide (Turkish pizza)
While you can find western-style pizza on a decent number of restaurant menus in touristy areas, it’s also a must when visiting Turkey to try Turkish pizza, known as pide, which is more like what Americans call flatbread.
Kebabs
Kebabs are probably the food foreigners most closely associate with Turkey, and they are indeed everywhere. You can normally get beef, lamb or chicken varieties, and they tend to not be spicy at all unless you specifically seek that out.
Köfte (Turkish meatballs)
If kebabs are slightly too adventurous for your kids, köfte may be more familiar. These look a lot like the meatballs we normally eat in the US, although they’re seasoned a little differently.
Börek
Börek are little pastries wrapped in phyllo dough, sort of like spanakopita but better (in my opinion!). The fillings are often kid-friendly things like cheese or potatoes, although spinach is also popular.
Manti (Turkish dumplings)
If you or your kids are pasta lovers, make sure you try manti, Turkish dumplings that are typically filled with meat and topped with yogurt sauce. Heavenly!
Simit (Turkish bagels)
Simit are referred to as Turkish bagels by locals, but are more like a cross between a pretzel and an American bagel. You’ll see these on many hotel breakfast buffets.
Gözleme
Gözleme is a savory Turkish dish consisting of a filling between two thin breads that are fried in a griddle or pan, kind of like a quesadilla. Common fillings include cheese, spinach and minced meat, and you can also find sweet varieties. It’s a popular street food and also appeared on some of our hotel breakfast buffets.
Revani
One of the most popular Turkish desserts is revani, a light semolina sponge cake soaked in a citrusy syrup and often topped with pistachios. I’m not a big fan of citrus flavor in general, but the flavors in revani are so delicate I found it really delicious.
Apple Tea
Apple “tea” was offered to us everywhere we went and my 6 year old loved it. It tastes more like warm apple cider than traditional tea and doesn’t have caffeine. And for the grown ups, don’t miss traditional Turkish tea and Turkish coffee, both of which are delicious.
Turkish Delight
Turkey’s most famous sweet, these gelatinous treats come in flavors like rosewater, pomegranate, pistachio and lemon, and are great with a cup of Turkish coffee. The big covered markets in Istanbul like the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar are a great place to buy Turkish delight, known as lokum in Turkish.
