{"id":60470,"date":"2026-03-19T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/what-to-eat-in-eskisehir-eskisehir-flavor-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T10:55:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T07:55:52","slug":"what-to-eat-in-eskisehir-flavor-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/what-to-eat-in-eskisehir-flavor-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What to eat in Eski\u015fehir? Eski\u015fehir flavor guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The signature flavors of the city: \u00c7ib\u00f6rek, balaban, and Met halva<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Renowned
Renowned \u00e7ib\u00f6rek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When Eski\u015fehir cuisine comes to mind, the first things that come up are flour-based dishes, the use of poppy seeds, and the deep imprint of migration cuisine. The most well-known dish of this culinary tradition is undoubtedly \u00e7ib\u00f6rek. This flavor, introduced to the city through Crimean Tatar culture, is made by sealing a filling of minced meat, onion, and spices inside an ultra-thin sheet of dough and frying it in hot oil. You can experience this geographically registered classic in its most authentic form within the historic atmosphere of Odunpazar\u0131.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another signature dish of the city is balaban kebab, also known as balaban k\u00f6fte. The name, meaning \u201cvery large\u201d in Tatar, already hints at the generous portion. Cubed pieces of pide bread are soaked in meat broth, then topped with yogurt, tomato paste sauce, grilled meatballs, and skewered meat. The final touch, sizzling melted butter poured over the dish, turns balaban into a true feast. The sweet finale features another geographically registered legend, Met halva. With its aroma reminiscent of pi\u015fmaniye, this dessert leaves a lasting impression on the palate and also makes a wonderful gift to take home for loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A neighborhood guide to Eski\u015fehir\u2019s flavors: Where to eat what<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Odunpazar\u0131
Odunpazar\u0131 Modern Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Planning Eski\u015fehir\u2019s flavor stops by neighborhood helps you manage both your time and your appetite efficiently. If you enjoy a historic atmosphere, head straight to Odunpazar\u0131. After exploring the colorful wooden houses and visiting the architecturally notable Eski\u015fehir Modern Art Museum (OMM), when hunger sets in the local \u00e7ib\u00f6rek stands tucked into the narrow streets of the historic district offer great options to taste the city\u2019s famous fried pastry. However, since popular spots along this historic route can have lines, visiting earlier in the day can be very helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re craving a hearty, meat-focused meal, head to the Kurtulu\u015f neighborhood. This area is famous for its classic balaban kebab masters. Long-standing local spots that soak their pide bread in meat broth and serve the tradition of \u201cironed balaban\u201d in its purest form offer a truly authentic experience. Modern restaurants in the \u00c7ar\u015f\u0131 and Tepeba\u015f\u0131 districts also provide convenient options for a balaban or \u00e7ib\u00f6rek break because of their central locations. Tepeba\u015f\u0131 and the university area, the city\u2019s liveliest and most youthful side, offer a wide range of choices to fit every budget. Restaurants run by cultural associations stand out for their all-day service; meanwhile, the pide shops in Yeniba\u011flar, popular with university students, and the concept caf\u00e9s in Ho\u015fnudiye showcase the city\u2019s energetic vibe with affordable, flavorful options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From street eats to late-night snacks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Traditional
Traditional boza served with leblebi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While wandering through the city\u2019s historic streets on cold winter nights, the famous Eski\u015fehir boza, made from corn and served with a teaspoon, warms you from the inside. Another winter favorite is g\u00f6celi tarhana soup, which carries the flavors of Circassian cuisine. You can easily find this comforting flavor at local eateries. In this student city that rarely sleeps early, the most practical solution for late-night hunger is the night-time k\u00f6fte spots clustered around the train station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A day of flavors in Eski\u015fehir<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Porsuk
Porsuk River bank in Eski\u015fehir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For those eager to experience Eski\u015fehir fully, the city\u2019s rail system, ESTRAM, offers great convenience. Its tram network connects the bus terminal, City Hospital, and university stops, making travel between neighborhoods very easy. You can start your day around 09:00 with a walk along the Porsuk River, enjoying a freshly baked Eski\u015fehir simit. Around 11:00, heading to Odunpazar\u0131 and taking a \u00e7ib\u00f6rek break at an authentic spot that captures the spirit of the historic district is a fantastic plan.\u00a0After enjoying your coffee along the bazaar route in the afternoon, you can visit Atl\u0131han Crafts Bazaar or the area around Kur\u015funlu Complex to taste Met halva and nougat halva and pick up gifts for loved ones. Around 18:00, you can head to the Kurtulu\u015f neighborhood for that famous balaban kebab feast, and finish the night happily with a glass of boza. If you have more than a day, rather than just one, you can check out our article \u201cOne City, Three Days: Eski\u015fehir<\/a>\u201d to explore the city more broadly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The signature flavors of the city: \u00c7ib\u00f6rek, balaban, and Met halva When Eski\u015fehir cuisine comes to mind, the first things that come up are flour-based dishes, the use of poppy seeds, and the deep imprint of migration cuisine. The most well-known dish of this culinary tradition is undoubtedly \u00e7ib\u00f6rek. This flavor, introduced to the city […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":60476,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[145,1116,321,147,240],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-60470","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-destinations","8":"category-eskisehir-travel-guide","9":"category-eating-drinking","10":"category-trip-ideas","11":"category-turkey"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60470"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60535,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60470\/revisions\/60535"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}