The Turkish menus often have English translations to make the life of the tourists easier. Unfortunately, a fair share of the restaurants in Istanbul either didn’t put much effort in the translations or didn’t have enough money to hire a professional.
Although some of these translations are hilarious, if you want to be sure what kind of food you are ordering, then you’ll find this last post in the Turkish Language for Tourists series very convenient.
Eating out
| bill | hesap |
| bottle | şişe |
| bowl | kase |
| breakfast | kahvaltı |
| chef | şef |
| cup | fincan |
| dessert | tatlı |
| dinner | akşam yemeği |
| enjoy your meal | afiyet olsun |
| food | yemek |
| fork | çatal |
| glass | bardak |
| knife | bıçak |
| lunch | öğle yemeği |
| main course | ana yemek |
| menu | yemek listesi / menü |
| plate | tabak |
| rare (cooked) | az pişmiş |
| serviette | peçete |
| spoon | kaşık |
| starter | meze |
| sugar | şeker |
| table | masa |
| tip | bahşiş |
| waiter / waitress | garson |
| well done | iyi pişmiş |
| wine list | şarap listesi |
Menu Decoder
| alabalık | trout |
| ançüez | anchovies |
| armut | pear |
| aşure | dessert with wheat grains, nuts and dried fruit |
| ayran | yoghurt drink |
| badem | almonds |
| baklava | dessert, pastry filled with nuts and syrup |
| bal | honey |
| balık | fish |
| beyaz peynir | white cheese |
| beyaz şarap | white wine |
| biber | peppers |
| biber dolması | stuffed green peppers |
| biftek | steak |
| bira | beer |
| bonfile | fillet steak |
| böbrek | kidneys |
| börek | layered pastry with cheese/meat/spinach filling |
| buz | ice |
| ceviz | walnuts |
| ciğer | liver |
| çay | tea |
| çiğ köfte | raw spicy meatballs |
| çikolata | chocolate |
| çilek | strawberry |
| çipura | bream |
| çorba | soup |
| dana eti | veal |
| dana rozbif | roast veal |
| dolma | vegetables stuffed with rice (and meat) |
| domates | tomatoes |
| dondurma | ice cream |
| döner kebap | lamb grilled on a spit and served in thin slices |
| ekmek | bread |
| elma | apple |
| elma suyu | apple juice |
| enginar | artichokes |
| et | meat |
| etli | with meat |
| ezme | purée |
| fasulye | beans |
| fındık | hazelnuts |
| fırın | baked |
| füme | smoked |
| gazoz | fizzy drink |
| greyfurt | grapefruit |
| güveç | meat and vegetable stew |
| hamsi | anchovy |
| hardal | mustard |
| havuç | carrot |
| helva | sweet made from cereal, nuts, sesame oil and honey |
| hindi | turkey |
| ıspanak | spinach |
| ıstakoz | lobster |
| ızgara | grilled |
| içecek | beverage |
| içki | alcoholic drink |
| jambon | ham |
| kabak | courgettes |
| kahve | coffee |
| kakao | cocoa |
| kalkan | turbot |
| kara biber | black pepper |
| karışık | mixed |
| karides | prawns |
| karnıbahar | cauliflower |
| karnıyarık | split aubergines with meat filling |
| karpuz | water melon |
| kavun | honey-dew melon |
| kaz | goose |
| kebap | roast meat |
| kek | cake |
| kereviz | celery |
| kestane | chestnuts |
| kılıç balığı | swordfish |
| kırmızı biber | paprika |
| kırmızı şarap | red wine |
| kıyma | minced meat |
| kıymalı | with minced meat |
| kiraz | cherries |
| kokoreç | lambs’ intestines grilled on a spit |
| köfte | meatballs |
| krema | cream |
| kuru | dried |
| kuşbaşı | small pieces of casseroled meat |
| kuzu eti | lamb |
| lahmacun | pancakes with spicy meat filling |
| levrek | sea bass |
| likör | liqueur |
| limon | lemon |
| makarna | pasta |
| mantar | mushroom |
| mantı | type of ravioli |
| marmelat | jam |
| mercimek | lentil |
| meze | starter |
| mısır | corn |
| midye | mussel |
| muz | banana |
| nane | mint |
| nar | pomegranate |
| omlet | omelets |
| ördek | duck |
| pasta | dessert |
| patates | potatoes |
| patlıcan | aubergines |
| peynir | cheese |
| peynirli | with cheese |
| pide | pita bread |
| pilav | rice |
| piliç | chicken |
| pirinç | rice |
| portakal | oranges |
| portakal suyu | orange juice |
| püre | purée |
| rakı | Turkish national anise-flavored spirit |
| reçel | jam |
| rosto | roasted |
| sade | plain |
| salata | salad |
| salatalık | cucumber |
| sandviç | sandwich |
| sardalya | sardines |
| sarımsak | garlic |
| sebze | vegetables |
| soğan | onions |
| sos | sauce |
| sosis | sausage |
| su | water |
| sucuk | Turkish sausage with spices and garlic |
| süt | milk |
| sütlü | with milk |
| şarap | wine |
| şeftali | peach |
| şeker | sugar |
| şiş | cooked on a skewer |
| tatlı | sweet, dessert |
| tavşan | rabbit |
| tavuk | chicken |
| taze | fresh |
| tereyağı | butter |
| tost | toast |
| tuz | salt |
| üzüm | grape |
| vanilya | vanilla |
| viski | whisky |
| votka | vodka |
| yağ | oil, fat |
| yoğurt | yoghurt |
| yumurta | egg |
| zeytin | olive |
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