Forget the fine china and white linen. You can get your fill without draining your wallet. Whether for lunch or for dinner, there are a plenty of cheaper options available to local gourmets and visiting tourists in Istanbul.
Most of the cheaper places are simply known as "buffets" that sell burgers, wraps and sandwiches. One of the most typical Turkish style is the meat-wrap, called "dürüm". There are dürüm houses and dürüm wagons all around the city. Dürüm wagons park at an available spot during day and the night. At night, they serve hunger-struck clubbers.
Yet another typical Turkish style and cheap option is "balik - ekmek"; that is
fish and bread. Fish and bread wagons are not parked along a sidewalk; these are tiny fishermen' boats parked along the coast.
Whether a wagon, a ferry or a buffet; the following are fuss-free places; where you may be able to grab something for around 5 to 10 Euros. They also offer the opportunity to rub shoulders with everyday locals.
Haraççı Karamehmet Mh. Abdülezelpaşa Cd. No:7 34083 Fatih İstanbul, Turkey
İskele Meydanı 1, Anadolukavağı, Anadolukavağı, Istanbul, Türkiye
Istanbul Province, Turkey
Feriköy Mh. Açık Yol Sk. No:9/a 34377 Şişli İstanbul, Türkiye
Ahýrkapý Sok. 24 - Sultanahmet, Istanbul, 34122, Turkey
47 Şehit Muhtar Bey Caddesi, Kocatepe, İstanbul, Turkey
4 Büyükdere Caddesi, Levent, İstanbul, Turkey
Çarşıkapı Nuruosmaniye Cadessi 48
Turkish Delight...
Beylerbeyi İskele Cd
Mussel Restaurants Overlooking the Bosphorus...
Dalbastı Sokak, Sultanahmet, İstanbul, Turkey
Divanyolu Caddesi 66, Sultanahmet, Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey
Feriye Lokantası, Beşiktaş, Çırağan Cd, 40, 34349 Yıldız, Turkey
Alemdar Mh. Divan Yolu Cd. No:6 34110 Fatih İstanbul, Turkey
Tomtom Mh. Tosbağa Sk. No:8 34433 Beyoğlu İstanbul, Turkey
Eminönü, Ali Baba Türbe Sk, 34120 Mollafenari, Turkey
Köyiçi Sokak 32, Polonezköy, Istanbul, Türkiye
10 Camekan Sokak, Bereketzade, İstanbul, Turkey