Where To Eat in Alanya?
Being a foodie, one of the first things I like to do when I travel is to try the traditional cuisine and local specialties of the places I visit. I believe that food isn’t only a necessity but also a key to understanding more about a culture. It tells so much about the place, its history, and the lifestyle of the locals. Food is a form of communication; it isn't only about taking, but also giving by appreciating the history of the locals. Especially if you visit smaller establishments and have a chance to talk to those preparing your food, you can acquire an understanding of how important it is for them, too.
Being a Mediterranean district, Alanya has a very rich and flavorful cuisine. But unfortunately, with the passing of time, due to becoming more and more touristic, local eateries lost their importance. This pushed some eateries to either change their menu to tourist-oriented dishes, or for some, it meant closing their businesses. This is also why I find it very important to support small local restaurants so that we can keep them, and the cultural aspects they add, part of the place they come from.
In light of this, I am going to give you a list of where you can find smaller local eateries, but I’ll also include other places that are less traditional, so you can consider what interests you.
1- Yöresel Alanya Ev Mutfağı Esma Hanım’ın Yeri
If you ask me, this is the best place you can eat the real local food of Alanya. I fell in love with the diversity of food, and how they really stuck to the original recipes. You can find a menu of two pages only filled with local food, which also makes it harder to pick from.
When I went there, first I ordered their famous traditional soup called Güllük Çorbası, which is made with little meatballs, shredded chicken, rice, and chickpeas. Some even consider this soup a meal on its own, as it's quite filling.
Then I went for a side dish called Taratorlu Kızartma, fried veggies topped with a walnut sauce. It was amazing and I would recommend you give it a try.
Such a meal must be cherished with something sweet for sure, so I went for a Kabak Tatlısı, a sweet pumpkin dessert. I have to admit that it was the best I ever had in all of the region of Antalya. Initially, I was going to order a dessert that is specific to Alanya, called Öksüz Helvası, but that day they didn't have it on the menu. It is a type of halva, a semolina dessert, made with molasses, which gives it a very dark color. If you are able to have it, I would definitely give it a try.
Not only is the food incredible, but the atmosphere is also very authentic and nice, surrounded by trees. Being located near the otogar (bus station) and Kleopatra Beach makes it easy to access. Definitely don’t forget to add this place to your list of places to visit in Alanya. Enjoy!
One of the main things I like most about this place is its location, lying just next to the Kızıl Kule, Red Tower. Especially at night, the scenery is incredible, with the lightened Tower, and the city lights of Alanya in the back.
When compared to Esma Abla’s place, they have fewer options, but still have tasty local dishes. You can go for Breakfast to start your day off, which is a good choice to make if you want to have breakfast in a nice, calm place, and still feel the authentic vibe of the old town. There’s also the option to have lunch or dinner and enjoy freshly prepared local food. They don’t have a strict menu, so every day you can find something different.
4- Çıtırım Fırın
Çıtırım Fırın is a bakery, not specific to cuisine from Alanya, but I wanted to add this place to my list because their pastries are high-quality and extremely delicious.
Before heading to the beach early in the morning, I grabbed a pastry for breakfast on the beach, which was even more fun than sitting in a cafe. I enjoyed the nice view and relaxing atmosphere, especially since it was early enough to avoid the crowds. I would highly recommend you do the same and enjoy your morning at the beach!
3- Mini Mutfak
This place is located in the center of Alanya, near the Main street called Hükümet Caddesi. They have an open buffet with a variety of dishes to choose from. They used to serve local cuisine, but they changed their menu to accommodate a more international palate.
Apart from this, the place is very nice and cute, in a calm spot. The food is very delicious, and it's also fast and easy, as you don’t have to wait for the food to be cooked and prepared.
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