These are places on the Asian side from my saved lists "Istanbul. To eat" and "little spots in Istanbul for Nastya": home-style Turkish cooking, a giant dürüm, Egyptian falafel, Indian and Hong Kong food, sushi and a Turkish breakfast in Moda. Where I have my own notes, they come first; the rest is put together from Google Maps reviews. Coffee shops in Kadıköy and Moda have their own article: 8 coffee shops in Kadıköy where I'd work with a laptop.
Prices are Google's average spend per person, valid as of 30 September 2026. Rate: 1 ₺ ≈ $0.020.
In short
- The Kadıköy classic: Çiya Sofrası, regional home cooking with a daily menu that keeps changing.
- Turkish breakfast: Deniz Nadide Duru Breakfast in Moda, with homemade jams and endless tea and bread. Only until 17:00, closed Mondays.
- Cheap and filling: the zurna dürüm at Asortik, shawarma at İst’klal (open 24 hours) and Egyptian falafel at KEM KÜM.
- When you're tired of kebabs: Indian at Spice Corner, Hong Kong food at 852, bowls at Mama Bowl and Kaen Sushi in Koşuyolu.
- For the view: the Big Chefs terrace over the sea in Moda, better for a coffee than for lunch.
Kadıköy
Çiya Sofrası
Kadıköy, Caferağa · regional Turkish · 600–1600 ₺ (≈$12–32) · daily 11:30–22:00, Fri–Sat until 22:30
Google Maps · website · Güneşlibahçe Sk.
According to Google Maps reviews (4.0 from 13,900+): a simple canteen of home-style regional cooking over three floors, with a rooftop terrace. The daily menu changes and the staff are happy to guide you; guests suggest simply asking them to put together a spread. Reviewers praise the lamb and aubergine casserole, mumbar, stuffed chard leaves and above all the lamb with garlic. The downside: some dishes feel overpriced, and the stuffed artichoke in particular disappointed several people for what it costs.
Asortik Cafe
Kadıköy, Osmanağa · dürüm & fast food · 200–600 ₺ (≈$4–12) · daily 11:00–2:00
Google Maps · Kazasker Sk.
According to Google Maps reviews (4.2 from 350+): the place to go for zurna dürüm, a huge wrap some 60–70 cm long with chicken or beef and plenty of vegetables. Big portions, quick service and very low prices; some people come every week. The downside: sometimes there's more salad than meat, so ask for less salad up front.
İst’klal Cafe Restaurant Pastane
Kadıköy, Osmanağa · shawarma, café & patisserie · 200–400 ₺ (≈$4–8) · open 24 hours
Google Maps · Halitağa Cd. 11-9
Seriously good shawarma.
According to Google Maps reviews (3.9 from 1,700+): a big place taking up a whole street corner, with food on one side and a patisserie with a huge choice of desserts on the other, plus breakfast, kumpir and a first-floor terrace. Not everyone is happy with the service, and reviewers advise checking your change.
Mustobarq Sokak Lezzetleri
Kadıköy, Osmanağa · street food · 400–600 ₺ (≈$8–12) · daily 10:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · Gençlik Sk. No:1/A
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 1,300+): a family-run spot opened by a MasterChef contestant. Reviewers praise the juicy burgers, tacos on an unusual dough, chef Mustafa's signature pizza and the bread. Prices are affordable, but not everyone is a fan: one review found the food average and the room not very clean, with several menu items unavailable.
KEM KÜM
Kadıköy, Osmanağa · Egyptian vegan street food · 200–400 ₺ (≈$4–8) · daily 12:00–22:00
Google Maps · Instagram · Pavlonya Sk. No:9
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 1,500+): a tiny Egyptian street-food spot, vegan and mostly gluten-free. The falafel is crisp outside and moist inside; reviewers love the falafel wrap, the mezze plate with four dips and homemade fries, the aubergine, the vegan moussaka and a dish of rice, pasta, lentils and chickpeas with crispy onions. The owner is very welcoming and will tell you how much to order: portions are generous and prices low.
Spice Corner Indian Restaurant
Kadıköy, Osmanağa · Indian · 400–1200 ₺ (≈$8–24) · daily 12:30–22:30, Fri from 14:00
Google Maps · Körler Sk. 6a
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 780+): one of the best Indian restaurants in Kadıköy, guests say, including those for whom it tastes like home. The star is the biryani (the house special and the shrimp one); reviewers also praise the spinach, the dal makhani and the chicken corn soup. Big portions, quick and friendly service, a cosy room.
852 Hong Kong Restaurant
Kadıköy, Caferağa · Hong Kong food · 800–1600 ₺ (≈$16–32) · Tue–Fri 15:00–22:00, Sat–Sun 12:00–22:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · Instagram · Şevkibey Sk. No:42–44
Chinese food.
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 530+): people praise the smoky prawn fried rice, the beef fried noodles and the friendly owner, but reviews are uneven: part of the menu is often unavailable, some dishes and dim sum disappoint, and prices are on the high side.
Mama Bowl Kitchen
Kadıköy, Caferağa · bowls & healthy food · 400–600 ₺ (≈$8–12) · Mon–Fri 11:15–20:15, Sat 12:15–20:15, closed Sun
Google Maps · website · Keresteci Aziz Sk. 27A
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 480+): a cosy, homely café near Moda with bowls for every diet: vegan, gluten-free, chicken. Reviewers like the falafel bowl, the seitan and tofu bowls, the spinach pasta and the homemade lemonade; calories are listed on the menu. The downside: the food is lightly seasoned, and some found it bland, the wraps especially.
Kaen Sushi
Koşuyolu · sushi & Japanese · daily 12:00–23:00
Google Maps · website · Asmadalı Sk. No:6
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 3,400+): a stylish Japanese restaurant that many call the best sushi on the Asian side. Reviewers praise the freshness and quality, the poke bowls, beef gyoza, attentive service and the evening DJ. Not cheap; reserved tables come with a two-hour limit, and it's worth asking for a table outside, since not everyone likes the vibe indoors.
Moda
Deniz Nadide Duru Breakfast
Moda · Turkish breakfast · 800–1000 ₺ (≈$16–20) · Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · Instagram · Gürbüztürk Sk. No:29/B
According to Google Maps reviews (4.8 from 1,100+): a family place where a mother and son cook and host, and it feels like breakfast at someone's home. Reviewers praise the Turkish breakfast (there's a version with meat), the menemen and above all the wide choice of homemade jams; guests even take jars of the poppy-petal jam home. Tea and bread keep coming. You may wait a little for a table; large groups should come early.
Big Chefs Moda Teras
Moda · restaurant with a terrace · 800–1800 ₺ (≈$16–36) · daily 9:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · Moda Mektebi Sk. No:1
Looks interesting, but I haven't been yet.
According to Google Maps reviews (3.8 from 5,400+): a branch of a chain with a huge menu and a terrace above the sea; people come for the view and the brunch, most call the food average, so a coffee or a cocktail is the safer order.
One last thing
Check the opening hours: breakfast at Deniz Nadide Duru runs only until 17:00, Mama Bowl closes at 20:15, and 852 doesn't open until 15:00 on weekdays. Around the Kadıköy market, though, you can eat late: Asortik is open until 2:00, İst’klal around the clock. And mind the days off: Deniz Nadide Duru and 852 are closed on Mondays, Mama Bowl on Sundays.
More on Istanbul: where to drink, where to eat on the European side.