Bodrum is not only famous for its sea and sun, but also for its rich cuisine that charms visitors. Known for its history and natural beauty, Bodrum also stands out with its food culture. Combining the best examples of Aegean and Mediterranean cuisine, Bodrum offers unforgettable tastes from fresh seafood to tables full of olive oil dishes. There are many dishes you must try during your food tour. Here are some examples:
Having Breakfast in Bodrum
Spread Breakfast
One of the best ways to start the day in Bodrum is with a spread breakfast. Among the various cheeses, Ezine, Tulum, and Kashar stand out. Olive varieties are offered in black and green, sometimes prepared with thyme or lemon. Honey is usually a natural and organic treat you can find, and butter is chosen from fresh village products. The jams are made from fruits like strawberries, cherries, and figs, each offering a distinct taste. These breakfasts appeal to both the eye and the stomach, completed with brewed tea or freshly squeezed juice. Ha La Hotel and Bozukbağ Kahvaltıcısı are ideal places to experience this joy, offering rich breakfast options perfectly.
Gözleme
Gözleme is one of the must-try tastes of the Aegean region, made by placing different fillings between thinly rolled dough. Frequently found in Bodrum, this treat is usually enriched with cheese, potatoes, or herb mixes. Cheese gözleme is typically prepared with a mix of white cheese and kashar cheese, while potato gözleme is made with spice-flavored mashed potatoes. Herb gözleme is enriched with fresh greens, spinach, or chard. To enjoy this flavorful experience, you can visit Daşdibi Kahvaltı & Kafe.
Menemen
Menemen is one of the must-have tastes on breakfast tables. The juicy and sweet aroma of fresh tomatoes, the slight bitterness of green peppers, and the creamy texture of eggs combine to create a perfect harmony. Lightly sautéed tomatoes and peppers in olive oil reach the dish's unique consistency after adding eggs and cooking on low heat. Fresh parsley or thyme sprinkled on top adds extra flavor to menemen, and you can achieve a richer taste by adding some white cheese if you like. Eating a hot, steaming menemen with fresh bread makes your breakfast unforgettable. The menemen prepared at Vamos Bodrum is a great choice to experience this taste.
Dinner
Seafood
Bodrum is famous for its fresh seafood. Grilled fish varies by season, with sea bass and bream being popular choices. Fried calamari is made crispy on the outside and soft inside. Fried shrimp, combined with garlic and butter, leaves an unforgettable taste. Grilled octopus is tender and flavorful when cooked properly. These unique flavors are served with a stunning seaside view. Places like Hadi Balık Bistro Bodrum and Berk Balık Restaurant are great for fresh seafood.
Lamb Tandoor
Don't leave Bodrum without trying lamb tandoor! At Otantik Ocakbaşı, the lamb is slowly cooked until tender. The process starts with marinating the lamb with spices, then cooking it in its juice at low heat for hours. It's served with fresh thyme and cumin, enhancing its flavor. The meal is completed with grilled veggies and buttered rice. With its amazing smell and tender texture, lamb tandoor is a lasting delight.
Pide
Pide, a traditional Aegean pastry, is a popular dish in Bodrum. It comes with various toppings like cheese, minced meat, sausage, pastrami, or mixed flavors. Each type offers a different taste experience and caters to all preferences. Pide is usually baked in stone ovens, giving it a special aroma and crispness. Eski Köy Restaurant is a popular spot for pide in Bodrum.
Lahmacun
Lahmacun is another tasty Aegean dish with a thin, crispy crust topped with spicy minced meat. It's often served with lemon and parsley. It's light yet delicious, making it a frequent choice for lunch or dinner. The thin dough combined with well-cooked minced meat is irresistible for many. Hacı Baba Anteplim Lahmacun is a great place for lahmacun in Bodrum.
Street Foods
Ice Cream
One of the best ways to cool down in Bodrum's heat is by eating ice cream. At Bitez Dondurmacısı, you can find many tasty flavors. You should try the mastic gum, black mulberry, and melon ice creams.
Kokoreç
Kokoreç is a delicious street food made from lamb or beef intestines, chopped finely with spices. It is usually flavored with salt, thyme, red pepper, and cumin. It is cooked over a fire until crispy and can have tomatoes and peppers added for extra taste. You might be drawn in by its smell in Bodrum's streets at night. You can enjoy this dish at Kokoreççi Adem Usta, which is open until 4 AM.
Simit
Simit and fried dough are street foods you can find in Bodrum. Warm simits and fried dough can be a part of your breakfast in the morning. Simit is known for its sesame-covered outside and soft inside. It is usually made with flour, water, yeast, and molasses. Flour gives it a special texture, while water and yeast help it rise. Molasses gives simit its shiny, golden color and a sweet taste. Sesame seeds add a crunchy texture. Fried dough is a puffy bread fried in oil. It contains flour, water, yeast, and salt. It has a crunchy outside and a soft, slightly oily inside. You can add cheese or olives if you want. You can find these at Bodrum Simitçisi.
Desserts
Baklava
Baklava is one of the most famous sweets from Turkish cuisine. It's made by layering thin pastry sheets with walnuts or pistachios. This unique taste is especially enriched with ingredients like pistachios and walnuts. The secret of baklava lies in the thinness of the pastry and the quality of ingredients. Pistachios add a special aroma and flavor, while walnuts offer a richer taste. The syrup is lightly boiled to the right consistency and poured over the baklava to satisfy your sweet cravings. Öz Gaziantep Baklavacım and Mirzaoğlu Baklavaları are recommended places for baklava.
Semolina Halva and Revani
Semolina halva and revani are two indispensable sweets of Turkish cuisine. Semolina halva is prepared by roasting semolina with butter and mixing it with sugar, leaving a lasting flavor with its smell and taste. The butter used in halva gives a rich taste, and when it meets sugar, the caramelized taste makes the halva unique. Revani is known for its soft texture and slight moisture from the syrup. The main ingredients of Revani include flour, yogurt, eggs, and semolina. When the baked cake meets warm syrup, all the flavors combine to delight sweet lovers. You can experience these traditional flavors at Helvacı Ali in Bodrum Marina.
Şekerpare
Şekerpare is a sweet with a dough made from basic ingredients like flour, semolina, and butter, which melts in the mouth. When it meets the hot syrup poured over it, this taste becomes a feast. Enriched with almond or hazelnut pieces, şekerpare leaves a unique taste on the palate. Taze Anne Yemeği is one of the best places for this sweet, and each şekerpare is skillfully prepared and perfectly cooked. This place also offers a wide variety of desserts, all always fresh and delicious, making it a real feast for dessert lovers.
Vegetarian Options
Olive Oil Dishes
Olive oil dishes are a must in Bodrum cuisine and are a great choice for vegetarians. Olive oil artichokes are made by cooking fresh artichoke hearts with olive oil, lemon, and dill. Olive oil okra gains flavor by cooking fresh okra slowly with tomatoes and onions in olive oil. Fresh green beans are cooked with finely chopped onions and tomatoes in plenty of olive oil and served cold. You can find these delicious olive oil dishes at Sade Bodrum Restaurant.
Appetizers
Hummus, fava, and baba ghanoush are among the top vegetarian choices you can try in Bodrum, each with its own unique flavor. Hummus, originating from the Middle East, is made from chickpeas and tahini. Olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and spices are added to create a creamy and rich taste. The key to good hummus is fresh ingredients and balanced spices.
Fava is known as fava bean puree and is an essential part of Mediterranean cuisine. Well-cooked fava beans are pureed, then combined with lemon juice, olive oil, and finely chopped dill, making it a light and refreshing appetizer. The texture and taste of fava can vary based on the quality of the beans and cooking time.
Baba ghanoush is famous for its smoky flavors from roasted eggplants. After roasting, the eggplants are chopped and mixed with yogurt, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice. This makes baba ghanoush a rich and flavorful appetizer. It can be topped with pomegranate seeds or parsley for presentation.
Among Bodrum's unique beauties, you can enjoy an unforgettable dining experience with these tasty appetizers. At Bodrum's Mezecisi, you can try these unique flavors and enjoy them in Bodrum's special atmosphere.
Knowing what and where to eat in Bodrum will make exploring this unique city even more enjoyable. As you journey through the rich cuisine of the Aegean and the unique flavors of Bodrum, savor each meal. Remember, Bodrum is not just a paradise with its sea and sun, but also with its food! While planning this food adventure, consider our restaurant recommendations to fully enjoy Bodrum's flavors.