Diyarbakır is southeastern Turkey's cultural capital, anchored by some 6 km of UNESCO-listed black basalt city walls—among the longest and best-preserved in the world. Perched above the Tigris River, the ancient walled city (Sur) shelters mosques, Armenian churches, Kurdish cultural centres and bustling bazaars that have thrived here for more than 7,000 years. The city is famous throughout Turkey for its colossal watermelons, its layered Anatolian-Kurdish cuisine and the plaintive vocal tradition of dengbêj storytellers.
Diyarbakır's cuisine is one of southeastern Turkey's most distinctive, built on lamb and offal cooked with local spices, wild herbs and seasonal produce. The city's signature dish, kaburga dolması (lamb rib cage stuffed with spiced rice, dried fruit and nuts then slow-cooked in a clay oven), is found at no other Turkish table. Meftune—a rich lamb and vegetable stew—reflects the region's agricultural abundance. Diyarbakır is also Turkey's undisputed watermelon capital; the local karpuz, grown in the Hevsel Gardens soil, can weigh up to 50 kg. Grilled liver (ciğer) is a street-food institution, eaten in the morning on Mezbaha Caddesi.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Selim Amca'nın Sofrası
Popular Diyarbakır regional restaurant in Diyarbakır.
Known for: Kaburga dolması and meftune stew
Gazi Caddesi No.1, Sur, Diyarbakır
Ciğerci Memo
Popular Grilled liver (ciğer) restaurant in Diyarbakır.
Known for: Freshly grilled sheep and lamb liver (ciğer)
Mezbaha Caddesi, Sur, Diyarbakır
Kebapçı Ahmet Usta
Popular Turkish kebab restaurant in Diyarbakır.
Known for: Adana and patlıcan kebab
İnönü Caddesi No.22, Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Şehir Lokantası
Popular Turkish home cooking restaurant in Diyarbakır.
Known for: Daily rotating stew and grilled meat dishes
Mardinkapı Mahallesi, Sur, Diyarbakır
Güneydoğu Lezzet Evi
Popular Southeastern Anatolian restaurant in Diyarbakır.
Known for: Kaburga dolması and küşleme
Kıbrıs Caddesi No.12, Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Çark-ı Felek Kahvaltı Salonu
Popular Turkish breakfast restaurant in Diyarbakır.
Known for: Southeastern-style breakfast spread
Ofis Mahallesi, Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Meftune Ev Yemekleri
Popular Diyarbakır regional restaurant in Diyarbakır.
Known for: Authentic meftune stew
Sur, Diyarbakır
Taş Köşk Restaurant
Popular Ottoman-Kurdish fusion restaurant in Diyarbakır.
Known for: Perde pilavı and special kaburga
Sur, Diyarbakır
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Turkish
Kaldırım Restoranı
Known for: Mixed grill platters
Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Lahmacuncu Zeynel
Known for: Wood-fired lahmacun
Gazi Caddesi, Sur, Diyarbakır
Dicle Bahçe Restaurant
Known for: Riverside grills and meze
Tigris River bank, south of Sur, Diyarbakır
Sarmaşık Cafe & Restaurant
Known for: Coffee and light meals
Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Su Restaurant Diyarbakır
Known for: Contemporary interpretations of regional dishes
Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Pide Salonu Mehmet Usta
Known for: Wood-fired pide
Sur, Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır Tatlıcısı
Known for: Kadayıf and sütlaç
Gazi Caddesi, Sur, Diyarbakır
Cumhuriyet Köftecisi
Known for: Köfte and pilav
Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Şelale Bahçe Restaurant
Known for: Family-style platters and grills
Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Anatolian Grill
Ocakbaşı Diyarbakır
Known for: Fireside grilled meats
Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Freshwater Fish
Balıkçı Hasan
Known for: Tigris River freshwater fish
Tigris Riverside, Diyarbakır
Grilled Liver
Hacı Özmen Ciğercisi
Known for: Diyarbakır-style skewered liver
Sur, Diyarbakır
Light Meals And Coffee
Vezir Han Cafe
Known for: Traditional Turkish coffee and gözleme
Sur, Diyarbakır
Ottoman
Hünkar Mutfağı
Known for: Ottoman-style stewed meats and pilav
Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Rural Anatolian
Köy Sofrası
Known for: Village-recipe slow-cooked dishes
Sur, Diyarbakır
Street Food
Fırın Çiğ Köfte ve Kebap
Known for: Çiğ köfte and lahmacun
Melek Ahmet Caddesi, Yenişehir, Diyarbakır
Tea And Snacks
Çay Bahçesi Hasanpaşa
Known for: Traditional çay (tea) in a historic setting
Hasanpaşa Han courtyard, Sur, Diyarbakır
Food tours & tastings in Diyarbakır
Eat your way through Diyarbakır with a guide.
Browse food experiences in DiyarbakırWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
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Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |