Şanlıurfa, known as 'The City of Prophets', is one of Turkey's most spiritually and historically significant destinations. Situated in southeastern Anatolia near the Syrian border, it is revered as the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham and is home to Göbekli Tepe, the world's oldest known temple complex dating to 12,000 years ago. The city blends ancient cave shrines, sacred carp pools, a labyrinthine bazaar, Ottoman-era mosques, and a living tradition of storytelling gatherings called Sıra Geceleri. Its spice-laden cuisine—featuring liver kebab, cig köfte, and beyran soup—is one of Turkey's most distinctive.
Şanlıurfa's food culture is shaped by the Fertile Crescent: intense spices (especially Urfa biber), grilled meats, legume-heavy stews, and flatbreads dominate. The city claims to be the birthplace of both çiğ köfte (spiced bulgur rolls) and a distinct style of liver kebab (ciğer kebabı) eaten wrapped in lavaş with fresh herbs. Beyran — a rich lamb broth with rice, garlic, and chili — is consumed as breakfast. Sıra (fresh grape juice) is the traditional non-alcoholic drink.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Cevahir Konuk Evi Restaurant
Popular Urfa cuisine restaurant in Şanlıurfa.
Known for: Traditional Urfa feast with liver kebab, çiğ köfte, and piyaz
Dergah Mah., Balıklıgöl Cad., Şanlıurfa
Hacı Hafız Kebap Salonu
Popular Kebab / Urfa specialties restaurant in Şanlıurfa.
Known for: Urfa kebab and ciğer wrapped in lavaş bread
Kapalı Çarşı Arkası, Şanlıurfa
İkbal Lokantası
Popular Home-style Turkish / Urfa restaurant in Şanlıurfa.
Known for: Lunchtime trays (tepsi yemek) with lamb stews and dried okra
Sarayönü Mah., İkbal Cad., Şanlıurfa
Ciğerci Mehmet Usta
Popular Liver kebab specialist restaurant in Şanlıurfa.
Known for: Freshly grilled lamb liver wrapped in lavaş with herbs
Köprübaşı Mah., Şanlıurfa
Beyran Ustası
Popular Traditional Urfa soup house restaurant in Şanlıurfa.
Known for: Beyran — rich lamb and rice soup traditionally eaten for breakfast
Dergah Mah., Şanlıurfa
Köşk Restaurant
Popular Urfa / Anatolian restaurant in Şanlıurfa.
Known for: Grilled meats and meze platters in a garden setting
Yenişehir Mah., Şanlıurfa
Güneydoğu Sofrası
Popular Southeastern Anatolian restaurant in Şanlıurfa.
Known for: Sini kebab (tray-roasted lamb) and grape-leaf dolma
Eyyübiye Mah., Şanlıurfa
Meydan Kebap
Popular Kebab restaurant in Şanlıurfa.
Known for: Mixed kebab platters with bulgur pilaf
Karaköprü Mah., Şanlıurfa
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Turkish
Çardak Restaurant
Known for: Grilled meats in a vine-covered garden; excellent for families
Yenişehir Mah., Şanlıurfa
Hamdibey Restoran
Known for: Whole grilled lamb shoulder (bütün kuzu) by advance order
Köprübaşı Mah., Şanlıurfa
Gülhan Restaurant
Known for: Large family-style platters; children's menu available
Yenişehir Mah., Şanlıurfa
Bıçakçı Lokantası
Known for: Daily-changing tray dishes (tepsi yemek); very cheap lunch
Köprübaşı Mah., Şanlıurfa
Mado Şanlıurfa
Mado is a nationwide Turkish chain built around Kahramanmaraş-style dondurma, and the Şanlıurfa branch on Atatürk Bulvarı follows the same format: a bright, air-conditioned café room with display cases of ice cream and baklava rather than a traditional Urfa teahouse setting. It's a reliable stop for something cold and sweet after a heavy kebab or lahmacun meal in the summer heat.
Known for: Dondurma (stretchy Turkish ice cream) and baklava
Atatürk Blv., Şanlıurfa
Hilton Garden Inn Restaurant
This is the in-house restaurant of the Hilton Garden Inn on Atatürk Bulvarı, serving an international menu alongside regional staples for hotel guests and business travelers rather than a destination in its own right. The dining room has the standard chain-hotel look — carpeted, brightly lit, arranged for buffet service.
Known for: International buffet breakfast with Urfa regional specialties
Yenişehir Mah., Atatürk Blv. No:145, Şanlıurfa
Güzel Restoran
Known for: Generous portion sizes; popular with local families on weekends
Yenişehir Mah., Şanlıurfa
Beverages
Şanlıurfa Bakırcılar Çarşısı Çay Bahçesi
Known for: Turkish tea, Turkish coffee, and simit in the bazaar atmosphere
Bakırcılar Çarşısı, Şanlıurfa
Şıra Evi (Traditional Grape Juice House)
A şıra evi is a traditional Urfa institution built around şıra, the sweet, unfermented grape juice that's a local specialty rather than something found across most of Turkey. These houses are typically simple, low-slung rooms with cushioned benches around the walls, meant for sitting and talking rather than a quick bite.
Known for: Şıra — freshly pressed grape juice, Urfa's beloved non-alcoholic drink
Dergah Mah., Şanlıurfa
Pide
Sedef Pide ve Lahmacun
Known for: Wood-fired pide with ground lamb and cheese
Yenişehir Mah., Şanlıurfa
Mevlana Pide
Known for: Çiğ köfteli pide — pide topped with Urfa-style çiğ köfte
Karaköprü Mah., Şanlıurfa
Kebab
Doğan Kebap
Known for: Fıstıklı kebab (kebab with pistachios) — a Şanlıurfa signature
Eyyübiye Mah., Şanlıurfa
Lahmacun
Lahmacun Ustası
Known for: Thin-crust lahmacun with spiced lamb, rolled with parsley and lemon
Köprübaşı Mah., Şanlıurfa
Mixed Street Food
Tarihi Urfa Bazaar Food Stalls
The stalls inside and around Şanlıurfa's historic Kapalı Çarşı are less a restaurant than a working spice and produce market, with vendors selling isot (Urfa biber) by the sack alongside dried figs, pistachios and other nuts. Food here is bought by weight or by the piece rather than ordered from a menu, and much of it is meant to be taken home rather than eaten on the spot.
Known for: Roasted corn, spiced nuts, Urfa biber dried peppers, and freshly made çiğ köfte
Kapalı Çarşı, Şanlıurfa
Urfa Cuisine
Urfa Sofrası
Known for: Full Urfa spread — meze, kebab, and desserts
Sarayönü Mah., Şanlıurfa
Urfa Sweets
Katmer Ustası
Known for: Katmer — flaky pastry filled with pistachios and clotted cream
Dergah Mah., Şanlıurfa
Çiğ Köfte Specialist
Meşhur Urfa Çiğ Köfteci
Known for: Authentic hand-kneaded çiğ köfte (vegan spiced bulgur mix) — the original Urfa version
Dergah Mah., Şanlıurfa
Food tours & tastings in Şanlıurfa
Eat your way through Şanlıurfa with a guide.
Browse food experiences in ŞanlıurfaWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Çiğ köfte dürüm
Spiced bulgur roll, everywhere in the city
Price: 30–60 TRY / ~$0.90–$1.80 USD
Liver kebab wrap
Lavaş-wrapped grilled liver from stalls near the bazaar
Price: 60–100 TRY / ~$1.80–$3 USD
Lahmacun
Thin flatbread with lamb; roll with lemon and parsley
Price: 30–50 TRY / ~$0.90–$1.50 USD
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Kapalı Çarşı (Covered Bazaar)
Best for Urfa biber, dried figs, pistachios, local spices, and tahin-pekmez (sesame-molasses). Open Mon–Sat 08:00–18:00.
Cumartesi Pazarı (Saturday Market)
Weekly open-air market with produce, spices, and local cheeses. Held every Saturday morning near Yenişehir district.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch (12:00–14:00) is the main meal of the day; restaurants are busiest then.
Ask for 'acı' (spicy) or 'aci olmadan' (without chili) when ordering — Urfa food can be very fiery.
Tipping 10% is customary at sit-down restaurants; not expected at street food stalls.
Bring cash — many small lokantalar do not accept cards.
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. |