Ultimate Istanbul Street Food Tour (ft. a whole baked potato neighborhood)

Nothing connects you to the heart of a city quite like it's street food. Today we leave the historic peninsula of Istanbul, Türkiye (Turkey) in search of a more local experience.
We start with breakfast, Simit at Galata Simitcisi. This is Turkey's version of a bagel, and is seen all over the city, but the ones at Simitcisi are guaranteed to be fresh!
Next we head up a MASSIVE hill to Taksim square, where we follow the banging of the spoon to an ice cream shop. Turkish ice cream (dondurma) is unique because it is thicker than your typical ice cream! You can chew it! Be warned to ask for prices before ordering. We forgot to ask before we ordered, then were served two ice creams instead of one despite Ivan's protests. He even quoted us $2 more than we paid, but Ivan said "no that doesn't sound right" and he pulled out a hidden piece of paper with "marked prices" that showed $2 less. Trickery is part of the Turkish ice cream experience, and the show is a good time, but this isn't really the best version of the ice cream. Before we leave Turkey I want to try the more gourmet Turkish ice cream to give it a fair chance.
Next we eat lamb intestine sandwiches (kokorec) at Mercan Kokorec. This chain is all over the city, and this street food is immensely popular. We wound up here just by following a long line of locals!
I (Madison) am not a mussel fan, but I knew that street food stuffed mussels (midye dolma) were a snack that Ivan needed to try! Midyeci Ahmet is THE SPOT for these mussels, known all over social media and throughout the city, and they were SO delicious that Ivan ordered more despite how much we're eating today!
Our last stop is Maya Kumpir in Ortaköy, a neighborhood KNOWN for it's street food potatoes. What I didn't fully realize is that meant there would be over 30 potato vendors in one block! They stuff those things full, we got ours with "everything" and it was absolutely delicious. Eating these ridiculous potatoes next to a beautiful mosque with a view of the bridge between Europe and Asia, is a strange, incredible experience that I won't soon forget.
Thanks for joining us! We’re so thankful you’re along for the journey with us!
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Welcome to madventure, we're MADison and iVEN (okay it is spelled Ivan, but pronounced like VENture) a husband and wife living the adventure we have been dreaming of, despite the fact that it makes us sound completely mad. For us that looks like traveling full time and starting our own businesses.
For Madison, a former reality TV producer, the dream is the madventure community, connecting people through travel, experiencing new cultures, and trying the best foods from carts, stands and restaurants all over the world. She hopes to encourage others to follow their maddest most adventurous dreams, whatever they may be!
For Ivan, a former NASA engineer, it is creating an engineering product that will change the world!
Travel and food are two of our biggest passions, so on this channel we will be traveling the world, and staying awhile to experience what life is actually like living other places. We're excited to have you on board for the delicious, culture filled, madventurous times that will ensue! Let's madventure! xoxo
00:00 the game plan!
01:00 breakfast - simit
04:06 trick and treat - ice cream
05:52 the aftermath
07:02 lamb intestine sandwich
09:27 public transportation :)
09:52 ivan's favorite - stuffed mussels
13:27 world's most bizarre place
15:15 eating world's biggest baked potato
18:15 the message

[@Agnes-qz7jh]

I would like Turkish Food Shops to Open their Shop or Stalls in India with variety of Nonveg Food for those people who cannot visit Your and other Countries due to cannot afford but atleast if Your Country people come to India We can taste Your Delicious Food which Wre watch on Utube.Its so Apetizing one cannot control to have a Grub of Your Country Nonveg Delicious Food.

[@letsmadventure]

Turkey has lots of good non-veg and veg food too! Some of the most delicious dal I have ever tasted. I hope some can come to India soon too!

[@SirAranLuis]

What time of the year you guys went? Weather looks perfect!

[@letsmadventure]

We were there in July! It was a little hot, but so beautiful!!!

[@marydanessa]

Delicious

[@letsmadventure]

Agreed! Which dish would you most want to try?

[@ua36ua]

You should eat a mussel by scooping it up with the other shell

[@letsmadventure]

Thanks so much! You're absolutely right. The people at the restaurant ended up teaching us about halfway through. Makes it so much easier!

[@murattahan2391]

afiyet olsun

[@letsmadventure]

Teşekkürler! We definitely did! 😋

[@baykus5003]

Simit yemeyi özledim 😢

[@letsmadventure]

Me too!

[@travelleryildirim3013]

Nice and funny Vlog SIMIT is the Grandfather and the origin from your New York bagel … In ottoman time Jewish people moved to Poland because it was some parts Ottoman Land 16. Century and this Jewish comunity make the SIMIT still from their Ottoman tradtion and when they moved to US they bring this to New York in the 20 . Century A.C

[@letsmadventure]

Omg that is so cool!!! We did a video in New York at the end of last year where we talked about the history of bagels in America, NOW we traveled even further back into bagel history with their origin story! A full bagel 🥯 (circle) moment! Thanks so much for the information!!!

[@fugenturkoglu]

It was fun to watch. Yes, sadly in tourist, historical, old areas that type of shop assistants are trying to take advantage tourist and naive. Please, be extra extra careful with taxi drivers. Trust me, taxi drivers weren't like this before (they were kind, even would remind you forgotten the change etc) but the last 10 years has been the worst of the worst. By law, they need to use meter. If they refuse, do not use and take the number plate and inform the council. Use your GPS and do not trust the taxi driver and record everything just incase. Also, do not eat at take away places just outside of the Grand Bazaar; that's not food anyway and also for the garbage you would end up being cheated. The eateries inside Grand Bazaar has been 100s years and mainly the same owners. However, those eateries are ' Esnaf Lokantası' - for people who work in Grand Bazaar and one of the cheapest places in Istanbul. Usually, they won't serve people who do not work in Grand Bazaar but you could ask them. (they know all the workers in there 😀) About, you going to the modern side today; Probably you couldn't go more historical and older part of Istanbul 😀Galata is from Galatians.( Not from our football club Galata Saray 😀) Galatians built some of the buildings and roads in Galata 278 BC even before Romans. The modern part is Nişantaşı, Etiler, Tarabya etc. in Europe, and Bağdat Caddesi etc. in Asia. And some places as usual in other countries big modern, grand and boring, cold shoppıng centres. Take care.

[@fugenturkoglu]

Sorry, just remembered 'Galataport 'if you've been there, too. Yes, that port is modern and brand new. The port from Galatians were so rundown, it's replaced with the present one.

[@letsmadventure]

Ohhh good to know! Thank you so much for the tips and information! We have been loving the public transportation here too to avoid worrying about taxi drivers. We are definitely going to have to check out that food (if they'll serve us). Haha I read somewhere that Takism square was "the modern heart of Istanbul" but you are definitely right, I realized when we ventured to the Asian side that it was MUCH more modern there. You take care too! Really appreciate the comment! 😁

[@letsmadventure]

Yes! We didn't go there but we saw it by boat. That area was SUPER modern!!!

[@Arma66634]

Ne diyorsun ingilliçe 0