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Dishes you should try in Karataş: Balık Ekmek, Levrek Izgara (grilled sea bass), Karides Güveç (prawn casserole) and Şalgam Suyu (fermented turnip juice). This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Karataş is famous for.

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Famous Dishes of Karataş

  • Balık Ekmek

    Fresh fish from the Mediterranean served in bread, this dish is a symbol of Karataş's fishing culture. It is served fresh at the fish restaurants along the coast.

  • Levrek Izgara (grilled sea bass)

    Prepared by grilling fresh sea bass caught off Karataş over charcoal. Served with lemon and rocket, it is the most popular dish at the seaside restaurants.

  • Karides Güveç (prawn casserole)

    Fresh prawns cooked in a clay casserole with tomato, pepper and spices, this Mediterranean dish is one of the highlights of Karataş's seafood cuisine.

  • Şalgam Suyu (fermented turnip juice)

    This traditional Adana drink, produced by fermenting purple carrot and turnip, is also often chosen at fish tables in Karataş.

Dishes from Adana Cuisine

What to eat in Adana →

These dishes are known throughout Adana province; see the provincial food guide for details.

  • Adana Kebabı

    Made from hand-minced meat of a male sheep, tail fat, chilli flakes and salt; no other spice is added. It is cooked over embers and served with lavaş, sumac onions and greens. It is a product with a geographical indication registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.

  • Bici Bici (iced starch dessert)

    A summer dessert made of shaved ice, starch pudding, icing sugar and rose syrup. Adana bici bici is registered with a geographical indication; it is found at street vendors and cafés.

  • Ciğer Şiş (liver skewers)

    Skewers of lamb liver cooked over embers, the classic breakfast of Adana mornings; they are found at the liver restaurants (ciğerci) that open early.

  • Şırdan (stuffed lamb tripe)

    Lamb tripe filled with spiced rice stuffing and boiled, served with cumin at street stalls in the evening.

  • Analı Kızlı Çorbası (mother-and-daughter soup)

    A Çukurova dish in which large stuffed bulgur dumplings (the mother) and small unfilled ones (the daughter) meet in a sour soup with chickpeas.

  • Oruk (İçli Köfte) (stuffed bulgur balls)

    Adana-style içli köfte, in which a thin bulgur dough is filled with a minced-meat stuffing and baked or fried.

What to Buy in Karataş: Local Products

  • Karataş Kıddesi Karataş Kıddesi was registered as a protected geographical indication on 27 December 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 986). Product group: bakery and pastry products, dough dishes, desserts. Registered by: Karataş Municipality.
  • Fresh Sea Fish The fishing sector forms the basis of the district's economy in Karataş. Fresh sea products, especially sea bass, red mullet, striped mullet and prawns, are caught daily and put on sale.
  • Karpuz (watermelon) Grown on the fertile farmland behind the coast, watermelon is the emblematic product of Karataş's summer months. Ripening in the hot Mediterranean climate, the watermelons are known for their sweetness.
  • Pamuk (cotton) Grown on the fertile plain between the Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers, cotton is one of Karataş's important agricultural products.

What Karataş Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

  • Fishing Culture

    Karataş is known for its fishing tradition that has continued for centuries. The return of fishing boats to the harbour, fresh fish auctions and the fishermen's coffeehouses along the coast shape the district's cultural identity.

  • Sea Turtle Conservation Work

    Voluntary work to protect sea turtles, a threatened species, on Akyatan beach is an important sign of environmental awareness in Karataş.

  • Ancient Port Heritage

    The remains of the ancient cities of Magarsus and Mallus carry traces of Karataş's thousands of years of maritime and trading tradition. Many civilisations, from Alexander the Great to Rome, made use of this port.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I eat in Karataş?

Karataş is known for 4 local dishes, above all Balık Ekmek, Levrek Izgara (grilled sea bass), Karides Güveç (prawn casserole) and Şalgam Suyu (fermented turnip juice). Fresh fish from the Mediterranean served in bread, this dish is a symbol of Karataş's fishing culture. It is served fresh at the fish restaurants along the coast.

What is Karataş famous for?

Karataş is known for Balık Ekmek, Karataş Kıddesi and Fishing Culture. Its best-known sights include Magarsus (Megarsos) Ancient City and Akyatan Lagoon.

What to buy in Karataş?

Local products and souvenirs to buy in Karataş include Karataş Kıddesi, Fresh Sea Fish, Karpuz (watermelon) and Pamuk (cotton).

Karataş Travel Guide

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