Dishes you should try in Bandırma: Bandırma Pidesi, Kuş Gölü Levreği and Keşkek. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Bandırma is famous for.
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Famous Dishes of Bandırma
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Bandırma Pidesi
Bandırma pide, with its thin dough and generous fillings, is the district's best-known speciality, served in minced meat, kaşar cheese and egg versions. It is baked in a stone oven and served hot.
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Kuş Gölü Levreği
Freshwater sea bass from Lake Manyas, prepared grilled or steamed. The bass, which grows in the clean waters of the lake, is prized for its delicate flavour.
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Keşkek
Keşkek, made by slow-cooking crushed wheat and lamb, is the traditional dish of special occasions in Bandırma. It is served with butter and red pepper.
Dishes from Balıkesir Cuisine
What to eat in Balıkesir →These dishes are known throughout Balıkesir province; see the provincial food guide for details.
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Balıkesir Höşmerim (cheese and semolina dessert)
A dessert made with cheese, semolina and syrup, with a registered geographical indication.
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Balıkesir Kaymaklısı (clotted-cream dessert)
A clotted-cream dessert with a registered geographical indication.
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Susurluk Ayranı and Tostu
Frothy Susurluk ayran, served with the Susurluk toasted sandwich (tost); both are registered.
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Balıkesir Düğün Çorbası (wedding soup)
A traditional soup with a registered geographical indication.
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Ayvalık Lor Tatlısı (curd-cheese dessert)
An Ayvalık dessert made with lor (curd) cheese, with a registered geographical indication.
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Balıkesir Tombul Bamyası (Balıkesir plump okra)
Small-podded okra registered with a protected designation of origin.
What to Buy in Bandırma: Local Products
- Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı Olive oil from the olive groves of the Kapıdağ Peninsula is an important agricultural product of Bandırma.
- Manyas Pirinci Rice grown in the wetlands around Lake Manyas is the region's traditional farm product. The Osmanlı Baldo and Karacadağ varieties are cultivated.
What Bandırma Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions
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Bandırma Vapuru ve Milli Mücadele
Bandırma was one of the starting points of the War of Independence. The Bandırma steamship, on which Atatürk boarded to travel to Samsun, is the city's most important historical symbol.
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Kuş Gözlemciliği Geleneği
Thanks to Kuşcenneti National Park, Bandırma is known as the bird-watching capital of Türkiye. Every year, thousands of domestic and foreign bird watchers visit Lake Manyas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in Bandırma?
Bandırma is known for 3 local dishes, above all Bandırma Pidesi, Kuş Gölü Levreği and Keşkek. Bandırma pide, with its thin dough and generous fillings, is the district's best-known speciality, served in minced meat, kaşar cheese and egg versions. It is baked in a stone oven and served hot.
What is Bandırma famous for?
Bandırma is known for Bandırma Pidesi, Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı and Bandırma Vapuru ve Milli Mücadele. Its best-known sights include Kuşcenneti National Park and Kyzikos Ancient City.
What to buy in Bandırma?
Local products and souvenirs to buy in Bandırma include Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı and Manyas Pirinci.
Bandırma Travel Guide
- Things to Do in Bandırma 7 places to visit
- What to Eat in Balıkesir All the famous dishes of the province
What to Eat in Other Districts of Balıkesir
- Altıeylül 4 dishes Balıkesir Bandırma Köftesi (Bandırma meatballs), Höşmerim (cheese dessert) and Keşkek (cracked wheat and meat dish)
- Ayvalık 5 dishes Ayvalık Kelle Peyniri/Ayvalık Sepet Peyniri, Ayvalık Lor Tatlısı and Ayvalık Zeytinyağı (Ayvalık olive oil)
- Balya 5 dishes Keşkek, Höşmerim and Ev Eriştesi
- Bigadiç 4 dishes Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge), Mantı (dumplings) and Gözleme (savoury flatbread)
- Burhaniye 5 dishes Burhaniye Olive Oil, Zeytinyağlı Enginar and Papalina Tava
- Dursunbey 5 dishes Keşkek (pounded wheat and meat), Çullama (lamb on yufka) and Höşmerim
- Edremit 5 dishes Edremit Zeytinyağı (Edremit olive oil), Edremit Zeytinyağlı Yemekleri (vegetables cooked in olive oil) and Kazdağı Alabalığı (Kazdağı trout)
- Erdek 7 dishes Erdek Kapıdağ Zeytinyağı, Erdek Balık Çorbası (fish soup) and Çinekop Tava (fried çinekop fish)
- Gömeç 5 dishes Olive Oil Wild Herb Dishes, Papalina Tava and Gözleme
- Gönen 4 dishes Balıkesir Gönen Pirinci (Gönen rice), Gönen Pidesi and Keşkek (cracked wheat and meat dish)
- Havran 4 dishes Zeytinyağlı Enginar (artichokes in olive oil), Keşkek (cracked wheat and meat dish) and Gözleme (stuffed flatbread)
- İvrindi 5 dishes İvrindi Kelle Peyniri, Keşkek (pounded wheat and meat) and Höşmerim (sweet cheese dessert)
- Kareşi 4 dishes Balıkesir Köftesi (grilled beef meatballs), Höşmerim (fresh cheese dessert) and Keşkek (pounded wheat and lamb)
- Kepsut 3 dishes Kepsut Bükdere Küflü Katık Peyniri, Höşmerim (cheese and semolina dessert) and Balıkesir Tiridi (lamb and bread stew)
- Manyas 4 dishes Manyas Kelle Peyniri, Göl Levreği (Lake sea bass) and Keşkek (wheat and lamb porridge)
- Marmara 3 dishes Ada Balığı (island fish), Avşa Şarabı Eşliğinde Meze (meze with Avşa wine) and Gözleme
- Savaştepe
- Sındırgı 3 dishes Keşkek (wheat and lamb porridge), Çullama (lamb and onion on yufka) and Höşmerim (cheese and semolina dessert)
- Susurluk 4 dishes Susurluk Ayranı, Susurluk Tostu and Keşkek (wheat and lamb porridge)