Dishes you should try in Erdek: Erdek Kapıdağ Zeytinyağı, Erdek Balık Çorbası (fish soup), Çinekop Tava (fried çinekop fish) and Höşmerim. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Erdek is famous for.
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Famous Dishes of Erdek
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Erdek Kapıdağ Zeytinyağı
Erdek Kapıdağ olive oil was registered as a protected geographical indication on 6 May 2025 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1733). Product group: solid and liquid fats, including butter. Registered by: Erdek Chamber of Commerce.
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Erdek Balık Çorbası (fish soup)
A fish soup made with fresh fish from the Sea of Marmara, Erdek's best-known dish. Flavoured with onion, carrot and lemon, it is served in seaside restaurants.
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Çinekop Tava (fried çinekop fish)
Çinekop caught in the cold waters of the Sea of Marmara is dusted in flour and fried in olive oil. It is the favourite seafood of autumn and winter.
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Höşmerim
A traditional dessert of Erdek, made by melting fresh cheese in butter and cooking it with sugar.
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Sütlü börek (milk pastry)
One of the Pomak dishes still prepared in particular in the Pomak villages that migrated from Greece during the 1924 Lausanne Population Exchange.
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Giritli zeytinyağlı ve ot yemekleri (Cretan olive oil and wild herb dishes)
Olive oil and wild herb dishes found in the kitchens of Cretan migrants who came to Erdek during the population exchange.
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Kırmızı soğan
Red onions are produced in large quantities in the district.
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 Erdek: Local Products
- Kapıdağ Zeytinyağı Olive oil obtained from centuries-old olive groves on the Kapıdağ Peninsula, known for its light and fruity aroma.
- Deniz Ürünleri Thanks to Erdek's fishing tradition, fresh fish and seafood are the district's most important local products. Çinekop, lüfer and shrimp are the main species caught.
What Erdek Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions
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Balıkçılık Geleneği
Fishing has been a tradition in Erdek for generations. Coastal fishing with small fishing boats is an inseparable part of the district's cultural identity.
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Antik Kyzikos Mirası
The ancient city of Kyzikos, the most important evidence of Erdek's thousands of years of settlement history, was an important centre of trade and culture in antiquity and one of the richest cities of the Roman Empire in Anatolia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in Erdek?
Erdek is known for 7 local dishes, above all Erdek Kapıdağ Zeytinyağı, Erdek Balık Çorbası (fish soup), Çinekop Tava (fried çinekop fish) and Höşmerim. Erdek Kapıdağ olive oil was registered as a protected geographical indication on 6 May 2025 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1733). Product group: solid and liquid fats, including butter. Registered by: Erdek Chamber of Commerce.
What is Erdek famous for?
Erdek is known for Erdek Kapıdağ Zeytinyağı, Kapıdağ Zeytinyağı and Balıkçılık Geleneği. Its best-known sights include Kapıdağ Peninsula and Kyzikos Ancient City.
What to buy in Erdek?
Local products and souvenirs to buy in Erdek include Kapıdağ Zeytinyağı and Deniz Ürünleri.
Erdek Travel Guide
- Things to Do in Erdek 5 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
- Bandırma 3 dishes Bandırma Pidesi, Kuş Gölü Levreği and Keşkek
- 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)
- 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)