Dishes you should try in İskenderun: İskenderun Balık Ekmek (fish sandwich), Künefe and Hummus. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what İskenderun is famous for.
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Famous Dishes of İskenderun
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İskenderun Balık Ekmek (fish sandwich)
Freshly caught Mediterranean fish served in bread. It is served at the fish restaurants around İskenderun port.
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Künefe
Künefe, made by placing fresh cheese between thin strands of kadayıf, baking it and sweetening it with syrup, is the most popular dessert in İskenderun too.
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Hummus
Hummus, made by mashing chickpeas with tahini, lemon juice and olive oil, is an essential part of İskenderun's meze tables.
Dishes from Hatay Cuisine
What to eat in Hatay →These dishes are known throughout Hatay province; see the provincial food guide for details.
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Antakya Künefesi (cheese and kadayıf dessert)
A dessert with a registered geographical indication, baked with unsalted cheese between layers of shredded kadayıf.
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Antakya Kağıt Kebabı (kebab baked in paper)
A kebab with a registered geographical indication, cooked on greaseproof paper.
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Hatay Tepsi Kebabı (tray-baked kebab)
A registered kebab of minced meat baked in a tray.
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Hatay Humusu (Hatay hummus)
A meze made with chickpeas and tahini, with a registered geographical indication.
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Hatay Kaytaz Böreği (Hatay kaytaz börek)
A börek with a registered geographical indication.
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Hatay Oruğu (Hatay oruk)
A registered oruk, similar to içli köfte.
What to Buy in İskenderun: Local Products
- İskenderun Seafood Fresh seafood, especially shrimp, sea bass and sea bream caught in the Mediterranean, is one of İskenderun's important natural products.
- Citrus Fruit Oranges, lemons and mandarins grown around İskenderun are the region's important agricultural products.
What İskenderun Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions
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Alexander the Great Heritage
İskenderun was founded in 333 BC after Alexander the Great won the Battle of Issus. The city's name comes from Alexander the Great (Alexandretta).
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Port Culture
İskenderun has one of Türkiye's most important ports. A city that has been the centre of maritime trade for centuries, it has a cosmopolitan port culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in İskenderun?
İskenderun is known for 3 local dishes, above all İskenderun Balık Ekmek (fish sandwich), Künefe and Hummus. Freshly caught Mediterranean fish served in bread. It is served at the fish restaurants around İskenderun port.
What is İskenderun famous for?
İskenderun is known for İskenderun Balık Ekmek (fish sandwich), İskenderun Seafood and Alexander the Great Heritage. Its best-known sights include İskenderun Seafront and Promenade and Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Complex.
What to buy in İskenderun?
Local products and souvenirs to buy in İskenderun include İskenderun Seafood and Citrus Fruit.
İskenderun Travel Guide
- Things to Do in İskenderun 6 places to visit
- What to Eat in Hatay All the famous dishes of the province
What to Eat in Other Districts of Hatay
- Altınözü 3 dishes Altınözü Olive Oil, Altınözü Zeytinyağlıları (olive oil dishes) and Hummus
- Antakya 5 dishes Antakya Carra Peyniri, Antakya Ekmek Oruğu (bread-and-oil pastry) and Antakya Kağıt Kebabı (paper-wrapped kebab)
- Arsuz 2 dishes Arsuz Balığı (fresh fish) and Humus (chickpea dip)
- Belen 3 dishes Belen Kömürçukuru Pekmezi (Kömürçukuru grape molasses), Belen Tava (Belen tava stew) and Hummus
- Defne 3 dishes Künefe, Kağıt Kebabı (paper-wrapped kebab) and Sürkü (Sürk)
- Dörtyol 4 dishes Dörtyol Kebabı, Humus and Künefe
- Erzin 2 dishes Erzin Kebabı (spiced lamb kebab) and Humus
- Hassa 3 dishes Hassa Zeytinyağlı Yemekleri, Kağıt Kebabı and Künefe
- Kırıkhan 3 dishes Kırıkhan Kebabı (spiced lamb kebab), Hummus and Künefe
- Kumlu 3 dishes Kağıt Kebabı (paper-wrapped kebab), Süzme Mercimek Çorbası (strained red lentil soup) and Oruk (İçli Köfte) (stuffed bulgur balls)
- Payas 2 dishes Payas Kebabı and Humus
- Reyhanlı 6 dishes Reyhanlı Kebabı, Humus and Künefe
- Samandağ 3 dishes Künefe, Fish Soup and Humus
- Yayladağı 3 dishes Zeytinyağlı Yemekler (olive oil-based vegetable dishes), Kaytaz Böreği (Hatay pastry with meat) and Dağ Keçisi Tandır (mountain goat from the tandır oven)