What to Eat in Samandağ: Famous Dishes and Local Products

Famous Dishes of Samandağ

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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 Samandağ too.

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  Fish Soup

  A soup prepared with fresh fish from the Mediterranean, reflecting Samandağ's fishing tradition.

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  Humus

  Hummus, made by mashing chickpeas with tahini, lemon juice and olive oil, is an essential part of Samandağ's meze tables.

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 Samandağ: Local Products

• Samandağ Pepper Samandağ Pepper was registered as a protected designation of origin on 13 September 2021 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 887). Product group: processed and unprocessed fruits and vegetables and mushrooms. Registered by: Antakya Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Samandağ Ney-i Samandağ Ney-i was registered as a protected designation of origin on 23 November 2020 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 605). Product group: handicrafts other than carpets, kilims and textiles. Registered by: Antakya Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

What Samandağ Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

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  Ancient Seleukeia Pieria Heritage

  The Çevlik area of Samandağ contains the remains of the ancient city of Seleukeia Pieria. The first capital of the Seleucid Empire, the city was an important port city in the Roman period.

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  Multicultural Life

  Samandağ is a multicultural district where Arab Alawite, Christian and Sunni communities live together. This diversity is reflected in cuisine, music and traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Samandağ Travel Guide

• 📍 Things to Do in Samandağ 7 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
• İskenderun 3 dishes İskenderun Balık Ekmek (fish sandwich), Künefe and Hummus
• 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
• 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)