Dishes you should try in Çeşme: Çeşme Kumrusu, Alaçatı Ot Yemekleri and Taze Deniz Ürünleri. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Çeşme is famous for.
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Famous Dishes of Çeşme
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Çeşme Kumrusu
Çeşme kumrusu, a toasted sandwich of sucuk, kaşar cheese and tomato in kumru bread, is the best-known street food in İzmir.
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Alaçatı Ot Yemekleri
Wild herb dishes served at Alaçatı's world-famous herb festival are among the most authentic flavours of Aegean cuisine.
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Taze Deniz Ürünleri
Fresh fish and seafood caught in the Aegean are served at Çeşme's seafront restaurants with olive oil and herbs.
Dishes from Izmir Cuisine
What to eat in Izmir →These dishes are known throughout Izmir province; see the provincial food guide for details.
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İzmir Boyozu (Sephardic oil pastry)
A breakfast pastry with an oily dough, inherited from Sephardic cuisine, with a registered geographical indication.
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İzmir Kumrusu (sausage and cheese sandwich)
A sandwich made with sucuk, cheese and tomato, with a registered geographical indication.
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İzmir Gevreği (Izmir sesame ring)
Izmir's version of the simit; it has a registered geographical indication.
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İzmir Lokması (syrupy fried dough)
A syrupy dessert with a registered geographical indication.
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İzmir Şambalisi (semolina syrup cake)
A syrupy semolina dessert with a registered geographical indication.
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Ödemiş Köftesi (Ödemiş meatballs)
Meatballs with a registered geographical indication.
What to Buy in Çeşme: Local Products
- Çeşme Damla Sakızı (Çeşme Mastic) Çeşme Damla Sakızı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 15 April 2024 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1569). Product group: other products. Registered by: Çeşme District Agriculture and Forestry Directorate.
- Çeşme Melon A product registered with TÜRKPATENT as a protected designation of origin.
What Çeşme Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions
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Windsurfing Culture
Alaçatı is a windsurfing destination known around the world. International windsurfing competitions are held there every year.
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Alaçatı Herb Festival
The Alaçatı Herb Festival, held every April, celebrates the wild herb culture of the Aegean and attracts thousands of visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in Çeşme?
Çeşme is known for 3 local dishes, above all Çeşme Kumrusu, Alaçatı Ot Yemekleri and Taze Deniz Ürünleri. Çeşme kumrusu, a toasted sandwich of sucuk, kaşar cheese and tomato in kumru bread, is the best-known street food in İzmir.
What is Çeşme famous for?
Çeşme is known for Çeşme Kumrusu, Çeşme Damla Sakızı (Çeşme Mastic) and Windsurfing Culture. Its best-known sights include Çeşme Castle and Ilıca Beach.
What to buy in Çeşme?
Local products and souvenirs to buy in Çeşme include Çeşme Damla Sakızı (Çeşme Mastic) and Çeşme Melon.
Çeşme Travel Guide
What to Eat in Other Districts of Izmir
- Aliağa 8 dishes Aliağa Fish Soup, Stuffed Artichokes in Olive Oil (Zeytinyağlı Enginar) and Şevket-i Bostan (wild herb dish)
- Balçova 2 dishes Boyoz and İzmir Köfte
- Bayındır 2 dishes Bayındır Pidesi and Keşkek
- Bayraklı 2 dishes Boyoz and Lokma
- Bergama 2 dishes Bergama Köftesi and Bergama Tulum Cheese
- Beydağ 4 dishes Beydağ Simit Dürüm, Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge) and Gözleme (stuffed flatbread)
- Bornova 2 dishes Boyoz and Söğüş
- Buca 2 dishes Boyoz and Şambali
- Çiğli 2 dishes Boyoz and Midye Dolma
- Dikili 2 dishes Dikili Balık Güveç (fish casserole) and Zeytinyağlı Ot Yemekleri (wild greens in olive oil)
- Foça 2 dishes Foça Fish and Ege Mezeleri (Aegean meze)
- Gaziemir 2 dishes İzmir Köfte and Boyoz
- Güzelbahçe 2 dishes Güzelbahçe Fish and Octopus Salad
- Karabağlar 2 dishes Boyoz and Kumru
- Karaburun 2 dishes Karaburun Sea Bass and Sakız Kabağı Dolması (stuffed mastic squash)
- Karşıyaka 2 dishes Boyoz and Söğüş (sliced boiled beef and offal)
- Kemalpaşa 3 dishes Kemalpaşa Tatlısı (cheese dough balls in syrup), Cherry Desserts and Kemalpaşa Cherries
- Kınık 2 dishes Keşkek (wheat and meat dish) and Höşmerim (fried cheese dessert)
- Kiraz 4 dishes Kiraz Pidesi (thin-crust flatbread), Keşkek (wheat and meat dish) and Kestane (chestnuts)
- Konak 3 dishes İzmir Kumrusu (grilled sandwich), Boyoz and İzmir Köfte
- Menderes 3 dishes Zeytinyağlı Enginar (artichokes in olive oil), Çöp Şiş (skewered meat) and Gümüldür mandarin
- Menemen 3 dishes Menemen (Egg and Vegetable Dish), Boyoz and Menemen
- Mordoğan 2 dishes Mordoğan Fish and Stuffed Wild Greens in Olive Oil (Zeytinyağlı Ot Yemekleri)
- Narlıdere 2 dishes Boyoz and Midye Tava (fried mussels)
- Ödemiş 4 dishes Ödemiş Çekişte Zeytinyağı (Ödemiş Çekişte olive oil), Ödemiş Köftesi (Ödemiş meatballs) and Ödemiş Kebabı
- Seferihisar 2 dishes Sığacık Market Delights and Mandarin Jam
- Selçuk 3 dishes Şirince Wine, Ege Ot Yemekleri (Aegean herb dishes) and Çöp Şiş (skewered lamb pieces)
- Tire 5 dishes Tire Şiş Köfte (Tire skewered meatballs), Tire Köfte (Tire meatballs) and Tire Pidesi
- Torbalı 4 dishes Torbalı Kuru Domatesi (Torbalı sun-dried tomatoes), Boyoz and Söğüş
- Urla 2 dishes Urla Enginar Dolması (stuffed artichokes) and Ege Mezeleri (Aegean mezes)