Cheap restaurants and food spots in İzmir for backpackers

Here are 20 of the best cheap restaurants and food spots in İzmir for backpackers, where you can eat well for 2–8 € per meal. Most are located around Konak, Alsancak, and Kemeraltı Bazaar, the main areas where travelers stay.

Budget tip: İzmir has a huge street-food culture, so bakeries, small lokantas (local diners), and market stalls are often the cheapest and most authentic places to eat.

20 Best Cheap Restaurants in İzmir for Backpackers
Famous Local Cheap Eats

1. Dostlar Fırını

Legendary bakery famous for boyoz, İzmir’s iconic pastry.

Must try:

Boyoz with egg

Turkish tea

Price: 1–3 €

2. Topçu Restaurant

Classic Turkish lokanta popular with locals.

Best dishes:

grilled köfte

lamb stew

Price: 5–8 €

3. Kemeraltı Hisarönü Şambalicisi

Best place for şambali dessert, a traditional İzmir sweet.

Price: 2–3 €

4. Bizim Lokanta

Simple cafeteria-style restaurant.

Popular with workers and students.

Price: 4–6 €

5. Kumrucu Şevki

Famous for kumru, İzmir’s signature sandwich made with sausage, cheese, and tomatoes.

Price: 4–6 €

Cheap Restaurants in Kemeraltı Bazaar

The historic Kemeraltı Bazaar is the best place in the city for cheap traditional food.

6. Pazar 35 Lokantası

Great value Turkish home-style meals.

Price: 4–6 €

7. Hisarönü Köftecisi

Classic grilled meatballs and bread.

Price: 4–6 €

8. Söğüşçü Cimbom

Famous for söğüş wraps (traditional İzmir cold meat sandwich).

Price: 3–4 €

9. Kızlarağası Han Lokantası

Located in a historic caravanserai.

Best dishes:

beans with rice

vegetable stews

Price: 4–6 €

10. Kent Lokantası Kemeraltı

Municipal restaurant serving extremely cheap daily meals.

Price: under 2 € (sometimes)

Locals online mention that these places offer very cheap traditional home meals.

Cheap Street Food & Fast Food

11. Han Döner

Popular student döner spot.

Price: 3–5 €

12. Kebo Izmir

Affordable chicken wraps and fries.

Price: 4–5 €

A Reddit user described it as “quick, hot, and filling” for a budget meal.

13. Gözlemecim

Traditional gözleme pancakes with cheese or spinach.

Price: 3–5 €

14. Çeşmeli Kumru

Another great spot for authentic kumru sandwiches.

Price: 4–6 €

Cheap Breakfast & Bakeries

15. Atadan Fırın İzmir

Excellent artisan bakery in Alsancak.

Budget breakfast:

pastries

tea

Price: 2–4 €

16. İzmir Boyozcu

Specializes in fresh boyoz pastries, one of the city’s oldest street foods.

Price: 1–2 €

Cheap Soup & Late-Night Eats

17. Gündoğdu Çorbacısı IZGARA & ÇORBA

Perfect for late-night soup after nightlife.

Try:

lentil soup

tripe soup

Price: 3–5 €

Budget Burger & Casual Spots

18. By Uluç Reis‑ Steak Burger Drinks

Small burger restaurant popular with students.

Price: 5–7 €

19. BUKE GARNİ

Affordable Turkish comfort food.

Popular dishes:

grilled chicken

rice plates

20. Sifon Gastropub

Cheap drinks and casual food.

Good for:

burgers

student nightlife

Cheap Foods You Should Try in İzmir

Backpackers should try these iconic local dishes:

Boyoz – traditional flaky pastry breakfast

Kumru – İzmir’s famous grilled sandwich

Midye Dolma – stuffed mussels street snack

Söğüş wrap – cold lamb sandwich

Gevrek – local version of simit bread

Many of these foods are cheap street snacks sold throughout the city.

Typical Backpacker Food Budget in İzmir

Breakfast: 1–3 €
Lunch: 3–5 €
Dinner: 5–8 €

👉 Total per day: 10–15 €

✅ Pro backpacker tip:
Eat inside Kemeraltı Bazaar where dozens of small local restaurants serve fresh Turkish home food for half the price of tourist restaurants.