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
- Dostlar Fırını
Legendary bakery famous for boyoz, İzmir’s iconic pastry.
Must try:
Boyoz with egg
Turkish tea
Price: 1–3 €
- Topçu Restaurant
Classic Turkish lokanta popular with locals.
Best dishes:
grilled köfte
lamb stew
Price: 5–8 €
- Kemeraltı Hisarönü Şambalicisi
Best place for şambali dessert, a traditional İzmir sweet.
Price: 2–3 €
- Bizim Lokanta
Simple cafeteria-style restaurant.
Popular with workers and students.
Price: 4–6 €
- 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.
- Pazar 35 Lokantası
Great value Turkish home-style meals.
Price: 4–6 €
- Hisarönü Köftecisi
Classic grilled meatballs and bread.
Price: 4–6 €
- Söğüşçü Cimbom
Famous for söğüş wraps (traditional İzmir cold meat sandwich).
Price: 3–4 €
- Kızlarağası Han Lokantası
Located in a historic caravanserai.
Best dishes:
beans with rice
vegetable stews
Price: 4–6 €
- 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
- Han Döner
Popular student döner spot.
Price: 3–5 €
- Kebo Izmir
Affordable chicken wraps and fries.
Price: 4–5 €
A Reddit user described it as “quick, hot, and filling” for a budget meal.
- Gözlemecim
Traditional gözleme pancakes with cheese or spinach.
Price: 3–5 €
- Çeşmeli Kumru
Another great spot for authentic kumru sandwiches.
Price: 4–6 €
Cheap Breakfast & Bakeries
- Atadan Fırın İzmir
Excellent artisan bakery in Alsancak.
Budget breakfast:
pastries
tea
Price: 2–4 €
- İzmir Boyozcu
Specializes in fresh boyoz pastries, one of the city’s oldest street foods.
Price: 1–2 €
Cheap Soup & Late-Night Eats
- Gündoğdu Çorbacısı IZGARA & ÇORBA
Perfect for late-night soup after nightlife.
Try:
lentil soup
tripe soup
Price: 3–5 €
Budget Burger & Casual Spots
- By Uluç Reis‑ Steak Burger Drinks
Small burger restaurant popular with students.
Price: 5–7 €
- BUKE GARNİ
Affordable Turkish comfort food.
Popular dishes:
grilled chicken
rice plates
- 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.