The Complete Guide to Turkish Breakfast (Kahvaltı)
Everything you need to know about the most important meal of the day.
15 January 2025•8 min read•By Turkish Food in London
In Turkey, breakfast isn't just a meal—it's an institution. Kahvaltı (literally "before coffee") can last for hours, involves dozens of small dishes, and is considered the foundation of a good day.
What is Kahvaltı?
Turkish breakfast is fundamentally different from the British or American approach. Instead of one or two main items, you get a spread of small dishes—cheeses, spreads, vegetables, eggs, breads—all served together for sharing and grazing.
The Essential Components
Cheeses
- Beyaz peynir: White cheese similar to feta
- Kaşar: Yellow cheese, often served fried
- Tulum: Aged cheese with stronger flavour
Spreads
- Bal (honey): Often served with kaymak
- Kaymak: Clotted cream, essential pairing for honey
- Tahin-pekmez: Tahini mixed with grape molasses
How to Eat It
- Start with tea: Always.
- Build your bites: Tear bread, add cheese, tomato—each bite different.
- Try the classic: Bread + kaymak + honey = perfect.
- Pace yourself: This is a marathon, not a sprint.
For the full guide to Turkish breakfast spots, see our dedicated breakfast guide.