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Balik Emek Galata

Fantastic Friday Balik Emek at Eminönü Plaza Istanbul

March 7, 2014 By Jan Robinson 11 Comments

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Balik Emek Galata

Where is Eminönü Plaza?

The plaza is located on the Eminönü side of Galata Bridge in Istanbul.

It’s all about the spectacle.

On board the boats are huge BBQ plates and multiple cooks – cooks who don’t suffer from motion sickness.  Eminonu is a busy ferry port and waves from passing traffic cause the boats to rock and roll like crazy.  Adding to the theatre are waiters dressed in fancy costumes from the Ottoman era.  In a strange way it all reminds me of a german beer hall – minus the stein carrying maids of course.

Is it Safe to Eat here?

There is no need to worry about the freshness of the fish as these boats churn out thousands of fish fillets daily.

The Experience.

Belik Emek is Turkish for Fish Sandwich.  Each fillet is served on a crusty oblong roll with onion and lettuce for 6tl each.  Clutching your Belik Emek, jostle your way through the crowds of scull cap wearing men and scarfed Turkish ladies to secure a barrel and stool.  Next buy a plastic cup full of lurid pickled cabbage topped with a gherkin from a stall out the front.  After the sandwich (mind the bones) and pickles (drink the juice – I dare you) hunt down a stall selling fried dough balls swimming in sweet liquid with a sprinkle of pistachio green.

Other Venues.

A more low key and authentic location to grab a fish sandwich is at the fish market on the other side of the Galata bridge, or you could

Venture to the bottom floor of Galata Bridge where the restaurant touts will lure you in to try their version.

Wherever you get it from, Balik Emek is an unmissable Istanbul food experience.

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Filed Under: Food to Love, Istanbul

About Jan Robinson

Jan Robinson writes about travel on her Budget Travel Talk blog. A solo traveller in her teens, for the last 40 years Jan has travelled through Australia, Asia, Europe, Turkey and New Zealand with her husband. They specialise in road trips, caravanning and Independent travel without spending a fortune. Her favourite destination is Turkey and she is currently dreaming of Myanmar and Mexico.

Previous Post: «Pretty Village Eastern Turkey Road Trip Day 1 When to visit the Black Sea Coast and Eastern Turkey plus a Road Trip Surprise
Next Post: A Turkish Seaside Holiday Town called Foca Foca Sunset with Bike»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Krista

    March 7, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    Wow! The colors and shimmer of the area is amazing. 🙂 What a fun and unique place to eat.

    Reply
    • Jan

      March 7, 2014 at 8:57 pm

      So Kitsch, but So Fun 🙂

      Reply
  2. jenny@atasteoftravel

    March 7, 2014 at 10:33 pm

    Balik Ekmek was one of my favourite snacks wen we were in Istanbul…it certainly is unmissable! The pickle juice man here is a classic!

    Reply
    • Jan

      March 8, 2014 at 8:59 am

      I was so surprised by the purpley pickle juice, but it does work in a lurid kind of way 🙂

      Reply
  3. Beth

    March 7, 2014 at 11:23 pm

    I love your blog! This post brings back memories of Istanbul, although we didn’t eat here. What a great city!

    Reply
    • Jan

      March 8, 2014 at 8:58 am

      Thanks Beth, that is nice to know 🙂 Istanbul is the most intriguing city I have been to – well Marrakech was as well 🙂

      Reply
  4. Mike

    March 8, 2014 at 10:00 pm

    I grew up essentially boating on the water. We were always out on the Delta or foothill lakes in California. Good thing the cooks don’t get sea sick as long as I wouldn’t. I’ve only had that experience once…and it was misery I’ll never forget. So, fish fillets on the water? Yes, please sign me up Jan! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jan

      March 8, 2014 at 11:14 pm

      We have two boats, a small tinny for up the creeks and a bigger one for the ocean. We go snorkelling on coral reefs and fishing and are very lucky to have whales, turtles, dugong, and occasionally dolphins also. So we are very much water people, but I do get sea sick sometimes when we are anchored, and that is the worst feeling ever. I can tell you Mike I think I would get sea sick on these BBQ boats, the rocking is so constant!

      Reply
  5. Lisa

    March 10, 2014 at 12:42 pm

    never seen anything like that!! A boat that cooks fresh food….yep heaven on earth 🙂
    Love the idea of eating something on a place that can move, and all the decorations – gorgeous.
    Did you eat on one of the boats?

    Reply
    • Jan

      March 10, 2014 at 1:50 pm

      Only the cooks are on the boats Lisa. We ate at one of the barrels on the water’s edge. It was a fun experience.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Galata is the best place for a first time stay in Istanbul says:
    January 29, 2015 at 10:13 am

    […] Belik Emek.  As you leave the bridge at Eminonu look to the right where the golden boats cooking Balik Emek Boats are moored.  This is a fun place to try a Turkish Fish Sandwich with lurid pink pickles in […]

    Reply

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