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I found food in Bodrum to be generally overpriced and of low quality. It’s a touristy town so that’s to be expected, but thankfully there are some good places to eat.
There are several restaurants along the waterfront and beaches, some tucked away in alleys in the bazaar, with places geared towards locals a few blocks inland.
Sünger Pizza
The first place I can recommend is Sünger Pizza where you should try a local favorite, çökertme. Go with an empty stomach and a huge appetite. It’s strips of spiced beef served over crispy fried potatoes and a side of yogurt. It’s heavy but incredible. This was one of the more memorable meals I’ve had not just in Bodrum but in Turkey as well.
Orfoz
The next recommendation is only for those looking to splurge and don’t mind spending a huge amount on dinner. I was on a budget but I had heard so much about Orfoz that I had to make a special trip. The concept is simple – the emphasis is on seafood with a few fish and vegetable dishes. There’s no menu and no price list. The waiter brings a small plate, asks if you would like to try it, and sets it down in front of you. It seems like each dish that comes out is better than the last. (I apologize for the terrible image quality)
I found it very difficult to stop and I wanted to try everything available that night, including dessert. When it was all over, I had eaten eight dishes plus dessert racking up a bill of nearly five times my budget. It felt like I had eaten two Thanksgiving dinners. Expensive? Absolutely. Worth it? I have zero regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat. If Sünger Pizza was one of the more memorable meals I had in Turkey, Orfoz was easily the MOST memorable.
Kraft Bistro Café
If you’re looking for a great burger, head straight to Kraft Bistro Café. It’s hidden on a quiet back street near the bazaar. There’s outdoor seating as well as a nice patio inside.
In addition to burgers, they server salads, pastas, meat dishes, and have a decent list of craft beers. Service is excellent and the owner speaks very good English.
Baston
One morning we decided to have Turkish breakfast on the beach outside our hotel. We found Baston, which surprisingly had fair prices. They have several tables across the street right on the beach from their main building.
Service was friendly and efficient. The breakfast was delicious and as expected had several different little dishes that satisfied our entire group. It was a nice change from some of the restaurants that try to squeeze every lira out of anyone who walks by.
Izmir Kumru
For a quick lunch we stopped into Izmir Kumru, which is situated across the street from the harbor. The food was so-so. Everyone had kumpir, which is the Turkish version of a baked potato loaded with your choice of toppings. I’ve had much better. Prices were reasonable and service was decent.
Unnamed Snack Bar
Before a cruise around Bodrum, we had a quick breakfast at an unnamed snack bar on the beach. They had delicious gözleme for reasonable prices.
Waffle King
Finally, for dessert you can get amazing waffles or ice cream at Waffle King. They have a couple branches in Bodrum and we stopped at the one along the bazaar.
