Van Restaurants

“Corba” means soup and “paca” the legs of cow and lamb. This restaurant offers only soups, especially the soups from the lower parts of legs, heads and tripe. I am very fond of tripe soup and one evening I couldn’t resist the call of this restaurant. It is on one of the main streets and we walked in front of it several times. That night, we were tired and didn’t want anything we already tried there. After so much meat and breakfast maybe the best option was vegetable but there isn’t much vegetable in Van. So, we tried the tripe soup and wanted a grilled or boiled half lamb head. They weren’t as good as mom’s tripe or head but not bad. Just don’t forget to add some garlic and vinegar to your soup.

This is the first restaurant we tried in Van after leaving the luggage to hotel. Van area has delicious meat, and I love meat dishes. So I ordered grilled ribs. What a taste it was! Even the place is not a special one, they served us very well. Waiter brought us salad and special bread. The bread was so good, and he kept serving us until we said “Enough thanks.”
After we were all full, they served us a delicious tea. We asked and learned the ingredients. It has cinnamon and clover, it was a winter tea. It helped a lot after eating too much.
Waiter was extremely helpful. We asked about the places we heard and he showed us the directions and gave advices. He was our first experience with “eastern hospitality”.

Their place is just across Bayram Hotel.

Favorite Dish: Grilled ribs.

First day we asked for Van cuisine and somebody told us Sacibeyaz. We went there and saw that it was a modern Café – Bistro. So returned and found Sifa Lokantasi.
This place serves deserts, ice cream, beverages and some dishes from international cuisine. If you want something familiar, you can visit Sacibeyaz. Else, go somewhere offering local tastes. ‘Cause there is nothing special here.
We had some ice cream and a cup of the here. Ice cream was good.

This one is the only “restaurant kind of restaurant” (don’t follow me, I don’t know what I’m talking about) on breakfast street. Restaurant's name is also the owner's name. Seref Sahin is a famous character. Many important people (politicians, musicians etc.) call Seref Sahin before their arrival and order his special lamb kebab (a whole lamb stays in an oven for long hours). It takes long time to cook, so it is a must ordering it before.
While we were having breakfast in our first morning, he and another man were cleaning okras for lunch. I love okra but couldn’t visit this famous restaurant during my stay.

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This place is a trademark in Breakfast Street. It is between Birkoc and Seref Sahin’s restaurant. It was at the top of my list before going to Van, and it is still there.
Since I live in the west part of Turkey and Van is at the east, the first day I woke up at 5.30 or something. It was normal, because sun was bright already. We were at Sutcu Fevzi at 6.00 a.m. When I think about the breakfast we had, I realize that even 6.00 a.m. was late.
The waiters of the place welcome you at the street. There are several breakfast restaurants, and you can choose another one, too. All the waiters are incredibly kind, helpful.
First day I couldn’t stop myself and tried many different dishes. With the support of unlimited tea service, I felt like I wouldn’t walk again. I was feeling dizzy. After paying the bill, we told them –as if we were apologizing- that we wanted to have breakfast in other restaurants, so we wouldn’t come again. The waiter we talked asked “Why? Have we done something wrong?”

(This is one of the most important memories I had in Van. I started to believe in people after years. Who could ask this question after the high quality service he gave? I think this is pure innocence.)

Well, we said that but we returned to Sutcu Fevzi after our second breakfast. And the waiter welcomed us again with a smiling face. We had all our breakfasts in Sutcu Fevzi, except the second day, and I know if I go to Van again, I’ll have all my breakfasts in this place.

Favorite Dish: Almost all. Braised meat and eggs, the Van cheese (otlu peynir), honey-cream-walnut trio.

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I think “Breakfast Street” is the heart of Van. Even business people gather here for some important meetings. It keeps beating afternoon, too. After the breakfast serve is finished, this place turns into a restaurant street. They usually serve “kavurma” (braised meat) but also there is an ordinary restaurant between them.
I want to tell you about Birkoc, the most famous one about “kavurma”. It is the neighbor of Sutcu Fevzi, my favorite breakfast place. They also serve breakfast and I am sure their breakfast is great, too. But when it comes to kavurma, Birkoc is the one. I have read about it and also we asked about some place to have a nice kavurma to several people. The only answer we get was “Birkoc”.
I recommend you to have “cacik” (scrambled yogurt with cucumber and garlic) with your kavurma here. It is also great. I felt the portions were small because of the awesome taste of the meat. Don’t miss it.

Favorite Dish: "Cacik" and "kavurma"

This is one of the famous breakfast restaurants out of Breakfast Street. I somehow irritated when I read about this place and its owner. He is some kind of funny guy, likes to laugh and talk a lot. I didn’t want to go but one day I found myself sitting there.

We ordered the regular menu for us in Van (honey, milk cream, braised meat with eggs, otlu peynir) with tea, of course. First mistake they did was bringing the tea in cup. A good Turkish tea must be served in glasses (says the master Ozlem). Then I didn’t like their braised meat and egg, also honey and milk cream… The following day we were in the same place we had been the day before, Sutcu Fevzi.

Favorite Dish: None

The lake has a very special fish. We were told that the restaurants at the port (iskele) are good. Yet we took another local advice to drive toward Edremit and try Yali, next to Merit Hotel Sahmaran. The fish was very fresh and with the location next to lake, the sunset was a beautiful experience. Try the pan fried as well as grilled, with salad and raki.

Especially during religious holidays, it is not easy to find good restaurnts open. Tamara Hotel has a very nice grill restaurant in which you can grill your own meat and vegs, selected from the kitchen. Good experience and fun.

Breakfast is special in Van, and Fevzi is a premium place to try it. It is in the middle of the breakfast street, next to Cumhuriyet Cd, main street in Van. Go there and try the sampler. You get little bit of everything. From more common white cheese and tomatoes, to local cheese (with herbs), honey, cream, murtua, kavut etc. With lots of tea, as you'll experience everywhere in Van.