Mersin local food: dishes to try on your holiday

Mersin's cuisine is shaped by Mediterranean vegetables and herbs, produce from the Taurus highlands and the rich culinary culture of Çukurova. We have gathered the best-known flavours you can taste in Mersin's streets and local restaurants during your holiday.

Tantuni (Mersin's meat wrap)

This is the first dish that comes to mind when people think of Mersin. Finely chopped meat is cooked in cottonseed oil on a sac griddle, then wrapped in lavash flatbread with tomato, parsley and onion. You will find tantuni makers all over the city.

Cezerye (carrot and walnut sweet)

A traditional Mersin sweet made with carrots, sugar and walnuts and coated in coconut. It is also one of the most popular treats to take home as a gift.

Kerebiç (walnut-filled semolina cookies)

Small semolina cookies filled with walnuts. They are served with a white foam made from soapwort root (known as naturel cream) and are a fixture on festive tables, especially during religious holidays.

Batırık (bulgur, tomato and walnut dish)

Made with fine bulgur, tomatoes, tomato paste, walnuts and spices, this refreshing local summer dish sits somewhere between a soup and a meze.

Karsambaç and bici bici (icy summer treats)

These are essential on hot summer days. Karsambaç is made by pouring pekmez (fruit molasses) over crushed snow, while bici bici is a starch pudding served with ice and syrup.

Local flavours at the hotel

At Ulu Resort Hotel, the buffet restaurant offers a rich selection of Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine, while at the Gözleme House on the beach you can enjoy traditional gözleme (stuffed flatbread) all day long.