Historic Sultanahmet Meatball Restaurant

This is one of the most famous eateries in the city — a total loss to understand why, the ever-present queues of locals obviously adore its rubbery köfte (meatballs) served with bread, beans, salad and pickled chillies. But the experience is certainly clean, cheap and cheerful. On Divan Yolu since the 1920s, it's an Istanbul institution whether you love the food or not.