Aegean meals often start with vegetables, herbs, and olive oil. Add seafood if you want it, but ask what is fresh and how it is priced before ordering. A few shared plates can be plenty to begin with.
01
Start with dishes made with olive oil
Aydın's provincial tourism recipes include courgette flowers stuffed with rice and cooked in olive oil, purslane with rice, and local greens cooked with egg. These give you specific dishes to ask about when you read a Kuşadası menu. What is available depends on the kitchen and season.
Ask which dishes were made that day. Start with a few to share, then order more if you are still hungry.
02
Ask about seafood before ordering
Ask what fish is available, where it came from, how the kitchen will cook it, and what it costs. Prices may be by weight, so confirm the total before ordering.
Grilled or baked fish with greens and lemon is common. If you do not eat seafood, ask about vegetable dishes, pulses, yoghurt, pastries, and plates made with olive oil.
Ask what the kitchen made today. Then order a few plates and see what else you want.
03
Order what is in season
GoTürkiye's Aydın guide lists figs and olives among the region's produce. At a market, compare fresh or dried figs according to what is available, and ask where the olives and oil were produced. You can make the market visit part of the day without planning a full food tour.
Look for herbs, lemon, and olive oil across the menu. If you are unsure how much to order, ask the server how many plates suit your table.
04
Take your time over dinner
Shared plates come out at different times. Start small, order more as you go, and ask for tea or Turkish coffee if you want to stay a while.
Check the route back to Soul House before you head out for dinner, especially if you plan to walk home late.
Sources and further reading
Destination details can change. Check current access, opening, booking, and weather information before setting out.
