A great delight of Tūrkiye, especially the Aegean coast and Çeşme, is the availability of fresh fish and seafood, whether ordered at a popular waterside Cesme fish restaurant watching the sunset over Chios or purchased from a fishmonger and cooked or barbecued at home.
The great staples and favourites of the Aegean are sea bass ‘levrek’ and (gilt-head) sea bream ‘çipura’, which can be found farmed and wild in most fishmongers year-round. Nevertheless, an excellent range of other fish is available in different seasons from the Aegean or further Mediterranean waters.
Çeşme Fish & Seafood – Table of Contents
Where to Buy Fresh Fish & Seafood in Çeşme
Çeşme Centre Fish Landing: Located at the north end of Çeşme’s waterfront at the junction of Hürriyet Cd. and 101 Sk., close to the many fish restaurants is the small fish landing and stalls where, depending on sea conditions, the catch of the day is sold from approximately 11.15 am, length of time depending on the volume of catch.
Supermarkets: The largest supermarket selection of fresh fish is at the Migros MM on Atatürk Boulevard; there are selections at the Macrocenter Otobüs Terminal and the Carrefour on Atatürk Boulevard. For locations of supermarkets, click here.
Fishmongers: In the centre of Çeşme at 3047 Sk., is located Merkez Balıkçılık, a well-established and usually very well-supplied fishmonger.
Fishermen’s Bazaar (Balıkçılar Çarşısı): This market is Güzelbahçe, 60km from Çeşme, but it is worth a small detour and fish purchase if you are driving back from Izmir. Located at Yalı, Mithatpaşa Cd. 168-22, 35310 Güzelbahçe/İzmir This extensive fish market is adjacent to the Güzelbahçe new harbour and surrounded by fish restaurants where you can have the market fish cooked and served to you.
Fisherman’s daily cooperative markets in Çeşme Municipality – schedules published in “Iz Dergi” April 2022:
| Area | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Çeşme | 11:15 | Çeşme Balıkçı Barınağı (as above) |
| Alaçatı | 11:00 | Pazaryeri girişinde – entrance marketplace Mosque |
| Çiftlikköy | 10:30 | Çiftlikköy Balıkçı Barınağı (fish shelter/market) |
| Dalyan | 10:00 | Next to Balıkçı Hasan |
| Ilıca | 10:30 | Yildizburnu Balıkçı Barınağı (harbour, west of Ilıca beach) |
| Ildiri | 10:30 | Opposite Kamil grocery store |
Note: In Turkey, fish are usually sold whole and uncleaned; the fishmonger will descale and gut your order.
Fish & Seafood Restaurants
The main concentration of fish restaurants is along the Hürriyet Caddesi’s waterfront; these restaurants promote an attractively priced dinner package including sea bass/sea bream, salad, and dessert. Waiters can appear quite voracious in attracting clients to their restaurants and are keen for clients to spend on additional higher-profit items such as starters and alcohol. However, there is no problem staying with the special offer, and the views and cooling sea breeze make an affordable dinner pleasant and memorable.
Menu boards (from June 2024) of Restaurant Rihtim and Çeşme Meyhane Deniz restaurants on the waterfront, advertising fish, seafood, mezes and other dishes. Fish are subject to availability and sold by weight. Prices are as of June 2024 (€1.00 = approx TL35).
Around Çeşme Marina, many restaurants specialise in fish and seafood; these restaurants are typically a little more expensive and upscale. The dining areas of these restaurants are in close proximity to the water and the yachts; this, together with the gentle flapping of the sails and rattling of ropes on masts, offers a pleasant evening dinner environment. In high season the restaurants can get extremely busy, and occasionally a challenge for the waiters to keep up.
In the centre a few restaurants are specialised in fish and seafood, these include the restaurants working together with the fishmongers; Dalyan Balıkçılık & Horasan Balıkçılık on 3047 Sk., and Levent Balık Evi at 3011 Sk. on the top (east) end of the town centre.
A-Z of Çeşme Fish & Seafood
| Turkish Fish | English Fish |
|---|---|
| Akya | Leerfish or Garrick |
| Ahtapot | Octopus |
| Barbunya | Red Mullet |
| Çipura | Gilt-head Sea Bream |
| Dil | Sole |
| Dülger | John Dory |
| Ege | Aegean (indicates wild? *check) |
| Hamsi | Anchovies |
| Istavrit | Jack Mackerel |
| Kalamar | Squid or Calamari |
| Kalkan | Turbot |
| Kefal | Mullet |
| Karides | Prawns |
| Kılıç | Swordfish |
| Kofana | Bluefish (35cm+/500g+) |
| Kolyoz | Chub Mackerel |
| Kupes | Boops Boops |
| Levrek | Sea Bass |
| Lüfer | Bluefish (28-35cm/125g+) |
| Mercan | Red Porgy or Common Sea Bream |
| Mırmır | Sand Steenbras or Striped Sea Bream |
| Midye | Mussels |
| Norveç Somon | Salmon (imported from Norway) |
| Orfoz | Dusky Grouper |
| Orkinos, Ton | Thunnus |
| Palamut | Bonito |
| Pisi | Flounder |
| Sardalya | Sardines |
| Sargöz | White Sea Bream |
| Sarıkanat | Bluefish (18-25cm/75g+) |
| Sinarit | Common Dentex |
| Tekir | Striped Red Mullet |
| Uskumru | Mackerel |
| Uzunkanat Orkinos | Albacore or Longfin Tuna |
| Yazılı Orkinos | Skipjack Tuna |
Fish Farming
Fish farming (Aquaculture), particularly of sea bass and gilt-head sea bream, is prevalent in the Aegean, and large farms can be seen off the coast of the Karaburun Peninsula. After salmon varieties, sea bass was the first marine species to be commercially cultured in Europe and, at present, is the most important commercial fish widely cultured in the Mediterranean. Fish are bred in large land-based hatcheries and transferred to off-shore floating platforms with automated feeding and monitoring systems.
