Located just steps away from the Mercato Centrale, Ayasofya Istanbul provides a change of pace from the ubiquitous pasta, pizza, and panini in the area. Don't get me wrong--all those dishes are good, but sometimes you just want a little spice in your life! This friendly, casual kebab shop offers a mix of Turkish and even Indian food--the Piadina Kebab was a wrap containing chicken döner, carved from the rotating spit, along with lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber, cabbage, French fries, and a choice of sauces including a creamy garlic and a spicy chili sauce. They also have a bunch of different prepared dishes at the counter, and my pick was the Ceci Indiana ("Indian chickpeas," otherwise known as Chana Masala), made with soft chickpeas in a delightfully spicy curry, and served with a puffy, airy, crusty Turkish flatbread on the side, which was perfect for dipping into the sauce! Oh, how I've missed these spices, and every dish here came at an unbelievable value too! read more