🥒 Istanbul's old pickle shops: Which products can vegans choose?

Cucumbers, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, beets, beans, plums, unripe apricots, and even watermelon… It’s hard to find a vegetable or fruit that doesn’t end up in a jar at Istanbul’s traditional pickle shops.

Pickles are more than just a small side dish in Turkey. They’re eaten at home alongside dishes like dried beans, chickpeas, rice, and bulgur. In restaurants, they’re added to sandwiches, wraps, and some street food. They arrive at winter tables in large jars. Pickle juice, drunk in glasses and available in spicy or non-spicy options, is a street food in its own right. 🥤🌶️

In Istanbul, you can still find traditional shops selling only pickles, brine-preserved products, and pickle juice. These small businesses offer classic cucumber pickles alongside seasonal fruits, wild herbs, and fermented products from different cuisines.

So, are all these vegan? Most of the time yes, but not always.

🌱 Are pickles vegan?

Classic Turkish pickles are usually prepared with the following ingredients:

🥒 Vegetables or fruits

💧 Water

🧂 Salt

🍋 Lemon or vinegar

🧄 Garlic

🌿 Herbal spices

Pickles made with these ingredients: cucumber, cabbage, peppers, beets, tomatoes, beans, carrots, melons, and other fruits are suitable for vegan diets.

Fermentation itself is not an animal-based process. Cloudy pickle brine does not necessarily mean it contains milk. The color and appearance of the brine can change during natural fermentation.

However, the fact that a product has "pickle" in its name does not necessarily mean it is vegan.

⚠️ Pickles that vegans should be aware of

🧀 Milk and cheese pickles

Jalapeno and similar peppers filled with cheese are not vegan. Soka pickles, originating from Balkan cuisine, can also be prepared with milk, cream, or cheese.

For example, Özcan Turşu's soka pickle contains milk, cream, and cheese. This product is not vegan.

🐟 Kimchi with Fish Sauce

Traditional Korean kimchi may contain fish sauce, shrimp paste, or other seafood ingredients. Some pickle shops in Istanbul sell both fish sauce and vegan kimchi.

Özcan Turşu states that they have two different kimchi options. When buying kimchi, it's important to specifically ask for the vegan one.

🥄 Served on the Same Counter

Some pickle shops also sell cheese-stuffed peppers, milk-based pickles, or other animal products. The same tongs may have been used for different products.

If this is important to you, ask for the product to be handled with clean, separate tongs.

🧃 Pickle Brine

Classic pickle brine is mostly made from vegan ingredients. However, it's a good idea to ask if any dairy products, whey, or other ready-made mixtures have been added.

Also, not all pickle brine is naturally fermented. Some can be prepared with vinegar, lemon, salt, and water. Therefore, "pickle brine" and "probiotic drink" should not be considered the same thing.

📍 Istanbul's Pickle Shop Route

This list is not a ranking of "the best pickle shops." It brings together shops in different neighborhoods of Istanbul that keep the pickle culture alive, offering classic and unusual products.

Not all listed businesses are vegan. It is necessary to evaluate the products in each shop individually.

🥒 Asri Turşucu

Cihangir, Beyoğlu

At Asri Turşucu, you can find classics like cucumber, cabbage, and pepper, as well as lesser-known varieties such as plum, cherry, unripe apricot, cranberry, okra, and bean. Pickle brine in a glass is also an important part of the shop experience.

The family's pickle-making history dates back to 1913; their Cihangir location began in 1938. The shop is also associated with the well-known Turkish film Neşeli Günler (Happy Days).

🌱 For Vegans: Plain vegetable and fruit pickles may be suitable if their ingredients are verified.

⚠️ Caution: As a seasonal shop, it may be closed during the summer months. Check if it's open before you go.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/asri-tursucu

🥒 Soydan Turşuları

Ortakoy

Soydan offers a variety of pickled peppers, cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, plums, and okra in large jars. They also sell pickled vine leaves, vinegar, tomato paste, hot sauce, and pickle brine.

The family's pickle-making history dates back to the 1930s. The shop in Beşiktaş Bazaar continues to operate as one of the neighborhood's traditional food stops today.

🌱 For Vegans: Most classic vegetable and fruit pickles may be suitable. ⚠️ Caution: Consider sauces, tomato paste, and other packaged products separately from pickles. Check the ingredient list.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/soydan-tursulari-ortakoy

🥒 Özcan Turşuları

Kadıköy Bazaar

At Özcan, you can find cucumber, cabbage, pepper, tomato, okra, and mixed pickles, as well as products from different fermentation traditions such as kimchi, sauerkraut, beetroot kvass, and soka.

The family's pickle-making story began in 1935. The current shop in Kadıköy Bazaar opened in 1956.

🌱 For Vegans: In addition to classic vegetable pickles, there is a vegan kimchi option.

🚫 Not Vegan: Soka pickles contain milk, cream, and cheese. Cheese-filled pickles are also not vegan.

🐟 Kimchi warning: Fish sauce and vegan options should be kept separate. Say "I want vegan kimchi" when ordering.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/ozcan-tursu

🥒Pelit Turşuları

Kurtuluş, Şişli

At Pelit's counter, you can find classic pickles like cucumber, cabbage, pepper, beetroot, and okra, as well as seasonal pickles made from corn, apples, or other fruits and vegetables. Pickle brine, vinegar, tomato paste, and sauces are also available.

The shop in Kurtuluş dates back to 1958. Today, it's one of the businesses representing the old food tradesmen of the neighborhood.

🌱 For Vegans: Plain vegetable and fruit pickles may be suitable.

⚠️ Caution: There is no explicit vegan declaration covering all products. Especially inquire about filled products and sauces.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/pelit-tursulari-kurtulus

🥒 Üsküdarlı Ünal Turşuları

Üsküdar

Ünal's products include pickles made from gherkins, white cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, beets, beans, plums, okra, and various types of peppers. Mixed pickles, featuring classic varieties, are also available.

The business was founded in Üsküdar in 1957 and has been run by the family.

🌱 For Vegans: Simple vegetable and fruit pickles prepared with water, salt, lemon, or vinegar may be suitable.

⚠️ Caution: Read the ingredients list on packaged products. If buying unpackaged products from the shop, ask about the contents of the brine.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/unal-tursulari-uskudar

🥒 Arıoğulları Petek Turşuları

Beyoğlu Fish Market

At Petek, in addition to classic cucumber, cabbage, and pepper pickles, you can find seasonal varieties such as plums, okra, apricots, or medlars. In addition to pickles, they also sell olives, pickled vine leaves, tomato paste, sauces, and vinegar.

The business in Beyoğlu Fish Market dates back to 1989.

🌱 For Vegans: Plain fruit and vegetable pickles may be suitable if their ingredients are verified.

⚠️ Caution: Sauces, stuffed olives, and other regional products do not have the same ingredients as the pickles. Inquire about each product separately.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/ariogullari-petek-tursulari

🥒 Tarihi Kemerburgaz Turşucusu Halit Demir and Sons

Kemerburgaz

In addition to classic cucumber and pepper pickles, they offer varieties such as plum, black carrot, garlic, melon, bean, red cabbage, and cabbage roll pickles. Spicy and non-spicy pickle brine options are also available.

The business traces its pickle-making history back to 1948.

🌱 For Vegans: The basic recipe for plain pickles, consisting of vegetables, water, salt, and lemon, as described by the business, is suitable for vegans.

⚠️ Caution: Some packages also contain cheese. Therefore, the entire business or all its products should not be labeled as vegan.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/tarihi-kemerburgaz-tursucusu-2

🥒 Hacı Salih Demir Turşucusu

Kemerburgaz, Eyüpsultan

Hacı Salih Demir Pickle Shop offers classic vegetable pickles as well as varieties prepared from different fruits and seasonal products. Kemerburgaz is one of the areas in Istanbul where the pickle-making tradition is continued by multiple family businesses.

This shop is not the same business as Tarihi Kemerburgaz Turşucusu, run by Halit Demir and Sons. It's important to avoid confusion between addresses due to the similarity in names.

🌱 For Vegans: Plain vegetable and fruit pickles may be suitable once the ingredients are confirmed.

⚠️ Caution: There is no explicit vegan declaration covering all products.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/tarihi-haci-salih-demir-tursucusu

🥒 Tatar Turşucu Engin Usta

Atalar, Kartal

Engin Usta's stall offers classic varieties such as cabbage, beetroot, beans, cucumber, and chili peppers. Mixed pickles with a distinct garlic flavor and pickle brine in glasses are also among the shop's products.

This neighborhood pickle shop in Atalar is one of the options for those who want to buy pickles in bulk from the shop on the Anatolian side of Istanbul.

🌱 For Vegans: Classic vegetable pickles may be vegan.

⚠️ Caution: Ask about the contents of the brine used in bulk products and whether the same tongs have been used for other products.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/tatar-tursucu-engin-usta

🥒 Tarihi Balat Turşucusu

Balat, Fatih

At Balat Pickle Shop, you can find traditional varieties like cucumber, cabbage, beetroot, pepper, and plum pickles, along with pickle juice served in glasses. For those exploring Balat on foot, a glass of pickle juice can be a quick street food break. 🚶🥤

The shop is considered one of Balat's oldest food vendors.

🌱 For Vegans: Plain vegetable and fruit pickles may be suitable.

⚠️ Caution: There is no explicit vegan declaration covering all products. Ask about the ingredients of your chosen variety before purchasing.

https://www.veganistanbul.com/en/venue/balat-tursucusu

💬 What to say at the pickle shop?

These short questions can make things easier:

“Bu turşu vegan mı?”

Is this pickle vegan?

“İçinde süt, peynir, kaymak veya peynir altı suyu var mı?”

Does it contain milk, cheese, cream, or whey?

“İçinde balık sosu var mı?”

Does it contain fish sauce?

“Vegan olanından istiyorum.”

I would like the vegan version.

“Could you please use a separate, clean pair of tongs?”

Could you please use a separate, clean pair of tongs?

🧂 A small health note

Pickles and pickle brine generally contain high amounts of salt. Those who need to limit their salt intake should pay attention to portion sizes. Also, not all pickles are naturally fermented or contain live probiotics.

📌 Before you go

Check the opening days, address, and seasonal closures before visiting.

All shops on this list may not be vegan. Just because a pickle shop has a wide variety of plant-based products doesn't mean every item on sale is vegan. Look out for things like milk-based pickles, cheese-stuffed peppers, kimchi with fish sauce, and the use of the same serving tongs.

🥒 Save this for your Istanbul trip.

🌱 Share this with a vegan or vegetarian friend who loves pickles.

Last checked: September 4, 2026.