Affordable Restaurants in Istanbul: Italian Dishes Under 500 TL in Eminönü and Karaköy

If you are looking for an affordable restaurant in Istanbul, we have two addresses at either end of the Galata Bridge: HR Italy Eminönü and HR Italy Karaköy. Our fresh pasta starts at 390 TL (Turkish lira), salads at 400 TL and desserts at 350 TL; a glass of brewed tea is 75 TL. Below are the most affordable items on our menu, with photos and prices, restaurant by restaurant.

The menu and the prices are the same at both restaurants. We have still split this post in two: the Eminönü section covers the pasta dishes under 500 TL and the kids' menu, the Karaköy section the salads, a snack, the desserts and the fresh drinks. You will find all of them at both restaurants.

Price list: our dishes under 500 TL

Prices are those on our menu as of 9 October 2026 and may change; the current list is always on our menu page.

Affordable restaurant in Eminönü: HR Italy Eminönü

HR Italy Eminönü, Yeni Camii Caddesi No:37.

Our Eminönü restaurant is in Rüstem Paşa, at Yeni Camii Caddesi No:37. The Spice Bazaar, the New Mosque and the Rüstem Pasha Mosque are a few minutes' walk away, and the Eminönü stop of the T1 tram and the ferry piers are close by. It is a place to sit down in the middle of a bazaar walk and eat well without spending much. Its name is Storico, Italian for “historic”: a warm table with an open terrace and an air-conditioned dining room, in keeping with the spirit of the historic peninsula.

In Eminönü, our suggestion is fresh pasta. Our pasta is made every day from semolina, without white flour, and the dough is rolled on machines from Italy. All seven dishes below cost less than 500 TL.

Creamy Parmesan Fettuccine: 390 TL

The most affordable pasta on our menu. Fresh fettuccine, cream and parmesan: a simple but filling plate made with three ingredients. It is marked as a Chef's Special on the menu.

Penne Arrabbiata: 450 TL

Fresh penne in a spicy tomato arrabbiata sauce. This is the pasta on our menu without cream, for anyone who likes a little heat or wants a lighter plate.

Caramelized Onion & Mushroom: 450 TL

Fresh fettuccine, cream and parmesan topped with caramelised onion and mushrooms. The sweetness of the onion goes well with the cream, and our Eminönü guests order it often.

Creamy Parmesan Pesto: 450 TL

Fresh fettuccine, cream, parmesan and pesto. The basil pesto gives the cream a fresh, green aroma.

Creamy Vegetable: 450 TL

Fresh fettuccine, cream, parmesan, boiled vegetables and bell pepper. One of the most affordable meat-free dishes on the menu.

Creamy Mushroom Chicken: 490 TL

According to our till records for August and September 2026, this is the most ordered dish at both of our restaurants. Fresh fettuccine, cream, parmesan, mushrooms and chicken: our first suggestion if you want a filling plate for under 500 TL.

Creamy Bolognese Fettuccine: 495 TL

Fresh fettuccine, cream, parmesan and bolognese sauce. The priciest dish on this list, and still under 500 TL; for anyone who wants pasta with a meat sauce.

Kids' menu: 490 TL, orange juice included

Families with children have three choices: Plain Fettuccine, Penne with Tomato Sauce and the Bunny-Shaped Pizza. All three cost 490 TL with a fresh orange juice included; on its own, the orange juice is 275 TL. The dish in the photo is the Penne with Tomato Sauce.

Tea and coffee

With your meal or after a walk through the bazaar: brewed tea is 75 TL, Turkish coffee 120 TL and espresso 130 TL.

To try these dishes right away, come to our Eminönü restaurant: HR Italy Eminönü · Open in Maps.

Affordable restaurant in Karaköy: HR Italy Karaköy

HR Italy Karaköy, Kölemen Sokak No:12.

Our Karaköy restaurant is in Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, at Kölemen Sokak No:12. Walk across the Galata Bridge from Eminönü and you are here in about 15 minutes. The Galata Tower and Galataport are within walking distance, and the Karaköy stop of the T1 tram, the Karaköy ferry pier and the Tünel funicular are close by. Its name is Moderno: a counter facing the street on the ground floor, a terrace surrounded by plants upstairs and marble tables on the pavement.

For a break while exploring Galata, or a light evening meal, the Karaköy section features our salads, desserts and fresh drinks. All the pasta dishes above are on the menu in Karaköy too, at the same prices.

Lasagna Balls: 350 TL

The most affordable dish on our menu. Balls made with beef ragù, béchamel, tomato sauce, pesto and mozzarella, served with a dip. Good for sharing, or as a light meal on its own.

Italian Salad: 400 TL

Seasonal greens, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, croutons and pesto. Our most affordable salad, and a light lunch after a walk around Galata.

Chicken Caesar Salad: 450 TL

Iceberg lettuce, chicken breast, Caesar dressing, grated parmesan and croutons. Filling thanks to the chicken, and still light.

Quinoa Salad: 490 TL

Seasonal greens, quinoa, dill, cucumber, mint, parsley, pomegranate seeds and pomegranate molasses. The vegan dish on our menu.

Grilled Halloumi Salad: 490 TL

Seasonal greens, grilled halloumi, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, walnuts, pomegranate molasses and olive oil. Meat-free and still filling.

White Chocolate Brownie: 350 TL

A white chocolate brownie served warm, with ice cream on the side. Together with the Panna Cotta, our most affordable dessert.

Panna Cotta: 350 TL

The classic Italian cream dessert, served in a jar with raspberry sauce.

Italian Tiramisu: 390 TL

Tiramisu made with mascarpone and served in a jar. The most ordered dessert at both of our restaurants.

Chocolate Soufflé with Ice Cream: 420 TL

Warm chocolate soufflé with vanilla ice cream, for anyone who likes hot and cold together.

Milk Lemonade (220 TL) and Fresh Orange Juice (275 TL)

On a hot Istanbul day, these are the fresh drinks our guests order most at both restaurants. Milk lemonade is 220 TL, fresh orange juice 275 TL.

To try these dishes right away, come to our Karaköy restaurant: HR Italy Karaköy · Open in Maps.

Affordable prices, the same kitchen

These dishes come out of the same kitchen as the rest of the menu. No white flour goes into our pasta: the dough is made from semolina and rolled on machines from Italy, and every dish is prepared with Chef Ramazan Karagüney's recipes. Nothing goes to waste in our kitchen. We tell the story of our pasta in our post on pasta without white flour.

How much does it cost per person?

A few example bills based on our menu prices:

• Quick lunch: Creamy Parmesan Fettuccine and a brewed tea, 465 TL.
• A filling plate: Creamy Mushroom Chicken and a milk lemonade, 710 TL.
• A light meal: Italian Salad and a Turkish coffee, 520 TL.
• A sweet break: Italian Tiramisu and an espresso, 520 TL.
• Sharing for two: a Margherita Pizza (600 TL), an Italian Salad (400 TL) and two brewed teas (150 TL), 1,150 TL in total, or 575 TL per person.
• Family with children: the kids' menu, 490 TL with orange juice included.

Three tips to spend less

Share a pizza

Our most affordable pizzas are the Margherita and the Vegetarian Pizza, both 600 TL. The Margherita is made with tomato sauce, mozzarella, pesto and oregano and baked in a stone oven. Sharing a pizza between two and adding a salad is the easiest way to bring the cost per person down. We cover all our pizzas in our perfect pizza near me post.

Use your meal card

Besides credit cards and cash, both restaurants accept Pluxee (Sodexo), Multinet, Edenred, Setcard, Metropol and Token Flex meal cards, the meal benefit cards many employers in Turkey provide.

Groups: get in touch in advance

For an office lunch, a birthday or a large table, leave your request on our group reservations page and we will settle the date, the menu and the table layout together.

Addresses, opening hours and directions

Both restaurants are open every day from 09:00 to 21:00. To enjoy an affordable Italian meal right away, come to our restaurants.

The full menu with prices and ingredients is on our menu page, and details of both restaurants are on our restaurants page. To get to know both restaurants better: the best Italian restaurants in Istanbul.