195 lira fried chicken and three visits so far: Popeyes, Istanbul

Eating well on a long trip isn't only about famous tables. Sometimes you just want a hot box of fried chicken that's cheap and good. That's how our editor ended up at Popeyes, and the verdict was clear: the fried chicken is really delicious. Our editor has been three times.

Here's the order to copy. Our editor's set cost 195 lira, and adding a chicken leg costs another 50 lira, which makes 245 lira with the extra piece.

In our editor's photos, the meal comes in an orange Popeyes box on a tray: crumbed chicken pieces, a heap of seasoned fries, onion rings and a sandwich in printed paper. The chicken has the craggy, crunchy-looking coating you want from proper fried chicken, and the bitten sandwich shows thick white meat with lettuce. Sauces come in small tubs, and the ones in one photo are a hot sauce, chipotle and garlic mayo.

The drink in the photos is the local touch. Ayran is a savoury Turkish yoghurt drink, and here it comes in a small sealed 200ml Sütaş cup. Think of it as a salty cousin of lassi. It's worth a try alongside something fried.

Ordering is easy for visitors, because the kiosk in our editor's photos has an English menu. It shows a wide choice: XL chicken sandwiches, Popchicken burgers, wing sets in sweet hot, honey barbecue or buffalo sauce, and buckets for sharing. The menus we can see on screen run from 250 to 610 lira, so look through the options to find the set you want. Prices may have changed by the time you go.

The wrapper carries the brand's "New Orleans" flavour line and the year 1972, and in Türkiye it's a big name: a franchise listing describes more than 300 restaurants nationwide. At another Popeyes branch in Türkiye, reviewers mention good prices for big meals, well spiced chicken and good fries, which sits nicely with our editor's cheap and tasty verdict here. Halaskargazi is a main road through Şişli, so it's an easy stop to slot in between sights.

🍽️ What to order

• The 195 lira set our editor ordered
• An extra chicken leg for 50 lira
• Ayran on the side

💡 Good to know

• Use the kiosk to read the full menu in English
• The prices here are what our editor mentioned, so check the kiosk for today's price
• Grab a few sauces so you can try them with the fries and chicken