14.03.2025 15:03
The prices of lahmacun in Istanbul vary by neighborhood. While lahmacun is sold for 60 lira in Esenler, it can reach up to 250 lira in Göktürk, and this price difference has become a topic of discussion among shopkeepers. The owner of the shop selling lahmacun for 60 lira stated that he makes a 45% profit, while the chef selling lahmacun for 250 lira said, "Good lahmacun doesn't come cheap."
One of the most beloved flavors of Turkish cuisine, the price of lahmacun has drawn attention as it varies by district. While lahmacun is sold for 60 lira in Esenler, it can reach up to 250 lira in Göktürk. Merchants selling it cheaply attribute the price changes to 'rent and personnel expenses,' while those selling it at higher prices emphasize that the quality of the meat and ingredients used affects the prices. Citizens state that the average price of lahmacun should be around 100 lira, expressing that they do not find the 50 lira lahmacun reliable.
"WE WILL SELL IT CHEAP SO PEOPLE WILL BUY" Gündüz Çoklu (46), who has been a tradesman in Esenler for 30 years, stated that he sells lahmacun for 60 lira, saying, "We will sell it cheap so people will buy. Most customers prepare their own ingredients at home and bring them, so we make lahmacun for 7.5 lira each. When making lahmacun, it is essential to pay attention to the minced meat. If the minced meat is good, the lahmacun will also be good. For example, you buy 1 kilo of minced meat for 550 lira, and from 1 kilogram of minced meat, you can make an average of 25-30 lahmacun. When calculated at 60 lira, it amounts to about 1800-2000 lira. If 1000 lira goes to expenses, the rest is ours. In most places, lahmacun is 100-200 lira; those are rip-offs. The average price should be between 75-80 lira. The lahmacun we sell leaves us with a 45% profit. Merchants in Etiler, Taksim, or Aksaray also buy meat from the butcher. In fact, they buy it cheaper because they purchase in bulk. For example, they sell a lahmacun for 200 lira, making a 70% profit. We wonder how lahmacun can be this price in luxury places. For instance, if their rent is 200,000 lira, mine is 10,000 lira. If they pay that employee 5,000 lira, I pay 2,000 lira. The ideal lahmacun should be a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 80 lira. There are also lahmacuns sold for 40-50 lira. Some put offal and low-quality fat in it. The meat must be clean and good," he said.
"LAHMACUN COSTS US ABOUT 50 LIRA" Zeki Temizoğlu (65), a kebab seller who has been in business for 25 years in Fatih, also stated that he sells lahmacun for 70 lira, noting that those who sell it at higher prices have high rent expenses. Temizoğlu said, "For example, how much rent does a tradesman on Bağdat Avenue pay? How many employees do they have? The rents there are not the same as those of tradesmen in neighborhoods like ours; that needs to be taken into account. Sometimes we hear that lahmacun is sold for 800 to 1000 lira in Bodrum. This is an extreme situation; these things will drive people away from the establishment. Since we produce and sell ourselves, we sell at a much lower price. Right now, we sell for 70 lira, but there are lahmacuns in the market for 80 and 100 lira. Lahmacun costs us 40-50 lira. There cannot be a price lower than this. We have no rent; I manage the business and labor myself, and we say whatever we earn, may God bless it. The reason we can sell at a low price is that we produce it ourselves," he explained.
"WE ARE SELLING FOR 65 LIRA DUE TO RAMADAN" Temizoğlu, who said they pay the most attention to the meat when making lahmacun, stated, "We pay attention to whether the meat is fatty or lean. The preparation is very important; we need to pay attention to the salt, tomato paste, and the consistency of the meat. Otherwise, the lahmacun will turn out bad. Due to the month of Ramadan, we made a slight discount. To provide better service to our citizens, we reduced the lahmacun price from 70 to 65 lira," he said.
"I DO NOT RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO EAT 50-60 LIRA LAHMACUN" Mevlüt Demir (49), who has been working in a lahmacun shop in Kadıköy for 8 years, also stated that a good lahmacun should not be less than 150 lira. Demir said, "The key point of lahmacun is the quality of the meat used. We use beef and lamb shoulder. The cost of lahmacun is quite high, reaching 80 lira. We sell it for 120 lira. The price difference by neighborhoods is related to the quality of the brand as well as the ingredients used. A good lahmacun should not be less than 150 lira. If we calculate the costs, we cannot say that we make a lot of profit. I do not recommend people to eat lahmacuns priced at 50-60 lira. I believe that what my family and children eat should be what is sold," he said.
"A GOOD LAHMACUN SHOULD BE ABOVE 200 LIRA" Chef Erdal Demir, who has a restaurant in Göktürk and states that a good lahmacun will not be cheap, expressed that they sell it for 250 lira, saying, "We use quality lamb meat. The essential ingredient of lahmacun is the meat. The meat, spices, and peppers we put in must be of high quality and elite. For a good lahmacun, the thickness of the dough should be proportional to the thickness of the topping. The price of a good lahmacun should be above 200 lira. Lahmacun below that price cannot be in my segment; otherwise, it mixes with beef. They do not use good onions, and instead of village peppers, they use bell peppers. They do not use well-ripened, good tomatoes but rather inferior tomatoes. They cut costs. Our lahmacun price is 250 lira. We make a 30% profit. Some products yield profit, while others cause losses. For example, if I do not have my puff bread, lavash, and tırnaklı pide made, there is no profit for us from the lahmacun here. We are forced to keep the oven running because we buy side products. I do not know how much they cost to make lahmacun sold for 50 lira. But let me say this: 1 kilogram of tomatoes is 35 lira, the price of meat is 600 lira, the price of capia pepper is 80 lira, and the price of onions is 35 lira, so good luck getting out of this. I say good lahmacun is not cheap. Good lahmacun is always expensive," he said.
"I DO NOT FIND 50-60 LIRA LAHMACUN RELIABLE" Mehmet Ali İpek (19), one of the citizens, stated that he finds lahmacun priced around 100 lira more reliable, saying, "Lahmacun should not be above 200 lira. Since I am a student, it should be at a price suitable for students." Dilek Eroğlu (43) said, "If we want a delicious, reliable lahmacun, an average lahmacun should be 150 lira because of the meat prices. A lahmacun priced at 50-60 lira does not seem reliable to me; it does not satisfy me in terms of taste and hygiene," she said.
"I PRIORITIZE PRICE FIRST, THEN TASTE" Harun Tanrıkul (22) stated, "When eating lahmacun, I prioritize the price first, then the taste."
There are some lahmacuns among the very expensive ones that taste bad. A good lahmacun should be between 80-100 lira. I live in Maltepe, where you can find it for 80 lira, while in Kadıköy, you can find it for 150-200 lira. There is such a difference. However, a 50 lira lahmacun is not worth eating," he said.