Ever wondered what Turkish Airlines food is like in Economy Class? I reviewed everything I ate flying from London to Tbilisi.
Normally when I travel short-haul in Europe, I’m flying on a budget airline that basically charge you money for breathing. So it was a real treat flying with Turkish Airlines on my recent journey from London to Tbilisi (with a layover in Istanbul).
Below, I’ve reviewed all the food I ate in Turkish Airlines economy class and will let you know at the end if I think it is worth paying extra to fly with TA for short haul!
London – Istanbul Economy Food Review
The journey kicked off with a three-and-a-half-hour flight from London Heathrow to Istanbul. Even though I was flying in Economy Class, Turkish Airlines still provided a full meal service which I was impressed by for a relatively short flight.
I chose the chicken for my main course, which, despite being a bit dry, was complemented well by a creamy, flavourful sauce. The courgette maintained its form, adding a nice texture to the meal. The standout dish was undoubtedly the potato gratin—decadent and delicious, it was the highlight of the meal.
Instead of a traditional salad, we were served a pot of tzatziki. I was not complaining as I love tzatziki, and this was super creamy and had been well-seasoned. I was also very happy to be served a hot bread roll (I HATE that most airlines serve them cold!)
Dessert was a nice little chocolate caramel mousse. it was both light and lusciously creamy and a greta way to round out a very solid Economy Class meal service.
Istanbul to Tbilisi Economy Food Review
Our subsequent flight to Tbilisi, though just two hours, also included a full meal service. The breakfast omelette, filled with ham, tomato, and cheese, looked less than appealing but was surprisingly decent in taste, despite its spongy texture.
Alongside the omelette, I enjoyed another hot bread roll, a refreshing little feta salad, and a pot of birch and muesli—an excellent start to the morning.
Final Thoughts on Turkish Airlines Economy Class Food
Given how disappointing most airplane food is, I was honestly very impressed with the Turkish Airlines food in economy class. I really enjoyed having a meal service on a short haul flight and it would tempt me to book Turkish Airlines for future travels in Europe.
I recently read an article about how the food on Turkish Airlines is prepared and gave me even more of an appreciation for their inflight meals. I always assumed that all airline food was all pre-made, packaged into big containers for hire and just heated up in the ovens onboard.
However, the catering company behind Turkish Airlines’ seems to go the extra mile to maintain the quality of food onboard. Take the kebabs that Turkish Airlines serve in Business Class. Apparently, the meat gets grilled in the kitchen over charcoal to create a chargrilled flavour before simply being heated on the aircraft before serving!
So… I guess my next food review is going to have to be Turkish Airlines Business Class so I can try those kebabs!
