Whether on the street or in a fine-dining temple, the diverse flavors of Istanbul thrill the palate. Now that Michelin has reviewed 53 restaurants in this historic crossroads, awarding a handful of stars, perhaps the rest of the world will realize what anyone who’s explored the food here already knows: Turkey’s largest city is one of the great culinary capitals. Michelin awarded Turk Fatih Tutak restaurant with two stars, but neither of my concierges nor I could secure a reservation. People also steered me toward Mikla, a classic on The Marmara Pera hotel’s roof. Despite its one star, I found its food uneven and service sloppy. Fortunately, several other restaurants delighted. Here is a trio of my favorite discoveries.