For the current Turkish Airlines menu by cabin, see our Turkish Airlines menu guide.

Introduction

Melbourne to Athens on Turkish Airlines was two flights: TK169, the Melbourne-to-Istanbul flight via Singapore, then a short hop from Istanbul to Athens. That was five meal services in three cities (Melbourne, Singapore and Istanbul). A good test of how consistent Turkish economy food really is.

a plate of food on a tray on an airplane.
Turkish Airlines food tray with orange juice.
A tray of Turkish Airlines food and drink.
Turkish airlines economy class lunch with lemonade
Turkish airlines economy class meal eggplant with rice

Melbourne to Singapore

TK169 left Melbourne at 10.40pm for the seven hour first sector. Given the overnight timing everyone got an amenity kit (eye mask, socks, dental kit, ear plugs and a toiletry case) in a pouch which had the architectural landmarks of the city printed on it. Things you’d actually use rather than some pointless filler.

A pouch adorned with various architectural landmarks complements the Turkish Airlines meals as it rests elegantly on the airplane tray table.
An airplane amenity kit featuring a red eye mask, socks, dental kit, earplugs, and a toiletry case with a travel-themed print is displayed alongside Turkish Airlines meals on the tray table.

Service started approximately 45 minutes after take-off with two menu options. I opted for the chicken breast which came pre-cut over yellow rice with a tomato and caper sauce and some grilled vegetables. The chicken was very good in flavour and the accompaniments were excellent (creamy hummus, crisp coleslaw, a buttered bread roll and a rather dense and moist chocolate cake which was definitely worth eating). The cutlery was all metal and the tray was a decent size so it did feel like a real meal. Drinks were covered (wine, beer, soft drinks and juice).

A Turkish Airlines menu rests on a tray table, featuring a gray cover with the airline's logo in orange and white text. Inside, passengers can explore the exquisite selection of Turkish Airlines meals, promising a delightful culinary journey at 30,000 feet.
On a Turkish Airlines meal tray table, savor the exquisite options for breakfast and before landing, featuring chicken calzone, cheese sandwich, and a delectable chocolate muffin.
The Turkish Airlines menu, elegantly placed on a tray table, showcases their delicious meals alongside a selection of beverages including tea, coffee, juices, and wines.
Airplane meal tray featuring a delightful Turkish Airlines meal: rice, chicken in sauce, eggplant, a fresh roll with butter, coleslaw, creamy hummus, a rich brownie for dessert, and a refreshing drink of your choice.
A delightful Turkish Airlines meal featuring yellow rice, chicken topped with tomato sauce and capers, paired with grilled vegetables, beautifully presented in a white dish.
A hand holds a metal fork, spoon, and knife in an airplane with the aircraft cabin in the background, showcasing the refined dining experience typical of Turkish Airlines meals.
A Turkish Airlines meal tray is neatly arranged, featuring dishes covered in foil and plastic lids, accompanied by a wrapped butter packet and an empty glass.

Second Meal Service

Second service was a chicken calzone or a veg sandwich. I went for the calzone and it was cold. The box said Butter Chicken Calzone (intended to be hot) so the team had treated it as a sandwich and hadn’t got it in the oven. The tray was otherwise completed with a chocolate muffin and orange juice. Two options on the second service is good, one of them being cold isn’t.

Turkish Airlines meals feature delights like butter chicken calzones served on an airplane tray, accompanied by a chocolate muffin, a packet of tomato ketchup, and a refreshing cup of orange juice.
A tray with a cupcake, a cup of orange juice, packaged cutlery, and two pastries on a foldable airplane table offers a delightful taste of Turkish Airlines meals.
The Turkish Airlines meal on a tray includes a partially eaten sandwich, a chocolate muffin, a glass of orange juice, and a pack of sugar.

Singapore to Istanbul

After a brief stop in Singapore we carried on to Istanbul with two further services, again catered in Singapore. Breakfast was a cheese omelette with potatoes, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, white cheese with cucumber, watermelon and dragon fruit and a bread roll. The eggs were quite fluffy rather than rubbery and the potatoes were well seasoned. Nothing to complain about really, they did it properly.

Turkish Airlines meals feature a delightful airplane dish with an omelette, mushrooms, potatoes, and cherry tomatoes. Accompanied by a side of cheese and cucumber, the meal is completed with a refreshing dessert that includes fruit pieces.
A tray featuring Turkish Airlines meals: a delightful dish with slices of white cheese on cucumber and another with assorted fruits like watermelon and dragon fruit.
Enjoy a delicious Turkish Airlines meal featuring an omelette with potatoes and mushrooms, complemented by a side of fruit, cheese, and a fresh bread roll with butter. All served alongside a refreshing glass of cola on your tray.

A basket filled with packaged Greta snacks sits on a counter next to a metal tray of more snacks and plastic cups, reminiscent of the delicious assortment found in Turkish Airlines meals.

Between meals the galley had a basket of Greta snacks and cups out but the crew didn’t do any water or juice runs. On a flight that long I’d have liked at least a couple.

Pre-landing meal was fried rice with an eggplant dip and a side salad. TThe salad was just wilted lettuce and tomato, and had clearly seen better days. The fried rice was OK but quite flat, a bit of a let down from a Singapore kitchen. The mango cheesecake was the saving grace of the tray and it was a real plated dessert rather than a pre-packaged one.

A metal spoon stands upright in a block of butter on a black dish, set on an airplane tray table next to a plate.
Turkish Airlines meals on a tray, featuring a foil-covered main dish alongside three containers holding salad, cheese, and a delightful dessert.
A delightful Turkish Airlines meal features a fresh salad with lettuce and tomato, complemented by a dish of creamy spread. Enjoy a small square of cake to satisfy your sweet tooth, all enhanced with a packet of extra virgin olive oil and lemon sauce.
Turkish Airlines meals on a tray table include rice, vegetables, salad, bread with butter, dessert, and a drink.

Istanbul to Athens

The last flight is just over an hour, and Turkish has a ‘picnic’ concept here (cold tray rather than the usual hot service). Mine was a grilled chicken salad, a cheese sandwich, chocolate mousse and water. A lot of food for an hour, and it was all very good; the chocolate mousse in particular was excellent.

Turkish Airlines meals displayed on an airplane tray include a grilled chicken salad, chocolate mousse, water, and a wrapped sandwich, all with airline branding visible.
A Turkish Airlines meal features a tray with tender chicken, fresh salad, a soft bread roll, water, and dessert, elegantly accompanied by cutlery and a napkin.

Conclusion

Five meal services across three catering kitchens and Turkish still hold up. Qatar Airways’ staff may be more attentive, but their economy food has been a mixed bag for me. Turkish sticks to what works, and you’ll see the same dishes on more than one flight. The only real letdown was a calzone the crew completely forgot to heat, and the only real shortfall was the absence of drink runs on the Singapore-Istanbul leg. The picnic concept is the right idea: on an hour-long flight, you can’t beat a cold meal over a hurried hot one. If you’re flying Turkish in economy, you can be pretty confident that you’ll get decent food on every leg. Just check that your calzone has been heated.

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