Introduction

Turkish Airlines has built quite a reputation for economy class dining, and I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype.

Flying from Melbourne to Athens with stops in Singapore and Istanbul let me test their food across multiple flights.

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

The route is longer than the usual one-stop European hop, and you’ll need to disembark and clear security again in Singapore.

But sometimes, the interesting routes reveal more about an airline’s consistency than the standard ones.

Inside the cabin of a Turkish Airlines flight, passengers are comfortably seated, watching screens embedded in seatbacks while anticipating the delicious meals soon to be served.

Melbourne to Singapore

Flight TK 169 departed Melbourne at 10:40 PM for the seven hour journey to Singapore.

Given the overnight timing, Turkish Airlines provided a proper amenity kit, increasingly rare in economy class today.

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.

The kit actually impressed with quality contents: eye mask, socks, dental kit, earplugs, and toiletry case, all housed in a pouch decorated with architectural landmarks.

These weren’t cheap throwaway items but genuinely helpful travel accessories.

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.

Service started about 45 minutes after takeoff.

The menu offered two choices, typical for Turkish Airlines, though some carriers provide three options in economy.

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.

I selected the chicken breast, which arrived pre-cut for easy eating.

The tray presentation was lovely, with fresh items that made a difference: creamy hummus, crisp coleslaw salad, and rich chocolate cake for dessert.

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.

The chicken was tender and delicious, the hummus tasted fresh and the coleslaw provided crunch and acidity.

The chocolate cake was indulgent, dense, moist, and actually worth eating.

Proper metal cutlery in economy class deserves recognition, as does a generously sized tray that doesn’t feel cramped.

The beverage selection included decent wine, beer, soft drinks, and juices.

Second Meal Service

Truth be told, there was some confusion over the second meal.

The menu listed a chicken calzone or a vegetarian sandwich.

I chose the chicken calzone, but it was served cold and wasnโ€™t great.

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.

Here’s where things got interesting. The menu listed chicken calzone or vegetarian sandwich options.

I chose the chicken calzone, but it arrived cold and wasn’t appetising.

Box labeled "Butter Chicken Calzone Duos," reminiscent of Turkish Airlines meals, with ingredient list, allergy information, and manufacturing details. Contains wheat, gluten, and milk. Made in Australia from at least 88% Australian ingredients.

After checking the packaging, I realised the crew had mistaken it for a sandwich and hadn’t heated it properly.

The box indicated it was a “Butter Chicken Calzone” meant to be served hot.

While disappointing, it’s nice that Turkish offers two choices for the second service when most airlines provide only one option.

Singapore to Athens

After the brief Singapore stop, we continued toward Istanbul with two more meal services planned.

Close-up of a Turkish Airlines meals menu card featuring breakfast options like fruit, cheese, and omelets, along with before-landing choices such as white eggplant salad and grilled fish.

For breakfast, I opted for a cheese omelette with potatoes, served with cheese and fruit on the side.

This was good economy breakfast food, the eggs were fluffy rather than rubbery, the potatoes were lovely, and the cheese and fruit provided nice variety.

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.

Can’t complain here – they did it well.

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.

Snacks were available in the galley between meals, but here’s the thing – the crew weren’t proactive about water or juice runs.

More frequent beverage service would have been appreciated for such a long flight.

Second Meal Service

I chose fried rice with eggplant dip and a side salad for the pre-landing meal.

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.

The salad looked rather sad, wilted lettuce that had seen better days.

The fried rice was adequate but uninspiring, especially considering it was catered from Singapore, where you’d expect better Asian flavours.

The mango cheesecake dessert was delightful.

I always appreciate when airlines serve proper desserts in economy rather than just handing out pre-packaged items.

Istanbul to Athens

This final leg lasted just over an hour, but I was impressed by Turkish Airlines’ “picnic” concept for short flights.

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.

Instead of rushing a hot meal service, they provided a thoughtfully assembled cold meal.

The tray included fresh chicken salad, a cheese sandwich, and their famous chocolate mousse.

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.

There was a lot to eat for such a short flight, but each component was quality, and the chocolate mousse alone was worth the flight.

Conclusion

Turkish Airlines has some of the most consistent economy food I’ve tried.

Look, Qatar Airways might have more attentive crew, but its food can be hit or miss.

Turkish sticks to what works, you might encounter similar dishes on multiple flights, but there’s value in reliable quality.

The “picnic” concept for short flights is particularly clever. It acknowledges that sometimes cold food done well beats rushed hot food done poorly.

While one meal didn’t quite hit the mark due to crew error, the overall experience demonstrated why Turkish Airlines remains a solid choice for long-haul economy travel.

They’ve figured out how to maintain quality standards across different catering locations and flight lengths.

The limited snack service between meals was disappointing, but the core meal offerings more than compensated.

If you’re flying Turkish Airlines in the economy, expect proper food to keep you satisfied throughout your journey, maybe double check that your calzone is heated.

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