Searching for the perfect mackerel wrap in a whimsical back alley.

Having struggled to find anything particularly delicious in Iran, I arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, with high hopes for the food.
They say the world's three great cuisines are Chinese, French, and Turkish, but I find it hard to accept that Japan isn't included. Especially considering current exchange rates, Japan is definitely the place for cheap and delicious food.

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The first thing I tried upon arriving in Istanbul was the famous mackerel sandwich. The mackerel tucked inside the bread was decent enough, but it didn't quite satisfy me. I'd have to give the win to the banh mi I ate in Vietnam.

However, a much more delicious encounter was waiting for me in this city, one that would surpass the mackerel sandwich.
On the street near the bridge, an old man was grilling mackerel on a wire mesh with a sizzling sound. The savory aroma tickled my nostrils, and I couldn't help but stop in my tracks. The man wrapped the freshly grilled mackerel in a tortilla, adding plenty of vegetables and other ingredients.

Taking a bite, the fat of the mackerel spread softly. It was as smooth as melting butter. Then came the crisp texture of the vegetables. Everything was wrapped in a mysterious seasoning that felt like Japanese soy sauce but carried the faint, exotic scent of foreign spices. I was struck by the exquisite harmony of it all.

From that day on, I wandered around the bridge every day in search of that mackerel wrap. But perhaps the old man is whimsical, as there were days he wasn't there. If you find him, you absolutely must try it.
The cultures of Turkey and Japan, lands so far apart, unexpectedly overlapped with a sense of nostalgia, teaching me about their connection. It wasn't just a meal; it was a taste of home I suddenly encountered in a foreign land... I almost shed a tear.

—Ah, once again, a soliloquy in a strange foreign land.