In a city that is always in a hurry, getting caught up in the tempo of the hustle and bustle is inevitable. Even though Istanbul is a goldmine of culinary variety, you might not always have the time to sit down and enjoy a meal at one of the many different restaurants and cafes available to you. As you are rushing from work to a concert or from school to meet your friends you find yourself wishing that you could just grab something and keep going. Our list of Istanbul's staple street foods will help you the next time you need something to fuel your busy day.1) Simit: The sesame crusted bread ring has become the staple of any Turkish breakfast table. This inexpensive pastry is the perfect match to tea or coffee for the mornings and is a favorite snack for the city's professionals as well as its students. "Simitçi" as they are called, are the vendors who bring this delicious and crispy pastry to the streets every morning. If you're a morning person then you are sure to catch the best batch of these sesame rings as they are delivered from the ovens to the vendors. You are sure to find your simit of choice as they come in a variety of fillings including Nutella, cheese, olives and tomatoes.2) Poğaça-Açma: You can find these little guys sold alongside the simits. Poğaça is a little round pastry made with mille-feuille to attain the perfect combination of crispy and soft. Pogaça comes in a variety of fillings including potato, minced ground-meat, white cheese and kasseri cheese. Açma on the other hand is a buttery pastry made from soft dough that is slightly sweeter than poğaca. Açma is baked into a ring-like shape with caraway seeds sprinkled across the top to give it a unique taste as well as a unique look. You can enjoy either of these mouth-watering pastries with a cup of Turkish tea any time of the day.3) Köfte-Ekmek: As we head further into the day you're probably starting to crave for something a bit more filling. Köfte-ekmek (meatball sandwich) has an aroma that you cannot miss as you make your way through the streets of the city. Köfte meatballs are made using a special mixture of spices, including thyme and cumin, which emanate a divine aroma as they are grilled for the hungry customers. Served in a half a loaf of bread and tomatoes with the traditional Turkish yogurt drink, ayran, on the side, köfte-ekmek is the go-to sandwich of Istanbul's busy life.4) Kokoreç: Traditionally more of a nighttime meal, kokoreç can be found on any street corner, though it is not a traditional meal on restaurant menus. Made from the intestines of lambs and cultivated with a variety of spices and flavors, kokoreç is the sandwich of the night owl. It is cooked kind of like a döner over a charcoal fire which gives it an extra rich flavor. Given the part of the animal which is used to make this sandwich, the intestine must be cleaned thoroughly placing a great deal of importance on the hygiene of the meat. The most popular chain of kokoreç is Şampiyon Kokoreç and you can always count on their hygienic and flavorsome sandwiches for your night time cravings.5) Tavuk-Pilav: With their carts scattered all over the city, tavuk-pilav (rice and chicken) is the economic meal of choice for folk on the go. The glass cart from which this tasty yet filling meal is served is a familiar sight especially for weekend partiers. After a long night of drinking and dancing tavuk-pilav is the most common late-night snack. The rice cooked with chickpeas can be served either alone or with steamed chicken on top with a side of pickled spicy peppers. The most popular place to eat tavuk-pilav is at the "Meşhur Unkapanı İMC Pilavcısı" located at the Spice Bazaar at Eminönü. You can't miss the vendor as there is always a crowd of people just waiting to fill up on the delicious rice and chicken he's about to serve.6) Balık-Ekmek: The Turkish alternative for fish and chips is fish and bread. Found up and down the coast of the city spotting the shoreline of the Bosporus balık-ekmek is an all-time favorite. Buckets of fresh Bosporus fish char-grilled can be enjoyed from the wavering boats which they are prepared on. Served with a side of onions, lettuce and tomato, this healthy sandwich can be enjoyed all year round on just about any occasion. Side vendors also get their money's worth by selling little cups filled with pickled cabbage and cucumbers which are a tasty side dish to balık-ekmek.7) Chestnuts: A common sight as you walk up and down İstiklal Avenue is the vendors selling roasted chestnuts to keep you warm during the frosty months of winter in Istanbul. Left and right these vendors are roasting their chestnuts until they crack down the middle revealing the golden and delicious nut inside. Sold in little brown bags that vary in size, these perfectly cooked nuts are a healthy snack as you rush out and about on the streets of the magnificent city.