Alihan’s Mediterranean Cuisine: A Taste of the Mediterranean Cuisine

By Olivia Miller

A healthy diet is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. For hundreds of years, the Mediterranean diet, which draws on the eating habits of those in Greece, Italy, and Turkey, has been hailed as a means to physical wellness. This vegetable, fish, and olive oil heavy diet has been proven to lower the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. One Pittsburgh restaurant has made it a priority to promote the principles of the Mediterranean diet through their dishes. 

Originally opened in 2013, Alihan’s Mediterranean Cuisine was founded after owners Martina and Alihan Hanoglu noticed the lack of Turkish restaurants in Pittsburgh. In an effort to “introduce Turkish cuisine to the people of Pittsburgh”, they opened their location on sixth street which Martina calls the “center of everything” for its close proximity to stadiums and theatres. 

Providing Pittsburghers with meals that are not only authentic but also healthy is paramount at Alihan’s. They assure customers that their dishes are prepared without any artificial preservatives and use only the highest quality ingredients to “get the best flavor.” To put it simply, Martina says, “being healthy is essential.” 

Along with using authentic Turkish spices and high quality ingredients, the restaurant values providing homemade and simple dishes. Their homemade Turkish bread is a staple side at the restaurant and is made fresh daily only using a handful of ingredients. Martina says this makes for a bread that is “just simple and delicious.” She explains that they use just “three to four ingredients and you get an excellent meal.” 

A staple dish at Alihan’s Mediterranean Cuisine is their grilled shrimp which is well seasoned and cooked to perfection. It is served with vegetables, rice, and lemon to add a bit of zest as well as their homemade cocktail sauce.  

For more information or to view their extensive menu, visit their website at alihanscuisine.com or call them at (412)- 888-0630.