Van is famous across Turkey for one meal: breakfast. The Van kahvaltı is a sprawling spread of small plates — local cheeses (herbed otlu peynir is the star), honey with honeycomb, kaymak (clotted cream), olives, eggs cooked many ways, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, multiple kinds of bread, and as much black tea as you can drink. Whole streets in Van are devoted to kahvaltı salonları that do nothing else. Kahvaltıcılar Sokağı (Breakfast Street) is the obvious place to head.
Beyond breakfast, the local cuisine leans heavily on lamb, lake fish, and dairy. Try the inci kefali — the endemic Van fish — grilled or stewed, when in season.