New "corn heartthrob" becomes tourist attraction in Istanbul
In the internet's latest viral moment, an Istanbul street food vendor is attracting crowds from around the world just to take a selfie with him.
Alper Temel, who sells roasted Portuguese corn and chestnuts, has worked at his family's street food stall in Istanbul for seven years, alongside his two brothers. But since 2024, when videos highlighting Temel's beauty went viral on social media, the stall - located in the historic port district of Karaköy - has become a magnet for tourists and fans.
Now transformed into a true tourist attraction, the spot is always crowded. And not just by people looking for a quick snack, but also by fans who want to chat, interact and take photos with Temel.
Its popularity grew so much that tourist guides in the region included the tent in their itineraries, while several influencers created their own content about it, further boosting its fame.
Tempel's success has also thrown the spotlight on the street food his family has been selling in the same location for more than 15 years.
"I'm very grateful to them for their support," says Temel. "Like any young person, I try to help and support my family in the best way possible. This fame ended up accelerating this process for me."
Since the 25-year-old created his own social media profiles in October 2025, he has accumulated over 960,000 followers on Instagram and over 695,000 on TikTok.
Most of the videos on Temel's page show him serving nuts and corn to tourists, as well as interacting and taking photos with them. Occasional flirty glances into the camera and a well-planned filming job have helped garner over 11 million likes.
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Tempel's live streams on TikTok show him taking selfies with the line of fans, blowing kisses to the camera and recording videos for the audience, all while answering questions and saying "hi" to the more than 4,000 people watching him on their cell phones.
And judging by the comments, the internet is loving it.
"I'm going to Turkey right now," wrote one user. Some share the selfies they took with him, and others ask if he already has a contract with a modeling agency.
He said that he has already received proposals from agencies, invitations to act in films and TV series, and even marriage proposals. A Turkish digital news site, Fayn Studio, even named him "Man of the Year 2025".
Despite everything, Temel guarantees that he doesn't let fame go to his head; he strives to keep his feet on the ground and continue working towards his goals.
"It's very rewarding when people show us affection and admiration. But, at the same time, it brings a lot of responsibility", he says. "That's why I try to stay focused on my work."
Temel wants to use this new visibility to promote Turkey and invite people to get to know the country up close.
"I would like people to come and experience this diversity, the beautiful landscapes and our people," he says. "For us, those who come from abroad are not tourists - they are guests. And we do our best to welcome them."
His profiles are: @alpertemel04 and @kestaneci.karakoy.
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Source: CNN