The best kebab in Brighton

Lebanese restaurant Kambis is passionate about vegetarian and vegan cuisine, but meat still find its way to the menu, including succulent, charcoal-grilled kebabs that are considered some of the best around. With its wood-clad walls and sociable atmosphere, the restaurant has the feel of a cosy lodge, welcoming groups of all sizes.

The family behind Etci Kitchen came to Brighton from Gaziantep in Turkey, where they had perfected the recipes now put to good use on our shores. Considered one of the top Turkish restaurants around, this place is lightyears away from a corner kebab shop, featuring a hip contemporary interior with soft lighting, plush furnishings, glinting mirrors, and floral details. The menu features an assortment of different kebabs, all served with rice or couscous and salad.

Nayeb Kebab House is a friendly eatery offering Middle Eastern comfort food well into the evening. Alongside an extensive kebab line-up, the menu features Persian staples such as slow-cooked lamb shank or spiced quarter chicken served with fragrant basmati rice. While takeaway is a big part of Nayeb's trade, there's ample indoor seating for those who'd rather settle in and eat on the spot.

Pamukkale welcomes guests under a blossom-filled ceiling of soft pink florals. Its extensive menu covers the classics, from hearty Turkish breakfasts to charcoal-grilled kebabs, signature mains, seafood dishes, and more. Families and larger groups are well catered for with children's options and set menus, while drinks span wines, cocktails, Turkish coffee, and other traditional favourites.

Located just a bit further northeast from The Level, New School Kebab is a classic kebab shop that many a local considers to serve some of the best kebab in Brighton. It's a smooth and simple takeaway operation, with different kebab wraps and bowl to choose from, as well as other usual suspects such as burgers and hot dogs. You can customise your kebab with different salads and sauces, too.

A short walk inland from the bandstand on Brighton Beach sits Constantinople, a family-run Turkish spot whose roots stretch back to kitchens in Istanbul. The Galip family serves a confident line-up of traditional dishes, ranging from succulent kebabs to plentiful mezze and sharing plates. Its framed art and low lighting create a classic dining room ambience ideal for slow, comfortable evening meals.

Ephesus offers a warm setting of brickwork, lanterns, and classic decor for enjoying familiar Turkish comforts. Kicking things off with a spread of mezze, the menu takes things up a notch with its kebabs and house grills, as well as Turkish breakfast spreads served later into the day. It's an easygoing spot that's particularly popular for larger gatherings like family celebrations or work outings.

The Hope & Ruin is an independent pub and grassroots music venue at a prime central location. It's also home to Beelzebab, a street-food operation cooking up a vegan storm in a caravan parked at the back of the pub. The eatery has won awards for its vegan kebabs made with a seitan-based alternative to meat. Other vegan comforts like falafel and hot dogs are available as well – if you're really hungry, you can even go for the Big Ben, a vegan hot dog added on top of the kebab.

The Lavash restaurants channel longstanding Middle Eastern culinary traditions, serving different wraps and platters – vegans, vegetarian, and meat-eaters alike are sure to find something tasty here. As indicated by the name, the freshly baked lavash flatbreads are a standout feature, prepared daily in a clay oven and heaped with herbs, spices, and other toppings. The unfussy, mismatched interior decor and delivery service make Lavash a relaxed choice for dining in or at home.

Immodestly laying claims to being the top kebab shop around is quite the bold move, but The Best Kebab reliably delivers. The bustling kebab joint is a simple affair, with a couple of tables if you really need to eat right there and then, but doing a brisker trade with takeaways and delivery. Besides kebabs, you can also order burgers, pizza, and fried chicken here, and affordable meal deals help keep costs down.