Guide to the best Turkish restaurants in London

Guide to the best Turkish restaurants in London

Turkish food is a big part of London's food culture, and almost every neighbourhood will have its own restaurant or takeaway joint, especially if you're somewhere like Green Lanes, where they come by the dozen times ten. Grilled charcoal-cooked kebabs, crispy lahmacun, creamy cacik and freshly-baked pide are just a few of the dishes you can expect to see on most Turkish menus around London. The city is chock-a-block with terrific Turkish restaurants, from casual takeaway spots to fine-dining institutions. Here's our guide to the best Turkish restaurants in London.

In this guide
  1. The best Turkish restaurants in London
    1. Mangal Ocakbasi – The OG Turkish spot
    2. Gökyüzü – A London icon
    3. FM Mangal – One for a big group
    4. Meze Mangal – Your Turkish fix in Lewisham
    5. Mangal 2 – The fancy sister to Mangal 1
    6. Cirrik 19 Numara Bos II – Go for the sharing platter
    7. E. Mono – A Kentish Town fav
    8. Umut 2000 – Classic ocakbasi
    9. Durak Tantuni – Traditional Turkish and Kurdish cuisine
    10. Antepliler Restaurant – One of the oldest
    11. Zahter – Upmarket Turkish
    12. 01 Adana – A Green Lane mainstay
    13. Le Bab – Kebabs with a difference
    14. Ustun Lahmacun – Dedicated to lahmacun and pide
    15. Hala – Glitz and glam
    16. Liman Restaurant – Welcoming modern restaurant
    17. Selale – Award-winning Green Lanes restaurant

The best Turkish restaurants in London

Mangal Ocakbasi

The OG Turkish spot

Mangal 1 Ocakbasi is an open-grill restaurant in the heart of Dalston that's gained a solid reputation amongst London foodies throughout the years. It's bring your own booze, so you can save your pennies for trying even more of the delicious dishes on the menu, like the grilled meat platter and aubergine moussaka.

Gökyüzü Finchley Gökyüzü Chingford Gökyüzü Walthamstow Gökyüzü Green Lanes Gökyüzü Kentish Town
Gökyüzü Finchley
gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/finchley
Gökyüzü Chingford
gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/chingford
Gökyüzü Walthamstow
gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/walthamstow
Gökyüzü Green Lanes
gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/harringay
Gökyüzü Kentish Town
gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/kentish-town
Gökyüzü Finchley
@gokyuzu_restaurant_finchley
Gökyüzü Chingford
@gokyuzu_restaurant_chingford
Gökyüzü Walthamstow
@gokyuzu_restaurant_walthamstow
Gökyüzü Green Lanes
@gokyuzu_restaurant_greenlanes
Gökyüzü Kentish Town
@gokyuzu_restaurant_kentishtown
Gökyüzü Finchley Gökyüzü Chingford Gökyüzü Walthamstow Gökyüzü Green Lanes Gökyüzü Kentish Town

A London icon

Gökyüzü has a cult following amongst Turkish food lovers in London. This casual eatery has several branches located around the city and offers dishes for every kind of diner. Opt for a pide or a hefty grilled platter to share amongst the group with a side of garlicky cacik. The restaurants are all large, making them a good choice for a group meal.

  • 1 Leisure Way, Barnet Southend Road, Walthamstow/Waltham Forest 42D Selborne Road, Walthamstow/Waltham Forest 26-28 Grand Parade, Green Lanes, Haringey 339 Kentish Town Road, Camden Town
    Gökyüzü Finchley
    1 Leisure Way, Barnet
    Gökyüzü Chingford
    Southend Road, Walthamstow/Waltham Forest
    Gökyüzü Walthamstow
    42D Selborne Road, Walthamstow/Waltham Forest
    Gökyüzü Green Lanes
    26-28 Grand Parade, Green Lanes, Haringey
    Gökyüzü Kentish Town
    339 Kentish Town Road, Camden Town
  • Gökyüzü Finchley
    gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/finchley
    Gökyüzü Chingford
    gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/chingford
    Gökyüzü Walthamstow
    gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/walthamstow
    Gökyüzü Green Lanes
    gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/harringay
    Gökyüzü Kentish Town
    gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk/kentish-town
    Gökyüzü Finchley
    020-849 216 62
    Gökyüzü Chingford
    020-852 749 27
    Gökyüzü Walthamstow
    020-852 029 98
    Gökyüzü Green Lanes
    020-821 184 06
    Gökyüzü Kentish Town
    020-307 600 62
  • Gökyüzü Finchley Gökyüzü Chingford Gökyüzü Walthamstow Gökyüzü Green Lanes Gökyüzü Kentish Town

FM Mangal

One for a big group

This Camberwell-based restaurant is the perfect spot to bring a big group for dinner. It's located on Stoke Newington's iconic Church Street, with bars, pubs and independent boutiques. It consists of three floors where you can feast on the menu of fragrant Turkish fare like freshly-baked bread and melt-in-your-mouth kofta served with salads, starters and sides.

Meze Mangal

Your Turkish fix in Lewisham

Traditional Turkish kebabs come by the dozen at Meze Mangal, a laid-back family-run restaurant in Lewisham. It's kitted out with a wood-panelled dining room and a counter that displays all of the delicious food. The menu is chock full of tasty dishes, but a few favourites are the freshly-baked pide topped with minced meat, onion and peppers and the lamb skewers cooked on the charcoal grill.

Mangal 2

The fancy sister to Mangal 1

Mangal 2 is the fancy sister to the legendary Mangal 1 in Dalston, both opened by owner Ali Dirik after he moved to London from Istanbul in the 80s. This well-known ocakbasi restaurant cooks many of its Anatolian-inspired dishes on the open charcoal grill, like Cornish mutton loin with grilled carrots and house chilli sauce and Devonshire duck with offal bulgur.

Cirrik 19 Numara Bos II

Go for the sharing platter

Cirrik 19 Numara Bos II is just one of the many excellent Turkish restaurants in Stoke Newington. It's an old-school joint serving classic Turkish dishes cooked on an open grill, like their sharing platter, ideal for sharing amongst a group. It comes with lamb shish, minced lamb skewers, chicken shish and lamb ribs, plus more depending on which platter you opt for. Their starters, like the deep-fried pastry pockets filled with cheese and the spicy Turkish sausage, are also pretty special.

E. Mono

A Kentish Town fav

This Turkish restaurant and kebab shop is a Kentish Town local that got its name from the sign hiding underneath the wall's exterior when the owners stripped it back. They serve a simple menu of kebabs, shawarma, wraps, falafel and kofta, which you can enjoy in-house or take away. The smells of the meats grilling on the charcoals will be enough to lure you in to enjoy a meal in this laid-back, stylish restaurant where mosaic flooring steals the limelight.

Umut 2000 Dalston Umut 2000 Harringay
Umut 2000 Dalston Umut 2000 Harringay

Classic ocakbasi

Umut 2000 is a classic ocakbasi restaurant just off Kingsland Road. They serve a menu of hot and cold starters, meat and fish dishes and plenty of vegetarian options at this Dalston institution. Menu highlights include stuffed vine leaves, falafel and spiced aubergine and juicy lamb ribs. It's casual and very no-frills, with the option to eat in or take away.

  • 6 Crossway, Dalston/Stoke Newington 551 Green Lanes, Haringey
    Umut 2000 Dalston
    6 Crossway, Dalston/Stoke Newington
    Umut 2000 Harringay
    551 Green Lanes, Haringey
  • Umut 2000 Dalston
    020-724 909 03
    Umut 2000 Harringay
    020-834 096 91
  • Umut 2000 Dalston Umut 2000 Harringay

Durak Tantuni

Traditional Turkish and Kurdish cuisine

This authentic Turkish restaurant on Turnpike Lane is the place for traditional Turkish and Kurdish cuisine. They mainly specialise in tantuni, a famous dish of Mersin City, made with cubed stir-fried beef or lamb stuffed into a wrap. It's open all day and late into the night, so you can get your Turkish fix at most times throughout the day.

Antepliler Restaurant

One of the oldest

Antepliler is one of Green Lane's oldest restaurants, located in the heart of Harringey in an area chock with Turkish restaurants. Expect a buzzy atmosphere and a fresh menu of Turkish classics made to a high standard. Baskets of freshly baked Turkish bread come free-flowing here, along with bowls of creamy hummus.

Zahter

Upmarket Turkish

Zahter is a premium Turkish restaurant in Carnaby Street serving an upmarket menu of aromatic dishes, such as hot and cold mezzo platters, freshly-made pide and zingy cocktails, like the zither martini made with gin, homemade vermouth and mint oil. Save this one for a special occasion since it costs a little more than its Green Lanes siblings.

01 Adana

A Green Lane mainstay

01 Adana is another Green Lanes institution where they plate up mouthwatering Turkish cuisine in their stripped-back space. Expect fresh meat being chargrilled on open coals and mountains of creamy cacik, perfect for dipping, dunking and mopping up with warm fluffy pitta. The restaurant is big and bright and open from early morning until midnight,

Le Bab Spitalfields Market Le Bab Canary Wharf Le Bab Oxford Circus Le Bab Battersea Power Station Le Bab Brixton Le Bab Old Street Le Bab Soho
Le Bab Spitalfields Market
eatlebab.com/spitalfields
Le Bab Canary Wharf
eatlebab.com/canary-wharf
Le Bab Oxford Circus
eatlebab.com/oxford-circus
Le Bab Battersea Power Station
eatlebab.com/battersea-power-station
Le Bab Brixton
eatlebab.com/brixton
Le Bab Old Street
eatlebab.com/old-street
Le Bab Soho
eatlebab.com/soho
Le Bab Spitalfields Market Le Bab Canary Wharf Le Bab Oxford Circus Le Bab Battersea Power Station Le Bab Brixton Le Bab Old Street Le Bab Soho

Kebabs with a difference

For spruced-up kebabs, try Le Bab, located in restaurants around the city, including Kingsley Court in Soho. This contemporary kebab restaurant serves Michelin-star kebabs, like the spiced paneer with coconut and beetroot doused in curry mayo and the slow-cooked shawarma with pickled cucumbers in fondue sauce. Even though their kebabs are premium, the space is still laid-back and casual.

  • Old Spitalfields Market, Kitchen unit S2, Central Kitchens, 16 Horner Sq, Shoreditch/Tower Hamlets 25 N Colonnade, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets Market Halls Oxford Street, 9 Holles St, Marylebone Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd West, Vauxhall/Battersea 408 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton 231 Old St, Shoreditch Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby St, Carnaby, Soho
    Le Bab Spitalfields Market
    Old Spitalfields Market, Kitchen unit S2, Central Kitchens, 16 Horner Sq, Shoreditch/Tower Hamlets
    Le Bab Canary Wharf
    25 N Colonnade, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets
    Le Bab Oxford Circus
    Market Halls Oxford Street, 9 Holles St, Marylebone
    Le Bab Battersea Power Station
    Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd West, Vauxhall/Battersea
    Le Bab Brixton
    408 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton
    Le Bab Old Street
    231 Old St, Shoreditch
    Le Bab Soho
    Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby St, Carnaby, Soho
  • Le Bab Spitalfields Market
    eatlebab.com/spitalfields
    Le Bab Canary Wharf
    eatlebab.com/canary-wharf
    Le Bab Oxford Circus
    eatlebab.com/oxford-circus
    Le Bab Battersea Power Station
    eatlebab.com/battersea-power-station
    Le Bab Brixton
    eatlebab.com/brixton
    Le Bab Old Street
    eatlebab.com/old-street
    Le Bab Soho
    eatlebab.com/soho
    Le Bab Spitalfields Market
    020-786 43 54
    Le Bab Canary Wharf
    020-786 43 54
    Le Bab Oxford Circus
    020-786 43 54
    Le Bab Battersea Power Station
    020-786 43 54
    Le Bab Brixton
    077-569 433 72
    Le Bab Old Street
    077-065 275 88
    Le Bab Soho
    020-743 992 22
  • Le Bab Spitalfields Market Le Bab Canary Wharf Le Bab Oxford Circus Le Bab Battersea Power Station Le Bab Brixton Le Bab Old Street Le Bab Soho

Ustun Lahmacun

Dedicated to lahmacun and pide

Ustun Lahmacun is located down the Newington Green side of Green Lanes, where you'll find many Turkish restaurants and patisseries. It's a small spot dedicated entirely to lahmacun and pide. They make everything in-house, stretching the dough until it's almost transparent, spreading various toppings and then cooking in their wood-burning oven. Oh, and it's cash only.

Hala Restaurant – Turkish restaurants
Hala Restaurant
Hala Restaurant – Turkish restaurants
Hala Restaurant
Hala Restaurant – Turkish restaurants
Hala Restaurant
Hala Restaurant – Turkish restaurants
Hala Restaurant
Hala Restaurant – Turkish restaurants
Hala Restaurant
Hala Restaurant – Turkish restaurants
Hala Restaurant
Hala Restaurant – Turkish restaurants
Hala Restaurant
Hala Restaurant – Turkish restaurants
Hala Restaurant

Hala

Glitz and glam

Glitzy Green Lanes restaurant Hala is lively and sophisticated, with a dining room boasting lots of metallic details. A broad variety of traditional Turkish dishes are served to suit every palette. Meat from the grill is a popular choice but you can also sample hot and cold mezze and vegetarian and vegan dishes like falafel and moussaka. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available here.

Liman Restaurant

Welcoming modern restaurant

Liman Restaurant is a popular pick for Turkish cuisine in Islington. This modern and welcoming space serves authentic food and is also a top local venue for events and parties. Choose from the mezze and main courses on the menu or savour a platter of mezze to share. A convenient set lunch menu is also on offer here.

Selale – Turkish restaurants
Selale
Selale – Turkish restaurants
Selale
Selale – Turkish restaurants
Selale
Selale – Turkish restaurants
Selale
Selale – Turkish restaurants
Selale
Selale – Turkish restaurants
Selale
Selale – Turkish restaurants
Selale
Selale – Turkish restaurants
Selale

Selale

Award-winning Green Lanes restaurant

Vibrant restaurant Selale has won awards and is a bustling spot to eat in Green Lanes. This vast and modern restaurant is known for its prompt and friendly service, as well as the authentic Turkish recipes on the menu. Start your day with a Turkish breakfast or try out hot and cold mezze, pides, seafood, and grilled meats, paired with complimentary bread and salad.

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Editors

At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.