If I had to choose just one reason to convince you to try Turkish food in London it would be this: to banish the idea of kebab from your head forever .
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes what your body asks for is just that: a dirty kebab and some beers, but then you try the kebab in a real Turkish restaurant and it is inevitable to feel cheated.
The Turkish community in London is quite large and its food is the most popular when Mediterranean flavors are longed for. Why? Well, because Spanish restaurants in London tend to be expensive. On the other hand, the Turks do not, and the quality-price ratio of these establishments is usually much better (if you have ever tried to go for tapas in London, you will know what I mean). Know more about Bosporus Turkish Restaurant in Dubai.
The largest concentration of Turkish restaurants in London is between the Harringay Green Lanes and Turnpike Lane stops. In this section of the street, the Turks follow one another, with their barbecues in front, competing to see who prepares the best grilled meat or the best meze .
It is practically impossible to go wrong when choosing Turkish on this street, the reviews on Google or TripAdvisor prove it: Green Lanes is the golden mile of Turkish food in London. If you want to give yourself a tribute, do not hesitate: come here.
The gastronomic offer is similar in all the restaurants: Mediterranean flavors, fresh products and quality meat, usually barbecued.
As I have anticipated above, the kebabs here do not consist of a lump of meat of dubious origin. In Turkish restaurants in London a kebab is a rather large individual skewer ( shish ) with pieces of chicken or lamb meat, seasoned and prepared fresh on the barbecue.
Almost all Turkish restaurants have special dishes to share among several diners in which a mountain of this meat comes, accompanied by rice and salad, with which you fill yourself to bursting without hurting your pocket.
If you are vegetarian, the idea of a giant barbecue may not seduce you, but don’t worry, you won’t go hungry: hummus, falafel, taztziki, babaganoush , tabouleh … these are just some of the starters you will find here, starters that will surprise you with their variety. and freshness.
If you still have room after all of the above, try to top it off with baklava and a Turkish coffee.
Turkish restaurants in London
1. Gökyüzü , various locations
All photos in this article (except Adobe Stock) have been taken in Gökyüzü. This restaurant has, in addition to the classics, breakfasts that make you laugh at full English and many options for vegetarians.
I recommend the lamb shish * and the meze assortment in the photos (vegetarian).
* in the shish kebab the pieces of meat are whole while in the döner they are laminated, as in Spain.
2. Hala
On the same street as Gökyüzü and with a similar menu, Hala is considered by many (and Google) to be the best Turkish in London. Kebabs , meze , saksuka and again plenty of options for vegetarians.
Other very rich restaurants in the Turkish golden mile are: Selale, Diyarbakir Kitchen or Antepliler.
3. Mangal 1
The best option if you are in the Dalston area. Be careful because there are several with similar names: Mangal 1 is the one located on Calle Arcola.
It is usually very busy as it is a very popular restaurant in this area of bars. It’s smaller than the ones in the Harringay area but it’s a good alternative if you can’t get there.
4. Sariyer Balik (no tiene web)
Sariyer Balik is the only one of this selection specializing in fish and shellfish. It also has a selection of dishes designed to share but it has little to do with the previous ones: there is not a trace of the kebab on the menu.
5. Tas Firín
Tas Firín was my trusted Turk during the time I was living in Brick Lane. It is a very small place that, however, does not lack anything. They emphasize their you ask and the plates of kebab with yogurt. It also has a good selection of vegetarian dishes.
