Turkish · £ · Kentish Town
Start with
Lamb Shish Kebab
Time Out explicitly states they "particularly like the tender chunks of chargrilled meat" in this dish.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Cuisine Guide
Discover handpicked Turkish restaurants in London, with what to order first at each place.
Every place here is handpicked. Signal score shows how strong and consistent the review coverage is, not a star rating.
33 restaurants
Turkish · £ · Kentish Town
Start with
Lamb Shish Kebab
Time Out explicitly states they "particularly like the tender chunks of chargrilled meat" in this dish.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish · £££ · City of London
Start with
Muhammara
Grace Dent insists you 'please, please order' this delicate, glossy 'flavour bomb' made with sun-dried red peppers and walnuts.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish · ££ · Lewisham
Start with
Lamb Ribs
Described as 'salty-sweet, crisply fatted' and 'viscerally satisfying,' they are sliced to create more surface area and 'happily lubricate the surrounding heaps of rice with tributaries of liquid fats.'
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Modern Turkish · £££ · Dalston
Start with
Sourdough Pide with Hummus
Jay Rayner describes the hummus as an 'uncommonly rugged affair with a hint of cheesy funk' served with 'lightly blackened, chewy and springy flatbread' that demands to be torn at.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish · ££ · Camberwell
Start with
Special Mixed Grill
The ultimate sampler of their grill mastery, featuring lamb chops, ribs, quail, chicken wings, and kofte.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish · ££ · Dalston
Start with
Manti
These 'house-special' Turkish dumplings are highlighted by critics as a time-honoured staple that is excellent at any time of day or night.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Modern Turkish-Cypriot · £££ · Shoreditch
Start with
Chilli Roast Cauliflower
Regarded as one of the 'bright, sunlit spots' of the menu, these hunks of cauliflower are roasted with a mild chilli paste and 'slathered' with red onions, parsley, and crunchy pistachios.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish / Berlin Döner · £ · Soho
Start with
Berlin Chicken Doner
The signature item featuring grilled vegetables, feta crumbs, and garlic sauce for the authentic Berlin experience.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish · £ · Enfield
Start with
Lamb Tantuni
The namesake dish of Mersin cuisine; meat is steamed to a moist, juicy texture and tossed with paprika-infused oil before being wrapped in homemade lavaş with sumak and punchy onions.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish · ££ · Harringay
Start with
Iskender
Described as 'life-changing' and 'epic,' this specialty features doner meat that is 'silky in one bite and crispy in the next,' served over bread soaked in tomato sauce and 'generously slathered with melted sheep butter' at the table.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish · ££ · Dalston
Start with
Lamb Chops
Described as 'excellent' and 'smoky, spicy and incredibly tender,' these are served with a generous plate of mixed salad.
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish · £ · Harringay
Start with
Tantuni Wrap
This is 'food simplicity royalty': spiced lamb mince cooked in a wide silver pan, served with sumac onions and a wedge of lemon for a perfect 'midnight meal.'
Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.
Turkish · ££ · Harringay
Start with
Lamb Ribs
Consistently cited as a standout on a menu where lamb 'comes diced, minced, from chops to ribs'; they are praised for being tender, smoky, and melting off the bone.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish · ££ · Dalston
Start with
Lamb Ribs
Universally acclaimed as the standout dish; described as 'Dalston's finest' with perfectly rendered fat and tender meat.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish · ££ · Stoke Newington
Start with
Adana Kofte
The eponymous dish is juicy, punchy with fat and flavor, and served with a grilled onion salad that is consistently excellent.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish · ££ · Harringay
Start with
Sade Paca
This is the consensus favourite: a lamb and yoghurt soup featuring tender meat, a 'paddling pool' of melted butter, and as much garlic as you can handle.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish · ££ · Harringay
Start with
Lahmacun
Described as one of the 'biggest bargains west of the Bosphorus,' these paper-thin flatbreads are fresh from the wood-fired brick oven and liberally covered with minced lamb.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish / Ocakbasi · £ · Dalston
Start with
Chicken Shish
A 'clear winner' and longtime fan favorite that consistently cements this traditional kebab house's reputation.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish Cypriot · ££ · Pimlico
Start with
Lamb Shish
Consistently praised for its 'wonderful seasoning and succulence,' this benchmark dish arrives with plenty of rice and salad.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish · £ · Dalston
Start with
Lahmacun
Critics note it is rolled so thin that the topping is visible from underneath, and it is served with fresh onions, ripe tomato slices, crunchy parsley, and lemon.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish · ££ · Harringay
Start with
Mixed Grill
The main attraction here; huge platters of charcoal-grilled meats that define the Green Lanes experience and are consistently cited as some of the best Turkish food in the UK.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish · ££ · Harringay
Start with
Adana Kebab
Described as a shimmering mound of meltingly good meat, it is considered the benchmark test for any ocakbaşı.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Turkish · £ · Stoke Newington
Start with
Lahmacun
The headline act: rolled thin, crispy, and heavy on onion and isot pepper fresh from the wood oven.
Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.
Modern Turkish · £££ · Canary Wharf
Start with
Sesame & Caraway Pide
The bread program is universally praised as the foundation of the meal; warm, smoky, and pillowy.
Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.
Turkish · £ · Willesden Green
Start with
Turkish Sandwich Lamb & Beef
The coal-fired rotisserie setup produces a 'formidable' shawarma with meat that earns a 'straight up 5/5' for taste and texture.
Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.
Turkish · £ · Notting Hill
Start with
Chicken Shish
Regarded as a staple of their 'proper Turkish grills,' this dish is a benchmark for what critics call 'consistently good-quality kebabs' that 'can't be beaten for flavour.'
Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.
Turkish · ££ · Kentish Town
Start with
Garlic Prawns
Described as a skewer of 'fearsomely large' and 'utterly glorious' prawns fresh off the charcoal, coated in a potent garlic and parsley marinade.
Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.
Modern Turkish · ££££ · Soho
Start with
Aubergine Manti
The signature dumpling dish; praised by Time Out as one of the best creations from the kitchen and widely cited as a highlight.
Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.
Turkish · £ · Harringay
Start with
Ottoman Kebab (Kofte)
The restaurant is a 'self-proclaimed meatball specialist' and this is the only main course—consistently described as 'juicy and grilled to perfection.'
Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.
Turkish · ££ · Harringay
Start with
Lamb chops
Lamb chops are smoky, tender, and expertly grilled over charcoal. The best in London
Less written about, but enough signal to surface it.
Turkish / Fish & Chips · £ · Bermondsey
Start with
Cod and Chips
Highlighted by reviewers as perfectly cooked, making it the benchmark order here.
Light coverage. Worth knowing, but not heavily written about.
Turkish Street Food · ££ · Enfield
Start with
Istanbul Kokoreç
The namesake signature dish—spiced lamb intestines in bread—which is the primary reason to visit.
Light coverage. Worth knowing, but not heavily written about.
Turkish Seafood · £ · Dalston
Start with
Stuffed Mussels (Midye Dolma)
The namesake dish; reviews consistently praise them as fresh, tasty, and 'just like the original' found in Turkey.
Light coverage. Worth knowing, but not heavily written about.