London’s best Turkish restaurants

Themed around families gathering around the welcoming warmth of a fireplace and mantlepiece, The Mantl glows with amber-hued light pouring from glass lamps. The Knightsbridge hotspot is an example of how Turkish cuisine can place both tradition and innovation on a plate. Kicking off the meal with one of the mixed starter platters offers you the chance to taste several decadent mezes at once; the zesty cranberry kısır, fresh tabbouleh, and velvety mantı are what I always go for. For mains, you can’t go wrong with juicy pistachio lamb cutlets or the reimagined iskender made from charred tenderloin slices. The perde pilav (aka rice with blackcurrant, almonds, and pine nuts housed in filo pastry) is a rare dish to find in London, and gives the perfect balance between sweet and savoury.

Time Out tip The sütlü kadayıf, is a smooth and creamy treat and the perfect ending to a meal.

A Michelin Guide-approved affair, this Istanbulite eatery was established by chef Esra Muslu, who made a name for herself at Ottolenghi Spitalfields and Istanbul’s Soho House. As a reflection of the restaurant’s commitment to using nothing but totally fresh produce, the menu changes often, though almost all items on the menu carry the aroma of fire thanks to the charcoal and wood-burning grills. Zahter’s enginar çiçeği, a whole artichoke filled with spiced rice, almonds, and pomegranate is nothing less than divine, while the freshly made baklava is up there with the best in town.

Time Out tip You can take Zahter’s fresh flavours away with you and buy a selection of their homemade jams; chilli is a personal favourite.

Yamabahçe sits between Marylebone and Mayfair and, despite its premium location, this lionheart of a restaurant serves divine dishes for affordable prices. Owner Alan Yau – the restaurateur who also founded Wagamama and Hakkasan – is said to have picked the name as a homage to his and his wife Jale Eventok’s heritage ('Yama' means 'mountain' in Japanese and 'bahçe' means 'garden' in Turkish). Most people head here for indulgent flatbreads known as pides with sumptuous toppings but the tandır (slow-roasted lamb shoulder with pilav), and mantı (Turkish dumplings with beef, lamb, yoghurt, and butter) are absolute dreamboats, too. 

Time Out tip Yamabahçe is extremely popular, so doesn’t take reservations and only accepts walk-ins.

Rüya, which means ‘dream’ in Turkish, lives up to its name, a warmly-lit Anatolian spot marrying traditional dishes with modern twists. The classic pide, for instance, has been given a western edge with the addition of truffle. Here, you can either feast on a mixture of cold and hot mezes, and bites from the bread oven, or stick to an appetiser or two and leave space for a main. My personal favourites include antep fıstıklı rafik (a dip featuring feta cheese, goat curd, and pistachio), İçli köfte (bulgur wheat dumplings stuffed with seasoned lamb), börek (filo pastry with feta, veggies, and walnut), anything from the bread oven, and the adana kebap, made with hand-cut lamb and charred tomatoes. Getting a dessert is a must, too. While the künefe is a popular choice, the kazandibi, a moreish caramelised milk pudding served with fresh berries, nuts, and grape molasses ice cream, feels like eating a delicious cloud. 

Time Out tip If you order the fırınlanmış kemik İliği (roasted bone marrow with beef and hummus), mix the beef into the creamy hummus to get the perfect balance of tang and creaminess.

Köfteci Metin, which translates to ‘meatball-maker Metin’ as a nod to the owner’s storied reputation, specialises in some of the finest Turkish meatballs you will ever eat. It’s so popular that it recently moved into a bigger space on Harringay’s Green Lanes. And, if you’re the kind of person who gets overwhelmed by massive menus, then this might be the perfect place for you. The only mains are plain köfte and köfte with kaşar cheese. The sides are where you get to make proceedings more personal. Piyaz, made from white beans, onions and parsley, is a must when you’re having köfte in Turkey. If you have space for it, the çoban salad with tomatoes, parsley, cucumber, and onion, and the chef’s cacık also go amazingly with the juicy meatballs. 

Time Out tip Make sure to try the humble yet delicious Turkish soft drink, gazoz. It’s a beloved carbonated, sweetened lemonade.

This quaint and inviting restaurant specialising in contemporary Turkish food with Aegean influences is just a short stroll from Hammersmith station. Here, the service is top-notch, the dishes are fresh and delicious, and the prices are incredibly budget-friendly. The open kitchen is presided over by hardworking head chef Yiğit, who cooks up hummus with pastırma (cured Turkish beef), lamb güveç kapama (lamb and veggies baked in a dough-sealed clay pot), and halloumi cheese with cherry tomatoes, which remains the very best halloumi dish I’ve had in London. Their weekend breakfast offering, complete with Turkish cheeses, jams, pastries, and egg dishes, is also a heart-conqueror.

Time Out tip If you stop by for breakfast there’s unlimited Turkish tea for £3.50, which will add some bottomless brunch energy to your outing. 

Dükkan isn’t your traditional Turkish restaurant. Based in Hoxton, it’s only open certain days of the month, throwing its doors open for supper clubs and pop-up dinner experiences headed up by esteemed Turkish chefs. Aside from some outliers, you can expect Dükkan to hold events every Friday and Saturday. Monthly supper club Adadayız – which translates to ‘we’re on the island’ – explores the cosmopolitan heritage of Istanbul and the Princes’ Islands that surround it. It gives guests a delicious, curated menu, and themed soundtrack. Breaking Traditions, on the other hand, is a bi-monthly affair that celebrates the fusion of Turkish and European culture by serving Turkish dishes with continental twists. 

Time Out tip They advertise events through social media and the only way to RSVP is through Instagram.

Green Lanes superstar Hala is an undeniable leader when it comes to Turkish restaurants in London. The family-run spot has stood the test of time since opening in 2002, with mouth-watering recipes and outstanding service. It’s hard to go wrong with a menu this great, but fan favourites include lahmacun (colloquially known as Turkish pizza), mantı, and ali nazik with lamb, featuring a smoked aubergine puree and a buttery yoghurt dressing. Their beloved hand-rolled-to-order gözlemes (crispy, golden pastry dishes that come with various meat and veggie fillings) are also a must.

Time Out tip Gözleme is only available between 8am and 4pm, but if you order one, your first cup of Turkish tea is on the house.

Chic and contemporary, Haz is perfect for date nights and celebration meals. It’s so pretty that the Plantation Place branch’s redesign bagged a Restaurant Bar Design Award a few years back. Inspired by Turkish coffee, there are burnt cocoa and cream hues throughout and dark and wavy wooden slats across the ceiling to represent the ripples in a cup of the good stuff. This atmospheric balance between darkness and light makes dining here an absolute treat. Aside from the hearty meat dishes, impeccably seasoned seafood, and mouthwatering mezes, there are rarer Turkish dishes; the sauteed lamb’s liver with sumac, pickled red onions, and a buttery sauce is full of flavour, and the sea samphire with pine nuts (aka “börülce”) is a triumph. 

Time Out tip While it’s not on the menu, those in the know at the Plantation Place branch can ask for chilli lavash bread (a thin, Middle Eastern flatbread) to accompany their meal.

Antepliler is another Green Lanes mainstay, and is synonymous with Turkish cuisine in the capital. It started as a bakery in 1993, with owner Ahmet Üstünsürmeli bringing the art of authentic baklava-making to London. That same year, Üstünsürmeli went on to open the adjoining restaurant. Since then, Antepliler has become so extraordinarily popular that it’s opened side-by-side locations to meet demand. One specialises in döner dishes, the second in baklava and other sweet treats, and the third is a restaurant that offers pides, kebabs, seafood, mezes and more. In essence, it’s the perfect edible ‘choose your own adventure’. Antepliler, which means ‘those from Antep’, stands out with its local specialities from the gastronomic capital of Türkiye: gaziantep. Some hard-to-come-by bits to consider ordering include çiğ köfte (cured lamb meatballs with bulgur, spices, and veggies), zeytinyağlı patlıcan dolma (rice and veg stuffed dried aubergines), and soğan kebab (chargrilled lamb köftes with shallots in a pomegranate sauce). 

Time Out tip Antepliler is renowned for serving London’s best künefe, a cheese-filled syrupy dessert made with spun pastry and served with clotted cream and pistachios.

An independent Soho restaurant with a well-deserved mention in the Michelin Guide, Yeni offers modern sharing plates cooked over an open fire, elevating Turkish recipes and cooking techniques to create contemporary, experimental flavour. As you’d expect from a spin-off of famed Istanbul restaurant Yeni Lokanta, prices aren’t the cheapest, but you’ll be taken on a serious culinary journey. Must-try dishes include either of the Yeni mantı offerings (dried aubergine or beef with double fermented yoghurt)  and the oak-roasted organic salt marsh cut of lamb with wild samphire and chilli. 

Time Out tip Don't skip the excellent starter of tava bread with spicy carrot and walnut tarator.

A refined yet endlessly satisfying dining experience in the heart of Dalston. Mangal II was given a menu makeover by Sertaç Dirik – son of original owner Ali – who put his heart into saving the spot from possible closure. Sertaç – winner of Time Out London’s hottest chef award – has since moved on, but many of his dishes remain, and the restaurant is a prime example of the many nuanced flavours Turkish cuisine is made up of. Kick your meal off with sourdough pide and cultured kaymak butter or cull yaw kofte with grilled apple. Majestic mains such as mutton pirzola or lamb loin with rump beyti, alongside a great list of natural wines, make this a very contemporary take on Turkish cuisine. 

Time Out tip Their date and walnut baklava is culinary poetry.

Don’t let the western name fool you – Megan’s executive head chef Sercan Uğurlu has helped create a menu that’s undeniably Turkish. If you stop by any of the branches of this cafe chain, most of which are dotted across south London, give one of the Turkish cheese fondues (originally known as kuymak or mıhlama) a try – it’s a hard dish to find in London. The bestsellers, though, are the kebabs; the chilli chicken shakshuka is a personal favourite, but the niche, nduja-fuelled take on mantı is also popular. If you’re going with a friend or a date, the ‘Mezze feasts for two’ offer is ideal. It gives you a taste of multiple starters and a generous sharing plate of mains for a reasonable price, ranging from £18.90 to 21.90 per person.

Time Out tip Megan’s is a dog-friendly establishment, with water bowls, treats, and beds for friendly pups.

A relaxed, cafe-style spot with branches in Mayfair and Ladbroke Grove, Fez Mangal is home to proudly displayed clay ovens, where most dishes are cooked. While the chefs here are absolute geniuses with all things meat, their grilled whole fish offerings are pretty damn dreamy. It’s an easygoing, neighbourhood kind of place, so expect a fairly busy atmosphere and speedy service. The Mayfair branch has slightly more expensive prices (for the same dishes), so head to their Ladbroke Grove restaurant instead.

Time Out tip Pair your meal with a Turkish drink; nothing beats raki but refreshing and salty yoghurt-based ayran is the best non-alcoholic option.

Ishtar, named after the ancient Sumero-Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, and light, can be found in the heart of Marylebone. While the entrance level, accented with emerald and burgundy hues, offers standard seating options, the basement is far more atmospheric, with dim lighting and booths tucked into arches. Aside from classic Turkish fare such as sucuk and hellim, dolma, and charcoal grills, they also offer some pretty decent Ottoman-inspired dishes. The signature dish, meyveli kuzu (tender, slow-cooked lamb with pears and apricots served with bulgur wheat) showcases the Ottoman tradition of cooking meats with the sweet nectar of fresh fruit. 

Time Out tip While it’s not featured on the menu, Ishtar offers kısır (spicy bulgur wheat salad), and ali nazik (smoked eggplant puree with lamb) to those in the know.

When you’re walking up to Notting Hill’s Lokkanta, the first thing you’ll notice is the intricate wall art depicting Adile Naşit, one of Türkiye’s most beloved actors. Inside, you’ll be welcomed by more iconic faces, including actor Şener Şen and musician Müslüm Gürses. Thanks to an open barbecue, the restaurant is filled with inspiring aromas, and prices are incredibly affordable with cold mezes going for £5.50 and hot mezes costing £7.50. The mains range from £13.50 to £26.50, and the best of the bunch are the lamb shish, tavuk kanat (marinated chicken wings), and pirzola (lamb chops). 

Time Out tip If you’re getting meze, the Lokkanta Special Grill for One is generous enough to be shared among two, and gives you the chance to try a bit of everything.

Located right by Wembley Park station, this friendly Turkish spot is ideal for a pre-concert or pre-match feast. In keeping with Turkish tradition, every customer is welcomed with complimentary starters, like a zesty salad, some warm bread, and a couple of saucy Turkish dips. As the name suggests, the restaurant specialises in comforting mezes and fire-grilled kebabs but their seabass and salmon are also firm favourites. At the end of the meal, when you ask for the bill, they’ll often surprise you with some Turkish delight.

Time Out tip Check what the complimentary starters will be before ordering your mezes in order to avoid ending up with two portions of the same dish.

Green Lanes’ Gökyüzü has remained a crowd-pleaser for lovers of Turkish food since it was established in 1999. Expect generous portions of classic, hearty dishes like ali nazik (lamb or chicken shish with chargrilled aubergines and yoghurt) and kavurmali pide, featuring lamb cutlets, mozzarella and egg. The eatery has also made a name for itself with its welcoming staff. There are now five branches of Gökyüzü dotted across London. My go-to is the Park Royal branch: it’s spacious and welcoming, and right next to a cinema, bowling alley, and arcade, making it the perfect start to a date. While it is always wise to make a reservation, it is very rare for Gökyüzü to not have a table available for walk-ins

Time Out tip If you’re hungry but on a tight budget, the lahmacun is delicious, filling and only £6.50.

This cool, contemporary eatery opened in Soho in 2017, and taps into the flavours of the Aegean region, which covers the west coast of Turkey and the east coast of Greece. Expect westernised interpretations of both nations’ hero flavours. If you want to lean into dishes that carry Turkish influences, go for the artichoke salad and mücver (courgette and carrot fritters with lime yoghurt), and wash it down with some rakı. The saganaki, a Greek delight that’s widely consumed in Turkey, is a must-try, too. 

Time Out tip Hovarda offers a special ‘Kebap Tuesdays’ set menu for £35 per person that comes with lamb adana, lamb chops, beef rump shish, chicken shish, several sides, and a dessert.

Named after the ancient goddess of fertility and spring, expect beautiful plating practices, atmospheric design, and attentive service at Kibele. While the Great Portland Street restaurant’s menu is heavily Turkish-inspired, options like the wagyu burger colour outside the lines. The most popular dishes include the mantı, sea bass, salmon, and the mixed grill. If you’re looking for somewhere you can head to as a large group, this is the perfect spot as the staff has mastered the art of speedy hospitality.

Time Out tip You can have the Kibele experience for cheap if you stop by for a weekday lunch. A two-course meal will cost you £20 or you can upgrade to three for £25.