Turkish Food in London

London's Turkish and Kurdish restaurant scene is one of the most underappreciated in the city — concentrated in specific North and East London areas and offering some of the best grilled meat, bread and mezze in London at prices well below equivalent quality elsewhere.

Green Lanes (Haringey)

The densest concentration — a long stretch of Turkish and Kurdish restaurants where ocakbasi (charcoal grill) cooking is the standard. Lamb chops, kofte, chicken wings and ribs charred over coals and served with flatbread, bulgur and salad. Most are open late, most are halal, and most are significantly cheaper than equivalent quality in central London.

Dalston

More mixed — Turkish alongside Kurdish and other Middle Eastern spots. The restaurants around Ridley Road and Kingsland Road include some of London's best pide (Turkish flatbread pizza) and more casual gozleme (stuffed flatbread) options at very affordable prices.

What to Order

At a proper ocakbasi: start with ezme (spiced tomato salad), hummus and cacik (yoghurt with cucumber). Main course: mixed grill if undecided, lamb chops if you know what you want. Baklava to finish. Ayran (yoghurt drink) is the traditional accompaniment and genuinely excellent with grilled meat.

Tips

• Green Lanes is 30 minutes from central London on the Overground — worth the journey.
• Most good Turkish restaurants are open late — a better option for dinner than many central London choices.
• Ask for the mixed grill if ordering for two — covers the range better than individual plates.