20 of the best Turkish restaurants in London

The best Turkish restaurants in London are right there among the city’s most-loved eateries, thanks to the far-reaching flavours of Turkish food. Once upon a time, Turkish cuisine was misinterpreted in this country as mostly kebabs, and thus relegated to being food that emerges in the late (or early) hours after a drinking session. 

Thankfully now, we're seeing Turkish food revealed in London as its true self - dips, soups, salads, incredible baking and breads, and that's before you get to the meat and fish grilled over hot coals. It's a cuisine that values fresh, zingy herbs and the difference made by a waft of smoke. 

Those of Turkish descent always knew there was more to their food than a wrap devoured after one too many, and the rest of us have just about caught up. This popularity has been born from people’s genuine appreciation for the culture, notably in the north east area of London. On Green Lanes there is a concentrated number of Turkish restaurants, resulting in the area being affectionately named ‘Little Turkey’ by locals. 

As colourful as the culture’s mosaic decoration, Turkish dishes emanate a distinct taste of freshness, incorporating a range of spices and fragrant flavours that ultimately result in a delicious, well-balanced meal. As well as this, a large portion of the cuisine centres around sharing. If you’re looking to find restaurants perfect for group-dining, a Turkish restaurant would be ideal for this, with a lot of them offering a catering service for private events.

Hot and cold meze platters showcase a range of chargrilled meats or cheese, delicious vegetable dips and crispy pastries. If you’re not in the mood to share, there's still lots on the menu perfect for individual serves: pide, lahmacun, lentil soup, kebabs, and much more. The sweet showstopper is of course, baklava, which is a pistachio-filled filo pastry desert, soaked in honey or syrup, but we've a sort spot for kunefe too - a sweet cheese dessert made with layers of kadayif pastry and soaked in syrup.

We've created this list to help you pick the perfect Turkish restaurant for any occasion, meaning we've included a range of different menus, locations, and price range. 

Mangal II, Dalston

What: The Dirik family ocakbasi has broken into the national restaurant consciousness in recent years, as brothers Ferhat and Sertaç took this Dalston icon into a new stratosphere. The menu takes everything that is brilliant about ocakbasi cooking and fuses it into smart, fresh, seasonal dishes, with breathtaking results. A genuine must-visit in London.
Where: 4 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XN
Book now: Mangal II

Yasmin, Soho

What: Blessed with views over the city and a roof terrace, Yasmin is a top choice for sunset dinners. But it’s better known as one of London’s best Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurants. Devised by executive chef Tom Cenci, the menu at Yasmin offers bright and vibrant sharing plates influenced by inventive modern techniques. Think za’atar spiced mushroom skewers with black garlic, herb and pistachio cured cod, whipped sheep's cheese with hot honey and isot biber and desserts like saffron rice pudding with toasted pistachio nuts. Just be sure to try the cocktails, the Shapash green chilli Margarita is particularly good.
Where: 1 Warwick Street, W1B 5LR
Book now: Yasmin

Pivaz, Hackney

What: A hidden oasis in the heart of Hackney, Pivaz aims to serve its guests with a true sense of Turkish hospitality. The restaurant is decorated with an eclectic interior and in a cosy fashion. With a wide variety of table sizes, Pivaz is perfect for either hosting both a larger group or for a more intimate dinner. Whether you’re wanting to visit for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just for a quick bite, the menu is bursting with different choices. As well as serving many Turkish classics, the menu also includes a section called ‘sexy plates’, which (logically) refers to a selection of pancakes. 
Where: 34 Chatsworth Road, E5 0LP 
Book now: Pivaz

LEYDI, City of London

What: It might be located within a City of London hotel, but Leydi stands up for itself. With a menu curated by Selin Kiazim, and a kitchen headed up by ex-Oklava chef Halil Simsek, Leydi brings the vibrancy of Istanbuls tavernas and all-day cafes to London. It's bright, characterful food, the kind full of complexity and a nod to the varied influences on Turkish cuisine. Served in an updated but Ottoman-influences dining room, Leydi makes an elegant location for great big mezze meals, intimate dinner dates, and impromptu Turkish breakfasts. Don't miss out on the mangal-grilled lamb cutlets!
Where: 15 Old Bailey, EC4M 7EF
Book now: LEYDI

Moira Restaurant, Canary Wharf

What: Canary Wharf is renowned for being London’s busy financial district, but as well as this it hosts a plethora of brilliant restaurants. One of these is Moira. This restaurant has an excellent reputation for consistently serving delicious food to those passing through its doors and it’s a great place to take a break from the day. Grilled hellim salad, meze selections, moussaka, and more... the menu covers a fantastic variety of Turkish classics. There are also many features geared towards group-dining, including a decently priced group menu, starting at £25.95 a person.
Where: 2 Mastmaker Road, E14 9AW
Book now: Moira Restaurant

Kazan, Victoria

What: Kazan is a staple of Victoria life. Watch on in horror as your train is delayed once again, then decamp to Kazan and lift your spirits with a mixed grill and an ice cold Efes beer. The menu is packed with delicious fire-grilled Ottoman specialities, and the restaurant and staff are smart enough for special occasions too.
Where: 93-94 Wilton Road, SW1V 1DW
Book now: Kazan

The Mantl, Knightsbridge

What: This modern Anatolian restaurant is slick and sophisticated inside, befitting its Knightsbridge location. On the menu you’ll find a variety of hot and cold mezze dishes, as well as meat, fish and vegetables smoked and charred over blazing hot coals - we recommend the pistachio lamb chops, and make sure you save room for buffalo milk rice pudding.
Where: 142 Brompton Road, SW3 1HY
Book now: The Mantl

Durak Tantuni, Wood Green

What: Although there are a few menu options at Durak Tantuni, the only real order is the tantuni itself - a wrap stuffed with chopped beef, raw onion and a dusting of sumac. It arrives at your table with lemon wedges (essential for cutting through the richness) and pickled Turkish peppers. Have a chomp on a pepper, squeeze your lemon over your wrap and take a bite, then tell us this isn’t one of the best Turkish restaurants in London.
Where: 390 West Green Road , N15 3PX
Book now: Durak Tantuni

Köfteci Metin, Harringay

What: A relatively new addition to Green Lanes - traditionally the epicentre of Turkish food in London - Köfteci Metin has landed with a serious splash, churning out some of the best meatballs you’ll ever eat. The choices are minimal - Metin’s koftes are the only main here, but they’re also the only thing you should be considering, and they’re truly delicious eaten alongside excellent cacik, grilled peppers and a frosty Efes beer.
Where: 553 Green Lanes, N8 0RL
Book now: Köfteci Metin

Best Mangal, Fulham

What: Fulham’s oçakbasi kings have been so popular that there are now three sites all within a mile of Fulham Broadway. Not only that, they’re always packed, as legions of chefs deftly turn rows of skewers over coals, sending out smoking platters of meats alongside flatbreads and hot and cold mezze. Finish with some excellent baklava in the shisha lounge.
Where: 619 Fulham Road, SW6 5UQ
Book now: Best Mangal

Liman, Islington

What: It’s always lovely to find a restaurant that not only serves high-quality food, but also has a family-run feel. Liman is certainly a great combination of this, as the restaurant’s floor is on the smaller side, contributing towards an intimate atmosphere. This means that despite being a casual dining venue, it also feels distinctly sophisticated. In terms of the food itself, the restaurant takes inspiration from all aspects of Mediterranean cooking and cuisine, resulting in an extensive Meze selection, sure to please the entire table.
Where: 60 Penton Street, N1 9PZ
Book now: Liman

Antepliler, Haringey

What: Ahmet Ustunsurmeli, from Gaziantep, set up a bakery in 1993, serving authentic baklava, before eventually opening Antepliler that very same year. Since then, this restaurant has topped many ‘best Turkish restaurants’ lists, becoming renowned for its killer grill plates and mezze. These days Antepliler dominates much of Green Lanes but it's still excellent and highly authentic, with ingredients carefully selected and often imported from Turkey itself.
Where: 45-46 Grand Parade, N4 1AG
Book now: Antepliler

Original Turkish Eatery, Fitzrovia

What: OTE is less expensive than some of the other restaurants featured on this list, but by no means does this reflect in the quality of the food served. Granted, it is a different style of venue, catering more for a quick lunch-time stop rather than a sit-down dinner, buut what it does, it does well. OTE is inspired by the Esnaf chain of restaurants from Turkey itself, which have a reputation for serving stellar food at low-prices. The ‘Esnaf boxes’ allow you to pick a base, main, dip, and salad, meaning your meal is personalised, as well as well-balanced – all for under a tenner.
Where: 45 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RU
Book now: OTE

Le Bab, Soho

What: Located in Kingly Court is the original Le Bab, serving refined, seasonal kebabs and sharing plates. This is the perfect place to stop for dinner, perhaps before a theatre trip, since it’s so centrally located next to the West End. The menu includes a great range of different ingredients on the kebab front, such as pork ribeye, grilled chicken, roasted aubergine and paneer. On the side, indulge in the dirty shawarma fries, covered in beef brisket glazed in pork jus or the chipotle tahini broccoli.
Where: Kingly Court, W1B 5PW
Book now: Le Bab

Gökyüzü, Haringey

What: The Yavuz family set up Gökyüzü in 1999, with the intention of serving fresh, mouth-watering meat and vegetarian platters while offering welcoming service. The family certainly achieved their goal, as this Turkish restaurant is regularly referenced as one of the best. Using fresh ingredients, the wonderfully flavoured dishes are sure to please everyone. Truly creating a home-away-from-home feeling, this restaurant has a great overall atmosphere.
Where: 26-28 Grand Parade, N4 1LG
Book now: Gökyüzü

Aksular, Enfield Town

What: Perfect for dining with the family or a group of friends, Aksular in Enfield Town provides good-quality Turkish food in a casual, welcoming environment. Aksular is one the less 'fancy' restaurants of this list, which makes it a great place for casual dining. The menu is centred around the Turkish tradition of sharing platters, serving authentic dishes with a modern twist. There is also a great children’s section of the menu, making this a real family-friendly restaurant in London. This restaurant has year-round outdoor seating, which is always a popular feature too.
Where: 8-10 Silver Street, EN1 3ED
Book now: Aksular Enfield Town

Hovarda, Soho

What: Serving Aegan-inspired food in a distinctly luxurious setting, this restaurant is great to visit with a group of friends to make the most out of the sharing plates and signature cocktails. The formal dining room would be ideal for special occasions and corporate meetings alike. Hovarda's menu features many delicious seafood dishes, in both the cold and hot meze sections. As well as this, there are other equally tempting options for meat-lovers and veggies alike; lamb shank with oyster fried mushrooms, stuffed vine leaves, pastichio baked pasta with cheese sauce, or beef fillet with fois gras, for instance. 
Where: 36-40 Rupert Street, W1D 6DW
Book now: Hovarda

Zahter, Soho

What: Chef Esra Muslu has curated a menu designed to give guests a true taste of Istanbulite cuisine. Decorated in a smart, sleek, and modern fashion, Zahter is certainly one of the more trendy Turkish restaurants London has to offer. If you choose to dine here you'll be met with a lovely selection of hot and cold meze dishes, sure to be wonderfully fresh, as the menu is seasonal and changes quite frequently. Ideally situated off of Carnaby Street in Soho, this is the perfect place to eat after exploring the buzzing city.
Where: 30-32 Foubert's Place, W1F 7PS
Book now: Zahter

Yeni, Westminster

What: This modern and sophisticated restaurant creates an elevated Turkish dining experience.‘Yeni’ is the Turkish word for ‘new’, which seems to be a fitting name for this restaurant that aims to push the boundaries of traditional Turkish cuisine. Chef Civan Er, one of Turkey’s most critically acclaimed chefs, has curated a seasonal menu that constantly changes. The menu is centred around the idea of sharing, and unlike other restaurants in this list, is much more limited in choice. However, there are still ten courses to get through… so you’re sure to be full of delicious food by the end of the meal.
Where: 55 Beak Street, W1F 9SH
Book now: Yeni

Kibele, Fitzrovia

What: Located on Great Portland Street lies Kibele, a vibrant Turkish eatery offering beautiful dishes that are not only accompanied by tasty cocktails, but also live music and belly dancing. The restaurant has a long list of resident performers, meaning there is sure to be something for everyone. This makes the restaurant a great place to gather with friends, as it combines a culinary journey with colourful entertainment. Most of the entertainment takes place in the venue’s Lounge bar, which can be hired out for a private party or event.
Where: 175-177 Great Portland Street, W1W 5PJ
Book now: Kibele

If you're still in the mood to explore London's Middle Eastern food scene (let's be honest, it's hard not to be) then have a read through our summary of the best Lebanese restaurants in the city, or check out London's very best Middle Eastern restaurants.