Harden's survey result
Summary
“One of the OGs and still one of the very best!” – this renowned Turkish dive in Dalston gets some diners’ votes as “the best-value restaurant in London”. “The smell of grilled meats entices you into the deservedly bustling interior”, where it “delivers amazing food every time”: “wonderful BBQ, lovely warm bread and generous salad”. One of owner Ali Dirik’s sons runs nearby Mangal 2, putting a more modern slant on grill cooking.
Summary
“Succulent BBQ meat and great-value meze” have earned this Turkish grill in Dalston a major and well-earned reputation. For some, a meal here represents “the best value in London” – helped by a “liberal BYO policy that means you drink as well as your cellar allows”. Top Tips: “the sweetbreads are sensational”. And for an ambitious modern take on cooking over fire, head round the corner to Mangal 2, now run by owner Ali Dirik’s sons Sertaç and Ferhat (see also).
Summary
“Often imitated, never beaten!” – Dalston’s original Mangal grill is still “the long-running undisputed champion” of “sublime Turkish/Kurdish barbecues”. And it’s not just for carnivores: “they also serve top, authentic homemade mezze – including a good range of veggie choices”. Regularly name-checked by celeb chefs (Ottolenghi, Oliver et al), it’s also “great value – a meal for two for the price of a single course elsewhere”. Top Tip: “BYO policy means you can bring along the best bottle from your own cellar!” (Mangal 2, two minutes’ walk away, has been taken over by Ali Dirik’s sons, and is now a place of some ambition; The Observer’s Jay Rayner called it “serious and inventive… properly delicious”.)
Summary
“Still the best Turkish BBQ in town”, say fans of the original Mangal grill that put Dalston on the carnivore’s map. “I’ve been coming here for over 20 years and it’s still one of my all-time favourite restaurants. Never fails with great food and excellent service”. BYO helps keep the costs down.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Mangal 1?
Restaurant details
Mangal 1 Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Loud, friendly and very tasty!! Bright, clattering room and meats grilled to smoky perfection. All Mangal boxes ticked!!!"
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £23.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑12 am |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑12 am |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑12 am |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑12 am |
| Friday | 12 pm‑12 am |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑12 am |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑12 am |
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