Esher, Turkish Restaurant Guide

A handy “cheap ’n’ cheerful” option – these traditional Turkish venues, near West Kensington tube and on Fulham Broadway are a favourite stop-off for a freshly BBQ’d kebab. (The West Ken branch is not to be confused with ‘Best Mangal 1996’ – a similar venture at 66 North End Road).

A handy “cheap ’n’ cheerful” option – these traditional Turkish venues, near West Kensington tube and on Fulham Broadway are a favourite stop-off for a freshly BBQ’d kebab. (The West Ken branch is not to be confused with ‘Best Mangal 1996’ – a similar venture at 66 North End Road).

A handy “cheap ’n’ cheerful” option – these traditional Turkish venues, near West Kensington tube and on Fulham Broadway are a favourite stop-off for a freshly BBQ’d kebab. (The West Ken branch is not to be confused with ‘Best Mangal 1996’ – a similar venture at 66 North End Road).

“Still one of the best Turkish grills in town” – this Ladbroke Grove fixture might be “a bit spartan”, but “speedy service and BYO” make it a “cost-effective alternative to eating at home”. Top Tip – there’s “slightly less-packed seating in the extension next door”.

“Delicious chops piled high, good gluggable house red – what’s not to like?” at this long-running and “extremely good-value” Turkish-Cypriot grill near Victoria station in Pimlico. It’s “not a place for a romantic tête-à-tête, but great fun – you’ll leave very well fed and watered, and with a smile on your face”.

“Honest Turkish food and very good value” continue to inspire enthusiasm for this Pimlico local of over two decades’ standing: “meat is grilled to perfection” and there’s “a high standard of service”.

2021 Review: “Absolutely delicious, fine-dining Turkish-inspired cuisine (another sharing plate concept)” is to be found at this big, fancy-schmancy Park Lane yearling: part of a Dubai-based restaurant empire. “It is, shall we say, a little bit toppy” when it comes to the prices (oh boy, it is), but all reports agree this is “great, great food”.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, this smart Turkish operation in Marylebone wins consistently solid marks for the “excellent quality and taste” of its dishes – in particular the grilled meat and mezzes.

2023 Review: “The chargrilled onions and flatbreads to start soon grab the attention” at this popular family-run Anatolian in Camberwell, founded across town in Islington more than 25 years ago. “The grilled lamb that follows is still as good as ever. Thankfully!”.

2021 Review: “As good as that we ate when in the Turkish original” – this stylish-looking Soho yearling is a London sibling to one of Istanbul’s hottest properties, and (at odds with some press reviews) it impresses all early reporters (notwithstanding the odd incident of “shaky service” or “lack of ambience”), with “interesting” cuisine produced by star chef Civan Er.

2023 Review: “An impressive addition to the Carnaby Street scene” – this modern Eastern-Med newcomer from Turkish chef Esra Muslu is decorated in an informal café style that’s deceptive given the high quality of the cuisine. The open kitchen and counter on the ground floor “give you so much to talk about (I just love watching the flames in the oven)” and “the food can be as light or heavy as you wish” according to which small plates you go for. “Love it”… but it can be “ridiculously noisy”, “staff don’t always seem to know what they’re doing” and the small dishes come at chunky prices.

“I know that I am not the first person to have been blown away by the imagination displayed in this deconstruction of the kebab!” – this no-longer-secret 10-seater counter in the basement of Kingly Court’s Le Bab aims to rocket-propel the kebab taste-palate to new heights, with a multi-course tasting menu served (smeared?) onto a special heated countertop (you scoop with your fingers). “Tasty… good patter from the chefs… engaging… quite the experience”. In August 2023, it relaunched with Pamir Zeydan as the new head chef (although he had already been working here with departing Manu Canales). The sort of dishes to expect? ‘Dover sole kebab delivered on an ironed hispi cabbage taco with roasted red pepper purée’.

2022 Review: You don’t have to eat Korean food to eat well in Raynes Park! This “very friendly Turkish restaurant” serves “some original dishes alongside Turkish favourites and some excellent Turkish vintages”. “It’s a bonus to be able to see into the kitchen”.