This is my favourite Turk in London. Amazing grilled meats cooked over charcoal. I usuallly order the Sis Kebab or the Adana Yogurtlu as a main. Make sure to order the smokey aubergine patlacan salata as a starter. The grilled onion side is also a favourite of mine.
If you don't have a dinner reservation arrive early around 18:00 or 19:00 so as not to have to queue. Try to get a table far away from the charcoal grill as the ventilation system sounds like a plane landing.
It's BYO with no corkage fee. Very efficient restaurant that runs like a well oiled machine.
Best Kebab,Tandoori Chicken I had in London.Indian Taste ....loved it ...loved the sauces and presentation specially ..it was delicious .....Also They Give Welcome Drink which is Very good in taste
How do you define a good kebab? It's good, simply. Now, how do you define a *really* good kebab? It's when you keep it in your backpack for 2h, then move it to the fridge for 24h, reheat it in the microwave and it still has an amazing punch that amazes you how great it tastes. The Mangal has probably the best kebab I have ever eaten. Period.
One if the best Turkish resturants in London, but the place is a little bit far from the city. Their kebap is good and delicious. The service was friendly.
This is supposedly one of the best turkish restaurants in london and is famous for kebabs. Being vegetarian, I cannot pass judgement on that. Their mezze platter was good and I enjoyed turkish coffee. For mains I ordered falafel, I have had much better falafel in london. Also carry cash as they do not except card.
Fantastic place for great Turkish! Legit food at a good price. The share plates work well with a small group, take some wine and enjoy with friends!
Great turkish but isn't cheap anymore. All the meat is incredibly tender, full of flavour and spiced to perfection. On the other hand, it has to be said that the service is a disaster and prices raised to £10 for a kebab which doesn't make this place any longer convenient as it used to be.
Bish bash bosh. I took the new old Overground tube to Dalston Kingsland for a visit to Mangal.
This is the authentic turkish grill - the charcoals sit there right in front of you. We took over the backroom for Mr Mrs S's birthday with a party of 38 ! No problem for the ocakbasi.
Don't forget to bring something to drink.
Gingle Lists Everything
+4.5
The meat was all very tasty. We were given a crazy hot sauce - a bit like a ketchup relish - to adorn our food, but I didn't partake. The meat didn't need it - it was all perfectly seasoned and tasty on its own. My chicken wing was less a wing and more like a wishbone with a few scraps of meat on it which was a bit disappointing, and I thought my lamb chop was a bit too big (I know, pernickety much? But because of its size it was a little dry.)
Luscious Temptations
+4.5
As we waited we watched the man behind the grill work his magic - meat on, wait, turn meat, wait, turn meat, wait, meat off the grill - all this behind a huge plume of smoke.
Few places are as revered as Mangal . Red and green-starred by Time Out, lauded by blogs and tripping off the tongue of every self-satisfied in-the-know from Bethnal Green to Turnham Green, the ocakbasi (or charcoal grill restaurant) is the undisputed cha
During the last tube strike it became apparent that I was lacking some good karma in this world for I chose a real crap place for us to eat. So I made amends, I helped old ladies across roads, even though they walked back across the road swearing at me, I
I had been looking forward to eating at Mangal Ocakbasi ever since it was recommended by a good friend. She's been a regular since 1995 and has never been disappointed. I don't get to eat meat at home, as vegetarian husband does the cooking, so I'll grab
Gingle Lists Everything
+4
I really was expecting quite good things from this Turkish place in Dalston as it is generally regarded as one of the best Ocakbasi grill places in the area . . . And it pretty much lived up to expectations (ha - you thought I was going to go the other way with that didn't you?)
We got there at about 8 and there was a moderate queue, but the place is pretty big and it's not the kind of place to really linger so we were probably only waiting about ten minutes before we were seated. It didn't take us long to decide what we wanted, having watched the meat being skewered and put on the grill while we queued - everything! We ordered a mixed grill each (which didn't tell you what that included, though you knew it didn't include quail as that was in the 'special mixed grill) and realised that we had made a bit of a rookie mistake in not bringing any alcohol with us. Dagnabbit!
As we waited for our food, a basket of bread was brought to our table which we started on. The bread was warm and soft and tasty on its own but both Stephen and I thought it was a bit of a travesty that we didn't have anything to scoop up with it. Two people seated quite close to us had a plate of different and tasty looking dips and it didn't take too much debate between us to decide to order that, which was just a 'meze'.
It comprised of four different dip-type things, separated by cucumber slices - a hummus (houmous? hoummus? hommous? why are there so many variations?), a tzatziki-style dip, a tomato and parsley salad and a smokey roasted aubergine, tomato and garlic creation which was delicious. Well, actually, they were all delicious and in no time we had polished them and all the bread off.
At this point we wondered if we hadn't been foolish in ordering a mixed grill. Memories of the mountain of food at Cirrik came back to me and I worried I would end up wasting a lot of my food again.
But I didn't do too badly, and Stephen finished his all (only minorly regretting this later). The portions weren't quite as gigantic as they were at Cirrik. And yes, please forgive me but I couldn't help but compare it to the place around the corner. At Mangal, our mixed grill consisted of a lamb chop, some lamb morsels, a chicken wing, adana kebab (I think) and some rolled belly meat (again, we think). This came with a large pepper (fairly spicy!), a square of bread (for me anyway, Stephen had several squares) and a ridiculously big salad to share.
The meat was all very tasty. We were given a crazy hot sauce - a bit like a ketchup relish - to adorn our food, but I didn't partake. The meat didn't need it - it was all perfectly seasoned and tasty on its own. My chicken wing was less a wing and more like a wishbone with a few scraps of meat on it which was a bit disappointing, and I thought my lamb chop was a bit too big (I know, pernickety much? But because of its size it was a little dry.) but the edges with the crispy fat were delicious. The chunks of lamb were my favourite bits but it was all pretty enjoyable to eat. Again, I failed myself and didn't finish it all but I gave it a bloody good go before I admitted defeat.
The salad was unnecessarily big. I took a few scoops of carrot, cabbage, some onion and it was only after we had tucked in once that I discovered all the lovely, juicy, seasoned shredded onion underneath. Why wasn't this amazing stuff on the top where we could get at it before we got full with everything else? I'm not saying the salad wasn't good - quite the opposite but it doesn't need to be so big. I'm worried there were other gems in that heap that I just couldn't get to!
Overall I think Cirrik gets my first vote - I preferred their bread, and the lamb ribs that came with the mixed grill were amazing. The tiny chicken wing and slightly dry chop, and only one piece of bread (yes, I know I didn't even finish it all, but there's always room for more bread) let the side down a little for Mangal, which is why I'm giving Cirrik the edge here. But please don't take this as damning criticism. Mangal 1 is still pretty amazing and I would take no persuasion whatsoever to go back here again. The staff here deserve a mention as well. I found them really friendly in an unassuming kind of way.
I really hate writing up these things - I am totally craving meat now. I'll have to give Mangal 2 round the corner a try as well and complete the trifecta. Also, their hilarious tweets alone make me want to give them my custom.
Don't Just Eat, Eat Well!
+5
Excellent place to get proper authentic, non fussy Meze food. Went here after seeing it on a Rick Stein programme and has been consistently great all the times I have been. Be prepared to share tables or wait for a takeaway on evenings but go at Lunch time and it's quiet. Top top place!
The food at Mangal is incredible. One of the best Adana Kebabs I’ve had in my life considering I’ve had a good share in Istanbul, and their food is nothing short of amazing. We were 4 people and we ordered the Mangal Platter 2 which was more than enough without starters. Their complimentary bread was my favorite part! Smokey and so good. It was 80 pounds for the whole dish. We also tried their Baklava and Kunaffa and it was good. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 was area of improvement when it comes to service. We ordered items that never made it to our table but was added to our bill. We ordered water multiple times that also never made it and we gave up and got water from a sainsbury local. We understand that it was a busy Friday night, so will give it another chance on a weekday.
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mangal 1 in Dalston, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, complemented by the delightful aroma of sizzling meat.
The highlight of my meal was, without a doubt, the cooked meat. The chefs at Mangal 1 truly have a skill for grilling, as each bite was tender, succulent, and bursting with flavor. The meat was cooked to perfection, and the marinade used added a unique twist that made every bite memorable.
What impressed me the most about Mangal 1 was their commitment to offering original tastes. They have managed to strike the perfect balance between traditional flavors and innovative combinations. It was refreshing to indulge in dishes that stayed true to their origin while incorporating exciting elements that elevated the overall experience.
The staff at Mangal 1 were also commendable, offering attentive service with a friendly disposition. Their knowledge of the menu allowed them to provide excellent recommendations, ensuring that my dining experience was nothing short of exceptional.
In conclusion, Mangal 1 in Dalston deserves high praise for their excellent cooked meat and remarkable original tastes. If you're looking for a dining experience that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more, I highly recommend paying them a visit. Whether you're a meat lover or simply appreciate exceptional flavors, Mangal 1 is sure to deliver a dining experience that is both satisfying and memorable.
Busy, busy, busy restaurant!
Lovely simple food - fab to see the grill being so well managed. And all the amazing food getting cooked to perfection…
BYO too.
Service frantic but they all keep everything running smoothly. Saw them carefully look after a mum, grandad and toddler very well!
Would go again!
Everything was good, especially the spicing and cooking of the meat.
However, some of the lamb ribs were a bit on the small side and it was a surprise that neither of our main courses came with any rice or bulgur (although they give you bread).
This was my stand-out restaurant experience over my 6-week holiday in London and Europe.
We had to queue, which apparently is every night, but the wait was not long at all. We watched the meats being cooked over charcoal while waiting, which was cool.
Incredible atmosphere in the restaurant. Tables are tight, but it isn't a problem and goes with the setting. If you want intimate dining, it's not the place, high-level energy here.
The food was absolutely delicious!
Most amazing was an eggplant dip. It was creamy and smoky and amazing! Salivating as I write.
We had a hommus dip also, a salad and a mixed meat platter. The meat was melt in the mouth.
Standout dining!
The most AMAZING flatbread!!! The mixed meats were also so so delicious and juicy. Had such a yummy experience here :))) everything was so good
We popped in for a late lunch the other day and everything was delicious. Chicken soup was so good and my wife had the veggie moussaka which she said was yummy! Lovely service and a relaxing atmosphere. Oh and don't forget to try the rice pudding 😋 Highly recommend. 5☆☆☆☆☆
We had the Adana Kofte, chicken wings, halloumi , chips and rice. Food was overall really tasty and well cooked. The restaurant inside is a bit dated and not the best of vibes / atmosphere. Giving 4 star as they don’t offer a wide range of sauces . Only had chilli sauce but no garlic sauce which I usually like with grill foods. Service also not the best
If you enjoy Turkish food and you love meat, the flavours here will.not disappoint.
Usually have take away as the restaurant gets a bit crowded and seats are too close together. OK I'd you like that sort of thing but you will enjoy a take away just the same. The flavours are good, we forget we are not actually in the restaurant.
We usually go for the mixed grill to enjoy the flavours that are nicely brought out from each meat variant.
There's a reason these guys have such a good reputation and people wait for a table. Delicious Turkish food cooked to perfection, fantastic appetizers and all well priced. Living across the road from this place is dangerous!
I've never had such a soft Copsis even in Turkey. We loved it and the waiters were incredibly attentive. The Meze platter is sufficient and you can find the varieties on one plate. thank you very much
One of the best turkish restaurant in london recommended
Fast and fresh and smoky food
Absolutely superb...the best sweetbreads I've had for years, perhaps ever. Loads of freshly cooked food, excellent service and great atmosphere
The restaurant was so delicious! The meat was tender, not tough, and delicious. The yogurt menu was delicious and the salad was excellent. The atmosphere was also charming.
Always great food and great value. As it's busy, you can only stay for limited time at times.
It was very authentic Turkish restaurant. The people and interior all of them felt like Turkey.
We ordered Lahmacun - Turkish pizza and Karsic Kebab for 1 person. Turkish pizza had very different toppings and sauce, but it was crunchy outside and flavorful inside.
In particular, Kebab was the satisfactory. The meat was very tender and well seasoned. The sauce they provide was very different from the other place, and it definitely adds up the taste. As it was quite spicy, people who cannot eat spicy food, need to be cautious.
Friends brought us here after the Arsenal match and man was it delicious. Had some Turkish beers and plates of meat & hummus. I cannot recommend it enough.
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