Stoke Newington sits between Dalston's intensity and the residential calm of Hackney's northern reaches. The Turkish scene here is smaller than Green Lanes or Dalston, but what it lacks in volume it makes up for in personality—including one of London's most famous late-night kebab shops.
The vibe is neighbourhood casual. You'll find families on early dinners, Stokey locals grabbing quick lunches, and late-night crowds queueing for döner after the pubs close. It's the kind of area where restaurants know their regulars.
Where to Eat
The Best Turkish Kebab
The Legend | £
The name is bold. The kebab delivers. A Stoke Newington institution that draws queues at 2am. Everything is prepared in front of you—salad chopped fresh, meat sliced from the spit as you watch. Portions are enormous; one serving genuinely feeds two.
What to Order: Mixed döner wrap with everything, chicken shish wrap, lamb kofte
Pro Tip: The queue moves fast. Perfect post-pub fuel or late-night craving solution.
Mangal 2
The Destination | £££
Where Turkish grill meets fine dining ambition. Run by the sons of Mangal 1's founders after training at places like Relae (Noma's sister restaurant), this is döner reimagined. The mutton tantuni uses heritage breed meat. The natural wine list is serious. Gilbert & George ate here nightly for 20 years.
What to Order: Mutton tantuni, lamb kidneys, seasonal specials, anything from the grill
Pro Tip: Book ahead. This is destination dining, not walk-in kebabs.
Umut 2000
The Neighbourhood Ocakbaşı | ££
Reliable, unpretentious, and consistently good. Umut delivers the classic ocakbaşı experience without fuss—generous portions, fair prices, and a menu that covers all the essentials. Popular with local families and groups.
What to Order: Mixed grill platter, lamb ribs, adana kebab
Fez Mangal
The Grill Master | ££
Another strong contender in the Stokey Turkish scene. Known for excellent charcoal-grilled meats and generous meze portions. The atmosphere is lively, the service is quick, and the lamb shish is properly charred.
What to Order: Lamb shish, chicken wings, cacik, grilled halloumi
Pro Tip: BYOB available—bring a nice bottle.
🏆 The Best Turkish Kebab — A Stokey Institution
Few kebab shops have the confidence to call themselves "The Best." Even fewer can back it up. This one has been proving its name right since the '90s, earning a British Kebab Award and cult status among North London's late-night crowd.
The secret is simple: everything fresh, everything generous, everything cooked with care. The döner is sliced to order. The salad is chopped as you watch. The portions are genuinely ridiculous—first-timers routinely over-order.
Day vs Night
☀️ Daytime
- → Lunch: Umut 2000 for a quick mixed grill
- → Casual: Fez Mangal for meze and shish
- → Special occasion: Mangal 2 (evenings only)
🌙 Late Night
- → Post-pub: The Best Turkish Kebab (until 3am)
- → 2am craving: The Best Turkish Kebab
- → Actually, always: The Best Turkish Kebab
Getting There
Overground: Dalston Kingsland or Stoke Newington are both walkable. Stoke Newington station puts you right on the High Street.
Bus: The 73 and 476 run through the area. The 149 and 243 also useful.
From Dalston: 10-minute walk north on Stoke Newington Road.