Lahmacun is not "Turkish pizza." It's its own thing entirely—thinner than any pizza, crispy rather than chewy, meant to be rolled up and eaten with your hands. Get it right and it's one of the great pleasures of Turkish cuisine.
What is Lahmacun?
A paper-thin flatbread topped with a mixture of minced lamb (or beef), tomatoes, onions, peppers, and a blend of spices including cumin, paprika, and Aleppo pepper. Baked in a very hot oven until the edges crisp and the topping caramelises slightly.
The components:
- → Base: Ultra-thin dough, almost cracker-like when cooked
- → Topping: Spiced minced meat spread thin and even
- → Served with: Fresh parsley, lemon wedges, sumac, pickled chillies
- → How to eat: Add parsley, squeeze lemon, roll up, eat with hands
How to Order Like a Local
Lahmacun is typically eaten as a starter or light meal. If you're having it as part of a larger Turkish meal, one per person is usually enough before the grills arrive.
The ritual: When it arrives, it'll come with a plate of fresh flat-leaf parsley, lemon wedges, and often sumac or pickled chillies. Pile the parsley on generously, squeeze the lemon over the top, then roll the whole thing up from one end. Eat it like a wrap.
Don't: Cut it with a knife and fork like pizza. Don't skip the lemon—the acidity cuts through the richness of the meat.
Where to Get It
Gökyüzü
The Reliable Classic | Green Lanes | ££
Consistently excellent lahmacun from Green Lanes' anchor restaurant. Thin and crispy with well-seasoned lamb topping. Comes with fresh parsley, lemon, and sumac to add yourself.
What to Order: Lahmacun as a starter, then move to grills. Order 2-3 per person if making it a main.
Pro Tip: Roll it up with the parsley and a squeeze of lemon—that's the proper way.
Hala Restaurant
Family Style | Green Lanes | ££
Hala's lahmacun is a local favourite—generously topped and cooked in their wood-fired oven. The base gets that slight char that makes all the difference.
What to Order: Lahmacun, then gözleme if you have room
Mangal 1
Dalston Classic | ££
The OG Dalston ocakbaşı does a solid lahmacun. Not the main event here (that's the lamb shish), but a worthy starter while you wait for the grill.
What to Order: Lahmacun to start, lamb shish to follow
Selale
The Refined Take | Green Lanes | ££
Selale's lahmacun is perhaps the most photogenic on Green Lanes—thin, evenly topped, properly crispy. Consistent quality every time.
What to Order: Lahmacun, hummus, then lamb ribs
💡 Lahmacun Tips
- Timing matters: Lahmacun is best straight from the oven. If you're ordering for a group, ask for them to come out one or two at a time so they stay crispy.
- Don't confuse with pide: Pide is thicker, boat-shaped, and eaten with a knife and fork. Lahmacun is thin, round, and rolled up.
- Vegetarian option: Some places offer a cheese or vegetable version, but traditional lahmacun is always meat.
- Drink pairing: Ayran (salted yogurt drink) is the classic pairing. Or just Turkish tea.