You don't need to live near Green Lanes to cook Turkish at home. London has dozens of Turkish supermarkets stocking everything from fresh yufka to proper pul biber — and the essentials you can't find locally are a click away.
Below: the best Turkish shops worth visiting in person, plus the pantry staples every Turkish kitchen needs — with links to order them online.
Turkish Markets in London
TFC Supermarkets
Dalston, Hackney, Tottenham, Edmonton, Wood GreenThe largest Turkish supermarket chain in London. Fresh bread baked daily, huge cheese counter, imported olives, dried goods, and a proper butcher section with halal meat cut Turkish-style. The Dalston branch on Kingsland Road is the flagship.
Must buy: Fresh yufka (filo sheets), kaşar cheese, sucuk, simit
Yasar Halim
Green Lanes, N4More than a bakery — Yasar Halim is a full Turkish grocery and patisserie. Famous for their baklava made with Gaziantep pistachios, but the grocery section stocks everything from pomegranate molasses to proper Turkish coffee.
Must buy: Baklava, lokum (Turkish delight), ground Turkish coffee
Hazar Turkish Food Centre
Stoke Newington, N16A neighbourhood staple on Stoke Newington Road. Smaller than TFC but well-curated. Strong on spices, dried herbs, and hard-to-find ingredients like isot pepper and dried mint.
Must buy: Spice mixes, isot pepper, dried mint, vine leaves
Best Turkish Food Centre
Wood Green, N22Serves the large Turkish community around Wood Green. Good selection of fresh produce, dairy, and canned goods imported from Turkey. Competitive prices.
Must buy: Canned white beans, pepper paste, bulghur wheat
Istanbul Food Centre
Edmonton, N18The go-to in Edmonton for Turkish groceries. Well-stocked with branded goods from Turkey — Sera, Tamek, Ülker. Also carries fresh flatbreads and lavas.
Must buy: Sera pepper paste, Ülker biscuits, fresh lavas bread
Turkish Pantry Essentials
Can't get to a Turkish market? These are the staples you need — available on Amazon UK.
Çaykur Rize Turkish Tea
The tea Turkey actually drinks. Black tea from the eastern Black Sea coast. Brew it strong in a çaydanlık (double teapot) and drink from tulip glasses.
Pul Biber (Aleppo Pepper Flakes)
Not chilli flakes — pul biber. Mildly spicy, slightly oily, fruity and smoky. Goes on everything: eggs, kebabs, salads, soups. The single most important spice in a Turkish kitchen.
Sera Biber Salçası (Pepper Paste)
Sweet or hot pepper paste — the backbone of Turkish cooking. Stir it into scrambled eggs (menemen), mix into salad dressings, or spread on bread with a drizzle of olive oil.
Sumac
Deep red, tangy, citrusy. Sprinkle on onion salads, grilled meat, or flatbread. Essential for the onion-sumac-parsley salad that comes with every kebab.
Pomegranate Molasses (Nar Ekşisi)
Thick, sweet-sour syrup made from reduced pomegranate juice. Drizzle on salads, use in marinades, or mix into sparkling water for a Turkish-style drink.
Turkish Coffee (Ground)
Finely ground — almost powder. Brewed in a cezve (ibrik) with sugar added during brewing, not after. Kurz Kahvesi or Mehmet Efendi are the classic brands.
Lokum (Turkish Delight)
Real lokum is nothing like the stuff you find in airport shops. Look for brands from Afyon or Safranbolu — rose, pistachio, and double-roasted are the classic flavours. Properly made lokum has a delicate chew with no gelatine.
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🍳 Building a Turkish Pantry — Start Here
If you're stocking a Turkish kitchen from scratch, these five items will cover 80% of recipes:
- 1Pul biber — Goes on literally everything
- 2Biber salçası — Base for soups, stews, egg dishes
- 3Sumac — Your new favourite salad seasoning
- 4Çaykur tea — Because Turkish tea is a lifestyle
- 5Pomegranate molasses — Secret weapon for marinades and dressings