Dalston's Turkish restaurants cluster around Kingsland Road and Stoke Newington Road, stretching north towards Stoke Newington. This is where BYOB culture thrives—grab a bottle from the off-licence next door, order lamb ribs, and settle in.
The vibe is different from Green Lanes: younger crowd, later hours, more East London energy. Less family celebration, more friends gathering after work. The food is just as good—some would argue better at the top end.
Dalston vs Green Lanes
| Dalston | Green Lanes | |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe | Young, urban, late-night | Family-oriented, traditional |
| BYOB | Universal | Some places |
| Hours | Open late (1am+) | Usually midnight |
| Best for | Night out, dates | Celebrations, families |
| Standout | Mangal 2 (elevated) | Gökyüzü (institution) |
The Restaurants
Mangal 1
The Original BYOB | ££
The one that started it all. Since the 1980s, Mangal has been the template: charcoal grill, BYOB, no reservations, queue on weekends. The lamb şiş is simply seasoned and perfectly charred. The bread comes from the oven in the corner. This is where Dalston's Turkish scene was born.
What to Order: Lamb şiş, chicken wings, lamb ribs, any of the grilled meats
Pro Tip: BYOB is the whole point. Bring good wine; the food deserves it. Off-licence next door.
Mangal 2
The Elevated Sibling | £££
Run by the sons of Mangal 1's founders, this is what happens when the next generation trains at places like Noma's sister restaurant before coming home. The mutton tantuni uses heritage breed meat. The döner is house-made. Gilbert & George ate here nightly for 20 years. Same DNA, different execution.
What to Order: Mutton tantuni, lamb kidneys, whatever's seasonal on the specials
Pro Tip: Book ahead. This is destination dining, not walk-in kebabs.
Cirrik 19 Numara Bos
The Late-Night Reliable | ££
Less famous than the Mangals but consistently good. The mixed grill is generous, the meze is fresh, and it's open late enough to catch the post-pub crowd. BYOB like everywhere else on this strip.
What to Order: Mixed grill, lamb ribs, hummus
Umut 2000
The Lamb Rib Specialists | ££
The lamb ribs here are legendary—crispy on the outside, tender inside, properly seasoned. The rest of the menu is solid too, but come for the ribs. BYOB, no reservations, the usual Dalston drill.
What to Order: Lamb ribs (the reason to come), mixed grill, chicken wings
Pro Tip: Also has a branch on Green Lanes if you can't get a table here.
The Best Turkish Kebab
The Stoke Newington Legend | £
Technically Stoke Newington but close enough. British Kebab Award winners. Everything prepared in front of you—salad chopped fresh, meat sliced from the spit as you watch. Portions are enormous. Queue moves fast.
What to Order: Mixed döner wrap with everything, chicken shish wrap
Pro Tip: Perfect post-pub fuel. Cash helps but cards accepted.
🍷 BYOB Guide
BYOB is the Dalston Turkish restaurant tradition. Here's how to do it:
- • Off-licences on Kingsland Road stock decent wine for £8-15
- • Turkish food pairs well with medium-bodied reds (Pinot Noir, Merlot)
- • Most places have no corkage fee
- • Beer is fine too—Turkish Efes if you can find it
- • They'll provide glasses, just ask
Getting There
Overground: Dalston Junction or Dalston Kingsland put you right in the middle of the action.
Bus: 149, 67, 243 all run through Dalston. Night buses too.
Walking: About 25 minutes from Angel, 20 from Hackney Central.