Kebabs are a popular food around the world. The tantalising aroma of slowly cooked meat lures you into a kebab shop to buy an irresistibly tender and juicy kebab. A common belief is that kebabs originated in Türkiye when soldiers grilled chunks of meat skewered on their swords over an open fire.
The kebab is one of the UK’s favourite fast food takeaways, with an estimated one in ten people eating a kebab daily. There are over 20,000 kebab establishments, and the industry brings in £2.8 billion to the economy each year. How do you decide where to buy a good-quality kebab? We researched and made a shortlist of some of the best kebab shops in London.
The Best Kebab Shops in London Near You (Map)
Suppose you have a craving that only a kebab will satisfy. Here is a selection of the best kebab shops in London.
1. Best Mangal 1996 Restaurant – Delicious Turkish Cuisine
Founder, Ibrahim Tuac, established the family business Best Mangal when he spotted a gap in the market for serving delicious Turkish cuisine in London. He wanted customers to enjoy the delights of his native country.
Best Mangal is a restaurant that also offers a takeaway menu. The service is quick and efficient. As the name suggests, it is one of the best Kebab shops.
The lamb and chicken kebabs are excellent.
- Chicken and Lamb Doner £13.50
- Chicken Shish £17.00
- Lamb Shish £19.00
The Liver Shish at £16.50 is unique and impressive.
The food is perfectly cooked, and the portions are generous.
There are various feast options and a lunchtime deal of two courses and a drink for £11.95, Monday to Friday.
If you are dining with a vegetarian or vegan, there are several options, including a Vegetarian Kebab at £15.00.
If you want tasty food in an authentic Turkish setting with friendly staff, Best Mangal is a must-visit.
Address: 66 North End Road, Hammersmith, London, W14 9EP
Telephone: 020 7602 0212
2. German Doner Kebab – Revolutionise the Kebab
Did you know Kadir Nurman, a Turkish immigrant to Berlin, set up a food stall selling kebabs in West Berlin in 1972? He had witnessed the busy lives of city workers and thought they might appreciate a meal they could carry. So, he wrapped the juicy meat and all its trimmings in bread known as durum. So the Doner Kebab was born.
Taking the idea forward, in 1989, German Doner Kebab opened its first store in Berlin. They spent the following years perfecting their recipes before recognising global demand. It opened its first Doner Kebab franchise in Dubai in 2013 and continually expanding worldwide.
Today, the chain operates kebab stores worldwide. They offer eat-in, takeaway, and click-and-collect options at many locations in London, including Covent Garden, Islington, Old Street, and others.
The kebabs have earned a reputation for being tender and delicious. They use the finest quality ingredients, and their secret sauces add a different twist to a selection of doner kebabs. Their chicken and beef meat are halal imported from Germany.
Click and Collect options include:
Their signature OK Kebab with a choice of meats is £6.99, which you can upgrade to a meal to include a drink, and fries at £10.49.
You can try a Coco Kebab, meat served in a coconut-infused waffle bread, £6.99.
There is a selection of Doner boxes, where you can choose spring rolls, chilli cheese bites, and drinks. There is also a veggie Doner Kebab option at £6.99.
Address: To check out where the nearest German Doner Kebab shop is, check their locations.
Related: Halal Korean BBQ London Restaurants
3. Le Bab – Michelin-Styled Kebabs
The co-founders of Le Bab, Stephen Tozer and Edward Brunet sought to create a new and unique style of kebab. They wanted to use inspiration from all corners of the globe, fabulous ingredients, and traditional fire cooking methods.
Their first eating establishment opened in 2015 in Soho, and they have expanded to having several restaurants across London. Manu Canales Garces is the head chef at their Covent Garden restaurant. Manu’s impressive credentials include working at Michel Roux JR’s two Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche. Le Bab uses free-range meat and endeavours to limit food miles as much as possible.
Their free-range chicken Shish Kebab is £11.50 for a small and £13.95 for a large.
The Dirty Bab with 15-hour slow-cooked pork ribeye is amazing at £14.95.
The vegetarian options are excellent, with a spiced aubergine and peanut pesto Sabich for £11.50. Le Bab plants a tree for every vegan kebab sold. So why not try a THIS Isn’t chicken with cannellini and chickpea puree at £15.00?
At Le Bab, the staff are friendly, and the service is great. If you find yourself looking for kebabs elevated to a new level, then the gourmet kebabs at Le Bab have got to be on your go-to list for one of the best kebab shops in London.
Address: 4 Mercer Walk, London, WC2H 9FA
Telephone: 020 7240 9781
Related: 9 Best Halal Restaurants in London
4. Yaz Restaurant – Casual or Elegant
The family-run Yaz Restaurant welcomes you with a warm and friendly team. You can choose between casual Bistro areas for a lazy breakfast or brunch. Alternatively, head to the elegant cocktail bar for dinner.
The Organic Lamb Shish Kebab is delicious at £24.90, as is the Organic Chicken Shish at £19.90.
The Strawberry Mojita Mocktail at £9.00 is fabulous.
The food is colourful and beautifully presented. Prices are possibly at the slightly higher end for a Turkish restaurant. However, Yaz is one of the best Turkish Kebabs in London and is an excellent dining experience.
Address: 7 – 9 Signal Walk, Highams Park, London, E4 9BW
Telephone: 020 8279 9239
5. Biryani Kebab Chai – A Taste of Awadhi Cuisine, Indian Kebab
Biryani Kebab Chai, also known as BKC, uses traditional cooking methods of Awadhi cuisine, indigenous to the city of Lucknow, in north India. Techniques include the Dum style of cooking over a slow fire and core ingredients such as mutton and paneer.
BKC uses Potli spices, a small spice bag which chefs drop into the cooking pot. BKC use a blend of 130 spices. The restaurant uses the Dhungar technique to cook the kebabs. A method where cooks place a piece of charcoal in a small dish in the centre of the food. Adding two drops of ghee to the burning charcoal emits a wonderfully aromatic smoke infusing the food.
The kebabs are succulent and perfectly seasoned.
- Mutton kebab is from £9.95
- Chicken kebab from £7.95
There are vegan and vegetarian options from £7.45.
Finish off with a delicious Kashmiri Pink Chai, full of flavour, at £3.95.
BKC offers an exceptional meal in every way. The ambience is relaxing, the staff are friendly, and the food is fantastic. BKC deserves to be on the shortlist of one of the best Indian kebab restaurants in London. The only slight negative is that it is a small establishment and gets busy quickly, so it is best to make a reservation.
Address: 7 Edgware Road, Tyburnia, London, W2 2ER
Telephone: 07532 727516
6. The Best Turkish Kebab – Award Winning
The family-run takeaway, The Best Turkish Kebab, was opened in 1982 by Osman Cinik, who had recently moved to the UK with his family in search of their London dream. In 2010, Osman handed down the shop to Ismail Demir, who now runs the kebab eatery with his brother Mustafa.
The Best Turkish Kebab Shop brings you the most delicious and healthiest Turkish kebabs by using traditional recipes with the finest ingredients. The restaurant has the recipe for success. It has won awards for the Best kebab shop, and celebrities such as David Schwimmer, of Friends fame, and chefs Ainsley Harriet and Delia Smith allegedly have visited the shop.
Service is always with a smile, and the kebabs are wonderfully cooked, tasty, and juicy.
- Chicken or Lamb Shish Kebab, small £6.50
- Chicken or Lamb Shish Kebab, large £8.50
The food is excellent, the staff are fabulous, and the portions are generous, all at great value for money. What more could you want from one of the best Turkish kebabs in London?
Address: 125 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BT
Telephone: 020 7254 7642
What Makes a Good Kebab?
- Fresh meat makes a good-quality kebab. If the meat is past its prime or has been in the freezer too long, it loses its ability to soak up the delicious juices of the marinade.
- A perfect marinade. A good marinade enhances a kebabs flavour. It should heighten your taste buds and not dominate them. It should allow a hint of smokiness in the meat’s taste.
- A good grilling. To give a kebab that perfect evenly roasted flavour, it needs cooking at the right temperature, and the rotation of the grill must be spot on.
- All in the sauce. It must be perfectly seasoned and not too bland or too powerful. Just perfect.