Our Story

The Best Turkish Kebab

More Than a Kebab. A Part of London's Story

In 1982, on Stoke Newington Road in North London, a small kebab shop opened its doors with a secret recipe and a simple promise: to serve the finest lamb döner, prepared with care, using only the best ingredients.

That little shop was The Best Turkish Kebab.

What began as a neighbourhood takeaway would, over the following four decades, become something much more a familiar name, a local institution, and an enduring part of London’s extraordinary culinary and cultural story.

Forty-four years later, the neighbourhood has changed, generations have come and gone, and London’s food scene has transformed beyond recognition.

But our secret recipe has remained unchanged.

And so has our promise to never compromise on quality.

Born in Stoke Newington. Rooted in Tradition.

Stoke Newington in 1982 was a very different place from the vibrant, cosmopolitan neighbourhood we know today.

Over the decades, its streets have changed, new communities have arrived, and the neighbourhood has evolved into one of London’s most culturally diverse and distinctive areas.

Through it all, The Best Turkish Kebab has remained part of its everyday life.

We have watched generations grow up, welcomed familiar faces year after year, and served everyone from local families and workers to musicians, artists, students and those looking for something delicious after a late night out.

For some, we are a childhood memory. For others, a weekly ritual. And for many, we are simply that kebab shop on Stoke Newington Road they have known for as long as they can remember.

That sense of familiarity, of belonging to a neighbourhood and its people, is something we have always treasured.

Because while the food may bring people through our doors, it is the relationships built over the years that have made us who we are.

One Secret Recipe. 44 Years. Unchanged.

Every great food tradition has a story. Ours begins in 1982, with a recipe.

Not just any recipe, but our own closely guarded secret — the original lamb döner recipe that has defined The Best Turkish Kebab for more than four decades.

Forty-four years. One secret recipe. Not a single compromise.

While the world around us has changed, our recipe has not. The same carefully balanced blend of ingredients, the same distinctive seasoning, and the same traditional preparation techniques that gave our lamb döner its unmistakable flavour in 1982 continue to define it today.

But a secret recipe is only as good as the ingredients that go into it.

That is why we insist on using the finest quality meat, carefully selected and prepared on our premises. We have never believed in cutting corners, substituting inferior ingredients or sacrificing quality for convenience.

Our philosophy is simple: if something has been done properly for 44 years, there is no reason to start doing it differently.

Of course, people have asked us about the recipe over the years. What goes into it? What makes it taste different? Why does it taste just as they remember?

We have always been happy to share our food.

The recipe, however, is another matter.

Some secrets are worth keeping.

And this one has been worth keeping since 1982.

A Meeting Place for Generations

A kebab shop is rarely just a place to eat.

In a city as diverse as London, it can also be a place where cultures meet, conversations begin and differences momentarily disappear over a shared appreciation of good food.

Our customers have always reflected the remarkable diversity of the neighbourhood around us.

Different languages, different backgrounds, different generations — all finding something familiar in the simple pleasure of a freshly prepared meal.

Over the years, we have served parents who now return with their children, old friends meeting after years apart, neighbours catching up over dinner, and countless people who have made our food part of their daily lives.

We have been fortunate to become part of those shared experiences.

And perhaps that is what makes The Best Turkish Kebab special. Not simply the food we serve, but the people who have made us part of their lives.

From a Local Favourite to a London Institution

Over the years, word of our food travelled well beyond Stoke Newington.

Our reputation grew, customers came from across London and beyond, and what began as a neighbourhood takeaway became a recognised name in London’s food scene.

Along the way came awards, media attention, television appearances and the occasional famous face.

We are proud of that recognition.

But the greatest compliment has never been a newspaper headline or an award.

It is the customer who first visited us decades ago and still returns today.

The parent who brings their children to the same counter they stood at when they were young.

The familiar face who walks through the door and knows exactly what to order.

And the customer who tells us that, after all these years, our kebab still tastes just as good as they remember.

Those are the moments that matter most to us.

Because recognition may build a reputation, but it is trust, consistency and loyalty that sustain it.

Proud of Our Heritage. Proud to Be Londoners.

Our story is also part of a much larger story — one of migration, cultural exchange and the extraordinary contribution that different communities have made to London’s identity.

Turkish food has become an inseparable part of the capital’s culinary landscape, and we are proud to have played our own small part in that journey.

For us, food has always been more than a product. It is an expression of heritage, hospitality and the belief that a good meal should bring people together.

Stoke Newington gave us a home, a community and generations of loyal customers.

In return, we have tried to give the neighbourhood something it can always count on: great food, familiar faces and a warm welcome.

Forty-Four Years Later, the Story Continues

In 2026, we celebrate 44 years since The Best Turkish Kebab first opened its doors.

Today, with our roots firmly planted in Stoke Newington and our story continuing in Edmonton, we remain committed to the same values on which our reputation was built.

The finest ingredients. Our original secret recipe. Traditional preparation. Generous hospitality. And an unwavering commitment to quality.

We know that in an industry where shortcuts are increasingly common, remaining true to those principles matters more than ever.

We are proud of our Turkish culinary heritage, proud of our London identity, and deeply grateful to the generations of customers who have supported us.

Because ultimately, The Best Turkish Kebab has never been just about kebabs. It is about people, tradition, community and the memories made around good food.

Our story began in 1982.

Forty-four years later, we are still writing it.

And we hope you will continue to be part of it.

The Best Turkish Kebab

Since 1982. One secret recipe. The finest meat. No shortcuts. Just a proper kebab.