Mangal, E8
Mangal
10 Arcola Street,
E8 2DJ map
020 7275 8981
If I’m ever down this way, normally en route to the Arcola theatre, I try and stop by this restaurant. It’s an Ocakbasi Turkish restaurant, or open charcoal grill to the English. It’s no-nonsense, amazingly tasty cheap grills.
If imitation is the greatest form of flattery then Mangal has been flattered by many other nearby restaurants, often with variations on the Mangal name or outright called Mangal.
There’s no menu, you just look at what’s being prepared, point and order. Mixed grill is a fair bet if you don’t know what you want. Sweet juicy lamb cutlets, spicy sausage, marinated chicken wings, mildly hot green chilis, all delicious and infused with grill and charcoal flavour. Depending on the day you can also order slightly unusual grill cuts; liver, sweetbreads, kidneys, and quail.
There’s a generous salad and veggies can order grilled aubergine, although it’s not great for veggies. You also get as much bread (pide and sac ) as you want.
It’s worth knowing the side dishes you can order. All Turkish staples but a good contrast to the grilled meats.: Humus (crushed chick peas, tahini, lemon juice & garlic), Cacik (cucumber & a hint of garlic in creamy yoghurt sauce), Ezme (tomatoes, parsley, onions & lemon juice finely chop with spice), Patllcan Salata (lightly grilled aubergine, peppers chopped & topped with yoghurt & butter).
Food: Exemplary grilled meats, Turkish style. I go back whenever I’m close by, although it’s probably worth trekking across London for.
Wine: they do beer but it’s bring your own bottle.
Veggie friendliness: Not great, but there are the side dishes and grilled aubergine.
Atmosphere: It’s not exactly romantic (as it’s nodding to the cheap and cheerful) but the atmosphere is great. Cheerful, smelling of charcoal, lively. Service is efficient and you can just ask your waiter what’s good as there’s no real menu. If your date doesn’t think you cheap, it’s a good adventure or maybe it’s just the type of dates I prefer to go on. Not one if you are allergic to smoke.
Value: Amazing value. Two cokes, as much as you can eat bread. Huge salad and more than enough meat for two including lamb cutlets, rolled lamb steak, chicken wings, green chilis, spicy sausage, and chicken pieces cost £22 in total. You can easily get away with £4-10 per head for a very filling meal.
Top tip: Ask for one of the side dishes. Don’t be shy in asking the waiter or point to good things on the grill. Bring your own wine, if you like.
10 Arcola Street,
E8 2DJ map
020 7275 8981
If I’m ever down this way, normally en route to the Arcola theatre, I try and stop by this restaurant. It’s an Ocakbasi Turkish restaurant, or open charcoal grill to the English. It’s no-nonsense, amazingly tasty cheap grills.
If imitation is the greatest form of flattery then Mangal has been flattered by many other nearby restaurants, often with variations on the Mangal name or outright called Mangal.
There’s no menu, you just look at what’s being prepared, point and order. Mixed grill is a fair bet if you don’t know what you want. Sweet juicy lamb cutlets, spicy sausage, marinated chicken wings, mildly hot green chilis, all delicious and infused with grill and charcoal flavour. Depending on the day you can also order slightly unusual grill cuts; liver, sweetbreads, kidneys, and quail.
There’s a generous salad and veggies can order grilled aubergine, although it’s not great for veggies. You also get as much bread (pide and sac ) as you want.
It’s worth knowing the side dishes you can order. All Turkish staples but a good contrast to the grilled meats.: Humus (crushed chick peas, tahini, lemon juice & garlic), Cacik (cucumber & a hint of garlic in creamy yoghurt sauce), Ezme (tomatoes, parsley, onions & lemon juice finely chop with spice), Patllcan Salata (lightly grilled aubergine, peppers chopped & topped with yoghurt & butter).
Food: Exemplary grilled meats, Turkish style. I go back whenever I’m close by, although it’s probably worth trekking across London for.
Wine: they do beer but it’s bring your own bottle.
Veggie friendliness: Not great, but there are the side dishes and grilled aubergine.
Atmosphere: It’s not exactly romantic (as it’s nodding to the cheap and cheerful) but the atmosphere is great. Cheerful, smelling of charcoal, lively. Service is efficient and you can just ask your waiter what’s good as there’s no real menu. If your date doesn’t think you cheap, it’s a good adventure or maybe it’s just the type of dates I prefer to go on. Not one if you are allergic to smoke.
Value: Amazing value. Two cokes, as much as you can eat bread. Huge salad and more than enough meat for two including lamb cutlets, rolled lamb steak, chicken wings, green chilis, spicy sausage, and chicken pieces cost £22 in total. You can easily get away with £4-10 per head for a very filling meal.
Top tip: Ask for one of the side dishes. Don’t be shy in asking the waiter or point to good things on the grill. Bring your own wine, if you like.
posted by Ben Yeoh at 9:00 PM
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