Mangal II
The Dirik family ocakbaşı since 1994 — the canonical Turkish address the audience takes London-Turks to
East London wave + Turkish-diaspora axis (Mangal II)
Dalston and Hackney are East London's cultural twin — the post-2010 wave that opened up Kingsland Road, the Hackney Road, and Broadway Market. For the gezgin this is also the Turkish-diaspora axis: the famous Mangal II ocakbaşı in Dalston, the Stoke Newington Turkish restaurants the kids in London use to feel home, the Ridley Road market. Plus the wider chef-led East: Cycene, Brawn, Black Axe Mangal. The hood that proves London's good food isn't only Mayfair money.
4 places
The Dirik family ocakbaşı since 1994 — the canonical Turkish address the audience takes London-Turks to
The original Ali Dirik ocakbaşı on Arcola Street since 1990 — BYOB, walk-in only, untouched
Ed Wilson's Columbia Road natural-wine bistro — the East End's most consistent neighbourhood kitchen
P. Franco's successor at 107 Lower Clapton — a 25-cover wine shop with a hot plate at the back, chef residencies kept
2 places
Remy Savage's Bauhaus-precise cocktail room on Kingsland Road
Michael and Charlotte Sager-Wildeve's Hackney Road wine bar — the East London natural-wine reference since 2013