Mangal 1

We visited here tonight. There was a half an hour wait, but, we eventually got in. All the staff in here are so friendly. The food? Was incredible, like, it was so good. The atmosphere itself was really good as well. I’d highly reccomend if you’re in the Dalston area.

Soooooo good and fresh and I always love eating at Mangal 1. The service is just wonderful and everything is served efficiently. 10/10 every time and that is rare 😍👌👌👌👌Must go if you’re in Dalston

I visited Mangal 1 today with my friend and her mom and we absolutely loved it. The owner, Ercan Bey, is incredibly kind and hosted us very warmly. The whole staff is amazing and really do their best to make you feel welcome. The food is delicious, full of flavour, and very satisfying, especially for the price. I tried the lahmacun and it was fantastic – freshly baked, very tasty, and perfectly prepared. The place is small and always busy, but it’s definitely worth the wait. The prices offer great value for money, so I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a great kebab spot with friendly service and a delicious menu. The atmosphere is lively and it’s the kind of place you’ll want to come back to again and again. Highly recommended. PS: I’d also like to apologise for accidentally posting my previous review about the wrong restaurant under Mangal 1. Ercan Bey, you’ve truly won our hearts! 😊

Got a walk in table for 2 Friday night, loved how quick the service was, the quality of the food and the atmosphere. I have no issue with tables being close together when there’s such a good loud atmosphere as you can’t hear other people’s conversations. BYOB is fantastic too, a bottle of white goes so well with all of the food here. Would recommend: Adana kebab, Sarma and humus. The free bread is a nice touch too. Definitely coming back in the future.

We ended up at Mangal 1 somewhat unexpectedly after staff at the pub next door recommended it for dinner. We had no idea what kind of food they served until we got to the door, but it was clearly a local favourite and absolutely packed. We were initially told there would be a wait, but shortly afterwards a member of staff said he could squeeze the three of us onto a table that was about to become available. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but in hindsight I honestly wish we had waited or gone somewhere else. The table was clearly set up for two, with an extra chair added directly into the main walkway. It was extremely uncomfortable. Throughout the meal, I was repeatedly brushed past and bumped into, including by staff understandably rushing around a very busy floor. I eventually turned the chair sideways and leaned forward just to avoid blocking the route behind me, which helped, but not much. The restaurant itself obviously has history and plenty of character, but it is very compact. The tables were sticky, the room was loud, and all the chatter seemed to get trapped inside the small space. The menu itself is very straightforward. We each ordered from the kebab section, with my Sis Kebab at £18.50 and my friends having the Tavuk Sis at £18. The meat was nicely marinated and competently grilled, but the plates themselves felt surprisingly sparse. It was essentially grilled meat with bread and salad, and I found the overall combination quite dry and one-dimensional. We ordered hummus separately, which definitely helped add some moisture and contrast, but for the price I expected the meal to feel more complete without having to build around the main dish ourselves. The Turkish beers were actually the highlight for me. The bill came to £81.40 for three people, around £27 each. For the portion sizes, comfort and overall experience, I found that difficult to justify. Afterwards, friends told me Mangal 1 is particularly popular for its BYOB policy and late-night opening, which helped me understand the appeal a little more. For me, it feels better suited to a casual post-drinks meal than somewhere I’d specifically travel to for dinner. The grilled meat itself was decent, but between the sparse plates, uncomfortable seating and £81.40 bill for three, the overall experience just didn’t feel worth it.