Anatolia

Reviews

• Trieu L.

  star star star star star_border 14 July 2026

  The ocakbasi experience is the best and only way a kebab should be eaten in my opinion. Grilled and seasoned to perfection served on a bed of rice, brilliant mezze salad sides and fresh Turkish bread. After discovering Anatolia in Mare street Hackney, this is now my base standard for Turkish cuisine. The Days of regular kebabs on a slow turning skewer dripping with fatty oil are long gone.
  The meats cooked here are quality and the portion is very generous. It comes with fragrant rice and bread which just makes the meal wholesome and completes the Turkish cuisine experience.
  
  The staff are friendly and although busy most nights, can easily handle seat ins and takeaways. Staff are always on point, and everyone is working hard. The resturant is fairly big, used to be one shop, but because of popular demand, expanded into the next shop. It is a casual vibe, and a place for serious meat eaters.
  
  I enjoyed Anatolia very much.

• Robert L.

  star star star star star_border 11 July 2026

  This place is utterly incredible! The food is delicious, fresh and dirt cheap. My friend and I stuffed ourselves on Lamb Kofte (minced meat with herbs chargrilled on a skewer) with rice, huge side salad, chilli and garlic dips, breads and imam baylidli (a delicious aubergine and tomato dish). We couldn't finish what we'd ordered and it came to less than £8 each.
  
  All of the food looked delicious, the service was good and very speedy and the outside tables are good for people watching. Plus it's BYOB. I would literally travel across London for this place.
  
  Only minor niggles: interior decor not great and outside tables on a slope.

• Laura N.

  star star star star star_border 11 July 2026

  Where were you when you learned that Michael Jackson died? You're bound to get this question from this day forward, so you'd better juice up your answer!
  
  I was enjoying a late night (drunken, let's be honest) meal with three, come four fantastic friends, devouring a £12 bottle of white wine, (someone get this girl a straw!) and shoving hummus and lamb shish kebabs in my face at dangerous speeds.  
  
  3D glasses were involved, as were some incriminating photos with some overly powdered Turkish delight. I think quotes like "That's what she said" and "your mom" may have slipped in among my infamous Scottish and Irish accents. (They're truly amazing, you should hear me say "Carrrrehmel" juxtaposed with "They're magically delicious!" This also launched a few references to Toucan Sam, which were equally enjoyed by the Irish, Scottish and American group.
  
  Nearing the end of our hummus, haloumi, cack and kebab, Evelyn received the ominous text "Michael Jackson Died..." to which, logically, we decided to confirm by asking the waitstaff who had been trying to usher us out for the past 20 minutes. The only things confirmed at the meal were that #1.Anatolia Ocakbasi was indeed magically delicious and cheap, and that #2. If MJ did die, we blame the boogie.  
  
  Bottle of white wine £12
  Order of hummus, haloumi, cack and lamb kebab: £19
  Having an amazing answer (and shocking photo evidence) to the question: "Where were you when you found out Michael Jackson died?"
  
  Priceless.

• Matt D.

  star star star star_border star_border 30 June 2026

  Anatolia is located on Mare St. in Hackney Central. This particular part of Mare St. is buzzing at night, as there are quite a few restaurants around. It is not so busy in the day time though.
  
  I went to Anatolia with a couple of friends for lunch. I had a lamb shish kebab, with the typically complimentary 3 extra plates of salad. The food was good and was obviously very substantial, as I had to go home for a little sleep afterwards.
  
  The experience was nice overall. The service was great, we were however the only people in there, but sometimes that is when waiters can be complacent. They did a great job though, checking that everything was alright.
  
  The restaurant is B.Y.O and there is an off-license just across the road.

• May P.

  star star star star star_border 23 June 2026

  My boyfriend raved about this place every time we passed by it on the bus. "Oh we have to go there. It's my favourite Turkish place in London." We put it off for a long time because the opportunity just never came up.
  
  So finally we passed it just as we were ready for lunch. He'd discovered it many many years ago when he was playing a gig at the Hackney Empire and was walking around in search of dinner. For £5 apiece, we had a flavourful veggie stew, salad and rice. We both got the same thing. I made sure that if he'd been raving about it, I was getting exactly what he was raving about. It was so filling that neither of us even finished it. They also offered bread (really really good bread) for free. The service was excellent, the food was delicious and great value. I don't know if it's the BEST, but it's pretty damn good.