Best Turkish Restaurants in Los Angeles
When you think of Turkish food, Istanbul comes to mind.
Ankara, too, if you’re a turkey sandwich kind of person…but forget the rest.
If you want to dive headfirst into an experience that rivals all of the wonders
of the Ottoman Empire, Los Angeles is home to some great Turkish restaurants
that will satisfy your inner belly dancer without making you work up a sweat.
This article will discuss the best Turkish restaurants in Los Angeles.
Panini Kabob Grill
Panini Kabob Grill is a Turkish restaurant that offers
authentic Turkish food. The restaurant serves some of the best kebabs in Los
Angeles. The meat is fresh, and the ingredients used are fresh as well. It is
located on Fairfax Avenue and it’s a great place to eat if you are in the mood
for Turkish food.
Panini Kabob Grill’s menu includes chicken shawarma, lamb
shawarma, beef kab, falafel and gyros. They also serve Turkish coffee, but you
have to try their desserts! The baklava here is delicious.
Jonahs Kabob
Jonah’s Kebab House is a Turkish restaurant in Los Angeles,
California. It is known for its authentic Turkish cuisine and friendly service.
This restaurant offers delicious kebabs and other traditional Turkish dishes at
affordable prices.
The menu features a variety of appetizers such as hummus,
falafel, and baba ghanoush, which are served with pita bread. The main dishes
include:
- Lamb
shish kebabs. - Chicken
shish kebabs. - Doner
kabobs (lamb or chicken). - Grilled
fillet mignon shish kebabs. - Grilled
fillet mignon kabobs served with pilaf rice and grilled vegetables.
The entrees are served with salad, hummus, and pita bread.
Nuka Cafe
Nuka Cafe is a Turkish restaurant in Los Angeles,
California, that serves traditional Turkish cuisine. The restaurant was founded
by Hakan and Pinar Guven, who have been serving Turkish food for over 20 years.
The restaurant has received a lot of positive reviews from its customers. It
has also been featured on several websites, including Yelp! and Urbanspoon.
The restaurant offers a wide range of foods, including
appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, and desserts. Some of the popular items
on their menu include the following:
- Stuffed
Eggplant – This dish is made with eggplant, rice, and ground beef topped
with tomato sauce and baked in an oven until cooked. - Vegetables
Baked with Yogurt – This dish consists of several vegetables, including
potatoes and green beans, cooked together with yogurt to create a
delicious side dish that goes well with any meal you order at Nuka Cafe. - Cabbage
Rolls – These cabbage rolls are filled with rice and ground beef and then
covered in tomato sauce before being baked in the oven until they are
cooked through completely. This makes them one of Nuka Cafe’s most popular
items on their menu because they go well with many different kinds.
Mandolin Taverna
Mandolin Taverna is a Greek and Turkish restaurant located
in the heart of Santa Monica. The restaurant has a beautiful deck that
overlooks the beach and ocean. It’s a great place to dine with family and
friends, especially during sunset! The food here is delicious! My favorite dish
is their lamb shank, which comes with yogurt sauce. Another must-try item on
their menu is the Saganaki cheese appetizer. You can order it as an entree or
share it with your dining partner(s).
The service at Mandolin Taverna is excellent. The waiters
are friendly and accommodating, but they don’t hover over you like vultures
waiting for you to finish eating so that they can clear your plates away from
the table. They give you enough time to enjoy each bite without feeling rushed
or pressured into ordering more food.
Koftegi
Koftegi is a Turkish restaurant that specializes in
meatballs. The restaurant is located in Hollywood and has been around since
1973. They have several locations, including Pasadena and Westwood, but their
Hollywood location is the best. This is the place to go if you want to get your
fix of delicious meatball sandwiches.
The food at Koftegi is all made from scratch with fresh
ingredients, making all their dishes taste amazing. Some of my favorites
include their lamb kebab sandwich and their shish kebab plate with sides of
hummus and pita bread.
If you are looking for something different than a regular
sandwich or plate with sides, I recommend trying one of their kofte (meatball)
dishes instead! The kofte kebab plate comes with two skewers of meatballs over
rice and salad, while the kofte sandwich is served on a pita with lettuce,
tomato slices, and pickled cabbage salad on top.
Wrapping Up
Turkish cuisine is rich in taste and flavors, and it’s no wonder why.
Turkish food consists of various ingredients used to create unique dishes. The
main ingredients of Turkish cuisine include lamb, seafood (especially the fish
caught in the waters surrounding Turkey), eggs, apples, grapes, beans, lentils,
chickpeas, and yogurt. As you can see, many common themes and ingredients in
Turkish dishes create balanced flavors that don’t require additional sauces or
toppings.