London’s Little Turkey
The making of T Town
When walking along Harringay Green Lanes, especially in the evenings, nothing is as distinctive a feature of the broadway as the many Turkish restaurants serving kebabs and other delicacies that give the high street its exceptional reputation as “London’s Little Turkey”.
The enticing smell of cooking meat and the sight of bright, inviting signs cut through the air, offering passers-by a friendly welcome. Visitors of all backgrounds have grown fonder and fonder of Harringay as London’s main hub for the mouth-watering Turkish menu. Some local Brits even pickup Turkish words from restaurant names like “Hala”(auntie), or “Gokyuzu”(sky), some are also becoming more familiar with the names of Turkey’s cities such as Gaziantep or Diyarbakir.
As Londoners, we often associate certain places with quality world cuisines. For Indian curries close to home, Brick Lane comes to mind, so too does China Town for Chinese food, which leaves us asking where else could do the same for Turkey’s diverse and delicious dishes but Harringay Green Lanes? No other street in London is home to as many businesses run by Turks and Kurds originating in Turkey and by Turkish Cypriots as Harringay, giving the locality a unique identity.
Even local MP David Lammy has taken note of the road’s remarkable character, calling it an integral part of his diverse, vibrant constituency that makes him proud to represent it. At his constituency’s heart “lies Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot-owned restaurants and shops on Green Lanes. I would encourage everyone to support these flourishing local businesses, and see the incredible variety they have to offer” he told the Green Lanes Special Edition.
Local restaurant owners and staff have seen this trend in the flesh, serving increasingly diverse clientele. Turkish food is no longer just being enjoyed by Harringay’s Turkish and Kurdish residents but gradually attracting attention from beyond the ethnic core as well, with more Brits and others tucking in than ever before. At full capacity some Green Lanes eateries can fit up to 250 customers, which should give you an idea about just how many people are able to sit and enjoy Turkish food on the street at any one time!
There is a huge breadth of popular Turkish dishes like shish and Adana Kofte kebabs or the iconic Doner, the takeaway classic including cuts of rotating meat often wrapped in flat bread with salad, but other speciality dishes are available too. One of these is Manti or “Turkish Ravioli” which consists of small meat dumplings in a yoghurt and garlic sauce.
Pizza-style options such as Pide, a flat bread dish that can be enjoyed with numerous toppings of meats, cheeses, tomatoes, potatoes or vegetables, and Lahmacun, a thinner flat bread with mince, vegetables and herbs are also attractive choices. Why not top these off with some of the outstanding desserts available too, such as Sutlac rice pudding or Kunefe, a pastry usually served with pistachios, cream and soft cheese.
With so much authentic Turkish cuisine on offer, this small pocket of North London is without a doubt deserving of its place next to Brick Lane and China Town as London’s Little Turkey.
Key facts about Harringay Green Lanes (c.2020)
We also caught up with some diners to hear their thoughts on Harringay’s Turkish food:
ANTHONY AND FRIENDS
Anthony, shared his thoughts with us while out for dinner with former work colleagues at a reunion. “I’ve been coming here for 6 years now, I love the food and I love that they have wood burning ovens,” he said. “There’s a great aroma that just draws you in.” When asked about his favourite Turkish foods, he added “for me I love the classic Adana Kofte kebab and the Lahmacun is great too.”
Anthony and friends
JASMINE AND ADAM
Jasmine and Adam from nearby Walthamstow have recently started to visit Harringay specifically for Turkish cuisine, “the area is so renowned for Turkish food” explained Adam. “We really like to have main courses with a bit of everything, not just one thing, so it’s the mixed kebab platters that we really enjoy,” he added. “The Pide is lovely, and we also love Mezes,” said Jasmine, “anything with bread and dips is great for us.”
Jasmine and Adam
PELIN, FABIO, SARA AND LIZA
Eating kunefe with friends Liza, Sara and Fabio, Pelin, who is originally from Izmir on Turkey’s Aegean coast was delighted by the authenticity of Harringay’s Turkish food. “It’s real Turkish food” she said, “even the cheese is right!”
Pelin, Fabio, Sara and Liza
CLAUDIA AND DEA
Local kickboxing duo Claudia and Dea were out celebrating their progress as young martial artists with a kebab. “We love kebabs, especially Doner” said Dea. “The food is lovely, we’ve been coming to eat here for a year,” added Claudia.
Claudia and Dea
JOSEPHINE
Josephine who grew up in Harringay loves the Turkish food that the area has to offer, “I like the variety of meat, rice and salad,” she said. “It’s great value, you get a bit of everything, and it’s all really appetising.”
Josephine