Yildiz Restaurant

Holy wow! I got so lucky when my buddy and I popped into this place for lunch last week.
We were going on the Emirates Stadium tour in an hour and needed a bite before then. Our options were pretty limited, but Yildiz was open and we decided to give it a shot. Neither of us was at all disappointed.
I had the chicken kebabs while my buddy went with minced lamb. Both came with rice, bread, salad, onions, and all sorts of goodness. They grill the meats over charcoal right in the front of the store, so you know it’s being done fresh. My friend let me try his lamb too, and it definitely had some spice to it, but was very delicious.
The service was pretty quick, though we were the only ones there at the time. You just have to be patient while they grill your meats. And price wise it was very reasonable for lunch.
All in all, this was one of the best meals we had in London. If I’m ever heading back to the neighborhood (which would almost certainly be for an Arsenal match), I’ll be sure to stop in again.

Yildiz is a no-​nonsense okacbasi restaurant, and while it’s probably not the sort of place you’d go for a first date (unless your date is a particular fan of finely grilled meats!), it is good value and one of my favourite places to eat in north London.
The menu includes a selection of typical mezze starters, including excellent hoe-​made hummus, which are all good, but really it’s all about the meat, expertly grilled over charcoal. My personal favourite is the deliciously spicy, garlic-​loaded lamb beyti, but the lamb ribs, chops and marinated chicken and lamb kofte are all superb.
Prices have crept up over the years I’ve been going here, and the main dishes may not initially seem all that cheap (especially the chops at £15+), however, the portions are big, and they all come with a basket of warm flat bread heated on the grill, a side of rice and a selection of fantastic tasty salads, so you really don’t need anything else. In fact, I often can’t eat everything and get my left overs bagged up to take home. As a result, a decent feed for two, with couple of bottles of Efes each is unlikely to come to much more than £40.
Service is usually cheery and quick, and they do take-​outs, although you may have to wait a while as the grilling just can’t be rushed. The atmosphere can be fairly lively (especially on a Saturday night if Arsenal are at home), but that’s all part of the charm.

We want to this place several times during the last 6 years we live in the area. They changed management but th food quality has been constantly good.
I can’t rate to the top as during the couple of times we went over the winter season the place was uncomfortably chilly.
Anyway, good quality for value and the usual several side dishes.

Though I don’t think Yildiz qualifies as a «cheap eat» it is certainly a great treat and definitely hits the spot when you’re craving meat! (Whoa didn’t mean to rhyme.) Every appetizer I’ve had here definitely does its job… appetizes you for your entrée!
The service is usually fast, but some dishes do take some patience since the meat is grilled over real charcoal. Definitely adds some real barbeque flavor!

We’ve been going to Yildiz for quite a few years now and we’re big fans. It’s great value and the staff are very friendly. Each main course comes with Turkish bread and two side dishes — one salad and one grilled onion with pomegranate.
Of course it’s great for take away too, and my wife and I find that one mixed kebab will easily feed both of us.

Yildiz is by no means the only Anatolian Restaurant in the Stokey /​Finsbury /​Highbury triangle but I think it might be the best all-​rounder. Combines good value, efficient service, varied cuts of fresh meats (Haven’t tried the (ram’s?) testes yet!)
Service is always friendly bordering on jovial/​cheeky.
Fairly ordinary in terms of décor and atmosphere, but good for honest unpretentious eats and a great takeaway number, just give them 15min, one mains order and a side can easily feed two.
The best dishes all pass over a seemingly eternal charcoal fire.
Deffinately have the lamb ribs, they pack flavour. Get a skewer of kidney and onion to go with. mmm. If you have an intestinal worm that needs to be fed, have the impossibly heavy Iskender Kebab.

Yildiz is a classic local restaurant; the fact that it does large cheap portions of Turkish food makes it ever better.
Tucked away up in Arsenal it is probably not the kind of place I would go out of my way to visit but I have a friend who lives up the road and we regularly find ourselves in her tucking into some great Turkish food. are the chops — succulent, perfectly cooked and addictive

This is a fantastic little restaurant. Reasonably priced, great quality food and friendly staff. If you haven’t been here you don’t know what you are missing. Apart from the lamb ribs I recommend the Iskender Kebab, which is also delicious. And watch out for the free starters, especially the grilled onions with pomegranate sauce.