Ali (19 November 2007)

It’s a first class kebab house. There are actually two best Mangals - both on North End Road and I have been to both many times. It has a huge Ocakbasi, a traditional Turkish BBQ/Charcoal grill and the meat comes out better than any other kebab I have tasted in the UK. It has a wonderful smoky flavour. Their lamb cop sis, chop shish is my favourite with smaller cubes, they also have regular shish, but I have tried nearly all the range at different times. The doner is more like a Lebanese shawarma, fresh cuts of meat on the upright grill as opposed to a minced meat mis-match and is truly superior to 95% of doner in London. Kofte is not a favourite of mine but if you like a smoky and herby sausage of a kebab then you are in for a treat. The lamb chops and lamb spare ribs are excellent as well. Chicken shish is smoky and top notch - chicken doner (shawarma) is good but not as flavoursome as the charcoal grilled chicken Sis. All in all for the meat my ten on ten score is no exaggeration - you will not find better, period.

Chilli sauce is good but not always consistent in heat. Sometimes it blows my head off and other times it is not hot enough yet I always have the same amount. Garlic sauce is just fine. The bread is unusual in that it is not pitta but freshly baked village bread, which is more akin to a huge chapatti or tortilla and somewhat floury. It is worth trying but I sometimes go elsewhere just because I miss a regular pitta kebab. They also do thick naan type bread but it does not fold enough to roll around the kebab. If they did pittas as well I would never go anywhere else. Prices are not cheap at £4.50 for my favourite chop shish (£4 for doners) but portions are generous and quality is far above most kebab places so it is not overpriced for take away. If you eat in or have a doner with rice prices are more. I no longer live in the area but go back fairly regularly for a take away shish. Best Mangal is worth travelling for.