Best Mangal

AliZebu

14th November 2009

0 found this helpful

1st Class kebab house! There are actually 2 Best Mangals - both on North End Road and I have been to both many times. It has a huge Ockabasi (SP?) a traditional Turkish BBQ/Charcoal grill and the meat comes out better than any other kebab I have tasted in the UK. A wonderful smokey 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 schwarma, 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 fave of mine but if you like a smokey 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 smokey and top notch. All in all for the meat my 10/10 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 chapati 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 a thick "Nan" 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 £5.50 for my fave chop shish (£5 for Lamb donner) 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.

coldclimate

Good stuff 17th June 2008

3 found this helpful

Chunks of meal cooked over an open charcoal fire, soft yet flakey breads, and some really good chilli sause, the Best Mangal was worth the 20 minutes on the District Line to visit it. I had a bog standard shish, and it was tops.

Nice to be able to sit in too, rather than the standard collect and run kebab places. This feels more like a restaraunt that a fueling stop for drunken boys. 2 kebabs and a beer, less that 20 quid.

gastro1

Very Poor 14th June 2008

1 found this helpful

Sorry this place is not very good.

If you want a "best" Mangal head for Stoke Newington where the local Turkish community keeps restaurateurs on their toes.

Very disappointing !

route79

Excellent. Got to be the best kebab in London 9th June 2008

3 found this helpful

Totally unpretentious place that focuses on the taste of the food. You don't need chillie sauce on the kebabs they do here; the taste is divine and the thougthful touches like the barbecued chillie and tomato that is done whilst the meat is cooking is a perfectly good accompaniment (along with the mount of salad and fresh bread). I would recommend that if there are a group of you going (e.g. family of four or friends etc.) then ask the waiter to serve all the salads in one plate, meats in another and breads in another etc. that way you can sample everything and you get more salad and it's just how eating was meant to be. I recommend the "adman kofte", house doner and chicken-breast skewers for a good assortment for 3 people. The cold meze are good too. This has to be probably the best kebab shop in London!

asslad

Uber tasty 29th May 2008

1 found this helpful

Great food with fun service, excellent value for money

jezirwin

Possibly the best kebab shop in London 22nd May 2008

2 found this helpful

I was introduced to Best Mangal a few weeks ago and have managed to stop in there on the way home at least once a week for the mandatory kebab since then.

The lamb and chicken shish kebabs are fantastic - fresh, well cooked ingredients and huge portions. Very clean premises and friendly staff.

I haven't actually dined there but have only heard good things.

nopstar

You can’t rush a good thing. 14th May 2008

5 found this helpful

I’ve just recently moved into the neighbourhood, and I have to say that best mangal is the only good thing going down in West Kensington.

It’s hands down the best kebab/grill place I’ve been to in London. The place isn’t much to look at, seating is a little tight and the waiters a little to flirty... When I’m eating kebab, I almost always stay away from chicken, time and time again it comes out dry and bland. The chicken kebabs at Best Mangal are moist, well marinated and flavourful.

All of their meat is well marinated; and grilled in front of you. You can’t really go wrong with the Mixed Grill, or the Special House Doner.
Well worth the trip... if you going on the weekend book ahead or be prepared to wait.

DanWilkinson

The best thing about West London... 21st July 2007

4 found this helpful

I live just round the corner from this place and as such count myself extremely lucky. Whether taking out or eating in it's absolutely tremendous, with amazing food freshly cooked in front of you on the open barbeque pit. Very highly recommended indeed, sober or otherwise.

lalaworld

17th March 2007

0 found this helpful

a great place to get a kebab. Also checkout the place north of the lights on the A4 with the same name.

Kate69

14th February 2007

1 found this helpful

Really enjoyed going here, i liked how you eat right next to where they are cooking the food and the food was really nice. it's one of those little gems of a restaurant!