Behold our guide to Berlin’s absolute best Turkish Grills! Regardless of what you call these restaurants (“Grill”, “Grillhaus” or the Turkish name “Ocakbaşı”), they all mean the same: smoky temples where flames kiss fatty skewers and where carnivores gather to worship.
In a city where Döner is the cliché of Turkish food, Turkish Grills offer something far more special for those who know: real-deal Turkish culinary heritage, passed down from the Ottoman Empire, where kebap skewers are individually grilled to crispy perfection over open charcoal fires instead of on sad, electric spits. This is the one type of Berlin restaurant we always bring visitors to. Why? Because this quality of Turkish grill and BBQ culture is rare to find outside of Turkey, let alone in other, European capitals. And while other Turkish food in Berlin might be bleak in comparison to what you get back in the motherland, at the best Ocakbasis in Berlin, the food is nearly indistinguishable from what you’d get in Turkey itself.
“ This is the one type of Berlin restaurant we always bring visitors to
Eating at a Turkish Grill house means you kick things off with a spread of mezze and bread (our favourites include the chili-spice spread Acil Ezme, smoky Baba Ghanoush eggplant, and maybe a little Beyaz Peynir Cheese), only to the brace yourself for a parade of grilled meats. While a few of the places on the list might also offer döner, the real stars here are the skewers - fatty lamb ribs, tender lamb chops, crispy chicken wings - but most of all, Adana kebap: the glorious, hand-chopped meat skewer from the South of Turkey, professionally mended onto a skewer right before grilling, before it hits you with that mouth-watering combination of fat, umami, smoke and spice. The custom is to eat until you physically can't, and then, obviously, you’ll finish off with Künefe for dessert, the gooey, crunchy cheese-and-syrup dessert, caramelized over the open fire.
Some of these restaurants serve alcohol, and if they do, it is custom to drink Raki, the Turkish spirit served with water and ice. Also ask for homemade Ayran (salted yoghurt) and a cup of Chai (tea) for dessert, but either way, the food does the talking.
Below you’ll find our list of the most outstanding Turkish Grills in Berlin. Some shine for their Adana, others for their Lamb Chops or their dessert game, so read closely and follow our tips. What they all share is that unmistakable combo of warmth, smoke and grilled meats that will make your heart sing.
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Adana Grillhaus
Would you like to know the most frequently mentioned answer when we ask chefs for their favourite restaurant in Berlin? It’s Adana Grillhaus, the legendary, Turkish grill in Kreuzberg. If you're a meat lover looking for a lively dining experience in Kreuzberg, you won't want to miss this restaurant. We’re talking about a mouthwatering selection of meat skewers grilled over charcoal, served along classic plates of Turkish meze. Whether you're dining with friends or family, Adana Grillhaus is a great spot for larger groups who want good fun and to have fun. If you're looking to drink alcohol with your Turkish meal, Adana is also a top choice among the Turkish grills. The one on Audre-Lore-Strasse is the first one, the one on Skalitzer the newer one, but today the newer outlet on Skalitzer is owned by the younger brother and since 2020 the one on Skalitzer has a sister restaurant in Charlottenburg.
Order the Acil Ezme and some other Mezze to start and then aim for the Adana and Beyti Kebaps as well as the Kuzu Kaburga lamb ribs. Order Raki to drink during the meal and end with an order of Künefe.
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Doyum Grillhaus
Doyum is a pillar of the Turkish restaurant scene around Kottbusser Tor. The Ocakbasi sports a full Turkish grill, famous for its Adana Kebap and Lahmacun, but also offers Döner to-go from a skewer in the window. The meat is pure, yaprak beef, no lamb fat, cut into thin slices by the Kebap masters and served in a classical, triangular flatbread with all the condiments available. The pro move here is to order your döner with onions and tomatoes and extra chili flakes and if you sit down at the restaurant, don’t miss the excellent Künefe dessert.
They've recently opened their completely remodeled dining room that's perfect for groups. Get the Adana Durüm as well, it's out of this world.
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Tadim Ocakbasi
Please behold one of the most underrated resdtaurants in Berlin: Tadım Ocakbaşı, the family-run Turkish grill in Kreuzberg's Bergmankiez. The restaurant offers the classicakl range of traditional Turkish grill dishes, but offers a few exceptional dishes you can't find anywhere else. Mustafa, the owner and grill master, is one of the greatest Turkish grill masters (of not THE greatest) of Berlin and his way of grilling skewer kebaps to perfection is absolutely unique. His Beyti Kebap, an homage to the legendary Istanbul chef Beyti Güler, is fantastic. The tiny restaurant is a neighborhood favorite amongst locals and you won't find many tourists here. And to be clear, we don't throw these terms around ligthly here, but this IS the best Turkish Grill in Berlin and Mustafa Usta ist the G.O.A.T.
Make sure to order the Beyti and the Pistacchio Kebap
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Köyluöglu
Indulge in the rich flavors of Köyluöglu, an exquisite restaurant in Berlin that brings the essence of Turkish cuisine to life. Immerse yourself in a delightful blend of traditional recipes and modern interpretations, expertly crafted by skilled chefs. From tantalizing kebabs to mouthwatering mezes, Köyluöglu invites you on a culinary journey that will leave you craving for more.
Get the Adana kebaps and Beyti kebap
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Mardin
This crew from the eponymous southeastern Turkish province wasted no time establishing their bona fides after setting up shop off Hermannplatz in 2018. Mardin’s juicy, charcoal-grilled lamb kebabs, foamy mugs of homemade ayran and crisp-bottomed lahmaçun (which some say top reigning Berlin champ Örnek) made it an instant hotspot for Turkish food connoisseurs in the know. But its legacy was truly cemented with the opening of the restaurant-in-the-restaurant project M47, serving rice-stuffed mussels, kokoreç and other delights tailored to raki-primed palates.
You can order anything off M47’s menu in the main restaurant, so don’t be shy about supplementing your Adana kebab with a plate of stuffed mussels, kokoreç or a whole roasted sheep’s head, if you’re feeling adventurous.
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Et Dünyasi by Ehli-Kebap
Embark on a culinary journey to Turkey and visit Et Dünyasi by Ehli-Kebap in Wedding. This grill is operated by a meat distributor and you can taste their expertise in handling meat throughout the whole menu. Mostly famous for its Döner skewer, a yaprak beef skewer laced with lamb meat and fat, which is cut in thick sheets to the point where the skewer resembles a rectangle, a style pioneered by legendary Istanbul Döner shop Bayramoglu. This specific Döner is, in our opinion, best eaten as a plate and not in the bread they use at the shop (a strange, flat sandwich version that’s toasted too heavily). Do however not sleep on their grilled meats, the wrapped Adana (called Beyti here) and the Köfte are some of the best in the whole city.
Don't get the Döner as a sandwich but instead on rice or as an Iskender. Come prepared with patience in your pocket - the service sometimes gets a little hectic and you have to be your own advocate to get what you ordered, but, trust us, the payoff is worth it.
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Pamfilya
Pamfilya is an iconic Turkish grill in Berlin's Wedding district, situated at Leopoldplatz. The cozy and welcoming atmosphere, combined with its traditional, Turkish cuisine, makes it a perfect spot for a lunch or a cozy dinner with friends. The menu offers a variety of traditional Turkish dishes, such as mezze plates, skewer kebaps, döner kebap and mantı. One of the standout dishes is the "Adana Kebab," a spicy minced lamb meat skewer grilled to perfection over an open fire pit, but the number one reason to come here is the hand-stacked yaprak veal döner kebap. Owner Fikri Arslan puts a lot of emphasis on quality and the lean döner meat at Pamfilya is unique and by many regarded as the best quality veal döner in Berlin.
The pro move here is to order a plate of döner meat only, ask for a plate of freshly baked lavash bread and then eat the meat in small pieces of flatbread like a taco with onions, a squeeze of lemon and chili flakes only.
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Yeni Adana Grillhaus
Yeni Adana stands proudly on the same street as the famed Adana Grillhaus and more than holds its own. This Ocakbaşı delivers real Turkish grill mastery with standout dishes like the Atom, a rich mix of yogurt, roasted chili, and brown butter that sets the tone for the meal. One of the few spots offering the original, dough-free Beyti, it also caters to fans of the modern wrapped version. The lamb ribs, an editor’s favorite cut, are grilled to perfection and not to be missed.
Acili Ezme and Atom are classic starts that are not to be missed!
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Mira
Mira is one of the few Ocakbaşı in Berlin offering phenomenal veal kebap and beautifully grilled meats straight from the charcoal. The menu shines with a generous selection of starters and dips that pair perfectly with classics like lamb ribs, Adana kebap, and Beyti. A place that you can bring your party to when you are not sure what to get!
Go for the lamb chops and Acili Ezme.
