- Cuisine
- Ocakbaşı & Grill
- Area
- Finsbury Park
Yıldız Restaurant is a Turkish ocakbaşı on Blackstock Road in Finsbury Park, a short walk from the Emirates Stadium. It has been cooking over charcoal here since 2006, and its owners point to 40 years of experience behind the grill. The draw is handmade kebabs cooked the traditional way: Adana, beyti, lamb ribs, chicken wings and shish, served with bread…
Yıldız Restaurant is a Turkish ocakbaşı on Blackstock Road in Finsbury Park, a short walk from the Emirates Stadium. It has been cooking over charcoal here since 2006, and its owners point to 40 years of experience behind the grill.
The draw is handmade kebabs cooked the traditional way: Adana, beyti, lamb ribs, chicken wings and shish, served with bread to mop up the juices and a sharp onion and sumac salad. Before the grills there is a long list of cold and hot meze, from ali nazik and kısır to arnavut ciğeri, and the special kebabs include several kinds of İskender.
It suits groups and casual dinners, and it fills up with Arsenal supporters on match days. The menu also has a vegetarian section, so mixed tables are easy to feed.
What to order at Yıldız
With a menu this long, these are good places to start:
- Adana kebab – hand-minced spiced lamb grilled over charcoal with peppers
- Lamb beyti – spicy minced lamb with garlic and green chilli; also served wrapped in bread as sarma beyti
- Lamb ribs – charcoal-grilled ribs with crisp edges
- Ali nazik – smoky charcoal-grilled aubergine purée with garlic, yoghurt and olive oil
- Arnavut ciğeri – fried cubes of lamb liver with cumin
- Adana İskender – diced kofte over bread with tomato sauce, melted butter and yoghurt
- Halep kebab – diced kofte in tomato sauce finished with melted butter
- Karışık kebap (mix kebab for two) – lamb chops, shish, kofte, chicken, liver and wings on one platter
Atmosphere and good to know
The dining room is warm and comfortable, with brown tones and large tables that seat six, which makes it a good choice for birthdays and group dinners. Expect it to be busy on Arsenal match days, so book or arrive early then.
Alcohol is served, including Turkish wines, Efes on draught and several rakıs, alongside ayran and şalgam. The restaurant says all its meat is certified, but it does not state halal, so ask if that matters. Vegetarians have imam bayıldı, falafel, a vegetarian kebab and plenty of meze. It is closed on Tuesdays.
Yıldız opening hours
Monday: 12:00–23:00; Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday to Thursday: 12:00–23:00; Friday to Saturday: 12:00–midnight; Sunday: 12:00–22:00. Hours can change on bank holidays, so check with the restaurant before you travel.
How to get to Yıldız
Arsenal station (Piccadilly line) is about a 5-minute walk away, and Finsbury Park (Victoria and Piccadilly lines, plus Great Northern rail) is roughly 10 minutes on foot. Buses 4 and 19 run along Blackstock Road, with many more routes stopping at Finsbury Park station.
Menu, ordering and contact
View the menu · Yıldız website · Facebook · Call 020 7354 3899
More Turkish food nearby
Browse more Turkish restaurants in Finsbury Park. New to Turkish food? Start with our guide to popular Turkish dishes or see the best Turkish restaurants in London.
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