The smell of ocakbasi cooking fills Kingsland High St throughout the evening, and you're spoilt for choice throughout the area. Umut 2000, smaller and less popular than Mangal 1, is my personal favourite. It was the first Turkish I went to when arriving in East London and has held a prominent place in my heart ever since. There's one other reason that makes it stand out for me though; the offal. They don't always have everything in stock, but over the last couple of years in Umut I've eaten liver and kidney countless times, had my first (and then several more) testicles, it's always unbelievable. Consistent in a way that I don't think offal always is from similar restaurants. Top tip: cash only, bring lots of it, because you'll be ordering tonnes.
Where is it
Contact details
Opening hours
- Monday: 12:00 – 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Tuesday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Thursday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Friday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM