How to choose a Turkish restaurant in Amsterdam
The listings here split into two different kinds of business: quick-service döner and kebab counters, and sit-down grill restaurants built around an ocakbaşı, the open coal grill used for Turkish barbecue. Decide which one you want before you go, since a döner counter is set up for a fast takeaway meal while a grill restaurant expects you to sit down and order courses.
A few menu terms turn up across the directory and are worth knowing: döner and durum are the wrapped and rolled kebab formats, kapsalon is the Dutch-Turkish dish of fries, meat, cheese and salad under garlic sauce, and a mixed grill or mezze plate is the standard order at a sit-down restaurant. For a shorter, curated list rather than the full directory, see Where to Eat Turkish Food in Amsterdam.
These restaurants are spread across the city rather than clustered in one area, so it is worth checking the address against where you actually are before picking one. If Turkish food doesn't turn up the right option on a given night, the wider Amsterdam Restaurants directory and the guide to Middle Eastern food in Amsterdam cover cuisines that overlap with it.
Questions people ask
What's the difference between a döner counter and a Turkish restaurant?
A döner or kebab counter is a fast-food setup built around a takeaway sandwich, plate or kapsalon, usually eaten standing or on the go. A restaurant built around an ocakbaşı grill is a sit-down venue with a fuller menu of grilled meats, mezze starters and salads meant to be eaten as a proper meal.
Do Turkish restaurants in Amsterdam serve alcohol?
Many do not; alcohol is uncommon on the menu at Turkish restaurants in the city, so a restaurant that does offer it is the exception rather than the rule. If a drink with your meal matters to you, check the individual listing or ask the restaurant directly before you go.
Are there vegetarian options at Turkish restaurants?
Grill-focused menus still typically include vegetarian mezze, such as hummus and cold eggplant starters, alongside the meat dishes. Ask the specific restaurant about vegetarian or vegan choices beyond the starters, since this varies from one menu to the next.
Where in Amsterdam are most Turkish restaurants located?
They are spread across the city rather than clustered in one neighborhood, with options ranging from Amsterdam Nieuw-West to more central streets. Check the address on each listing against your own location before deciding, since travel time can matter more than any difference between one döner counter and the next.
Is parking easy near these restaurants?
It depends entirely on the neighborhood: a restaurant in the center faces different parking pressure than one further out in Nieuw-West or another residential area. Check a parking app or the restaurant's own directions for the specific address rather than assuming the same conditions apply citywide.
What dishes should I expect beyond döner kebab?
Beyond döner and durum wraps, the cuisine covers dishes such as kapsalon, mixed grills and mezze plates of salads and dips. A sit-down ocakbaşı restaurant will typically offer a wider range of these than a takeaway counter does.