Hala Restaurant Green Lanes

"Hala is arguably the best all-round restaurant on this stretch of Green Lanes. It means “aunt” in Turkish, a name that’s reflected in the generosity of the home-style food, and by the sight of Turkish aunties making gözleme in the window every morning. Diners in the mood for meat should try the adana, kaburga (ribs) and pirzola (chops), mopped up with bread blessed with the juices and fat from the grill, but groups should make room for their excellent versions of içli köfte and manti instead of ordering starters. Solo eaters should also consider the humble paça çorbası: The Platonic ideal of a meat soup taken to its rich, buttery extreme, only achievable by careful stewing of gelatinous sheep’s foot. With ayran and some pickles, this is the ultimate late-night hangover cure." - Jonathan Nunn

"Arguably the most accomplished all-round restaurant on Green Lanes. Hala means ‘aunt’ in Turkish — a name that used to be reflected in the homeliness of the decor, although the Green Lanes arms race has meant a shiny refurbishment. It’s still reflected in generosity of the food served, and by the sight of aunties making gözleme in the window every morning. Solo diners should try the paça çorbası, a platonic meat broth taken to its rich, buttery extreme, only achievable by careful stewing of gelatinous sheep’s foot, served with pickles to cut through. The best of the grills are adana, kaburga or ribs and pirzola or chops, mopped up with bread, but groups should make room for excellent versions of içli köfte and manti." - Jonathan Nunn

"Hala means ‘aunt’ in Turkish — a name that’s reflected in the generosity of the home-style food, and by the sight of Turkish aunties making gozleme in the window every morning. In recent years, owner Eren Korkmaz has overseen the refurbishments to keep them in the Green Lanes arms race and now, like Antepliler, Hala has become a triple shopfront behemoth. Luckily quality has not been compromised: diners in the mood for meat should try the adana kebabs, kaburga (ribs) and pirzola (chops), mopped up with bread blessed with the juices and fat from the grill, but groups should make room for the excellent versions of icli kofte and manti dumplings instead of ordering starters. Solo eaters should also consider the paca corbasi; the Platonic ideal of a meat soup taken to its rich, buttery extreme, only achievable by careful stewing of gelatinous sheep’s foot." - Jonathan Nunn

"Hala is arguably the best all-round restaurant on this stretch of Green Lanes. Hala means ‘aunt’ in Turkish — a name that’s reflected in the generosity of the home-style food, and by the sight of Turkish aunties making gözleme in the window every morning. Diners in the mood for meat should try the adana, kaburga (ribs) and pirzola (chops), mopped up with bread blessed with the juices and fat from the grill, but groups should make room for their excellent versions of içli köfte and manti instead of ordering starters. Solo eaters should also consider the humble paça çorbası; the Platonic ideal of a meat soup taken to its rich, buttery extreme, only achievable by careful stewing of gelatinous sheep’s foot. Washed down with ayran and some pickles this is the ultimate late-night hangover cure." - Jonathan Nunn, Adam Coghlan, Zeren Wilson