Discovering Turkish Restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia: Where to Go and What to Expect

If you’re searching for a Turkish restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, you’ll find a small but growing scene of places serving kebabs, rich stews, grilled meats, and classic mezes that fit right into the city’s diverse food culture. Whether you live in Atlanta or are just visiting, you can enjoy everything from quick casual gyro plates to full, sit-down Turkish dinners with tea and dessert.

This guide walks you through where to find Turkish food in Atlanta, what to order, how Turkish cuisine compares with other Mediterranean options around the city, and practical tips for getting the experience you want.

What “Turkish Restaurant” Typically Means in Atlanta

In the Atlanta area, many places that serve Turkish food describe themselves as Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, or Mediterranean grill, but the menus often lean heavily Turkish.

Common signs you’ve found a Turkish-focused spot:

• You see dishes like doner kebab, adana kebab, lahmacun, pide, and manti.
• There is Turkish tea (often served in tulip-shaped glasses) and Turkish coffee.
• Desserts such as baklava, kunefe, or sutlac (rice pudding) are on the menu.

If you’re calling ahead, you can ask directly, “Do you serve Turkish specialties like lahmacun or Turkish tea?” to confirm.

Key Turkish Dishes You’ll See on Atlanta Menus

Understanding a few core items will help you navigate almost any Turkish restaurant in Atlanta:

Classic Grilled Meats

• Doner Kebab
  Vertically roasted, thinly sliced seasoned meat (usually beef, lamb, or a mix). In Atlanta, this often appears as:

  • Gyro-style sandwiches in pita or flatbread
  • Plates with rice, salad, and grilled vegetables

• Adana Kebab
  Spiced ground meat (often lamb or lamb/beef mix) shaped on skewers and grilled. Usually served over rice or bulgur with grilled peppers and tomatoes.

• Shish Kebab
  Cubes of marinated lamb, beef, or chicken, skewered and grilled. Very common at Mediterranean grills around metro Atlanta.

Meze (Small Plates)

Similar to appetizers or tapas:

• Hummus – chickpea and tahini dip
• Baba ghanoush or smoky eggplant dips
• Ezme – a finely chopped, spicy tomato and pepper salad
• Dolma – stuffed grape leaves
• Sigara borek – crispy phyllo rolls filled with cheese or minced meat

Many Atlanta Turkish or Mediterranean restaurants offer meze platters, which are good if you’re trying this cuisine for the first time.

Breads, Pies, and Specials

• Lahmacun
  Thin, crisp flatbread topped with spiced minced meat, herbs, and onions. Often called “Turkish pizza.”

• Pide
  Boat-shaped Turkish flatbread with toppings like cheese, sucuk (Turkish sausage), spinach, or minced meat.

• Manti
  Small Turkish dumplings served with yogurt and a butter or tomato-based sauce. Less common everywhere, but worth seeking out when available.

Desserts and Drinks

• Baklava – layered phyllo, nuts, and syrup
• Kunefe – shredded pastry with melted cheese, sweet syrup, and pistachios
• Turkish tea – strong black tea, often served after a meal
• Turkish coffee – thick, finely ground coffee served in small cups

When you’re at an Atlanta Turkish restaurant, it’s very common to linger over tea or coffee after your meal rather than rush out.

Where Turkish Restaurants Tend to Be in Atlanta

Atlanta’s Turkish and Turkish-leaning restaurants are typically found in a few main corridors:

• Buford Highway (Northeast Atlanta, Doraville, Chamblee)
  Known for its international restaurants, Buford Highway often has Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spots where Turkish dishes feature prominently.

• North Atlanta suburbs (Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Duluth)
  This region has many Mediterranean grills and bakeries that may offer Turkish-style kebabs, breads, and pastries.

• Midtown / Downtown / Westside
  You’ll find some Mediterranean or European-style cafes and restaurants that incorporate Turkish dishes or desserts, even if they don’t market themselves as exclusively Turkish.

Because restaurant lineups can change, it’s a good idea to:

• Check current hours and menus before you go.
• Call to confirm if you’re specifically looking for Turkish specialties like lahmacun, manti, or Turkish breakfast.

How Turkish Food Fits into Atlanta’s Mediterranean Scene

In Atlanta, Turkish restaurants often share similarities with Greek, Lebanese, and broader Mediterranean spots. Knowing the differences can help you choose what you want:

If you already like Atlanta’s Greek, Lebanese, or Israeli restaurants, you will likely find Turkish restaurants familiar but with distinct flavors and specialties.

Tips for Choosing a Turkish Restaurant in Atlanta

When you’re deciding where to go, consider the experience you want:

1. Casual vs. Sit-Down

• Casual / Quick service

  • Often labeled as Mediterranean grill or kabob house
  • Good for lunch, takeout, or quick dinners
  • Focus on combo plates, wraps, and a few meze options

• Sit-down / Full service

  • Typically offers a broader Turkish menu: meze platters, various kebabs, stews, and desserts
  • Better for groups, relaxed dinners, or trying multiple dishes

2. Vegetarian or Halal Considerations

Many Turkish-style restaurants in Atlanta:

• Have several vegetarian options, such as:
  • Lentil soup
  • Salads
  • Eggplant dishes
  • Vegetarian pides
• May serve halal meat, especially at places that identify as Middle Eastern or Turkish.

If this matters to you, call ahead and ask:

• “Do you offer halal meat?”
• “What vegetarian main dishes do you have, beyond salads and sides?”

3. Family-Friendly Dining

Turkish restaurants are often family-friendly, with:

• Large sharing platters
• Rice, grilled chicken, and bread that kids often enjoy
• Comfortable, informal dining rooms

If you’re going with a group, you might ask if they can arrange a shared meze and kebab platter for the table.

Ordering Like a Local: Practical Meal Ideas

If you’re not sure what to order at a Turkish restaurant in Atlanta, here are some simple combinations:

For a First-Time Visit

• Start: Hummus or mixed meze platter
• Main: Doner kebab plate or Adana kebab
• Side: Rice, salad, and grilled vegetables
• Finish: Baklava and Turkish tea

This gives you a balanced sample of Turkish flavors without being overwhelming.

For a Group or Family

• 1–2 large meze platters to share
• A mix of:
  • Doner kebab
  • Shish kebab (chicken and lamb)
  • At least one house specialty, such as pide or lahmacun
• Shared desserts: baklava, kunefe, and tea or coffee for the table

This style of ordering works well at many Atlanta Turkish or Mediterranean restaurants that encourage family-style dining.

For a Lighter Lunch

• Lentil soup and a small doner wrap
• Salad topped with grilled chicken or lamb, plus a side of pita and hummus

Many Atlanta-area Turkish and Mediterranean spots offer lunch specials or smaller plates during midday hours.

When to Call Ahead (Helpful in Atlanta)

Because menus and operating hours can change, especially around holidays or major events, it’s wise to call ahead if:

• You’re planning a large group dinner
• You want specific dishes like lahmacun, manti, or kunefe
• You need halal or gluten-conscious options
• You’re visiting on a Sunday evening or a holiday, when schedules may vary

When you call, you can ask:

• “Do you serve traditional Turkish dishes like lahmacun or pide?”
• “Do you have Turkish tea and coffee?”
• “Can you accommodate a group of [number] at [time]?”

This helps you avoid surprises and ensures the restaurant fits what you’re looking for.

Making the Most of Turkish Food in Atlanta

To get the best experience from a Turkish restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia:

• Look for places labeled Turkish, Mediterranean, or Middle Eastern along major international corridors like Buford Highway and in northern suburbs.
• Familiarize yourself with key dishes such as doner, adana kebab, lahmacun, pide, and baklava, so menus feel less intimidating.
• Don’t hesitate to ask staff for recommendations; many are happy to guide newcomers through the most popular Turkish-style items.
• Plan a visit at off-peak times (early lunch or early dinner) for a more relaxed introduction if you’re trying it for the first time.

With a little planning, you can easily find a Turkish restaurant in Atlanta that suits your taste, schedule, and budget, and enjoy a style of cooking that fits naturally into the city’s already rich food landscape.