How to Choose the Best Turkish Restaurant in Amsterdam

Date: 20 April 2026 • Updated: 28 September 2026

In Amsterdam a Turkish restaurant is never far away. That is exactly what makes choosing hard: from the outside many places look alike, with the same photos of kebab and döner in the window. You only taste the difference at the table. These points help you judge in advance where you will be in good hands, whether you want a quick dürüm or a long evening with family.

Look at the grill

The heart of a Turkish restaurant is the grill. A charcoal grill, the mangal, gives meat a smoky crust that an electric plate cannot match. Feel free to ask what they grill on; a place that cooks over charcoal is usually happy to tell you. At Tuana Grill the skewers go over charcoal.

Who seasons the mince?

Adana and köfte stand or fall with the mince. Ready-seasoned mince is even and flat in flavour; mince that is seasoned and kneaded in the restaurant's own kitchen has more character. It is a good question to ask, and the answer says a lot about the rest of the kitchen. We season and knead the mince for our adana and köfte in the restaurant.

A menu with breadth, not length

A good Turkish menu shows more than kebab alone: soup, dishes from the grill, döner and something for people who do not eat meat. At the same time, a menu that goes on forever is often a sign that a lot comes out of the freezer. Look for balance. At Tuana it runs from soup and a few daily stews (from 9 a.m.) to grill platters, lahmacun and homemade desserts such as fırın sütlaç and kabak tatlısı.

Halal: just ask

For many guests halal is not a detail but a requirement. A serious restaurant gives a clear answer, without beating around the bush. At Tuana Grill the meat is halal.

Read reviews wisely

An average score says little on its own. Look at recent reviews, at dishes people mention by name and at how the restaurant responds to criticism. Someone who keeps praising the same platter tells you straight away what to order. And someone who complains shows you what to watch out for.

Does it suit your group?

With children or a large group you want to know beforehand whether there is room. Tuana has high chairs, tables for larger groups and a terrace for when the weather plays along. Reservations are by phone on +31 20 341 6285. If you want to eat late, check the opening hours: at the weekend we are open until 3 a.m.

Practical: where and how

Tuana Grill is at Bos en Lommerweg 313 in Amsterdam-West, open seven days a week from 9 a.m. Until 1 a.m. on weekdays and until 3 a.m. at the weekend; the kitchen closes half an hour earlier. You can eat in or take away, and delivery is available through Thuisbezorgd, Uber Eats or directly through our own ordering page.

The full menu is on the menu page.