Yum Yum probably makes my favorite shawarma. But it's also the priciest of the late night kebab…read moreplaces I venture to and also kind of out of the way (for me at least) so I rarely ever go here. The staff are friendly and the ingredients taste fresh. Can't go wrong with Yum Yum, especially after a night of drinking.

I wanted a deep fried mars bar, and I bought myself a deep fried mars bar at this spot near to the…read moretop of Fleischmann's Close. Known for kebabs, shawarmas, and burgers, Yum Yum also does deep fried mars bars, which I noticed when I first went up the steps of the Close with their outdoor sign. Being that Edinburgh is one of the few areas that have spots that make these, I was happy to see Yum Yum did it. I'm basing my review off of my order experience. It was made quickly. Payment was fast. And the mars bars was decent. If I was drunk, I would probably be foodgasming more. But I will say, it was very good and pleased I was able to experience while I was in town.

A Kurdish and Middle eastern restaurant? Yes ! Always so good this cuisine ! Hanam's was no…read moreexception. Actually walked by it during the day and walked in to make reservations, so 1980's! They were really nice and hospitable, and even called me again later in the day to remind me. A really nice middle eastern vibe inside, with the decor, I loved the great lighting. Tasteful artwork, loved the darker colors. Service was good, and they were patient as we took our time. Nice little wine list, covers all the basics. The menu had all the known and unknown, they also had shisha on their terrace! Started with a glass of really good Tempranillo, and a Sauvignon blanc for my friend. I ordered the Tapsi, kinda like a ratatouille , stew like veggies cooked down, with lots of spices, kinda comfort food, served with rice, and I got a naan. Loved this warm bowl of veggies, with the naan that was so good, chewy and crispy and soft all in one naan! My friend had the Merishke kebab, marinated chicken, served on naan, served with a couple of sauces. Nice spices, great sauces, one yogurt based, other more like a salsa. Chicken, fell apart perfectly, cooked so well. Both our dishes were very authentic and so good, was so nice to have some of my favorite cuisine. Just a really nice place and really quite location, great views below if you have a window seat! So glad we walked past this little gem during the day, made dinner a breeze.

While exploring the Royal Mile, we stumbled upon a Kurdish eatery whose terrace overlooked Victoria…read moreStreet. What used to be called Hanam's is now Daika; same menu, same offerings, I don't know if they've changed ownership. We ordered: -- Mixed Grill (£24.95): three meat skewers that he said were middling. -- Halloumi Fries (£9.85): usually my favorite thing on a Mediterranean menu, but theirs was a bit tough, took chewy to the next level, & the pomegranate molasses did nothing to improve the flavor. -- Babaghanoush (£9.80): nice texture with the eggplant bits, properly smoky, & went well with the pita that stayed warm in its parchment bag. -- we also had lemonade in a bottle that was tart & refreshing. Rather than having lunch at Daika, we instead should have ordered a hookah; smoking shisha on their beautiful terrace with a view of Old Town around us would've been more enjoyable.

Probably the best chicken vegetable curry I've ever had!! Absolutely incredible food. Ambiance is…read morecasual but the food is top tier

Sweet family that owns this restaurant. Delicious kebabs, I had amazing chai too. Very reasonable…read moreprice too

This place is so gooood! I came here during one of my re-explore Edinburgh days, where I walk…read morearound this fine city until I get hungry and then go on the hunt for a favorite food. So the craving at the time was schwarma, and Palmyra had some pretty decent reviews. So off I moseyed in the hopes of getting a delicious meal. Not even 12pm yet, I was the only customer in the shop, nabbing a window seat so I could people watch during my lunch. My server was so friendly and the service overall was great. I ordered a chicken schwarma with chips. I was kind of hoping for traditional Turkish bread, but my meal came on the thinner pita-style bread that didn't exactly hit the spot, but was delicious all the same. The schwarma was large for £5.50 and my fries could have easily served two, the serving was massive. Also served with garlic sauce and a sweet type of chilli sauce. Overall a flavourful and filling meal that I would certainly have again. For about £8 this meal could have served two and easily satisfied two grumbling bellies.

Chose this place because of the high rating and menu options shown in the pics. I really don't…read moreunderstand why it's rated so highly. They basically only have pizza and wraps (no menu like the one in the pic) I was expecting a hole in the wall with yummy food. It was indeed a hole in the wall, but the food thoroughly disappointing. I ordered the kofta kebab wrap and hummus wrap both with no tomatoes. One came with tomatoes. Though the wrap was 10" x 3" the kofta hiding inside it was about 7"x1"-the veggie to meat ratio was ridiculous. I guess that's what makes it a small? I did enjoy the sauce-creamy with a little spice. My friend did make the point of why she thought it was highly rated. Nearby a university, open late, cheap, and quick...even considering all of that it's still a no for me.

The most delicious Turkish food I've had since visiting Istanbul. Each dish is cooked just for you,…read morenever reheated. The mezes are delicately seasoned and served with fresh made bread. Stews are delectable, and portions are generous. Order the kunefe for dessert. Made while you wait, served hot, and oh my god so amazing!

what can I say? I cannot fault this place! The food is incredible, staff are really lovely and so…read morehelpful, great atmosphere and really pretty reasonable prices! (and BYOB!) I will be back time and time again! My biggest problem when I eat out is that I generally wanna eat everything!! Which is why I love tapas, mezze and sharing platters - you really can sample it all in Pera - we opted for the cold mezze to share and the mixed hot mezze and hoped we'd still have room to share the lamb kofte - but we really didn't - next time! Pera is a very relaxed place, it's interior is simple and understated, small in size so i'd recommend making a booking esp if you are more than 4 people. The kitchen looks tiny, and it's a little odd when you go to the bathroom - but what it lacks in polished style and grandeur it really does make up for in flavours! Plenty to choose from and loads of vegetarian options - feels like authentic Turkish cuisine - probably the best humous I have ever tasted! And such combinations of so many herbs and spices - sensational! Everything just bursting with flavour and colour - just wish I could've eaten more!! It is also open for breakfast and lunch and I noticed they have specials till 5pm (£8.95 for 2 courses) Will definitely be back - next time with elasticated trousers!!

This was a very good and filling meal. The chicken calzone was much bigger than I expected, and it…read morecame with chips and a salad. If you're someone who eats small portions, I'd stay away from that dish. Otherwise, it was a great harmony of flavors (various peppers, chicken, and cheese), and it was definitely fresh and made on the spot. This is a cash-only establishment, so make sure you have that on you.

If you are a lover of anything greasy, I would recommend Marmaris, which is one of those comfort…read moretake out restaurants on Clerk Street. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and hope not all their dishes are accompanied with a lot of oil, as I've only had a pizzas from there. It's important to add it's usually after a night out, when a lot of things will taste good, and I haven't had much to complain about. The menu is quite cheap, but apart from a friendly chat with the nice staff, this place is just alright.

I am still dreaming about their rose and cardamom lassi. I…read morecan just write a review alone on the lassi, it was subtle, refreshing, and compliments the chicken tikka masala with was cooked perfectly. You can really taste the flavors. The plates are meant to be shared so it's more of a Tapa's style place with dishes packed with spices and flavors. The establishment has 3 floors, the bar at the bottom, the middle and then the top floor where we were seated but they have an elevator where we would take to get the bathroom on the bottom floor. The place was beautiful and packed with people even on a Monday night. The service was lovely and I even enjoyed how they have an allergy menu to pick dishes that wont have your allergy. :,) I even found myself googling the songs because the music was very lively and fit the atmosphere perfectly. I would go again next time I'm in town.

I knew Dishoom had a loyal following before visiting, but I wasn't prepared for just how good it…read morewould be. We stopped in for breakfast and from the moment I looked at the menu, I knew this wasn't your typical brunch spot. As someone who's been sober for over a decade, I genuinely appreciated seeing a thoughtful nonalcoholic drink menu instead of the usual afterthought. Creative, intentional, and every bit as interesting as the cocktail list. Then the food showed up. The breakfast naan sandwich absolutely lived up to the hype. One of those meals where you immediately start thinking about when you can come back and order it again. Everything was packed with flavor, beautifully balanced, and somehow comforting while still feeling completely different from anything I'd had before. Dishoom's breakfast menu has become famous for those naan rolls, and after trying one, I completely understand why. What impressed me most was that nothing felt gimmicky. The concept, the atmosphere, the drinks, and the food all supported one another. Honestly, I'm not aware of anything quite like this in the States. It feels less like going out for breakfast and more like stepping into another city's café culture for a couple of hours. Dishoom was one of the culinary highlights of my trip to Edinburgh, and it'll be one of the first places I return to the next time I'm back in the UK

For my first experience of a kebab, I was suitably impressed. And I wasn't even drunk! This…read moretakeaway just looks like your average takeaway, and even has a fruit machine. That makes me chuckle. After never having a kebab we went here one Saturday night because it always smells so good when you walk past. We both had the special which was about £8 each. Quite expensive! But it turned out to be on of those silver dishes with pita bread filled with every type of meat imaginable. Chicken, lamb, beef and that weird stuff they shave. I'm not sure what meat that is? With lashings of sauce and salad, it was a huge meal. Neither of us finished it but it was pretty damn good. The meat was tasty and tender, not the chewy, tasteless crap I was expecting. The menu also offers pizzas and chips too, and it seems quite popular as there was a constant stream of people going in and out while we waited. I would think the true test of a kebab is if it is edible when sober. Therefore, this place passes with flying colours.

This side of Edinburgh this has to be the best all round kebab shop. Although the place is small…read moreits always spotless and the staff are polite and friendly. They had a fire about a year ago but it still hasnt stopped them from making quality food

Whenever I move to a different country, I forget that what I consider a kanab does not necessarily…read moretranslate to the next country. Happened to be the case here. In Australia, what I call a kebab is called schwarma here. That's really more what I was looking for, but at midnight on a Friday I ended up here. Not impressed. It was quite busy and I found the staff to be very rude. They took my partners order then went away before coming back to take my order after I stared them down and stated this was the same order- why wasn't I being served? I'm also pretty sure the meat was served in a tortilla- never in my life have I had a kebab wrapped in a tortilla or wrap bread, its usually wrapped in Turkish bread. The chips were also taken out of the cooked tray, re- cooked and served to me. I'm I'm paying money I would at least expect not getting recycled food. Overall unimpressed. The staff looked bored and uninterested and it was reflected in the quality of the food.

Topkapi - Top Kebab!…read more On my brother's recommendation, I ate here earlier this evening. He had the Donner & I the Lamb Shish Kebab. Both were presented in a tray with salad separate and the kebab in a wholemeal pitta. We sat down to tuck into our meal. My Shish Kebab was gorgeous. The lamb was lovely and tender & the sweet chilli and mint marinade very tasty indeed. My brother allowed me to try some of the donner meat, which was very good too. Personally, I'd have preferred the kebabs to be a little larger, but this is an extremely minor point. Staff were also friendly.

This place was such a delight today!! My friends had been there before thrice so it came with high…read moreexpectations, and it did live up to those!! The waiter was excellent: friendly, attentive, courteous, helpful! The nan breads could be cooked a bit more, and their kitchen extractor fan was loud (we shouldn't have sit so close to the kitchen entrance) . The baklava was nothing special - just like the ones bought from shops. Apart from the above minor points, the food was Really Really good!! I was so jealous I couldn't try the lamb chops (trying a meat-free month for a while) but my friend assured me they were delicious and cooked perfectly, soft and proper charcoal cooked! The lamb dish with the vegetables and the tomato sauce was massive and well cooked too! I tried the spinach with chickpeas, herbs and rice as a side. Delicious! As a drink I chose the yoghurt drink: they add a bit of salt, helps digestion too :-) I even tried their mint tea: they do have fresh mint leaves which they add apart from the standard peppermint bag. You should definitely try it if you're into Kurdish / Middle Easter cuisine!

Set the wayback machine to November of 2013. I am on a two-week journey in Edinburgh for reasons…read moreunrelated to food. However, being a food blogger, I made a point to have at least one restaurant experience each day for the purposes of my reviews. I figured that considering the amount of walking I'd been doing, I shouldn't have had any problem keeping my weight down. By the end of the two weeks, I had gained ten pounds. I blame restaurants like Nawroz for that. Is this a critical review? Not in the slightest. I'm only saying that with nearly every restaurant I've been in, I've never seen more generosity in service and portions than businesses specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine. Okay, perhaps I would put them on a tie with the Greeks, but I would much prefer large portions of Middle Eastern cuisine than of Greek. Yeah, I know, I'm going to get murdered for that one. I'm not saying that Middle Eastern cuisine is better than Greek cuisine. I'm saying that Middle Eastern cuisine is...clearly better, how can anyone argue with that? I've said that certain cuisines become gateways to other cuisines; they stimulate your culinary curiosity while others are gastronomic thunderdomes. Which would I put in the latter category? Obviously American and westernized Chinese. Even sushi is starting to fall into that category. But gateway cuisines? Indian definitely, French and maybe Dutch to lesser degrees, they all open our minds to new ideas, leading to other possibilities. From Indian, you may try Nepalese, Persian, or Moroccan. Of course, if one is talking technicalities, these countries are only lines on a map, and when addressing nutritional anthropology, what you get are hundreds of tribes migrating through history across Africa and Asia, sharing their ideas and techniques. Comprehending that, suddenly calling a certain cuisine Indian makes no sense, as what classifies as Indian food is actually several different culinary methods which happen to occupy that region. What classifies as Indian changes depending on where in India you are? In fact, naming a cuisine not after a country but a people should be more appropriate. Kurdish cuisine encompasses Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. With that, there are quite a few foods which the average curioso will recognize. You'll find falafels, humus, flatbreads, baklava, and shawarma. So what should you do when given such variety? You order it all. Wait, what? Nawroz offers various dishes but one is a mixed collection of various starters. So the five of us ended up getting large mixed plates of starters with only two mains, allowing us to share in the traditional Middle Eastern fashion. You don't order a main and lift from it selfishly. You order a mountainous bowl of food and open the plates of the table to share. This is what you do. Nawroz should be experienced each time as a gathering of friends and family. Invent a celebration if you have to. Someone's birthday? A wedding? Christmas (which they celebrate at Nawroz ironically), or how about the traditional Iranian new year...which is actually called Nawroz. So the restaurant is named after one of the most boisterous events in all the Middle East; why wouldn't you take that opportunity? It's like a restaurant that celebrates Christmas all year round. The décor is perfect with what it attempts to convey: culture and tradition with mild compromises to operate as a functional restaurant. Red and black chairs over a tiled floor, raw brick on the walls with hanging rugs, tapestries, and paintings. Various regional iconographies rest upon the bar. I can feel the pride of the owners in their culture by the décor of the restaurant and the quality of their food. Even the hummus is molded into a fan, topped with olives. The flatbread is fried, a new first and favorite. The mixed starters ranged from contemporary to intimidating and I devoured each and every one. Even though we had ordered mixed starters for five with only two mains, we couldn't squeeze another plate of food onto our table. Everything was good and we still had dessert waiting for us--three types of baklava with Turkish delight. I'll reiterate my previous point. The various cultures of the Middle East know how to make people welcome and this is reflected in their restaurants. Their food is munificent, huge portions at reasonable prices. With Shezan and Nawroz being so close to each other (walking distance) I know that any future domiciles in Edinburgh would have to be in close proximity to this region so when I entertain visitors, I always have a place to go. I am happy that my small home town has a Persian restaurant--so at least my absence from this cuisine would be short. DECOR: 9 PLATING: 8 SERVICE: 8 FOOD: 9 VALUE: 10 OVERALL: 8.8 out of 10