Authentic cooking
Long-term diners describe the food as traditional, home-style Turkish cooking that has stayed consistent for decades.
Ankara Restaurant
Deira
Ankara Restaurant is a long-established Turkish restaurant in Deira, known in reviews for traditional, home-style cooking and generous portions. The mixed grill can reportedly serve two, while the Iskender Kebab, fresh salads and Turkish tea give first-time diners a useful introduction to the menu.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
835 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Mixed grill
The mixed grill is praised for tender, flavorful meat, and one order can reportedly be shared by two people.
Iskender Kebab
Several reviews single out the Iskender as a standout, with one diner saying it tasted like the original dish in Turkey.
Generous portions
Portions are often large enough to share, making the restaurant practical for groups or diners who prefer substantial meals.
Fresh accompaniments
Fresh salads, appetizers, soup and hot bread are repeatedly mentioned as valuable parts of the meal.
Reasonable value
Many customers call the food affordable or reasonably priced, despite a few reports that some meals felt expensive.
Parking ease
Reviews say parking is ample or not an issue, which is useful when visiting with family or ordering a larger meal.
What to Eat at Ankara Restaurant How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Ankara Restaurant, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Ankara Restaurant, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 8
-
Adana kebab Net +1
“The iskender and adana kebab were good served with good cold appetizers.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The iskender and adana kebab were good served with good cold appetizers.”June 2023
-
Baklava Net +1
“🥩 The baklava for dessert was the perfect sweet ending to a wonderful meal.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“🥩 The baklava for dessert was the perfect sweet ending to a wonderful meal.”August 2024
-
Boneless grilled checked Net +1
“It is fantastic try the boneless grilled checked”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“It is fantastic try the boneless grilled checked”July 2026
-
Chicken sandwich Net +1
“Anyways show love to this restaurant. Their chicken sandwich is to die for.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Anyways show love to this restaurant. Their chicken sandwich is to die for.”December 2022
-
Iskender Net +1
“The iskender and adana kebab were good served with good cold appetizers.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The iskender and adana kebab were good served with good cold appetizers.”June 2023
-
Islander kebab Net +1
“The islander kebab is a must try because it simply oozes taste, juice and the right flavour.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The islander kebab is a must try because it simply oozes taste, juice and the right flavour.”April 2022
-
Mixed grill platter Net +1
“🍽️ I tried the mixed grill platter, and it was phenomenal – the meats were perfectly cooked and full of flavor.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“🍽️ I tried the mixed grill platter, and it was phenomenal – the meats were perfectly cooked and full of flavor.”August 2024
-
Eskender kebab mutton Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“We ordered the famous dish, eskender kebab mutton, the portion is large, taste is normal, with free salad , and chargeable soup.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
What to Avoid (2)
Food 2
-
Chicken shawrma Net −1
“The chicken Shawrma is not tasty.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The chicken Shawrma is not tasty.”September 2023
-
Daily meal special Net −1
“In the afternoon we had lunch we ordered mixed grill and daily meal special . The food was average, mixed grill was normal ,daily meal needed seasoning.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“In the afternoon we had lunch we ordered mixed grill and daily meal special . The food was average, mixed grill was normal ,daily meal needed seasoning.”April 2018
Tips for a Better Visit
Share grill. Consider sharing one mixed grill: a reviewer found a single order sufficient for two people.
Try Iskender. Order the Iskender Kebab if you want the dish most repeatedly described as a signature choice.
Save room. Leave space for dessert if you choose the mixed grill; one review specifically recommends baklava as the finishing course.
Order tea. Ask for Turkish tea after eating; multiple reviews mention it as a worthwhile end to the meal.
Check temperature. If ordering Iskender, check that it arrives hot: one diner reported cold meat, sauce and rice and an unhelpful response.
Expect portions. Plan for substantial servings rather than a light meal; several diners say portions are large or shareable.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Building # 12,2nd Street,Al Khaleej Road,Al Baraha
Al Baraha - Deira, Dubai
| Mon | 11:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Tue | 11:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Wed | 11:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Thu | 11:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Fri | 11:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Sat | 11:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
| Sun | 11:00 AM – 1:30 AM |
Common Concerns
Inconsistent service
Service feedback varies sharply, from attentive and efficient to slow or unwelcoming.
Cold food
Two reviews specifically report cold food, including an Iskender meal whose meat, sauce and rice were all described as cold.
Unwelcoming attitude
Some diners felt unwelcome, including one account of being told the washroom was only for customers while looking for it.
Limited children’s choice
One family review says there were no suitable options for a child who only eats fries.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Ankara Restaurant is one of Deira’s established Turkish dining spots, with reviews repeatedly pointing to traditional, home-style food rather than a polished modern setting. The menu is most useful for hearty Turkish staples: the mixed grill, Iskender Kebab, lamb chops and chicken shawarma sandwiches all receive specific mentions. Portions are often large enough for two people to share, or at least for one diner and a half.
The mixed grill is praised for tender, flavorful meat, while the Iskender is the dish that most clearly divides expectations: several diners call it special and authentic, but two reviews report it arriving cold. Fresh salads, appetizers, soup and hot bread commonly accompany meals, and Turkish tea is a recurring recommendation for afters. Baklava is another reported dessert choice.
Parking is described as easy or ample, which helps for family visits. Prices are generally described as affordable or reasonable, though some customers felt particular meals were overpriced. Service also varies: many reviewers mention friendly, attentive staff, but others report slow service, an unwelcoming atmosphere or poor handling of complaints.
If it is your first visit, sharing the grill, asking about the Iskender’s temperature and saving room for tea or baklava are sensible moves. Families should note one review found limited choices for children who only eat fries.