Restaurant
Marble
Marble on the Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank is chef David Higgs's live-fire restaurant, cooking steak, seafood, vegetables and bread over a large wood-fired grill.
Turkish Kebab House and Butchery
The Turkish Kebab House in Mayfair is a family-run halal restaurant and butchery serving grilled meats, kebabs, pide and mezze at very reasonable prices.
At a glance
- Type
- Turkish grill (halal)
- Area
- Mayfair, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Price
- $ · Budget
Good to know
- Halal
- No alcohol
- Butchery and Turkish food shop
- Sharing platters
- Vegetarian dishes
Why we recommend it
The Turkish Kebab House and Butchery is a family-run halal restaurant on Church Street in Mayfair, a neighbourhood with a large Muslim community west of the city centre, near Fordsburg. You enter through a butchery and Turkish grocery store before reaching a spacious, bright dining room at the back, which gives the place an unpretentious, neighbourhood feel. Its success has led to a sister restaurant in Rosebank, now called Pera.
Grilled meats and kebabs are the speciality. The mixed grill platter is the most popular order and is large enough for two or three people to share, so it is a good choice for a group. Other options include pide, the boat-shaped Turkish flatbread with toppings, Turkish kofte and vegetarian dishes. Start with mezze such as ezme, a spicy tomato and pepper salad, and cacik, the yoghurt and cucumber dip, with pickles and warm flatbread, and finish with baklava, ice cream or Turkish delight.
All the food is halal and no alcohol is served; the sour cherry juice is a good alternative. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portion sizes, which makes this one of the best-value meals in the city. It suits families, groups of friends and anyone curious to explore Johannesburg's Muslim and immigrant food culture beyond the northern suburbs. You can also buy Turkish groceries and meat from the shop on the way out.
The restaurant generally opens from 10:00 until the evening, with a break for Friday prayers at lunchtime and slightly longer hours on Saturdays. Call ahead to confirm times, especially on Sundays and during Ramadan, when hours may change.
Mayfair is a short drive from Braamfontein, Newtown and the city centre, and it combines well with a visit to the Oriental Plaza in neighbouring Fordsburg, a large shopping centre of independent traders. Park on Church Street, and as in other inner-city areas, leave valuables at your accommodation and do not leave anything visible in the car. A ride-hailing app is the simplest way to get there from Rosebank or Sandton, and the trip usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Turkish Kebab House and Butchery FAQs
Is the food halal?
Yes, all the food is halal.
Is alcohol served?
No. Try the sour cherry juice instead.
What should I order?
The mixed grill platter, which serves two to three people, plus mezze such as ezme and cacik.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes, there are vegetarian dishes as well as mezze and pide.
Where is it?
At 79 Church Street, Mayfair, near Fordsburg.
Is it expensive?
No. Prices are very reasonable.
When is it open?
Generally from 10:00 into the evening, with a break for Friday prayers. Call ahead on +27 11 025 1123 to confirm.
Is there another branch?
Yes, the Rosebank branch, now called Pera.