Should you open a Turkish restaurant in Islington?
Quick answer
Islington scores 75 out of 100 on our demand index — likely worth exploring. The council currently has 34 Turkish restaurants against an estimated 5,000 monthly searches for Turkish food, which works out to roughly 5,854 residents for every Turkish restaurant already trading here. The single biggest factor behind that number is overall market size, which ranks higher here than in most other councils in England and Wales. That combination of supply, search interest and population is what the verdict above is based on: Islington looks likely worth exploring for someone weighing up whether to open a Turkish restaurant in the area, relative to every other council we track.
Read next: How to Open a Turkish Restaurant in the UK in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
How this score breaks down
How Islington compares in London
Islington ranks 7 of 33 councils in London by demand score, and 7 of 33 by number of Turkish restaurants. The table below shows its four nearest neighbours by score.
| Council | Demand score | Verdict | Turkish restaurants | Monthly searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islington | 75 | Underserved | 34 | 5,000 |
| Tower Hamlets | 77 | Underserved | 44 | 7,340 |
| Camden | 75 | Underserved | 31 | 4,930 |
| Richmond upon Thames | 74 | Underserved | 10 | 1,920 |
| Wandsworth | 73 | Underserved | 18 | 2,220 |
Where the gap is
- Islington doesn't show an obvious quality or saturation gap: its restaurants average 4.5 stars (close to the 4.3-star England & Wales average), and its 34 restaurants look broadly in line with local demand — a balanced market rather than an obvious opening.
The hygiene picture
Of the 36 Turkish food businesses we hold hygiene data for in Islington, 47% are rated 5 (the top FSA score) and 7% are rated 2 or below, with 0 still awaiting inspection — hygiene standards locally are mixed, leaving room to differentiate on cleanliness.
Where they cluster: Most Turkish restaurants in Islington sit in N1, N7 and N4 — 9 in N1, 8 in N7, 6 in N4.
Restaurants already here
| Name | Postcode | Hygiene rating |
|---|---|---|
| 01Adana Restaurant | N16 9BS | 5 |
| Gem Restaurant | N1 2UQ | 5 |
| Kilis Kitchen | N1 0QX | 5 |
| Kozan Grill | N1 4RA | 5 |
| Liman | N1 9PZ | 5 |
| Market Cafe and Street Lahmacun | EC1Y 8PU | 5 |
| Yildiz Pide | N7 6JD | 5 |
| Doner Klubhaus | N7 0RN | 4 |
and 28 more See every Turkish restaurant in Islington
What it would cost here
Fitting out a 100 m² Turkish restaurant in Islington with a mid-range fit-out, using our London cost assumptions, comes to roughly £215,652 – £419,166 up front. The two largest lines are fit-out & build (£121,500 – £202,500) and kitchen equipment (£20,847 – £76,060).
Open the full cost calculator for Islington →
Planning estimate only — see the cost calculator for the full breakdown and assumptions.
Local context
Islington's 34 restaurants split between two very different markets: Upper Street and Angel in N1, where Turkish competes with every other cuisine for an affluent evening trade, and Holloway Road and Finsbury Park in N7 and N4, which are extensions of the Green Lanes Turkish economy. Ratings are high at 4.54 and roughly half the rated restaurants hold a hygiene 5. The borough scores well on demand because of its density and search volume, but the N4 and N7 end is genuinely crowded; the gap is at the Highbury, Canonbury and Archway end, where residents currently walk to Holloway Road.
By Turkish Restaurants UK Editorial Team · Updated 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
- How many Turkish restaurants are in Islington?
- Islington currently has 34 Turkish restaurants.
- Is there demand for a Turkish restaurant in Islington?
- Yes — an estimated 5,000 monthly searches relate to Turkish food in Islington, giving it a demand score of 75/100.
- What would it cost to open a Turkish restaurant in Islington?
- A 100 m² restaurant with a mid-range fit-out costs roughly £215,652 – £419,166 to open in Islington, based on our cost model.
- How does Islington compare to the rest of London?
- Islington scores 75/100 and ranks 7 of 33 in London. The region's top-scoring council is Kensington and Chelsea, at 90/100.
Thinking about opening here?
Tell us where, and we'll send you the local numbers — population, competition, and rent benchmarks.