Should you open a Turkish restaurant in Cardiff?
Quick answer
Cardiff scores 75 out of 100 on our demand index — likely worth exploring. The council currently has 20 Turkish restaurants against an estimated 2,610 monthly searches for Turkish food, which works out to roughly 15,753 residents for every Turkish restaurant already trading here. The single biggest factor behind that number is review volume per restaurant, 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: Cardiff 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 Cardiff compares in Wales
Cardiff ranks 2 of 22 councils in Wales by demand score, and 1 of 22 by number of Turkish restaurants. The table below shows its four nearest neighbours by score.
| Council | Demand score | Verdict | Turkish restaurants | Monthly searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | 75 | Underserved | 20 | 2,610 |
| Swansea | 87 | Underserved | 2 | 1,280 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 60 | Balanced | 1 | — |
| Carmarthenshire | 60 | Balanced | 0 | — |
| Bridgend | 59 | Balanced | 1 | 650 |
Where the gap is
- Cardiff doesn't show an obvious quality or saturation gap: its restaurants average 4.4 stars (close to the 4.3-star England & Wales average), and its 20 restaurants look broadly in line with local demand — a balanced market rather than an obvious opening.
The hygiene picture
Of the 21 Turkish food businesses we hold hygiene data for in Cardiff, 71% are rated 5 (the top FSA score) and 0% are rated 2 or below, with 0 still awaiting inspection — the local bar for hygiene is already high, so a new entrant would need to match it from day one.
Where they cluster: Most Turkish restaurants in Cardiff sit in CF24, CF14 and CF11 — 8 in CF24, 3 in CF14, 3 in CF11.
Restaurants already here
| Name | Postcode | Hygiene rating |
|---|---|---|
| Blossom | CF24 3NZ | 5 |
| Lezzet Turkish Kitchen | CF10 1DX | 5 |
| longa | CF10 3FH | 5 |
| Longa Turkish Cafe | CF14 3NB | 5 |
| Senbros | CF11 9DX | 5 |
| Shaam Nights | CF24 3DQ | 4 |
| Saray Restaurant | CF24 3JE | 3 |
| Berlin Doner | CF24 4AD | — |
and 13 more See every Turkish restaurant in Cardiff
What it would cost here
Fitting out a 100 m² Turkish restaurant in Cardiff with a mid-range fit-out, using our big-city cost assumptions, comes to roughly £186,282 – £369,006 up front. The two largest lines are fit-out & build (£99,000 – £165,000) and kitchen equipment (£20,847 – £76,060).
Open the full cost calculator for Cardiff →
Planning estimate only — see the cost calculator for the full breakdown and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Turkish restaurants are in Cardiff?
- Cardiff currently has 20 Turkish restaurants.
- Is there demand for a Turkish restaurant in Cardiff?
- Yes — an estimated 2,610 monthly searches relate to Turkish food in Cardiff, giving it a demand score of 75/100.
- What would it cost to open a Turkish restaurant in Cardiff?
- A 100 m² restaurant with a mid-range fit-out costs roughly £186,282 – £369,006 to open in Cardiff, based on our cost model.
- How does Cardiff compare to the rest of Wales?
- Cardiff scores 75/100 and ranks 2 of 22 in Wales. The region's top-scoring council is Swansea, at 87/100.
Thinking about opening here?
Tell us where, and we'll send you the local numbers — population, competition, and rent benchmarks.