On a budget: Mesut 2

Mesut 2 on Amsterdam’s Rozengracht is known as the place to go for that late-night shawarma fix. With its late opening hours and quick turnover of sandwiches filled with warm meat, you might dismiss it as a cheap snack bar. But nothing could be further from the truth.

First of all, you are served at your table. No long queues at the counter—take your time and study the menu at your table. Besides serving the best shawarma sandwich in the city, the menu is packed with fantastic Turkish dishes. The shawarma comes in a warm and crispy sandwich, and you can add the sauces yourself. In any case, get the garlic sauce and onion chutney.

Minced lamb and lentil soup

However delicious the sandwich may be, skip it once and go all out with the other dishes. And bring a large group of friends so you can share everything. The Izmir köfte, for example, is deliciously seasoned minced lamb in tomato sauce. Other favorites include mercimek (Turkish lentil soup), karni yarik (stuffed eggplants) and manti.

Manti

As dumpling lovers, we can only be delighted by these small dough parcels filled with minced lamb, served with yoghurt, butter and a little heat. If you still have room, order künefe, a typically Turkish crispy fried dessert. Plenty of choice at Mesut 2.

Mesut 2
Rozengracht 164
Amsterdam

Opening hours
Sunday through Thursday – 17:00 – 03.00
Friday & Saturday – 17:00 – 06:00