Since 2014, the certified halaal Turkish Kebab House has been serving up succulent grills and authentic mezes with warm hospitality. It's all about communal, family-style eating here. It's the place to go if you want to share and taste an array of foods and flavours. The baklava is superior, too.
What began as intimate weekend gatherings for the Seker family blossomed into a thriving restaurant that has since expanded internationally. Their latest venture in Rosebank stays true to their dedication to quality and tradition while adding an upscale, modern twist. We were invited to visit Turkish Kebab House Rosebank (March 2025) for a lunchtime feast.
From Mayfair to Rosebank and beyond
After years of hosting weekend gatherings for friends and family, Harun Seker and his family founded Turkish Kebab House in Mayfair. What began as intimate get-togethers with 20 to 30 people soon transformed into a busy restaurant, which became their testing ground. The Mayfair location is divided into two sections: the butchery and Turkish food goods store, where you’re greeted by trays of Turkish delight, fresh bread, and authentic treats. The fridges are stocked with Turkish kofte, kebabs, and other take-home goodies. As long-time fans of the Mayfair restaurant, we were delighted when we got wind that the neighbourhood of Rosebank has gained a treasure with the second location for Turkish Kebab House in Joburg.
With the suburb's cosmopolitan mix, opening Turkish Kebab House Rosebank was a natural choice for the Seker family. Tucked away on the corner of Bath and Tyrwhitt avenues, on the ground floor of residential tower, The Tyrwhitt (opposite 54 on Bath hotel), you may miss it on a drive past – but walking in is like discovering the best kind of secret. Despite being next to the road, this spot is wonderfully peaceful – an oasis of plants and birdsong tempering the oftentimes buzzing atmosphere of the district.
The Seker family’s success story doesn’t stop in South Africa – they’ve expanded internationally with two branches in Ottawa, Canada, bringing their signature Turkish flavours to an even wider audience, with plans to venture into the United States next. And it all started with a simple love for sharing great food.
The feel of the space – visiting Turkish Kebab House Rosebank
Opened in December 2024, the Rosebank restaurant's design blends contemporary interiors with creative lighting, glass, and wooden accents. The setting is spacious, with enormous volumes and natural light flooding in through the wraparound glass doors. The indoor and outdoor dining areas overlook Bath and Tyrwhitt Avenues, along with upstairs seating that leads to a private dining room (not yet open to the public). Despite its refined aesthetic, the restaurant is warm, inviting, and family-friendly.
What's on the menu Turkish Kebab House Rosebank
FOOD AT TURKISH KEBAB HOUSE: MEZES, MIXED GRILL, AND BAKLAVA
We began our long and relaxed lunch at Turkish Kebab House Rosebank with an array of tasty mezes, including hummus, delicious Cacik (creamy yoghurt with fine slivers of cucumber, chopped garlic and mint), a spicy Ezme (a finely chopped tomato and chilli blend with pomegranate concentrate), alongside Havuç Tarator (a creamy, yoghurt-based dip with sautéed carrots, walnuts, and a garlic zing). Paired with pillowy-soft Turkish flatbread, it was a great start to our meal. Then came the Gavurdagi salad (a crunchy, flavour-packed mix of tomatoes, onions, cucumber, walnuts, and parsley). The Ezme in particular, blew us away. We wanted to buy it by the bottle. In fact, one of us did order a takeaway portion to experiment with at home. From a calamari marinade to a toast topping, it's Turkey's answer to chimichurri and is fabulously versatile.
By the time the main course arrived, we were already well-fed, but we powered through. We opted for the mixed grill platter for four people, which could have easily fed a small army (all four of us took leftovers home). Served on a charcoal-based dish to keep it warm, it was piled high with succulent doner (so authentic that Turkish guests have even taken it back home), juicy chicken, Lahmacun, Beyti Sarma (ground beef or lamb wrapped in lavash – flat bread), steak, and lamb chops. On the side, we had chips and Bulgur pilavi (a Turkish pilaf with onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and spices). Meat eaters are in excellent hands here: everything we tried was succulent and well-prepared, each of us vying for a different favourite from the array on offer – making the mixed grill platter a real crowd-pleaser.
We ended our meal on a sweet note with a duo of baklava – the classic, syrupy dessert and its cooler, creamier cousin – cold baklava. This was our first time trying the chilled version, and it won’t be our last. With layers of filo, nuts, syrup, chocolate, and milk, it’s a silkier, less-sweet take on the traditional treat – and the unexpected highlight of our feast. A member of our team loved this so much she said, "Let's make it viral". It's sincerely that good. In fact, the baklava on the whole is superior to just about any we've sampled before.
As we came to know at the Mayfair branch, the food here speaks for itself, with Turkish chefs who master the art of authenticity, resisting any temptation to adapt the flavours for local tastes. Having said this, for non-Turkish speaking folks, descriptions of menu items would be a helpful addition – or you'll be doing as we did and asking your waiter for the full rundown. She was most obliging, but we imagine this might become difficult if the restaurant is at full capacity. Yet it doesn't get more genuine than this: from the paprika, thyme, cumin, and tomato paste to the pistachio nuts, many of the ingredients are brought in specially from Turkey, with Seker telling us, "We won't make it if it's not authentic."
TO DRINK: TEA AND SALGAM AT TURKISH KEBAB HOUSE
The food at Turkish Kebab house is certified halaal, which also means no alcohol is served. The drinks menu offers a blend of the familiar and the exotic, with both local and international cool drinks to choose from. We were served the Salgam to sip on at the start of our meal, a Turkish fermented beverage with a deep red hue that's traditionally made from carrots or turnips. It's just the right amount of salty and spicy, though some would argue it's an acquired taste. The last sip was strong Turkish tea, with flavours ranging from apple to rosehip or classic black tea. Seker told us as we rounded off our meal that the first cup of tea at Turkish Kebab House is always free; a testament to the hospitality and generosity of this family-rooted business. And another reason to keep coming back for more.
In review
Food: 9/10Hardly anything to fault here. The food is delicious, and the portions are generous.
Drinks: 7/10
A few of the more unusual drinks may be an acquired taste. Also, certain juices and soft drinks were not available on the day we visited.
Ambience: 7/10
We visited for lunch on a Friday afternoon during Ramadan, so the restaurant was fairly quiet. Our table outside offered a scenic outlook onto the streets of Rosebank.
Turkish Kebab House Rosebank opening hours and location
Situated within walking distance of The Zone @ Rosebank, Rosebank Mall, The Firs, and nearby hotels like 54 on Bath, Turkish Kebab House is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner after a day of shopping or running errands.Hours: Open Mon – Sun from 11:30 – 22:00.
Address: 39 Bath Ave, Rosebank
Parking: There is underground parking at Grapnel's (next to the restaurant) daily from 16:30, or all day on weekends and public holidays.
Get in touch and book: Contact the restaurant on +27 78 663 1120 or book online via Dineplan here.
Comments