Hatay Ocakbaşı

Adana Kebap, lamb skewers, and grilled fish are prepared over an open charcoal grill in Kreuzberg, near Checkpoint Charlie, following Ottoman tradition.

Hatay Ocakbaşı: Grill Culture on Kochstraße

Ocakbaşı means “by the hearth,” and that’s exactly where everything happens at Hatay Ocakbaşı: by the open charcoal grill. The restaurant on Kochstraße in Kreuzberg, just a few minutes’ walk from Checkpoint Charlie, prepares meat, poultry, and fish directly over the embers, drawing on the tradition of Ottoman cuisine. The meat is halal.

Adana, Ali Nazik, and a Meze Platter for Two

A classic on the menu is the Adana Kebap, a hand-formed, spicy minced meat skewer. Also on offer are Kuzu Şiş, marinated lamb skewers, Kuzu Pirzola, and Ali Nazik, which features grilled lamb on a purée of roasted eggplant and yogurt. If you want to try several dishes, opt for the Hatay Spezial Teller (Special Plate) with mixed grill. Gilt-head bream and sea bass also come from the charcoal grill. For starters, the mixed meze platter for two, with hummus and other appetizers, is perfect. On some evenings, there’s live music; it’s best to reserve a table by phone.