Turkish tables in this metro run through strip malls and counters more than white tablecloths, and the doner, lahmacun, and kebab plates hold up the case. This list covers actual Turkish kitchens alongside the broader Middle Eastern and Mediterranean rooms that regulars mention in the same breath, and it names the real city for each one, since St. Anthony, St. Paul, Chanhassen, and Minneapolis are not interchangeable.
№ 01
Filfillah Mediterranean Grill
Columbia Heights $$
4301 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421 · +17637812222
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The gyro sandwich and the lamb rice plate are the reasons regulars keep coming back to this Columbia Heights strip-mall counter. Hummus rounds out most orders, and the menu runs deep on sandwiches and plates with a wide range of meats. It is a family-run room with no pretense, competent rather than showy, and worth the plaza parking lot for a fast, reliable Middle Eastern meal.
What to orderGyro sandwich, Lamb rice plate, Hummus
№ 02
Med Box Grill
Chanhassen $$
600 Market St, Ste 160, Chanhassen, MN 55317 · +16128421350
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The gyro wrap here comes out oversized, and the fries earn their own following among regulars who order them every visit. The Spicy Choice Kabob Plate is the other reliable order, built for anyone who wants a filling lunch without ceremony. This Chanhassen counter runs order-at-the-counter service with a sit-down finish, fast and unfussy, a solid stop for anyone touring the western suburbs.
What to ordergyro wrap, Spicy Choice Kabob Plate, fries
№ 03
Lumi Restaurant
921 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402 · +16123155249
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Lamb chops over rice, paired with lentil soup, anchor the menu at this Minneapolis room built for groups. The lamb chops draw specific praise for flavor and execution, and the space reads as comfortable rather than formal, which makes it a natural pick for coworkers or family parties who want a sit-down meal without stiffness. Reservations help on busier nights.
What to orderlamb chops, lentil soup, rice
№ 04
Black Sea
St. Paul $
737 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16519178832
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Kebab and a meze sampler built around fresh, handmade Turkish and Mediterranean cooking define this St. Paul room, where portion sizes run large and the menu stays deep. It is family owned and casual, the kind of place where the counter staff will point newcomers toward a house favorite. Pide rounds out a menu built for regulars who return for the value as much as the food.
What to orderkebab, meze sampler, pide
№ 05
The Naughty Doner Co
St. Paul
181 Snelling Ave N, St Paul, MN 55104 · +16512194333
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The doner is the clear star at this St. Paul counter, built tight and fast with lamb kebab as the other strong order. French fries with house-made ketchup are worth adding to any order. Service moves quickly and the staff walks newcomers through the menu, though the room itself is basic. This is a stop for the neighborhood, not a special trip.
What to orderdoner, French fries with house-made ketchup, lamb kebab
№ 06
Sofra Kitchen
St. Anthony $$
3900 Silver Lake Rd NE, Saint Anthony, MN 55421 · +1651-383-3590
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The doner kebab plate, the Sofra special, and lahmacun make up the core of this St. Anthony room, and regulars order all three in the same visit. It draws diners specifically craving Turkish food rather than a broader Mediterranean menu, and the staff will guide first-timers through the plates on request. Group tables and family meals are the natural fit here.
What to orderdoner kebab, lahmacun, Sofra special
Frequently asked
What is the best Turkish restaurant near me in the Minneapolis metro?
It depends which city you are in. Black Sea in St. Paul, The Naughty Doner Co also in St. Paul, and Sofra Kitchen in St. Anthony are the closest thing to dedicated Turkish kitchens on this list. Med Box Grill in Chanhassen and Filfillah in Columbia Heights lean broader Middle Eastern and Mediterranean but share the same core dishes. Each entry here is ranked by its Insider Score, and no restaurant pays to be listed.
What is lahmacun and where can I get it?
Lahmacun is a thin, Turkish flatbread topped with minced meat and spices, closer to a cracker-crust flatbread than a Western pizza. Sofra Kitchen in St. Anthony carries it as one of its standout orders.
Is doner the same as gyro?
They come from the same family of spit-roasted meat sandwiches but are not identical. Doner is the Turkish original; gyro is the Greek adaptation. The Naughty Doner Co in St. Paul serves doner specifically, while Filfillah in Columbia Heights and Med Box Grill in Chanhassen serve gyro versions.
How is the Insider Score for these restaurants determined?
The Insider Score reflects the volume and substance of the real review record for each restaurant, not payment or advertising. No restaurant on this list, or anywhere on this site, pays for placement or for a better score.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Hodan Abdi
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Hodan Abdi is a Staff Writer at Top of Minneapolis. Raised in Cedar-Riverside two floors above the Somali mall her aunt worked in, she now lives in Eagan and covers the whole metro ring. She writes the guides, sweeps the suburbs, and covers the Somali and East African tables as the beat she knows best.
