Ali Dirik, Mangal II's owner, 1994

The History of Mangal II

After working as a young and aspiring chef in Istanbul, Ali Dirik moved to London in 1987. Within 4 years he opened the first Mangal Ocakbaşı on the back streets of Dalston. The innovative 'ocakbaşı' restaurant, with its charcoal cooking method was the first of its kind in London and soon gained a cult following, with numerous press reviews and awards.

By 1994, Ali opened Mangal Ocakbaşı II and later ended his involvement with the first Mangal Ocakbaşı. Embedding the successful menu with plenty of new additions, and a larger seating capacity, Mangal II became a local favourite.
 

Mangal II Today

Now run by his sons, Ferhat and Sertaç Dirik, today Mangal 2 finds itself offering a more refined dining experience influenced by their local environment and upbringing. We provide spacious seating in a more detail-focused atmosphere. Respecting the traditions of the restaurant’s past, the menu also reflects a modern palate that’s receptive to London’s position in the global culinary scene. Working with passionate and knowledgable UK-based suppliers, our menu presents traceability and seasonality. All this is made possible with our dedicated team, and a little assistance from our beloved Ocakbaşı grill.

Two years in, the restaurant has been recognised as the 35th best restaurant in the UK by the National Restaurant Awards and Sertaç has been recognised by Observer Food Monthly as Young Chef of the Year 2022.