Mediterranean restaurants

Yelken Restaurant

4.9 577 reviews Closed 109 St James's St, Kemptown, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 1TH, United Kingdom

Discover this place

Yelken Restaurant, located in the vibrant Kemptown area of Brighton, is a delightful Mediterranean gem that has captured the hearts and palates of many. Diners rave about the freshness and flavor of the food, with standout dishes including the falafel salad and char-grilled chicken, which boasts a juicy interior and aromatic seasoning. Reviewers such as Tom highlight the restaurant’s remarkable baklava, calling it the best in Brighton, while others sing praises for the meze sharing platters and butterfly shrimp.

The atmosphere at Yelken is equally welcoming, with a cozy ambiance complemented by relaxing music and friendly staff who are knowledgeable about the menu. Many patrons noted the attentive service, making dining here a pleasurable experience. While some suggested ordering additional starters for a group setting, the consensus remains: Yelken delivers great value in both its food and service.

With rave reviews affirming its status as a must-visit, Yelken Restaurant is perfect for family meals, intimate gatherings, or simply enjoying a delightful night out in Brighton.

Photos

Amenities & More

Service options

Takeout
Dine-in
Delivery

Highlights

Great coffee
Great dessert
Great wine list

Popular for

Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Dining options

Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities

Restroom

Atmosphere

Casual
Cozy
Romantic

Crowd

Family-friendly
Groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safespace

Note: Amenity details are aggregated from verified visits, the venue's website and Google. They may change without notice. We recommend confirming key details (pet policy, accessibility, reservations) directly with Yelken Restaurant before visiting.

Reviews for Yelken Restaurant

4.9

577 reviews

100%

Review highlights

Based on 577 reviews

Yelken Restaurant in Brighton emerges as a favored Mediterranean dining spot known for its fresh, flavorful dishes and attentive service. Guests frequently highlight the quality of the grilled meats, such as chicken and steak, alongside standout vegetarian options like falafel and Imam Bayildi. The restaurant’s cozy and inviting atmosphere, paired with relaxing music, creates an appealing environment for both casual family meals and social gatherings. Consistent praise is given to the friendly and welcoming staff, who contribute significantly to the overall positive dining experience. While some note that portion sizes, particularly of starters, can be modest, the generous seasoning and taste often compensate. Desserts, especially traditional delights like baklava, receive notable acclaim. Overall, Yelken is recognized for delivering great value, a warm ambiance, and reliably fresh, well-seasoned Mediterranean fare that encourages repeat visits and recommendations.

Yang Yun

Jun 08, 2025

Met my friend who was visiting the UK from China. Another friend who lives in the location area recommended this restaurant. The starter was on the small side for 4 adults. I think we should have ordered two. The chicken I had for the main course was really tasty. It had that char gilled taste, at the same time the juice of the meat was locked in. The steak my friend ordered was good too. The staff was friendly and recommended some alcohol drinks which we've never had before. He was knowledgeable about the cuisine and drinks. The dessert we had was too sweet for me.

nat bat

Jun 06, 2025

cute little restaurant not to busy perfect for a family meal, the staff are perfectly understanding and friendly! the food is seasoned amazingly and i recommend the steak 100%!!

Deborah needham

Jun 04, 2025

7 of us had lunch here today, 17.5.25. The food was fresh and tasty. Service was friendly and helpful. Great value. All of our plates were empty, with compliments for the falafel salad and Kofte salad. My plate was Imam Bayildi, which was flavourful. We will definitely return and recommend.

Stelo Dhima

May 29, 2025

Exceptional! Food was tasty and fresh . Fast service and welcoming staff will definitely come back.

Tom Brooks

May 14, 2025

If you like baklava, we have a tip for you! Yelken Restaurant in Brighton has the BEST baklava ever! Not to mention delicious falafel plate, meze sharing platters, and butterfly shrimp. Don’t forget the Turkish coffee. The atmosphere is fantastic with nice seating and relaxing music playing. Outstanding service too! Go see Kamil and everyone at Yelken and you will be very glad that you did!

Joy N. Ismail

Apr 15, 2025

Delicious, authentic, and cozy. The menu has so many options. The starters and fresh bread were excellent (would recommend the yogurt and walnut dip and feta pastry). The sizzling prawn dish was so flavorful and portion was generous. The rice was delicious too. Everything is made to order, the chef/owners were lovely.

Nathan Darcy

Apr 11, 2025

We came here during summer and I completely forgot to review until now! Literally everything we had was absolutely incredible. The filo cheese starter rolls, god I could eat 100 of them. The chicken main was delicious. I'm so excited for the next time we visit Brighton so we can come back here. Everything seriously was perfect and I can be difficult to please. Our server was also so lovely and chatty, welcoming and a delight. Unfortunately it's been long enough that I don't remember his name!

India Neville

Apr 07, 2025

This is definitely the sort of small business that you (& your taste buds) should consider supporting. I only wish that I had the room to try even more dishes! I stopped in after a rainy, windy beach walk and received a warm welcome to this cozy spot (despite looking like a drowned rat ). I had the lamb kofte and found it flavourful and delicious. The server, his husband, and the chef were easy to talk to & take pride in their work.