Southend Turkish restaurant at former chip shop - taste test

At the display counter there are mouth wateringly tasty looking spiced meats and an array of toppings.

Long gone are the days when the premises were filled with the unmistakable smell of fish and chips frying, the former chippy has now re-branded to sell Turkish cuisine since re-opening three weeks ago.

Located at 66 London Road, opposite the Sainsbury’s, it used to be called Henry Higgins fish and chips bar.

Tantuni - owner Ali in the restaurant (Image: Tantuni)

On the day I visited Tantuni the friendly and charismatic owner Ali Recai was there.

Ali had decided to adapt the business after the rapid increase in the price of fish in recent years.

I asked him how things have been going since the re-brand.

“This is the third week and things have been going well. People love the food and the fact they can pick what toppings they want, like Subway, and that the meat is freshly cooked. It is Turkish street food,” said Ali, 53, who has been running restaurants since 1986.

“You have to adapt to survive in business these days, so we had to re-brand, and it is going well.”

Good selection - meat and toppings on offer (Image: Tantuni)

On the menu there are Turkish wraps served with Turkish bread and a choice of meats and burgers.

I ordered a mix grilled wrap with chicken, beef and lamb. Watching the meat sizzling on the grill along with the large Turkish flat bread, it looked enticing.

Once the meat was on the bread I had a choice of toppings. I went for the mixed salad, garlic mayo, jalapenos and chilli (Ali warned me to drink lots while eating the spicy combo) and salad.

Ali is very attentive with the customers and makes sure to check if salt is wanted on chips, sauces on the side and any extras, to make sure each of his customers get exactly what they want.

The large wrap, bursting with filling, was then expertly wrapped up like a swaddled baby and presented to me with a side order of piping hot chips.

Taste test

Mega wrap - the mixed grill wrap with toppings (Image: Newsquest staff)

I took my order to takeaway and when I got to open it up I was greeted with a Turkish feast of flatbread that had a delicious chewiness to it and then the tasty meat followed by the heat of the spices, which packed a punch, but weren’t over powering.

I didn’t get to try the fish and chips, but I can say for a fact they know what they are doing when it comes to Turkish food.