Enfes

Walk into Enfes and you're in the thick of it: a proper neighbourhood Turkish spot that's clearly struck a chord with Sunderland. The menu reads like a greatest hits of Turkish cuisine—you're looking at everything from intricate meze spreads to chargrilled meats that actually taste like someone knows what they're doing. At around £15-25 per head, it's the kind of place locals return to regularly, not because it's trying too hard, but because the food consistently delivers. The vibe is unpretentious and genuinely welcoming, the sort of room where you can have a quiet dinner or bring a group and make proper noise about it.