A food journey to East Helsinki

Guys standing on the first level of Puhos mall giving thumbs up to the camera, the guy on the right holding a grate of food on his shoulder. There are crowds standing on the balcony of the circular mall.
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East Helsinki offers much to discover for culinary explorers, making it easy to become acquainted with the fascinating food cultures of the Middle East, Turkey, and Caucasus. The Puhos and Kontula shopping centres attract food lovers from near and far – and our food expert Timo Santala is here to lead the way.

Authentic shish kebab, delicious charcoal-grilled skewers, shawarma, entire stuffed roast chicken, and even rarer specialties like slow-cooked lamb’s head, followed by the best baklava in town and strong mint tea for dessert…

The old Puhos shopping centre in particular is a real multicultural hotspot that houses not only fascinating food shops but also restaurants specialising in Middle Eastern and Turkish cuisine, such as Kirkuk, Arbailo, and Newroz 21. For baklava and other sweet and nutty Middle Eastern treats, head to Diwan Bagdad and Kardinia Sweets

Another concentration of interesting restaurants can be found at the Kontula shopping centre, such as the Syrian Damaskino with its grilled kabbah skewers, the Turkish Antalya, and Tikke and its famous shish kebab.   

Flavours from the Caucasus can be found at Dalika at the Mellunmäki shopping centre, and Ben’s Way, a Chinese restaurant near the Itäkeskus shopping centre. 

Puhos and Kontula are easily reached by metro or bus, so you don’t have to be a local to enjoy their restaurants. Best of all, these restaurants are often easy on your wallet, so you can embark on a journey of flavour even on a modest budget.

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East Helsinki offers much to discover for culinary explorers, making it easy to become acquainted with the fascinating food cultures of the Middle East, Turkey, and Caucasus.