There is so much to love about Middle Eastern cooking and dining. With its vast culture from Palestine to Lebanon to Turkey and Iran, London boasts a dynamic food scene with a variety of options to choose from. From regional cooking techniques to unique spaces, it’s no lie that Middle Eastern cuisine has long been one of the capital’s favourites. Offering everything from dips and bread to grilled meats and kebabs, these are places you must try at least once.
How we handpick the best Middle Eastern restaurants in London
Each restaurant on this list has been carefully chosen by a member of our team. Our editors and the Secret London team rely on personal experiences, recommendations, editorial reviews, customer feedback, and thorough research to bring you the finest dining spots in the city. We are constantly on the lookout for new places with delicious food and excellent service. This list is regularly updated as we discover new openings and revisit established favourites.
So here are some of the best restaurants for Middle Eastern food in London:
1. Akub, Notting Hill
Chef Fadi Kattan’s Palestinian restaurant, Akub, is located in the heart of Notting Hill. The restaurant features an inverted butterfly roof and walls adorned with arabesque William Morris pomegranates and the menu showcases Palestinian cuisine with a modern twist, focusing on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Dishes such as the buket mousakhan – succulent chicken, onion and sumac served in a bread parcel and the slow cooked lamb neck with fenugreek, cumin, all spice and red shatta mayo are incredibly homely and warm just like the rest of the ethos of Akub.
Best Dish Recommendation: Shish Barak – parcels of delicately spiced pumpkin.
Address: 27 Uxbridge St, London W8 7TQ
Nearest Tube Station: Notting Hill Gate
2. Bubala, Spitalfields
‘Bubala’ is a Yiddish term of endearment for ‘darling’ and so rightfully, the menu embraces gorgeous Middle-Eastern flavours packed in sharing plates that may look small but trust me are filling and fulfilling. Originally starting as a pop up, they now have two restaurants in Soho and Spitalfields. With no veggie “substitutes,” they embrace all and every kind of vegetable on the menu and it’s done beautifully. If you’re a bread and dips kinda person, you’ll have a field day with the choices. Pair the laffa bread with the hummus and burnt butter, laben with confit garlic and za’atar and the babaganoush with curry leaf oil, pine nuts. Definitely get your hands on the Oyster mushroom skewer, tamari, coriander seed, smacked cucumbers drizzled with tahini and chilli, halloumi with chamomile and fennel honey. The Butter lettuce, quince molasses, chestnut & sesame and Confit potato latkes, toum are absolutely divine and must-trys!
Best Dish Recommendation: Butter lettuce, quince molasses, chestnut & sesame and Confit potato latkes
Address: 65A Commercial St, London E1 6BD
Nearest Tube Station: Aldgate East
3. Berenjak, Soho and Borough
Berenjak brings the rich, authentic flavors of Persian cuisine to the heart of London, inspired by the traditional neighbourhood eateries of Tehran. Although more well-known and therefore a bit busier, Berenjak’s home-style dishes make it a must-visit.
Best Dish Recommendation: Jujeh Kabab – Boneless chicken breast, saffron, lemon, yoghurt, tomato, Barreh Kabab Tond – Lamb rump chunks marinated in chilli, tarragon and yoghurt
Address: 27 Romilly St, London W1D 5AL
Nearest Tube Station: Leicester Square
4. Yeni, Soho
Inspired by traditional open-fire cooking and regional dishes from Turkey, Chef Civan Er offers a modern twist on a traditional Turkish menu where guests are able to watch their meals being cooked at the back of the restaurant. Designed to share, you must try a bit of everything.
Address: 55 Beak St, Carnaby, W1F 9SH
Nearest Tube Station: Oxford Circus
5. The Palomar, Soho
The Palomar offers a vibrant menu influenced by the cultures of Southern Spain, North Africa, and the Levant. The restaurant is known for its open kitchen bar, creating an energetic atmosphere. The dishes are designed to be shared, making it a perfect spot for big friend group dinners!
Best Dish Recommendation: Grilled aubergine with tahini, cucumber yoghurt, and cherry tomatoes.
Address: 34 Rupert St, London W1D 6DN
Nearest Tube Station: Piccadilly Circus
6. Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, Soho
mad’s Syrian Kitchen is a Middle Eastern gem found right in the heart of Soho on the top floor of Kingly Court. Run by Imad Alarnab, a successful restaurateur from Damascus who tragically had to flee Syria during the war, his menu pays complete homage to his homeland.
Here you’ll be able to tuck into traditional dishes such as ‘Shish Tawook’ – grilled chicken strips with paprika garlic crisps and tomato mayo – and ‘Sharihat Ghanam’ – a succulent lamb fillet doused in sun-dried tomatoes which you can mop up with pitta bread.
Best Dish Recommendation: Shish Tawook (grilled chicken strips).
Address: 2.14 Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby St, London W1B 5PW
Nearest Tube Station: Oxford Circus
7. Nandine, Camberwell
Nandine has earned its place as one of Camberwell’s best restaurants not only because of its amazing Kurdish food but because of its cozy home-like feel. The menu is inspired by head chef Pary Baban’s travels in her native country of Kurdistan. On the brunch menu you can try sharing plates like the shakshuka which is a dish with slow-cooked tomatoes, onions and spices, with baked runny eggs served with bread on the side, the lula kebab is stunning spiced minced lamb, kebab like meat on a flatbread with grilled onion, tomato and green pepper. The mezze dips and bread are a must try too!
Address: 82 Vestry Rd, SE5 8PQ.
Nearest tube station: Denmark Hill
8. Shuk, Borough Market
Shuk, located in Borough Market, serves Israeli food with a focus on stuffed pitas and salads. The menu includes hot pitas filled with lamb sofrito, pickled red cabbage, and other flavorful ingredients. The vibrant and casual setting makes it a great spot for a quick yet satisfying meal.
Best Dish Recommendation: Lamb sofrito pita
Address: Borough Market Kitchen, Jubilee Pl, Winchester Walk, London SE1 9AG
Nearest Tube Station: London Bridge
9. Berber & Q, Haggerston
Bringing together smokey barbeque and culinary influences from North Africa and the Middle East, ex-Ottolenghi chef Josh Katz’s Haggerston railway arch haunts Berber & Q nails two major food trends.
This restaurant offers dishes including Grilled chicken with preserved lemon, black olive, saffron and an orange glaze and honey-roasted aubergine with fermented kohlrabi, tahini dressing and hazelnut dukkah.
Best Dish Recommendation: Harissa-spiced slow-roasted lamb
Address: 338 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA
Nearest Tube Station: Haggerston (Overground)
10. The Barbary, Notting Hill
The Barbary’s second site is inspired by “the cuisines and countries of the Barbary Coast, from Southern Europe to Northern Africa.” And it’s busy, so be prepared to queue. The restaurant features a reimagined horseshoe kitchen counter and a dedicated cocktail bar, making it a perfect spot for both dining and socialising.
Address: 112 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RU
Nearest Tube Station: Westbourne Park