The Best Middle Eastern Food In London
Middle Eastern food has become one of London’s defining cuisines, and rightly so. Across the capital, you’ll find everything from Persian kebab houses and Turkish ocakbaşı grills to elegant Palestinian tasting menus, vibrant Syrian cooking and some of the city’s best vegetarian restaurants. What unites them all is a generosity of spirit: meals designed for sharing, tables covered in colourful mezze, warm flatbreads and dishes layered with smoke, spice and fresh herbs.
Whether you’re craving charcoal-grilled lamb, silky hummus, saffron rice or flame-cooked vegetables, these are the Middle Eastern restaurants worth booking.
Naroon
Naroon brings contemporary Persian cooking to Marylebone and Fitzrovia, pairing beautifully presented dishes with warm hospitality and elegant interiors. The menu celebrates Iranian classics, from saffron-scented rice dishes and slow-cooked stews to expertly grilled kebabs, making it a refined introduction to Persian cuisine. Don’t leave without trying one of the restaurant’s fragrant rice dishes, which showcase the precision and balance that define Persian cooking. Top tip: save room for dessert!
Where: Fitzrovia & Marylebone
Website: www.naroon.co.uk
Killis Kitchen
Family-run Killis Kitchen has built a loyal following for its generous Turkish cooking centred around the charcoal grill. Expect freshly baked breads, colourful mezze and beautifully cooked kebabs served in a welcoming neighbourhood setting that feels just as suited to a midweek dinner as a long weekend lunch. It’s perfect for a leisurely Turkish breakfast, a generous buffet with everything you could want.
Where: 4 Theberton St, London N1 0QX
Website: www.kilis.co.uk
If you’re visiting with friends, ask for a large table at the back. Clearly made for lingering over endless cups of Turkish tea while working your way through excessive amounts of cheeses, olives, breads, eggs, jams and all the classic Turkish breakfast dishes.
Caitlin, Senior Campaign Success Manager
Berenjak
Inspired by the traditional kababi houses of Tehran, Berenjak has become one of London’s defining Persian restaurants. The fluffy taftoon bread, black hummus and perfectly charred koobideh kebabs are all essential orders, while the lively dining room makes every meal feel like a celebration. Even if you’re visiting for the first time, the menu makes it easy to order generously and share everything.
Where:multiple locations
Website:www.berenjak.com
Berenjak has been on my list for a while and, after managing to secure a walk-in booking the other week, I can confirm the buzz isn’t going anywhere. My top menu rec? The dips. Specifically, the kashk e bademjoon (coal-cooked aubergine) for a savoury start to the meal and mast o khiar (cucumber and yoghurt) for something more refreshing.
Natasha, Digital Editor
Imad’s Syrian Kitchen
Chef Imad Alarnab’s Soho restaurant is as much about storytelling as it is exceptional food. The menu celebrates the flavours of Syria through generous mezze, fragrant stews, shawarma and beautifully spiced grilled dishes, all inspired by the recipes Imad once served in Damascus. It’s a restaurant that feels deeply personal, with every dish carrying a sense of history and home.
Where: 2.5, Top Floor, Kingly Ct, Carnaby St, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW
Website: www.imadssyriankitchen.co.uk
If you are looking to try some Syrian cuisine in London, I’d argue there is no better place to start. I stumbled upon this spot on a whim and it has become my go-to in the city. The Baba ghanoush is truly unmatched.
Amelia, Culture & Lifestyle Writer/Creator
Bubala
Bubala proves you don’t need meat to create one of London’s most exciting Middle Eastern meals. The entirely vegetarian menu transforms vegetables, labneh, flatbreads and inventive small plates into dishes that are every bit as satisfying as their charcoal-grilled counterparts. Even committed carnivores are unlikely to miss the meat here.
Where: multiple locations
Website: www.bubala.co.uk
Bubala’s set menu is such a great choice for a warm summer’s night when the wine is flowing. It’s great value, and shows how veg can shine when prepped with intent! The dips are a highlight.
Mallory, Junior Food & Drink Editor
Akub
Chef Fadi Kattan’s Notting Hill restaurant brings Palestinian cooking into a contemporary fine-dining setting. Seasonal British ingredients meet traditional Palestinian flavours, creating elegant dishes that celebrate one of the region’s richest culinary traditions. It’s a thoughtful, beautifully executed restaurant that offers something genuinely different within London’s dining scene.
Where: 27 Uxbridge St, London W8 7TQ
Website: www.akub-restaurant.com
Mangal 2
One of London’s most influential Turkish restaurants, Mangal 2 combines the traditions of the classic ocakbaşı with a modern, seasonal approach. Fire plays a central role throughout the menu, from beautifully grilled meats to inventive vegetable dishes and house-made breads. The constantly changing menu means there’s usually something new to discover with every visit.
Where: 4 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7XN
Website: www.mangal2.com
The Palomar
A Soho favourite since opening, The Palomar draws inspiration from the cuisines of Jerusalem and the wider Levant. Counter dining, energetic service and bold flavours make it one of the capital’s most consistently exciting restaurants, whether you’re ordering kubaneh bread, octopus or one of its ever-changing seasonal specials. Sitting at the counter is all part of the experience if you can get a seat.
Where: 34 Rupert St, London W1D 6DN
Website: https://thepalomar.co.uk
In my opinion, this is some of the best counter dining in London. Amazing cocktails, amazing starters, and the cucumber salad is phenomenal!
Mallory, Junior Food & Drink Editor
Berut Bistro
This Marylebone favourite delivers everything you’d hope for from a classic Lebanese restaurant. Expect creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanoush, grilled meats, fresh salads and generous sharing platters in a relaxed neighbourhood setting that’s ideal for groups. It’s a reliable choice when you’re after comforting food and generous portions without any fuss.
Where: 32 Paddington St, London W1U 4HE
Website: www.berut.co.uk
Rovi
While Ottolenghi’s ROVI pulls inspiration from across the Mediterranean, the Middle East remains firmly at its heart. Vegetables take centre stage alongside expertly cooked meat and seafood, with fermentation, live-fire cooking and bold spices running throughout the menu. It’s one of the best places in London to see just how creative vegetable-led cooking can be.
Where: 59 Wells Street, Fitzrovia, 59-65 Wells St, London W1A 3AE
Website: www.ottolenghi.co.uk
The Barbary
Hidden away in Neal’s Yard, The Barbary has become one of London’s modern classics. Inspired by the Barbary Coast of North Africa, the intimate counter restaurant focuses on live-fire cooking, warm breads, bold spices and dishes that arrive almost as quickly as you can order them. The open kitchen and counter seating create an atmosphere that’s every bit as memorable as the food.
Where: 16 Neal’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP
Website: www.thebarbary.co.uk
Honey & Co
Few restaurants feel as welcoming as Honey & Co. The husband-and-wife team have spent years introducing Londoners to the flavours of the Eastern Mediterranean through generous breakfasts, colourful lunches and comforting dinners filled with pastries, grilled meats and exceptional baking. Be sure to leave room for dessert, as the bakery is every bit as impressive as the savoury menu.
Where: multiple locations
Website: www.honeyandco.co.uk
Nopi
NOPI blends Ottolenghi’s unmistakable Middle Eastern influences with flavours from across the Mediterranean and Asia. The result is a menu built around vibrant vegetables, inventive sharing plates and beautifully balanced combinations that continue to make it one of Soho’s most popular restaurants. It’s a brilliant option for groups who want to try a little bit of everything and love to share.
Where: 21-22 Warwick St, London W1B 5NE
Website: www.ottolenghi.co.uk
Berber & Q
Cooking almost exclusively over fire, Berber & Q takes inspiration from North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Charred cauliflower shawarma, smoked meats and colourful salads all showcase just how versatile live-fire cooking can be. The restaurant strikes the perfect balance between laid-back neighbourhood dining and destination-worthy cooking.
Where: 338 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA
Website: www.berberandq.com
Oren
Small, intimate and effortlessly cool, Oren brings the flavours of Tel Aviv to Dalston through seasonal sharing plates and excellent natural wines. The menu changes regularly, but expect vibrant vegetables, grilled meats, fresh seafood and the sort of cooking that encourages ordering one more plate than you probably need. It’s exactly the kind of neighbourhood restaurant you’ll find yourself becoming a reguler in.
Where: 89 Shacklewell Lane, Dalston, London, E8 2EB
Website: www.orenlondon.com
