The best Middle Eastern restaurants in London

What is it? Nostalgic-meets-elevated Iranian in Soho. 

Why we love it: Starting its humble beginnings in 2018, it only took a year for Berenjak to receive a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and it's held onto the impressive achievement ever since. Founder Kian Samyani has since opened the doors to another Berenjak outpost in Borough. It’s impossible to mention Berenjak without recommending the black hummus. And before you say ‘Hummus isn’t Persian’, any sceptic will be silenced, because it really is that good, and has to be scooped up using both types of flatbread – the taftoon, a clay tanoor-baked sourdough, and sangak, which is baked on pebbles. But save room for the main event: kebabs. We recommend one minced lamb koobideh, and jujeh, which comprises boneless chicken breast marinated in saffron, lemon and yoghurt, alongside an array of sides, such as the fried potatoes, saffron rice and torshi. 

Time Out tip: Be warned, the watermelon shumpine (a mix of rose vodka, watermelon and refreshing fizz) goes down a little too easily.

Address: 27 Romilly Street, Soho, W1D 5AL. 

Opening hours: Mon 5.30-11pm, Tue-Fri 12-3pm & 5.30-11pm, Sat 12-11pm, Sun closed.

Expect to pay: Sides from £4 and kebabs £19 to £45.

What is it? Sleek Syrian cooking in Soho.

Why we love it: After his three restaurants in Damascus were destroyed during war, Imad Alarnab sought asylum with his family in London in 2015. He started showcasing his cooking through a series of charity events and extremely popular supper clubs until he eventually opened his Soho restaurant in 2020. Visit for breakfast and age-old favourites like shakshuka, as well as playful twists on classics, such as shawarma benedict. Lunch and dinner service are a beautifully presented ode to Syria, including signature falafels, recognised by a dimple in the middle, and finished with pickled red onions. For those with a big appetite, or large groups who want to share, order the mudakhan ghanam – a perfectly tender large lamb shoulder. 

Time Out tip: The express lunch runs from Mon-Fri 12-4pm and offers a little bit of all the favourites for just £23.50 for the vegetarian offering and £24.50 for the chicken or lamb.

Address: Top Floor, Kingly Court, Soho, W1B 5PW.

Opening hours: Mon-Wed 8.30am-9.30pm, Thur-Fri 8.30am-10pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm.

Expect to pay: £9-9.90 for mezze dishes and £19 to £20 for larger plates.

What is it? No-frills Turkish street food on a Haringey side street.

Why we love it: This spot proves you don’t need bells and whistles when it comes to decor - if the food is this good then it quickly becomes the stuff of legend. Slightly off the smokey streets of Green Lanes and its back-to-back mangal restaurants is Durak Tantuni. For over two decades this small and mighty late-night spot has served up just two simple things – well, one thing but in two different types of bread. Spiced lamb mince cooks in the middle of a wide silver pan and you can choose from a wrap or chunkier bread, making it more of a sandwich. Neither disappoint. Served with sumac onions and a wedge of lemon, it’s food simplicity royalty and a midnight meal that you won’t regret in the morning. 

Time Out tip: Double up on the wrap for an extra 50p in order to be truly satisfied.

Address: 390 West Green Road, Haringey, N15 3PX.

Opening hours: Every day 12pm-2am.

Expect to pay: £4.50 for a single wrap, £5 for a double and £9 in bread.

What is it? Modern Palestinian food in a plush Notting Hill townhouse.

Why we love it: From the West Bank to west London, chef Fadi Kattan's culinary prowess bridges cultures through contemporary, heartfelt cooking. Fadi opened his first restaurant Fawda in his hometown of Bethlehem and Akub came to Notting Hill in 2023. Menu highlights include the bukjet mousakhan – the national dish of Palestine reimagined as a bread parcel – as well as prawn zibdiyyeh with tomato, chilli, dill and micro herbs. Always order these two desserts: the dead sea chocolate cake and the hilbeh baba topped with cream and pistachios. 

Time Out tip: Go for brunch and indulge in French toast with whipped laban and homemade Arabic coffee syrup.

Address: 27 Uxbridge Street, Notting Hill, W8 7TQ. 

Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue-Thu 12-3pm & 6-11pm, Fri 11am-3pm & 6-11.30pm, Sat 11am-3pm & 6-11.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £8 to £15, large plates £15 to £31.

What is it? A cosy Syrian and Lebanese that impresses no matter the occasion

Why we love it: From the rustic brick walls, to the smell of grilled meats and fantastic service, there’s so much about Palmyra’s that invites you in to take a seat. Order a mix of mezze starters – the tabbouleh, labneh and chicken liver are essential – and pretty much anything from the charcoal grill. We especially love the baby chicken and the kafta khosh-khash, which is served with a special tomato sauce packed with a spicy hit. 

Time Out tip: Order all three desserts – knafeh, mouhalabieh milk pudding and Lebanese rice pudding – because you won’t be able to choose a favourite. 

Address: 5-7 Wells Terrace, Finsbury Park, N4 3JU.

Opening hours: Every day 12pm-12am

Expect to pay: Mezze dishes from £7.75, larger plates £16.75 to £20.99.

What is it? A selection of Iraq’s most adored dishes in Borough Market. 

Why we love it: Headed by Phillip Juma, Juma Kitchen serves up the dishes that Iraqis adore and they do it really, really well. Within the crowd-drawing Borough Market you’ll find the Juma Kitchen stall, marked by its large ‘KUBBA’ sign – a dish you truly can’t miss out on. An Iraqi cuisine signature, these deep-fried rice dumplings are filled with minced lamb and homemade spice mixes, and are super crunchy and completely addictive. Try the kebabs grilled to order on the barbecue, and don’t miss out on the potato croquette-esque mushroom chap with tamarind sauce. 

Time Out tip: Visit on their iconic Dolma Sundays, where chef Phillip prepares one large pot of dolma and flips it at 1pm sharp for diners to buy a portion.

Address: Borough Market Kitchen, Winchester Walk, Borough, SE1 9AG.

Opening hours: Every day 10am-5pm.

What is it? A falafel lovers’ paradise. 

Why we love it: Mr Falafel himself is a proud Palestinian, and this small grab and go spot has an impeccable reputation for out-of-this-world falafels. He’s not reinventing the wheel by any means, but representing an oft-neglected appetizer in all its glory. Crunchy, moist and full of flavour, the falafels do the iconic dish justice and they’re offered simply; in wraps or salad boxes. Depending how hungry you are, you can choose from four wrap sizes, and we recommend taking a portion of loose falafels home for the next day’s lunch. 

Time Out tip: Don’t leave without some Palestinian-made products, such as olive oil and za’atar, to add to your pantry.

Address: New Shepherds Bush Market, Units T4/T5, Uxbridge Road, W12 8LH.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun closed.

Expect to pay: Wraps £4 to £7.50.

What is it? Dalston’s cult-favourite Turkish.

Why we love it: When dad Ali opened the first Mangal Ocakbaşı in Dalston in the 1990s, he cemented the Dirik family name in the London foodie scene, but sons Ferhat and Sertaç have kept it thriving. Mangal II keeps tradition alive with the open kitchen, but this smart space presents a contemporary approach to classic Turkish cuisine. A freshly baked pide made with on-trend sourdough is a fitting amalgamation of the Dirik’s heritage and the restaurant’s cool Dalston location, while the ex-dairy beef rib is quite the show stopper. When it comes to dessert both the pecan and apricot baklava, and tahini tart are exceptional. 

Time Out tip: Pick up a copy of the cookbook Mangal II: Stories & Recipes if you want to attempt recreating the Dirik magic at home.

Address: 4 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, N16 7XN.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5.30-11pm, Fri-Sat 12-3pm & 5.30-11pm, Sun closed.

Expect to pay: Starters from £4.50, larger plates from £22.50, dessert £9.50 to £11.

What is it? A family-run Kurdish restaurant in Camberwell. 

Why we love it: Meaning ‘kitchen’ in Kurdish, Nandine offers that rare-to-find feeling of being in a loved-one’s home. That’s all down to its owners: the Baban family. Pary and her husband Pola founded the south London restaurant after displacement and war forced them to immigrate from their Kurdish hometown of Qaladze. Hearty, wholesome and shareable, these words encapsulate Middle Eastern food and all these boxes are ticked at Nandine. After ordering mezze, it’s essential to try the Lulu kebab; made using a mix of lamb flank and mutton, the texture is light, flaky and crispy, which is unique to Kurdish cooking. Two scoops of dried lime ice cream is the perfect palette cleanser to finish.

Time Out tip: The mezzanine seats three people so request this if you’re eating out as a trio.

Address: 45 Camberwell Church Street, Camberwell, SE5 8TR

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5-11pm, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates for under £10 and grilled items from £9.50 to £22.

What is it? A Lebanese bakery in the heart of Victoria.

Why we love it: The first thing you’ll notice about Common Breads is a window filled with Middle Eastern baked bread called ka’ak, like little handbags hung up in a boutique, and the second thing is the smell of freshly baked bread. Inspired by the bakeries in Beirut, this spot offers traditional Lebanese ka’ak and manouche (a flatbread) topped or filled with Middle Eastern flavours, such as Palestinian mushakhan rethought as manouche or a ka’ak with lamb shawarma stuffing. Every manouche is rolled, topped and baked to order, keeping it as close to the real thing as possible. And for those with a sweet tooth, the bakery has recently launched a knafeh ka’ak – crispy kadayif with soft, gooey cheese soaked in syrup and tucked into a ka’ak. It is pure indulgence. 

Time Out tip: Purchase some jarred condiments, such as spicy za’atar oil, to take home. 

Address: 110 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, SW1W 9SA.

Opening hours: Every day 8am-6pm.

Expect to pay: Ka’ak from £4.90 to £9.90, manouche from £7.50 to £11.50.

What is it? A sweet Persian cafe and cooking class.

Why we love it: It’s always a pleasure to visit somewhere and be served by the owners themselves, and that’s what makes Maryam’s Kitchen special. Maryam, from the south of Iran, and her husband Khosro from the north, blend their different regional cuisines and cultures to create this engaging cafe, supper club and cooking class space. The duo will welcome you as if you were old family friends and explain that the menu changes every month. Each Saturday features a special from the south of Iran and almost every recipe has been passed down through generations. Daily specials mean there’s always something new to try, while the à la carte menu is a beautiful mix of Persian classics, such as the national dish of Iran, a stew called ghormeh sabzi, and dishes from the Middle East including bamyeh – an okra stew. If you’re here for the crispy tadhig rice (we don’t blame you) you can learn to make it yourself at their cookery class, which is held on the last Saturday of the month, or you can enjoy it at their popular supper clubs on the last Friday of every month. 

Time Out tip: Book ahead for their supper club and cooking classes as they’re always busy and don’t take walk-ins. 

Address: 82 St Mary's Place, Ealing, W5 5EX. 

Opening hours: Sun-Mon closed, Tue-Sat 9.30am-3pm.

Expect to pay: £15 for main meals, cooking class £60pp, supper clubs £55 to £70pp.

What is it? A very lively Palestinian restaurant in Notting Hill.

Why we love it: If you’re on TikTok you might have noticed this restaurant on your For You page – it’s the place that welcomes diners dancing on the tables to well-known Arabic songs. Maramia’s verdant exterior truly catches the eye, which is impressive in photogenic Notting Hill, and that feeling doesn’t go away once inside; long wooden tables with melted candles set a charming tone, and the walls tell stories of Palestine, from original maps to the handpainted Al-Aqsa mosque. A traditional mezze of falafales, hummus and Gaza salad awaits, and you shouldn’t skip a single one when dining as a large group. Meanwhile, maftoul couscous and mousakhan roasted chicken live up to the Palestinian expectations in both taste and generosity. A long list of Levantine wines and beers helps to wash it all down nicely. 

Time Out tip: Book an 8.30pm dinner slot and stay on for their infamous party. 

Address: 48 Golborne Road, Notting Hill, W10 5PR. 

Opening hours: Mon 12-10pm, Tue 6-11pm, Wed-Sat 12-4pm & 6-11pm, Sun 12-4pm & 6-10pm.

Expect to pay: From £7.95 to £9.50 for mezze, from £18.95 to £27 for large dishes.

What is it? Casual Kurdish dining. 

Why we love it: Being in Peckham really suits Hanar. It’s quirky, full of life and you won’t forget it in a flash. You’ll find it under the railway arches, complete with a terrace that’s a little rickety but cosy and candlelit. The usual suspects find their way onto the menu – from baba ganoush to cucumber and yoghurt dip – but it’s the unusual ones that warrant extra love, such as a pistachio and lentil dip, and a chopped pistachio, pomegranate and mint dish. Order the unbelievably tender chicken shawarma. Hanar delivers on everything from outstanding food to reasonable prices. 

Time Out tip: They only serve soft drinks, but it’s BYO and you won’t be hard pressed to find an off-licence on Peckham Rye. 

Address: Arch 163 Peckham Rye, Peckham, SE15 4ST.

Opening hours: Sun-Mon closed, Tue-Fri 5-11pm, Sat 1-11pm.

Expect to pay: Mezze platters from £13.90, large plates from £14 to £16.

What is it? The holy grail of 2am chicken and chips.

Why we love it: If you live in south London, your late-night Uber ride home has probably passed the busy Lebanese Grill and its long queue of hungry diners. It’s one of the few times it’s absolutely justifiable to ask the driver to pull up. Renowned for its boxes of boneless grilled chicken thighs, this is the MVP of late-night kebab shops. We recommend ordering half chicken, rice and chips, and both the spicy and garlic sauces. This could truly be south London’s finest post-midnight meal.

Time Out tip: The sign outside says they won’t chop your chicken but a cash tip will help.

Address: 173 New Kent Road, SE1 4AG.

Opening hours: Every day 12pm-2am 

Expect to pay: Wraps from £5.99, shish box meals from £7.99.

What is it? Friendly Syrian restaurant in Shepherd’s Bush. 

Why we love it: Meaning ‘the olden days’ in Arabic, Ayam Zaman is a laid-back, inviting spot on the busy Uxbridge Road. Expect classic Middle Eastern dishes presented in the traditional way, and designed to share. When it comes to mezze, the kibbeh shamieh – fried dumplings made using bulgar wheat – delivers on crunch and has a tender lamb filling, while the muhammara is extremely moreish and mukanek sausages will wake up your tastebuds with deep spices. If you’re indecisive on mains, play it safe and get the mixed grill so you get to try a few of their best grilled meats. 

Time Out tip: Visit at the weekend for the majestic manakeesh, which is only available on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Address: 258 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush, W12 7JA.

Opening hours: Every day 11am-11pm.

Expect to pay: Mezze from £4.95, main meals from £14.95.

What is it? A chic space serving soulful and modern Lebanese food.

Why we love it: Whether impressing on a date or catching up with foodie friends, you’ll feel nourished and well looked after at Berut Bistro. Make sure you order the hummus, which is perfectly thick, creamy and rich with tahini, and comes topped with extra virgin olive oil and sesame seeds. If you’re happy to crank the richness up a notch, order the hummus ras asfour with beef chunks. The slow-roast lamb is non-negotiable for mains and pairs well with an uber-tangy fattoush salad.

Time Out tip: Ask for the four-person table by the window for an extra-special experience.

Address: 32 Paddington Street, Marylebone, W1U 4HE. 

Opening hours: Mon 12-10pm, Tue-Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 11.30am-9.30pm. 

Expect to pay: Starters £8.50 to £10.50, small plates £9 to £14, bigger plates £24 to £29.

What is it? Super traditional Iraqi food in a unique location.

Why we love it: Okay, so you’re in an industrial estate, but Al Enam defies its stark location with incredible authentic Iraqi flavours. Before you’ve even fully sat down, a free bowl of bright yellow shorbat adas (lentil soup) will arrive with crispy fried bread and a wedge of lemon. That’s Iraqi hospitality for you. Al Enam is a great entry point for someone who’s yet to try the region’s cuisine. Order the slow-cooked lamb on rice, also known as lamb quzi, and pick the bamye as your choice of stew to accompany it – it’s what Iraqis would do. But it’s breakfast that takes centre stage here. Choose the kahi and geymar, a flakey pastry soaked in syrup with a homemade clotted cream, for something sweet, and for something savoury it has to be the basturma (a spiced and dry-cured beef sausage) and eggs. Close your eyes and you could be in a Baghdad food market, rather than Acton Business Centre. 

Time Out tip: Go for breakfast between 10am and 2pm. 

Address: Acton Business Centre, School Road, Acton, NW10 6TD.

Opening hours: Wed-Mon 10am-6pm, Tues closed.

Expect to pay: Mezze starts from £4.50 and a sharing mixed grill at £22.

What is it? Homecooked Lebanese food and warm hospitality.

Why we love it: At Al Waha the decor is simple and well presented, but you’re not coming here to bask in the interiors, you’re here to enjoy exceptional food. Best enjoyed with a bunch of friends who like to share, order a mix of cold and hot mezze plates; we especially recommend the falafel, hummus, moutabel, kibbeh and chicken livers. Then it’s to the grill. The seabass and lamb fillet are particularly delicious, as is the laham meshawi with its grilled lamb cubes, and kofte kishkash, made from minced lamb on skewers and served with spicy sauce. Which is basically the whole menu – well, we did tell you to go in a group. 

Time Out tip: Opt for the mix and match mezze menu when you want to try a little bit of your favourites. Choose three dishes from the cold and hot starters for £23.50

Address: 75 Westbourne Grove, W2 4UL.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5-10pm, Sat-Sun 12-10pm.

Expect to pay: Mezze from £6, from the grill £15.50 to £17.50.

What is it? Where Yemeni food is celebrated and everyone is invited. 

Why we love it: When you go visit a Yemeni restaurant in London and see big tables of families dining together, you know you’re in the right place. Queen of Sheba’s trad menu includes ratab bread with its fluffy layers and folds dripping in rich butter, as well as laham madfoon which is a masterclass in slow-cooked lamb. To finish? Fattat banana with cream is sweet from the fruit and salty thanks to the bread. Don’t blame us if you end up ordering an extra one to take home. 

Time Out tip: If you enjoy eating with your hands, you’re more than welcome to do so here.

Address: 3-4 Bouverie Place, Paddington, W2 1RE.

Opening hours: Every day 11am-11pm.

Expect to pay: Appetizers from £5.50, main courses from £18.

What is it? Buzzy Kuwaiti spot in Knightsbridge.

Why we love it: With its novelty decor and large portions, what’s not to love about Freej Swaileh? Just across the road from Harrods, this place gets busy, but that’s what you get when you have prime real estate in Knightsbridge, especially when such an underrepresented cuisine is on offer. Order from the Kuwaiti Dishes section of the menu and you’ll be served a large plate of rice with tender pieces of meat on top, such as the mutton majbous which is particularly astounding. 

Time Out tip: Book ahead or be prepared to wait an hour at the weekend for a table.

Address: 86 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, SW3 1ER.

Opening hours: Every day 9am-11pm.

Expect to pay: Starters from £7.50, Kuwaiti dishes from £16.68, from the grill £11.99 to £43.99.