The best Middle Eastern restaurants in London

From the team behind Palomar, The Barbary serves up the increasingly popular Israeli cuisine. From grilled swordfish to goat stew, if you liked Palomar, The Barbary’s rustic interiors and exciting menu are a must try.

Located in what some would call the Middle Eastern capital of London, Edgware Road, Maroush is a long-time favourite of  those who look for a regular dose of simple Middle Eastern cuisine. Shawarmas are what they are best known for but the stews are worth a try too.

A favourite of Middle Eastern families visiting the city for the summer, you can be sure that Ishbilia will serve only the most authentic dishes and experience to match. With an outdoor terrace great for summer lunches you’ll find charcoal grilled kebabs, moutabel and stew with rice.

As one of the few restaurants in the city specialising in specifically Iranian cuisine, Nutshell was a welcome addition to the City and booked up for months at a time. Baba ganoush and turmeric potato brik pastry parcels are a few dishes worth mentioning here.

With riverside views, a menu filled with the classics, think baba gannouj, foul moudamas and lamb cutlets, friendly staff still make this London restaurant seem like it and all its visitors are part of a community.  Don’t forget to enjoy a shisha by the river before you leave either.

Combining North African and Middle Eastern cuisine, Josh Katz’s (former Ottolenghi chef) industrial archway restaurant offers up cauliflower shawarma and sticky harissa chicken wings. Berber & Q is no reservation though so get there quick.

Featuring a traditional oçakbasi-grilled, you’ll find the middle eastern staple of grilled meats in abundance here. Sharing mezze dishes work as a great starter before you move onto meatier options you can watch cook right in front of you.

Berenjak has all the typical features you’d find in a middle eastern restaurant. With a tandoor, menu of sharing plates and colourful, busy décor, just like the other restaurants in its portfolio (think Bao and Hoppers) Berenjak is a hit in the city.

Sparse interiors mean you can really focus on the food at Oklava. Serving up affordable Turkish small plates, diners can expect, chilli-roast cauliflower, herb-flecked lahmacun and pomegranate glazed lamb. Don’t forget to finish with a Turkish tipple too.

Named after the goddess of fertility, both modern and traditional Turkish dishes are served up here. Subtly marinated meats, fish and mezze are all available in this smart and buzzy restaurant.

At first glance this modern dining room appears to be the kind of place to serve up modern British cuisine. On the menu however you’ll find traditional Turkish fare including lamb shoulder and moussaka. Traditional roasts are served on Sunday though if you just can’t go without.

As one of the hottest restaurants in Istanbul, at Yeni you can rest assured, anything you eat is endorsed by the Turkish themselves. Sharing plates include the likes of pan fried feta, roasted beef ribs and braised celeriac.

Part of Kings Cross huge new development, Coal Drops Yard, The Coal Office comes from the team behind hit middle eastern restaurant Palomar. The menu includes ironed chicken, kubaleh bread and shikshukit kebab.

Taking inspiration from all over the middle east, Arabica’s huge menu means its hard to pick just one dish. Thankfully sharing plates of lamb kibbeh, moutabel and knafeh mean you can try a bit of everything in this archway restaurant located in Borough Market.

Celebrity chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s café/ deli has been a popular spot for Londoners looking for tasty casual middle eastern dishes. With seasonal menus and all-day dining, Nopi’s healthy and wholesome dishes include beef short ribs, sea trout with Koji rice and raw cauliflower with sprouts and Gorgonzola.

Having been in the city for over 20 years, Iznik’s menu features all your usual suspects. Think: hot and cold mezze, mixed grill and lots of aubergine. Décor has authentic touches throughout too.

Having been on the international restaurant scene since the 90s (with 18 restaurants around the middle east) Abd el Wahab’s  Belgravia location makes for a mix of Brits getting their fill of grilled meats and hummus and middle eastern clients looking for a taste of home during the summer.

With restaurant all over the city, Noura’s Lebanese restaurant, famous for introducing the cuisine to Paris in the 80s, has been part of the London restaurant scene for 20 years. The giant menu includes the likes of mixed grills and cold mezze dishes.

This stunning minimalist Middle Eastern restaurant doesn’t just boast beautiful décor, but incredibly presented dishes too. Grilled octopus, smokey aubergine with tahini and tuna shish all feature on the menu. Pop around the corner to try Honey & Co. too.

Using a traditional Ocak grill to cook all its grilled meat dishes, Visiting Mangal 1 is definitely an experience. As a favourite of both Jamie Oliver and Yotam Ottolenghi, you can guarantee great dishes every time too.

Hidden away in Kingly Court, Le Bab’s short menu and tasty options make picking easy. Hummus, pork shawarma and double cooked fries all feature and at such reasonable prices this is the place to be for weeknight dinners and quick lunches.

From the people that brought us Honey & Grill, their first restaurant focuses more on mezze style dishes. From braised aubergine to carrot falafel. They even have a cook book so you can re-create your favourites.

This restaurant does theatre style dining like you’ve never seen it before. Cooking up high-end kebabs on an open grill you can watch from the bar as everything is made fresh in front of you. They also suggest eating everything with your hands by the way.

Calamari marinated in vodka, tabbouleh and incik are just a few of the dishes worth noting on this Ottoman-style menu. Taking inspiration from Ottoman history and culture, you’ll find dishes and décor to match at this family run restaurant.

Offering the best of both Greek and Turkish cuisine, Hovarda’s formal dining room and décor makes this restaurant ideal for special occasions and corporate meetings a like. Seafood is the main attraction here but the baby chicken is worth a try too.

Incorporating both Italian and Middle Eastern cuisine, Pucci serves up Lebanese style pizzas paired with hot and cold mezze. Perhaps a slightly strange combination but one that has proved popular at Pucci in Mayfair.

Drawing inspiration for Tel Aviv, Russia and Iran, Delmina’s homely vibe and exciting dishes are what have made it so popular in the city. From Jerusalem artichokes on whipped manouri, Turkey Shawarma and squid in za’atar, each dish shows clear influence of all the cuisines incorporated in this restaurant.

Having moved from the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly, Al Waha now resides in the significantly quieter neighbourhood of Notting Hill. Focusing on great quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods, you can find labneh, pastry stuffed with spinach and Armenian lamb on this menu.

Serving up Beirut street food, this tiny restaurant is a hit with Londoners. Featuring lamb kibbeh, fattoush and shawarma, we suggest booking ahead if you don’t fancy a wait to get your hands on this Middle Eastern goodness. 

Striking blue furniture and geometric art are dotted all around Hazev making for a bright and inviting entrance into this Turkish restaurant. Grilled meat, vegetable mezze and cheese filled pastries are a few of the things you’ll find on the menu. Split into a bar area, deli or restaurant area, dining options are endless.

Originating in Bahrain, Villa Mama’s Chelsea location offers up authentic middle eastern breakfasts and tapas-style sharing plates come evening time. Expect khubus with eggs in the morning and lamb koftas with mash later in the day.

Named after The Amber trade route, this all-day dining restaurant combines its Mediterranean routes with London influences making for an authentic menu with a fun modern twist. Expect everything from acai bowls to ceviche on this menu.

Arabic for treasure, opulence is the word at Kenza. With stunning authentic interiors and home-cooked Lebanese food, mezze dishes are followed by chargrilled chicken and moussaka. Head down to the cocktail lounge for music and belly dancing too.

As one of the most popular Israeli restaurants in London, it’s no wonder The Palomar’s always buzzing. Located, rather strangely in China Town, dishes include grilled chicken with black rice, fattoush and malabi syrup pudding.

With over 90 cold mezze dishes on the menu and the option of ordering lamb 20 ways including lamb testicles (yes, you read that correctly) Al Hamra's traditional décor and weird but wonderful menu make it well worth a visit.