Edgware Road is a famous road in London that is known by many for its Lebanese restaurants and shisha joints. As tastebuds develop and mature, people start to see that as a negative and more of a limitation of such a famous road (to have one main cuisine). And with the increase in good quality halal restaurants around the city, even in particular Lebanese spots, people tend to venture out or away from this area, which was once considered a hub for Arab food. And as a result of all of this, you’ll find many bad mouth Edgware Road claiming there is little or even no good food on this street. However, this post is going to highlight that there is so much more to Edgware Road than Lebanese food and shisha and if you look hard enough you’ll find some real gems that you won’t find elsewhere in the city and maybe even the country!
The slander against Edgware Road is actually synonymous with the unfair criticism of Arab food. Many claim it to be bland and tasteless, but upon being questioned they’ve only really tried one particular cuisine or even just one particular dish (usually from the Lebanese cuisine). But there is oh so much more to Arab food than just the Lebanese cuisine. In fact, even the Lebanese cuisine itself has so much more than what most have ventured out to trying. So, this post will not only highlight some gems on Edgware Road, but also at the same time show you the variety of foods and cuisines that fall under the umbrella of Arab food.
Hijazi Corner: Ma’soob and Mandi from Yemen and Saudi Arabia
We have to start here. What this place offers is close to my heart because it brings back so many fond memories of my time in Saudi Arabia. The unique breakfast dishes in particular are items extremely difficult to find outside of the country (Saudi Arabia). Namely, the Ma’soob. I’ve not seen it elsewhere yet. So, to find it here in the middle of London was an exciting piece of news for myself and those like me. Now, there is another place off Edgware Road that offers Ma’soob, but it wasn’t very authentic tasting. There’s one in Manchester, which is actually really good, but that’s more of a dessert in that spot than an actual breakfast dish. Other than these 3 spots, I have not seen Ma’soob anywhere here in the country. And hands down Hijazi Corner does it the best. Their special one I had was quite possibly the best I’ve ever had, period. It is a particular variation of the dish which is specific to the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia (Jeddah and Makkah). This is a cuisine that is essentially from Yemen, but something that has become so popular in Saudi Arabia that it has become synonymous with their cuisine too. It is now one.
Recommended dishes to try: Ma’soob, Muttabaq and Mandi.
Ahl Cairo: Kushary from Egypt
From Yemen and Saudi Arabia we’re now going to move onto North Africa and specifically Egypt. Egyptian cuisine is a mix of what is considered Arab food and also some very unique dishes that is only found in the cuisine itself. From the unique dishes is none other than their national dish: Kushary. This is a dish, much like Ma’soob, that is very difficult to find outside of the country of its origin. You’ll have to hunt down an Egyptian restaurant to try this. There are a couple of spots on Edgware Road that are namely Egyptian and they do do this dish and we’ve tried it at one of them and did enjoy it, but we’d prefer to push this restaurant (Ahl Cairo) more. Ahl Cairo is technically off Edgware Road, so it is easily missed, but this unassuming little eatery must not be missed. In my detailed review I’ve gone as far as saying this might just be one of the best hidden gems in London!
Recommended dishes to try: Kushary, Taamia Falafel sandwich, Foul, Fiteer, Molokhia and Om Ali.
Al Arez: Meze from Lebanon
It was a matter of time before Lebanon was featured of course. What I love to order from Lebanese and in fact Levantine spots is the meze dishes or starters. We could go to such restaurants and just order the numerous Meze dishes and leave happy. By Meze dishes I am referring to hummus, falafel, shawarma, kibbeh and fattoush or tabouleh. If you’re ordering these or some of these when you visit such restaurants, you’re missing out! There are numerous Lebanese restaurants on the road including Al Balad and Maroush, and everyone has a favourite, so you could probably just take your pick. Abu Zaad is a Syrian restaurant, which was our favourite restaurant in the whole of London period, but they closed their Edgware Road branch and after reopening it seems their quality has dipped.
Recommended dishes to try: Hummus, Falafel, Shawarma, Kibbeh and Fattoush
Diwan Damas: Warbat and Syrian ice cream from Syria
Time for a dessert break. Diwan Damas is a charming little Syrian sweet shop that does all the authentic Arabic sweets but their Syrian versions. Located right in the middle of the road, this is without a doubt a must visit on any trip to Edgware Road. It’s one of those we always pop in to buy some goodies for tea later. The Warbat is particularly delicious and for me something that challenges baklava and kunafa for being the best Arabic dessert or sweet. They’re also famous for their Syrian ice cream, which is going to be the most unique ice cream you ever try. That’s all I’m going to say.
Recommended dishes to try: Warbat, Syrian ice cream and Syrian rice pudding.
Cafe Helen: Shawarma wrap from Lebanon
Right next to Diwan Damas is the second of our two spots we always visit when on the road, and that is Cafe Helen. Cafe Helen arguably does the best shawarma in London. Many people would vouch for this. And like anything that is considered the best, you get haters too, but for me the fact that it always gets compared to when shawarma is being discussed speaks volumes. What do we think? This is certainly the best shawarma we’ve had in London and that’s why we always pay this spot a visit for a cheeky shawarma wrap to take away every time we’re in the area.
Recommended dishes to try: chicken or lamb Shawarma wrap.
Patogh: Jujeh and Koobideh from Iran
This is our first venture away from Arab cuisine, but we haven’t gone far. We’re trying out Iranian or Persian kebabs from this super charming and rustic little authentic spot just off Edgware Road. I would’ve used the term hidden gem here, but thanks to TikTok, this is no longer a hidden gem. It’s quite famous on TikTok actually. And I can see why. It ticks all the aesthetic boxes. How was the food? I think we didn’t order what you should order at Iranian / Persian spots – Jujeh and Koobideh kebabs, so our overall thoughts (which were quite disappointing) may be a little unfair. I’d definitely pay them a visit to try these Persian classics.
Alternative restaurant you could try: Colbeh
Recommended dishes to try: Jujeh and Koobideh with saffron rice.
Al Maskoof: Masgouf from Iraq
It seems like the perfect time to switch over to Iraq. Iraq is a country that is steeped in history and that usually results in awesome and intriguing food, but due to the current situation, it is extremely difficult, not to say impossible, for anyone to travel there and experience the culture and food. So, the next best thing for us Londoners is to sample some of it in this wonderful city of ours. Thankfully, there are some good options scattered around the city. If you’re ever at an Iraqi restaurant, you definitely should be ordering at least one of the following three classics: Iraqi kebabs, Quzi or Masgouf. At this restaurant just off Edgware Road we had to order the dish the restaurant was named after: Masgouf. This dish is basically carp fish (or seabass) that is butterflied and then grilled, and it is often considered the national dish of Iraq. A must try for seafood lovers.
Alternative restaurant you could try: Sarchnar
Recommended dishes to try: Iraqi kebabs, Quzi and Masgouf
Freej Swaileh: Majboos from Kuwait
Okay, let’s move back to the Gulf and specifically we’re going to Kuwait. Kuwait along with neighbouring countries such as the UAE share a common national dish and that is Majboos (or spelt Machboos). This is a dish that is primarily made up of chicken and flavoured/spiced rice dish, but you can get meat, fish and shrimp versions too. This, if you like, is the Kuwait’s answer to Saudi’s Kabsa, Yemen’s Mandi and Jordan’s Mansaf. There aren’t many Kuwaiti restaurants outside of the country, so this restaurant here is most definitely worth visiting. They’ve got nice inviting decor and the customer service was very good when we visited. While you’re there, you should definitely try their national dessert too: Luqaimaat. It is basically small bitesize doughnuts. You won’t regret it.
Recommended dishes to try: Majboos and Luqaimaat.
Birria Tacos: Birria Tacos from Mexico
I wanted to keep this post covering strictly the Arab cuisine or at least something that is similar (Persian). But I cannot compile an Edgware Road food list and not include the best Birria Tacos in the country! This viral Mexican dish has captured the imaginations and taste buds of foodies all around the world. And we have tried numerous versions of it in London as well as in other cities, so we can safely say this place right here does the best halal birria tacos in the country. A worthy mention for sure even though in its essence it is nowhere near the Arab cuisine.
Recommended dishes to try: Birria Tacos
Melur: Nasi Kandar from Malaysia
Seeing as we’ve moved away from Arab cuisine, let’s thrown in one more non-Arab dish/restaurant for good measure. Malaysian cuisine is one of our favourite cuisines and we’ve featured numerous restaurants and dishes from there on this blog. Nasi Kandar is one of those super popular Malaysian dishes and a must try when in Malaysia. It is basically a plate of rice (nasi = rice) with loads of different Indian style curries and side dishes served alongside it. You have to pick your curries from a crazy selection – loads of varieties always available. It was popularized by traders from India. A lot of nasi kandar places operate 24/7… literally. No joke. So, basically you can get your curry fix at 7 in the morning… if you wanted to. Anyway, coming back to the London Malaysian scene. I see most Malaysian spots highlighting and showcasing the Roti Canai, the Laksa or the Nasi Lemak, all of which are worth showcasing, but I haven’t seen Nasi Kandar on anyone’s must try list or social media feeds. But this place right here, Melur on Edgware Road, has done just that. Supposedly, the dish to get here is Nasi Kandar. Don’t walk, run!
Read more about them here.
Recommended dishes to try: Nasi Kandar
Getting there
Parking: Norfolk Cresent – park and display and yellow single line lanes are free on Sundays / evenings. You can also drive around to look for other spots; there are some roads that are evenings and Sundays free (a little further out). But most are residents only.
Nearest Mosque: London Central Mosque (5 min drive)
Nearest station: Edgware Road
