London’s Middle Eastern food scene has flourished in recent years, bringing flavours from Lebanon, Turkey, Israel and beyond to the capital.

Whether you can’t get enough of mezze, you’re a fan of Turkish-style charcoal barbecue or you’re on a mission to find the city’s best Middle Eastern dips, London has plenty to offer.

From gourmet spins on the kebab to flavour-packed vegetarian and vegan options, here are some of our favourite venues.

Akub 

Named after an artichoke-like thistle, Akub specialises in modern Palestinian small plates. Expect dishes covered in fragrant herbs and dressings and layered on pretty crockery made by third-generation ceramicist Nur Minawi in Jaffa. Chef Fadi Kattan’s bold flavours, crafted from locally sourced British ingredients, will instantly transport you to a different continent, especially the delicately fragranced shish barak and bukjet mouskhan. Paired with aromatic cocktails and a restaurant space in Notting Hill that feels like a secret garden, an evening here is a special occasion. 

27 Uxbridge Street, W8 7TQ; akub-restaurant.com

Bubala 

‘Bubala’ is a Yiddish term of endearment and it feels like an incredibly apt title for the restaurant’s plethora of light, zingy dishes that arrive from the kitchen fragrant, head-turningly gorgeous and covered in glossy oils and sauces. Although not explicitly billed as such, everything on the menu is 100% vegetarian, while the wines are all low-intervention or natural. Everything here tastes good, helped by the fact that Bubala’s signature laffa flatbread is chewy, charred perfection.

15 Poland St, W1F 8QE and 65 Commercial St, E1 6BD; bubala.co.uk

Berenjak 

Inspired by the classic hole-in-the-wall eateries that line the streets of Tehran, Berenjak’s bohemian-look restaurants serve up Persian-style small plates like charcoal-grilled kababs and mazeh, as well as homestyle Iranian dishes and desserts. It’s the brainchild of Iranian-born chef Kian Samyani, who previously worked at culinary powerhouses Gymkhana and Brigadiers. The vibrant open, kitchens kitted out with tandoors and rotating spits provide plenty of atmosphere for a great night out. 

27 Romilly Street, W1d 5AL and 1 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL; berenjaklondon.com

The Palomar

Tucked in the heart of the West End, The Palomar has been one of Soho’s buzziest and most in-demand dining spots since it opened almost a decade ago. It can still be difficult to grab a reservation, so be sure to make your bookings well in advance. The menu brings the tastes of “modern Jerusalem” to London, including chilli shatta aubergine with feta sauce, polenta with oyster mushrooms and sweet peas, and a baklava ice cream sandwich.

34 Rupert Street, London, W1D 6DN; thepalomar.co.uk 

Honey & Co

Last year, the news that Honey & Co’s Fitzrovia restaurant would be shutting its doors after a decade of serving up Middle Eastern-inspired delicacies was met by sighs from its many fans. Luckily, it wasn’t too long before founders Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer found a new, bigger venue in Bloomsbury, where you can still enjoy classics like the feta and honey cheesecake.

54 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London, WC1N 3LW; honeyandco.co.uk  

Ottolenghi

Since opening his first deli in Notting Hill more than two decades ago, Yotam Ottolenghi has become synonymous with the gold standard in vegetarian cooking. His name is now emblazoned on venues around the capital, where you can drop in and pick up a sweet treat, a flavour-packed salad or sit down to dine at one of the long white tables.

Various London venues; ottolenghi.co.uk/restaurants 

Berber & Q

Cooking over a live fire makes food taste better, according to the grill masterminds at Berber & Q, and judging by the delicious end results, we’re inclined to agree. Exploring the ingredients and flavours of North Africa and the Mediterranean, with a dash of American barbeque magic thrown in for good measure, the veggie options are just as tantalising as the meat-based ones (a rarity for a BBQ-focused venue).

338 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA; berberandq.com

Le Bab

For a gourmet spin on the kebab, head to one of Le Bab’s London outposts (after starting out in Carnaby’s Kingly Court, you’ll now find them at venues in east and south London too). Le Bab is probably the capital’s only kebab joint backed by Michelin-trained chefs – the three founders previously worked at Le Gavroche, the double Michelin-starred restaurant from Michel Roux Jr. Served on top of flatbread, options include paneer, free-range lamb and spicy aubergine.

Various London locations; www.eatlebab.com 

Yalla Yalla

For a laidback, affordable dining option head to Yalla Yalla’s Soho or Fitzrovia outpost for Beirut-inspired street food. Kick things off with a few bites from the extensive mezze offering (and if you can’t make up your mind, the ‘village’ platter is basically a selection of the greatest hits) before moving on to a delicious salad, wrap or something tasty from the charcoal grill.

Various London venues; www.yalla-yalla.co.uk 

The Barbary

The Palomar’s sister restaurant, The Barbary, is named after the old term for the Mediterranean coast of Africa, encompassing Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. This Covent Garden venue is centred around a horseshoe-shaped bar, which twists around an open kitchen. Pull up a stool and settle in for treats from the grill, like cauliflower jaffa style, smoked labneh octopus, and mangal chicken.

16 Neal’s Yard, London, WC2H 9DP; thebarbary.co.uk 

Meat The Fish

Starting out as a delivery service sourcing top of the range ingredients in Lebanon before launching a trio of restaurants across the country (in Beirut, Fara and Batroun), Meat The Fish has recently brought its “Mediter-asian” cuisine to Chelsea. It’s open all day long, from the early morning coffee run through to cocktail hour, but the breakfast menu is especially enticing, featuring dishes like green asparagus, breakfast tacos and eggs and zaatar on toast.

39 Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea, London, SW3 2TB; meatthefish.co.uk 

Nopi

Offering a more formal dining experience compared to Ottolenghi’s delis, you’ll find a similar emphasis on Middle Eastern flavours with a smattering of Mediterranean and Asian influences at Nopi (named after its north Piccadilly location), just off Regent Street. The menu changes with the seasons, but you’ll typically find signature dishes like vegetable fritters, burrata and valdeón cheesecake.

21-22 Warwick Street, London, W1B 5NE; ottolenghi.co.uk

Lilienblum

Lilienblum is the latest London venture from Eyal Shani, the founder of cult favourite pitta spot Miznon. A tribute to Tel Aviv’s foodie scene (it’s named after the street where Shani launched one of his first restaurants in that very city), the menu is written in the chef’s signature quirky style and is sure to intrigue – how about a creamy bruschetta, which comes with a contradictory warning: ‘It’s a very bad idea to eat this, but there will be no regrets?’

80 City Road, London, EC1Y 2BJ; www.lilienblum.co.uk

Images: courtesy of restaurants; Steven Joyce (Meat The Fish); Lilienblum (Yuki Sugiura)