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Just Meat Southgate

Halal Food Guy
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Just Meat Southgate

One of my favourite smokehouses has just opened a huge new restaurant in Southgate, and I had to get down there.

Just Meat started off as a small food truck in Waltham Abbey, and it’s been amazing to watch them grow into a full-blown restaurant in North London. This place also holds a special spot for me personally, because it’s where I first discovered one of my favourite things ever: burnt ends. Little pieces of smoked meat heaven.

Just Meat specialises in American BBQ and smoked meats, with large smokers on-site where the meat is slow-cooked for up to 16 hours.

Smoked platter for two at Just Meat Southgate with short rib, brisket, lamb ribs and wings

Here’s what I ordered:

  • Smoked Platter (for two) – £50
  • Burnt Ends – £19 ⭐
  • Smoked Chicken – £13
  • Pastrami Sandwich – £13
  • Smoked Lamb Tacos – £8
  • King Prawns – £10
  • Smoked Aubergine – £6
  • Grilled Halloumi – £7
  • Smoked Beef Marrow Bone – £8
  • Tomato & Onion Salad – £8

Of course, the first thing I had to try was the burnt ends, and this place gets them right every single time. Not many smokehouses in London even do burnt ends, and for me these are a must-order. If you only order one thing here, make it this.

A lot of smokehouses charge by weight, like the meat is gold. Here you get fixed prices and properly generous portions, which makes a refreshing change.

 

The smoked platter for two came with a massive short rib, brisket, lamb ribs, chicken wings and sides, and honestly I think it could easily feed more than two people. The brisket was super soft and tender, and the beef short rib was rich, fatty and packed full of flavour, exactly what you want from meat that’s spent 16 hours in the smoker.

I also tried all three tacos, and the lamb ones were definitely my favourite. The pastrami sandwich was really nice too and worth trying if you fancy something a bit different from the boards of meat.

 

The restaurant itself is large, modern and has a really nice vibe inside, a big step up from the food truck days. If you love smoked meats and proper American BBQ, this is definitely one to check out.

📍 Just Meat, 91 Chase Side, Southgate, London N14 5BU
🚗 Parking is available at the Asda car park opposite
✅ All meat is halal
🍺 Alcohol is present

My meal was complimentary, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Hour House Bistro

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Hour House Bistro

This will be a quick review, as I wasn’t planning on doing a post on this one, but I really enjoyed my meal here.

I was asked to review this place by a follower and had previously never heard of it, so I was going in blind. This is Hour House Bistro, a spot focused on brunch and comfort food, think pies, lasagna, jacket potatoes, steaks and more.

I was after a Sunday roast, and this place didn’t disappoint.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Chicken Sunday Roast – £13
  • Lamb Sunday Roast – £16

The Sunday roast is available every day, not just Sundays.

Chicken and lamb Sunday roasts with Yorkshire puddings at Hour House Bistro

The roast came with two Yorkshire puddings, smash potato, roast potatoes, slaw and a few veggies, carrot, brussels sprout and tender steamed broccoli, all covered with gravy.

Honestly, going in at 4:30 in the afternoon I was expecting some dry reheated chicken, but I got a fat half chicken that was juicy, soft, super tender and delicious. It really exceeded my expectations. The veg was all nice as well. This meal was a joy to eat, and at only £13 in this economy it’s a bargain.

My wife got the lamb, which was also soft and tasty, and lucky for me she wasn’t that hungry, so I ate all of hers as well. Win.

They’re also BDS aligned and stock these nice Egyptian soft drinks that are exempt from the sugar tax, so they’re properly sweet!

There’s a small masjid next door too, so I got to pray maghrib as well.

One thing to mention: they currently have a 1-star food hygiene rating, but they told me it related to issues while the restaurant was still getting set up and not fully open.
A proper comfort food spot with a halal roast that’s available every day and great value. I’ll be back.

Free street parking on weekends, or after 5:30pm during the week.

📍 Hour House Bistro, 129 Salmon Lane, London E14 7PG
✅ All food halal
✅ No alcohol
🍉 BDS aligned

I paid for this meal. This was not an invite.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Noodle Inn Liverpool Street

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Noodle Inn Liverpool Street

A NEW VIRAL HALAL CHINESE SPOT NEAR LIVERPOOL STREET.

You wait for one viral oil spill noodle spot and suddenly two pop up at the same time. This is Noodle Inn, who have just opened their second branch near Liverpool Street, and this location has a fully halal food menu with no pork in sight.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Oil Spill Biang Biang Noodles with Braised Beef Rib – £23.80
  • Knife Cut Noodles with Braised Beef – £22.80
  • Wonton with Chili Oil – £12.80 ⭐
  • Braised Beef Chinese Style Burger – £8.50
  • Fried Popcorn Chicken – £9.50 ⭐
  • Sugar Cane with Lemon – £4

The standout dish for me was the wontons in chilli oil. These were genuinely delicious. Soft dumplings served in a spicy broth packed with flavour and heat. Easily the most enjoyable bite of the meal.

The fried popcorn chicken was another winner. The seasoning had that classic Chinese spice blend and the chicken itself was soft, juicy and full of flavour. Great texture and very moreish.

A few weeks ago I tried a similar viral oil spill noodle dish elsewhere. This one costs £5 more and there were some differences. I preferred the chilli oil here, and the Biang Biang noodles had a great texture. However, the beef rib lacked tenderness. It didn’t fall off the bone, and it lacked depth in flavour as there wasn’t much fat.

Fun fact: Biang Biang noodles, also known as belt noodles, are traditionally linked to Shaanxi’s Muslim Hui community. The name comes from the “biang” sound made as the dough is slapped and stretched.

I also tried the Kung Fu burger, which has been getting attention on socials. The bun is similar to a desi paratha and the beef filling was juicy and flavourful, but overall the burger needed a sauce to balance it out, as it felt too dry to eat on its own.
There are loads of other small plates to try, so I’ll be back for sure. Be warned, there might be a queue, so be ready to wait up to 30 minutes.

📍 Noodle Inn, 100 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EZ
✅ All food is halal at this location only
🍺 Alcohol is present

This was an invite / AD, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

NIU KO

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NIU KO

Is this Central London’s first fully halal Pan Asian restaurant?

I checked out NIU KO, a brand new spot just one minute from Gloucester Road Station, serving a fully halal menu with no alcohol served either. The menu takes inspiration from Chinese, Malaysian, Korean and Thai cuisine, so there’s a lot going on here.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Homemade Spicy Chicken Rolls – £6.80 ⭐
  • Chinese Roasted Duck – £14.95
  • Crispy Shredded Beef in Golden Nest – £13.50
  • Thai Green Curry Prawn – £14.95 ⭐
  • La Zi Ji – £14.95 ⭐
  • Chicken Satay – £7.80
  • Malaysian Curry with Roti – £11.95
  • Malaysian-style Rice Noodles – £14.95 ⭐
  • Dim Sum – £8.90
  • Korean-style Chicken Wings – £7.50
  • Passion Fruit King Prawns – £9.80 ⭐

First thing I have to say: for Central London, the prices are actually very reasonable. In today’s climate, that’s becoming rare.

The standout dish for me was easily the Passion Fruit King Prawns. Lightly battered prawns with a subtle sweetness from the passion fruit coming through at the end.

Malaysian style rice noodles at NIU KO

The Malaysian-style noodles instantly reminded me of the street markets in Kuala Lumpur. Smoky wok flavour, rich seasoning, proper comfort food and packed with flavour.

La Zi Ji Sichuan crispy chicken with dried chillies at NIU KO

La Zi Ji is one of the most iconic Sichuan dishes and they did a solid version here. Crispy fried chicken tossed with loads of dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns, giving that signature tingling, numbing sensation on your lips.

The Thai Green Curry was another highlight. Really rich, creamy and fragrant with proper depth to the sauce. The prawns were cooked well and the balance between sweetness, spice and coconut came through nicely without being overpowering.

Homemade spicy chicken rolls at NIU KO

The chicken rolls were also really good. Super delicate crispy texture on the outside with a soft savoury filling inside.

Not every dish hit for me though. The crispy shredded beef uses their “100 year old recipe”, but personally I found it a bit too batter-heavy. The roasted duck also wasn’t what I expected, as it’s deep fried rather than the softer style duck I usually prefer, so it came out a little tougher.

Overall I had a really good experience here and I’d definitely recommend the starred dishes.

📍 NIU KO, 111 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4RB
✅ Fully halal menu
✅ No pork
✅ No alcohol

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Chip ‘n Jerk

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Chip ‘n Jerk

I’m lucky enough to have an Arsenal season ticket, and I’ve always struggled to find a good place to eat before or after a game. So when I spotted this new halal spot near the stadium specialising in Caribbean food, I had to try it.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Mac n Cheese Bites – £5.95
  • 10 Hot Honey Bites – £8.00
  • 6 Wings – £8.00
  • Jerk Bowl – £15.95
  • Curry Bowl – £16.95
  • Chip n Jerk – £11.95

Jerk bowl, curry bowl and hot honey bites at Chip n Jerk Holloway Road

I ate with a few friends after a game, and I have to say the food was fantastic. Literally every item we ordered was delicious.

The wings and hot honey bites weren’t ordinary. The texture, the flavours, the seasoning, all of it was really different and absolutely delicious. It felt like food made by someone cooking with love and passion.

I’m not usually a fan of Caribbean food or jerk chicken, because I normally find it dry and bitter in taste. But this was absolutely on point. Really good flavours, really soft chicken, and definitely the best jerk chicken I’ve ever had.

Halal Caribbean spread at Chip n Jerk near the Emirates Stadium

The curry bowl was fantastic too. The goat curry was very reminiscent of a good desi-style curry, but the plantain and all the other elements really elevated the dish. Even the mini patties were delicious, especially the beef ones.
If you’re in the area, I definitely recommend trying this spot. The prices for the mains are a little on the higher side, but the sides are definitely worth it, and this would be great for groups where you can share food.

📍 Chip ‘n Jerk, 217 Holloway Road, London N7 8DL
✅ All food is halal
✅ No alcohol served
🍉 BDS aligned

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Funky Noodle

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Funky Noodle

I checked out Funky Noodle, a Chinese noodle spot in Central London, and what’s great is that it has a fully halal food menu. You’ve probably seen this place already, as it went viral for its short rib noodles.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Fried Rice with Aromatic Cumin Lamb – £12.80
  • Lamb Skewer x2 – £5.00 ⭐
  • Chicken Skewer x2 – £5.00 ⭐
  • Fried Chicken Dumplings – £6.80
  • Desert-Style Lamb Ribs – £13.80
  • Oil Spill Hand-Pulled Noodles with Braised Beef Ribs – £18.80 ⭐
  • Handmade Noodles in Rich Beef Broth – £13.80
  • Sanpao Traditional Tea – £6.50
  • Rock Sugar Pear Drink – £3.50
  • Chinese Fanta – £3.50

The star of the show was the Oil Spill Hand-Pulled Noodles with Braised Beef Ribs. This was such a great dish, and they sell over 400 of them a day! Very unique and something I fully recommend.

Oil spill hand pulled noodles with braised beef at Funky Noodle

I also enjoyed the lamb and chicken skewers, as well as the dumplings.

Lamb and chicken skewers at Funky Noodle Charing Cross Road

I tried their second most popular dish too, the handmade noodles with beef. The noodles are super long and come served in a subtly flavoured beef broth that I found didn’t pack much flavour, though adding some chilli oil helped.

Handmade noodles in rich beef broth at Funky Noodle

The desert lamb ribs were packed with loads of flavour and cooked nicely. The richness of the fatty lamb mixed with the spicy cumin marinade creates a strong flavour, so I’d recommend this as a sharing plate.

The only dish that wasn’t at the same level as everything else was the fried rice. It didn’t taste fresh, and it wasn’t a dish I wanted more than one bite of.
Overall, a very enjoyable meal. Grab some skewers for starters, then the famous short rib noodles as a main with a Chinese pear drink, and you won’t be disappointed.

📍 Funky Noodle, 103 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DT
✅ All food halal
✅ No pork
🍺 Alcohol served
🍉 Not BDS aligned
3-star food hygiene rating

My meal was complimentary, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Axe and Ember

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Axe and Ember

There’s a new fully halal smokehouse that’s just opened up in Walthamstow, and at the helm is none other than the smoked-meat final boss himself, pitmaster Tiberius Tudor. So you already know the meat here is taken seriously.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Prime Brisket – £12 / 100g ⭐
  • Dino Ribs – £11 / 100g
  • Dukeshill Turkey – £9 / 100g
  • Smoked Flap Steak – £10 / 100g
  • Brisketwich – £14 ⭐
  • Pitmaster Potatoes – £6
  • Hill Country Slaw – £5
  • Campfire Corn – £4

Prime brisket, dino ribs and brisketwich at Axe and Ember Walthamstow

Everything here is cooked over fire, and when someone with this level of experience is behind the pit, you know the meat is going to deliver.

My favourites were easily the brisket and the brisketwich. The brisket was perfect: smoky, soft, juicy and packed with flavour.

The brisketwich is an epic pulled-meat sandwich, and the addition of the red cabbage slaw brings the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. So good.

Smoked meat trays with brisket, slaw and campfire corn at Axe and Ember Walthamstow

The steak cooked over fire was a perfect medium rare, juicy with that smoky flavour coming through.

The ribs had a crispy exterior and were very rich, but there wasn’t much meat, mainly fat, so I wasn’t too keen on these. I also tried the turkey. It was juicy, but personally turkey has just never been for me.

Trays of smoked brisket, turkey and sides at Axe and Ember

The decor is simple and rustic, though it felt a little cold with the lack of warm touches.
The restaurant is owned by a Pakistani Muslim couple, and you may have seen a recent video where one of the owners was racially abused (this happened shortly after I left the restaurant). So if you love smoked meats and also want to show support for a female Muslim business owner, you know where to go.

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Limited street parking, free after 6:30pm and all day Sunday.

📍 Axe and Ember, 41 Orford Road, Walthamstow E17 9NL
✅ All food halal
✅ No alcohol served (BYOB permitted)
🍉 BDS aligned

My meal was complimentary, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Penang City

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Penang City

I’ve been to Penang City in East London twice before, both times as a paying customer, and this time I was invited down to give an honest review.

My experiences here have been genuinely mixed. My first visit was good, the second was disappointing, so I was hoping they could redeem themselves. Unfortunately, this visit didn’t quite get there either.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Mix Platter – £12.99
  • Roti Canai Chicken – £8.99
  • Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang – £12.99
  • Prawn Sambal – £9.99
  • Curry Laksa – £12.99
  • Mango Sticky Rice

 

The chicken satay was overcooked, dry and had an unusual coating that didn’t resemble traditional satay, and the peanut sauce was lacking flavour. The chicken wings were disappointing too. They had a bitter taste and dark colour that suggested they may have been cooked in old oil. The spring rolls and curry puffs were okay, but nothing memorable.

The beef rendang had potential. The meat itself was soft and tender, but the flavour felt underdeveloped. A good rendang should be rich, deep and packed with layers of flavour, and this one never quite got there.

The Char Kuey Teow came out extremely spicy for me. To be fair to them, they remade it without chilli and the second version was much better.

Malaysian dishes spread at Penang City including prawn sambal and beef rendang

The Curry Laksa was another disappointment. I had it here around a year ago and remembered enjoying it, but this version felt oily and the broth lacked the richness and depth I expected. The chicken curry served with the roti canai had good flavour, but there was very little meat and a lot of bone.

Overall, the food lacked the bold, vibrant flavours I normally associate with Malaysian cooking and was a step down from my first visit. Apart from the satay and wings, nothing was outright bad, but very little impressed me either.

The best thing about the meal was the Malay auntie working here. She was warm, welcoming and even remembered us from our first visit over a year ago.

Overall I’d score this a 4.5/10, below average. There are only two other Malaysian spots in East London, one in E17 and one in E20, so I really do want this place to be better.

📍 Penang City, 61 Upton Lane, London E7 9PB
✅ All food is halal (HMC certified)
✅ No alcohol

My meal was complimentary, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Smokey Boys Piccadilly

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Smokey Boys Piccadilly

This is the ONLY fully halal restaurant in the West End that offers more than just burgers.

I was invited to check out Smokey Boys, who have just opened in Piccadilly Circus. I’d actually never heard of this brand before, but they already have eight other locations across the UK.
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Smoked BBQ Rib – £18 ⭐
  • Smoked Pulled Beef Brisket – £16 ⭐
  • Off-Menu Caviar Burger – £14.99
  • Double Smash – £9
  • Angry Southern Fried Burger – £12
  • Double Jointed Grilled Wings (4pc) – £8
  • Skin On Fries – £4

Let’s start with the good. The best thing I ate were the BBQ ribs. These are slow cooked for 12 hours and you can taste the effort, they were made with love. Super soft, very tender and the BBQ sauce had a well-balanced flavour. The pulled beef brisket was also solid. You get a generous portion and it tastes great.

Double smash burger at Smokey Boys Piccadilly

Next, the smash burgers. They were not on the same level as the ribs or brisket. I found them a bit too dry, crusty and not juicy, and I couldn’t taste or smell the aged beef they use.

I also tried an off-menu item, a caviar burger. Let’s just say it should stay off the menu. The crispy fried onions were good, but the overall combination didn’t work. It felt like an attempt to make something viral that didn’t land for me.

 

I also tried the chicken burger, and from the first bite I could tell it was cooked from frozen. The texture and flavour suggested it wasn’t freshly prepared, and it wasn’t great. I spoke with the chef afterwards and he said they won’t cook from frozen moving forward, admitting it was done because it’s not busy yet. Personally that feels like a shortcut, but credit to him for being open to feedback. The wings also didn’t taste fresh and need improvement.
If you come here, stick with the BBQ ribs or brisket with a side. There’s plenty of seating across two floors, and if you work nearby there’s a lunchtime offer with a burger, chips and drink for £9.95, which is decent value.

📍 Smokey Boys, 23 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4DG
✅ All food halal
✅ No alcohol served
🍉 Not fully BDS friendly, but alternative Mexican drinks are available

This is a paid collaboration. My meal was complimentary and my thoughts are honest as always.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

Q Beef Noodles

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Q Beef Noodles

I recently checked out Q Beef Noodles, located in the West End. A Chinese restaurant with a fully halal food menu and no pork in sight, everything is halal here, including the duck!
Here’s what I ordered:

  • Off-Menu Golden Beef Noodles
  • Beef Rib Oil-Splashed Knife Cut Noodles – £16.90
  • Sliced Beef Fried Noodles – £13.50 ⭐
  • Won Ton Soup – £6.80
  • Lamb Skewers x2 – £5
  • Beef Skewers x2 – £5
  • Chicken Skewers x2 – £5
  • Roujia Mo with Beef – £7.50

All the food was fresh, authentic and came in good portions. You also get unlimited toppings and garnishes from a self-service station, which is a nice touch. The restaurant itself is cosy and intimate.

All the noodles are handmade and made fresh. I was invited to see the chefs in action in the kitchen, and it’s very impressive to see the skills on display.

My favourite dish was the sliced beef fried noodles. Velvety soft beef with fresh hand-pulled noodles, this was really tasty.

I also tried the popular beef short rib oil-splashed noodles with soft, tender beef. The skewers were nice too, freshly grilled meats with Chinese seasonings.
A proper fully halal Chinatown gem with rich beef noodle soups and handmade noodles. Well worth a visit if you’re in the West End.

📍 Q Beef Noodles, 24 Romilly Street, London W1D 5AH
✅ All meats halal
✅ No pork
🍺 Alcohol is served

This was an invite, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

▶️ Watch my visit on Instagram

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