I had the opportunity to dine at this restaurant, which I first visited back in 2015 when it was one of the few premium halal establishments available. However, since then, the culinary scene has evolved, and the restaurant now finds itself amidst a sea of similar establishments offering the same style of food.
Let me delve into the specific dishes I tried. The “Banc Money Bags” priced at £12 were a nice start to the meal. The steamed buns were wonderfully soft, and the slow-cooked beef brisket filling inside was flavorful and enjoyable. Moving on, the Wagyu Beef Sliders priced at £10 for three sliders were a highlight. The beef was succulent, and the sliders were a delightful treat for the taste buds. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the chicken lollipops. Priced at £11, they were dry and had an unpleasant taste, as if they were cooked using old oil.
The disappointment continued with the Rib Eye Steak, priced at a staggering £42. The steak turned out to be excessively salty, with some bites being practically inedible. Additionally, the cut of the steak was disappointingly thin, not living up to the expectations that accompany such a hefty price tag. Similarly, the “fusion grill” dish priced at £25 failed to impress. Both the lamb and chicken had the same marinade, resulting in a lack of distinction in taste. Furthermore, the lamb fillet lacked flavor, further contributing to the overall disappointment.
Moving on to dessert, the strawberry mille-feuilles fell short of expectations. Priced at £10, the pastry was hard and overly thick, failing to achieve the delicate balance expected from a mille-feuille. The cream lacked flavour and had an unfortunate resemblance to cheap squirty cream from a can. However, the Mousse Au Chocolat offered a more satisfying end to the meal.
The drinks at The Banc were notably expensive, with mocktails priced at £8.50 each. Unfortunately, the “matrix” drink I tried was unbalanced and contained an excessive amount of ice, compromising the overall flavour. The Virgin Colada, priced at the same amount, stood out as the only drink I truly enjoyed.
In terms of ambience, The Banc boasts a stylish decor that makes it an appealing venue for special occasions. The service provided by the staff was commendable, contributing to a pleasant dining experience. Additionally, the presence of a free car park located just 90 seconds away, on a school playground, adds convenience for patrons.
However, despite these positive aspects, the overall disappointment lay in the food. The luxurious interior may impress some, but it only served to accentuate the lack of quality in the dishes. The Banc falls short when it comes to delivering exceptional culinary experiences, and no amount of fancy decor can mask the fact that the food served here is, at best, average.
New Zealand is a major exporter of halal meat to Muslim countries around the world, including the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and many more. With a large consumer base in these countries, New Zealand has become a leading supplier of halal meat, with a significant portion of its slaughtering houses exclusively exporting halal products.
New Zealand has strict regulations when it comes to the production and export of halal meat. The country’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is responsible for ensuring that all halal meat products meet the strict standards set by the Islamic community. This includes certification by recognized halal certification bodies such as the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ).
The process of halal certification is rigorous, and involves an assessment of the entire supply chain from the point of slaughter to the final product. This ensures that the entire process is carried out in accordance with Islamic dietary laws and that the meat is free from any prohibited substances or contaminants. As a result, New Zealand’s halal meat products are highly regarded by Muslim consumers around the world.
New Zealand’s halal meat industry is also committed to sustainability and animal welfare. The country’s farmers take pride in their ability to raise healthy and happy animals, and this is reflected in the high quality of their meat products. In addition, New Zealand’s halal meat industry is actively working to reduce its environmental footprint, with a focus on sustainable farming practices and reducing carbon emissions.
New Zealand’s halal meat industry is an important contributor to the country’s agricultural sector and a major supplier of halal meat products to Muslim countries around the world. With a strong commitment to quality, sustainability, and animal welfare, New Zealand’s halal meat products are highly regarded by consumers worldwide. As the global demand for halal meat continues to grow, New Zealand is well positioned to meet this demand and continue to be a leading exporter of halal meat for years to come.
What is Halal?
> Islamic Method Of Slaughtering
Islamic law requires that animals intended for human consumption be slain in a certain manner. Halal slaughter is one of the more humane methods available to the meat industry and the only method acceptable for Muslim consumers. The conditions for Halal slaughter can be summarized as follows:
The animal to be slaughtered must be from the categories that are permitted for Muslims to eat.
The animal must be alive at the time of slaughter.
In general, all forms of stunning and unconsciousness of animals are disliked. However, if it is necessary to use these means to calm down or mitigate violence of animals, low voltage shock can be used on the head only for the duration and voltage as per given guidelines. Stunning through a device with a non-penetrating round head, in a way that does not kill the animal before its slaughter, is permitted, provided that certain conditions are adhered to. Please refer to DHCE Halal Standards for more details.
The animal must be slaughtered by the use of a sharp knife. The knife must not kill due to its weight. If it kills due to the impact the meat may not be permissible.
The windpipe (throat), food-tract (oesophagus) and the two jugular veins must be cut.
The slaughtering must be done in one stroke without lifting the knife. The knife should not be placed and lifted when slaughtering the animal.
Slaughtering must be done by a sane adult Muslim. Animals slaughtered by a Non Muslim will not be Halal.
The name of Allah must be invoked (mentioned) at the time of slaughtering by saying: Bismillah Allahu Akbar. (In the Name of Allah; Allah is the Greatest.)
If at the time of slaughtering the name of anyone else other than Allah is invoked (i.e. animal sacrificed for him/her), then the meat becomes Haram “unlawful.”
If a Muslim forgets to invoke the name of Allah at the time of slaughtering, the meat will remain Halal. However, if he intentionally does not invoke the name of Allah, the meat becomes Haram.
The head of the animal must not be cut off during slaughtering but later after the animal is completely dead, even the knife should not go deep into the spinal cord.
Skinning or cutting any part of the animal is not allowed before the animal is completely dead.
Slaughtering must be made in the neck from the front (chest) to the back.
The slaughtering must be done manually not by a machine, as one of the conditions is the intention, which is not found in a machine.
The slaughtering should not be done on a production line where pigs are slaughtered. Any instrument used for slaughtering pigs should not be used in the Halal slaughtering.
Customary and Desirable Practices When Slaughtering
Water should be offered to the animal before slaughter, and it should not be slaughtered when hungry.
The knife should be hidden from the animal, and slaughtering should be done out of sight of other animals waiting to be slaughtered.
Animals should be killed in a comfortable way. Unnecessary suffering to them must be avoided.
The animal must be slaughtered by the use of a sharp knife. The knife must not kill due to its weight. If it kills due to the impact the meat may not be permissible.
The knife should be re-sharpened before slaughter.
Storage, Processing and Transport of Halal Meat
Meat chilled or frozen for export to Muslims should be stored in separate cold stores other than those in which pork or other non-Halal meat is stored.
Meat minced or processed for Muslims should not be minced in the same machines used to mince pork or other non-Halal meat.
How much new zealand meat is “Halal”, and why?
While there are no official statistics on halal production in New Zealand, nearly all of New Zealand’s red meat export slaughter premises are certified to undertake slaughter in compliance with halal requirements. This gives the New Zealand red meat industry the flexibility to export different cuts from a single carcass to the best-returning markets. The industry currently serves some 120 markets worldwide.
Who decides if new zealand meat is labelled “Halal”?
There are two main reasons for New Zealand companies to obtain halal certification and labelling of meat before it is exported:
the importing country (typically in the Middle East and South East Asia) requires it as a compulsory market access condition, or
the end-customer requests it for their own commercial reasons.
In countries where halal certification and labelling is not a compulsory requirement, the decision is often the retailer’s, as New Zealand meat is often not exported in ‘retail-ready’ form. The final packaging is generally done by the retailer in the market. Whatever the labelling of New Zealand lamb or beef, consumers can be assured that the animal will have been stunned before slaughter and die without pain.
Who says it’s halal?
New Zealand has the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand Inc. (FIANZ) which ensures that all meat exports from New Zealand accompanied with a Halal Certificate issued by the Federation, to any part of the world, are guaranteed Halal.
The Federation is the sole certifier for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait. Large quantities of meat certified Halal by the Federation is also exported to other countries in the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, South Africa and Asia.
Who performs the halal Slaughter?
New Zealand has developed regulatory standards for Halal meat production. These standards are administered Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), which is the Government regulatory agency that also administers New Zealand’s food safety regulatory framework. All New Zealand processing plants, including those that undertake halal slaughter, have MPI veterinarians on-site who monitor slaughter and processing operations.
The Halal regulatory framework for Halal meat production sets out the standards and requirements for:
• Halal auditing and certification agencies (Approved Halal Organisations)
• Halal Slaughtermen
• Halal systems at processing plants
Approved Halal Organisations (AHOs) that undertake halal auditing and certification must be approved by MPI, and their auditing and certification staff must meet a number of competency requirements including NZQA unit standards.
Anyone who undertakes halal slaughter (halal slaughterman) must also meet a number of competency requirements including NZQA unit standards that cover knowledge of Shariah Law; knowledge of stock recovery; knife handling and sharpening skills; hygiene and food safety and work safety.
Plants that undertake halal slaughter must be listed by MPI and operate under halal programmes that set out how the plant will undertake halal processing. The plants must ensure that the halal programmes are consistent with all other regulatory requirements, including those covering food safety and animal welfare. Halal programmes must approved by an AHO and must be registered with MPI.
I had a look at a few slaughterhouses in NZ, and all of them have Halal slaughtermen employed, all MUST be practising Muslims with knowledge of halal procedures. An Example of an Ad is below.
Halal Slaughterman Job Ad
Halal Slaughterman Job Ad
What are the animal welfare requirements for animal slaughter in new zealand?
It is compulsory for all animals to be stunned before commercial slaughter in New Zealand. Stunning ensures an immediate loss of consciousness to prevent animals from feeling any pain during the slaughter process. The requirement for animals to be stunned prior to slaughter is contained in the Animal Welfare (Commercial Slaughter) Code of Welfare 2018, which is available on the Ministry for Primary Industries website.
In New Zealand there is no exemption to the requirement for pre-slaughter stunning, unlike in some other countries. Halal slaughter requires that the animal dies from the “halal cut” to the throat, i.e. that the pre-slaughter stun is not powerful enough to kill the animal. In premises that undertake halal slaughter in New Zealand, reversible electrical stunning is used to ensure that animals are rendered unconscious instantaneously and remain unconscious at the time of slaughter, thus complying with both animal welfare and halal requirements.
How to check if a product is Halal from New Zealand?
In order to check if a supermarket lamb product is halal, you need to look for 2 things, the first is a ID code, for example, MEXX, you also want to make sure the item is vacuum packed as there is no chance of any doubt with contamination with non halal items.
Look for New Zealand Flag
The ID code on the back
Here we see the code ME26, using the table below (which shows A list of New Zealand-approved products that are halal) search for ME26, it shows Silver Fern Farms Limited.
If we search for Silver Fern Farms Limited, we find on their website the following in their FAQ.
Here are some more examples
ME188 leads us to CMP RANGITIKEI LIMITED, which trades as ANZCO FOODS RANGITIKEI. Who have a halal certificate on their website.
ME39 leads to AFFCO New Zealand Limited who have a halal sign on their website.
A list of New Zealand-approved animal products for halal premises
My research into Lamb from New Zealand has revealed that the quality is of a high standard. Of course, in the UK, in particular farms in Wales produce good quality lamb, but the issue is your local halal “butcher” (I say butcher, most have no knowledge or qualifications), can’t tell you any information about the providence of their meat. Believe me, I’ve asked only to be replied back with a blank stare.
Lamb from New Zealand is Free Range, livestock are raised on clean, open pastures. New Zealand’s temperate climate provides optimal health conditions to support free range animals.
Livestock are raised in green pastures eating what is most natural to them – grass. Natural grass, hay or silage is the feed of choice for our cattle and sheep. Livestock are not grain-fed.
Cattle are raised without being fed or dosed with artificial hormones that promote unnatural growth within the animal. This hormone growth promotant free stance gives farmers, staff and customers around the world reassurance that they and their children are not eating hormonally manipulated product. Livestock undergo a minimum stand-down period of 60 days from any antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics are only used in selective cases where the health and well being of the animal necessitates it, and the stand-down period ensures there are no residual traces remaining in the meat.
But its coming from New Zealand, that’s bad for the planet!
Many farms aim for Net Carbon Zero when producing their products. For the USA market, he total emissions generated by each pound/kilogram of product are independently measured and certified across the whole life of the product, from farm to the consumers plate in the USA, including disposal of the packaging.
More than 95 percent of emissions from Net Carbon Zero beef occur on farm. The transport and packaging are therefore very minor contributors to the overall carbon footprint but are still fully accounted for and offset via removals on the farms the animals were raised.
Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and increased devotion and worship for Muslims around the world. It’s a month that encourages people to reconnect with their faith, and for those who may not pray as often as they would like, it’s an opportunity to recharge their iman (faith) and make prayer a part of their daily routine.
For many, breaking the fast at a restaurant that provides a prayer space or has a mosque nearby is an excellent way to ensure that they can perform their prayers on time while enjoying a delicious meal. In this blog post, we’ll look at restaurants that offer a prayer space; making it easier for you to break your fast this Ramadan without compromising your spiritual needs.
Are you egg-cited for a breakfast adventure? Time to crack open the possibilities of where to get your brunch on. Whether you’re in the mood for a sunny-side-up experience or want to scramble to a new eatery, London’s brunch scene is egg-ceptional. So let’s get cracking, let’s find the egg-cellent breakfast spots in the city that will make you say “egg-squisite!”
When I first started the journey of food blogging when it came to places that offered Halal Breakfast options like a Full English or an Egg Floratine there were just a handful of limited options, but fast forward to today, and you are spoilt for choice for options for “egg-cellent” quality brunch options.
This blog post will explore the best places to get a halal breakfast or brunch in London. From East to West, North to South, there is no shortage of options for those looking for a delicious meal that is both halal and satisfying. .
Whether you’re a fan of classic breakfast favourites like eggs benedict or crave something a little more adventurous like avocado toast, the city has got you covered. From the heartiest of full English breakfasts to epic French toast and American-style pancakes, the brunch scene in London has something to offer for every taste bud.
I’ve split the list into areas of London. The halal status and levels vary across each restaurant. Some might be fully halal, HMC or offer a separate halal menu.
Hope you found this list useful, please share this with friends. If you have any suggestions for places that I have missed email me or mention them in the comments below.
London has always been a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, and this is especially true when it comes to halal food. This year, the city has seen a surge in the number of open halal restaurants, with new establishments popping up all over the city. Theres been a wide range of openings, with a lot of Turkish-style menus, to steakhouses and modern fusion cuisine to traditional Middle Eastern dishes and street food, there is a wide variety of halal options to choose from in London.
In this article, we will be showcasing halal restaurants that opened in London in 2022. With over 50 places to choose from, there is something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a luxurious dining experience. These restaurants are not only a testament to the diversity and richness of halal cuisine but also a reflection of London’s vibrant and cosmopolitan food scene. I’ve managed to find over 50 places that opened their doors. So grab your appetite and let’s get started!
The places listed below have different levels of Halal status, some have a full halal menu, or serve some options like chicken. Some may serve alcohol, but all should have some type of halal options available.
This list has been put together myself, with an understanding that they all opened in 2022.
East
East London has seen the largest number of new halal restaurant openings in recent years, particularly in the area of Ilford. This diverse and vibrant neighbourhood has become a hub for halal dining, with a wide variety of cuisines and dining experiences to choose from. Many of these restaurants are family-friendly and offer a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all diners. As someone who lives in East London, I may be biased, but I truly believe that this is the best part of the city for foodies.
Asado Steak Address: 166 High Road, London E15 1UA
Aura Turkish, Breakfast/Brunch Address: 179-181 High Rd, Loughton IG10 4LF
Babel Grill House Middle Eastern Address: 40 Brick Ln, London E1 6RF
Beithak Whitechapel Indian 133 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DT
Black Lotus Thai Address: 597 Cranbrook Rd, Gants Hill, Ilford IG2 6JZ
Burgo Town Burgers Address: 951 Romford Rd, London E12 5JR
Central Lounge
Central Lounge Indian Address: 271 Green Ln, Ilford IG3 9JR
Chapters Breakfast/Brunch Address: 833-835 High Rd, Ilford IG3 8TD
Chicos Brick Lane Burgers Address: 28 Osborn St, London E1 6TD
Coco Asia Lakeside Pan Asian Address: Unit 1A, W Thurrock Way, West Thurrock RM20 2ZN
KOA London Breakfast/Brunch Address: 1, 473 Hornsey Rd, London N19 3QL
MXO Mexican Address: 152, 156 N Gower St, London NW1 2LU
No.5 Dining Turkish Address: 5 Tottenham Ln, London N8 9DJ
Zero Zero Italian Address: 2th Floor, O2 Centre, 255 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6LU
Ya Hela Middle Eastern Address: 437 Kingsbury Rd, London NW9 9DT
West
Th West Side of town saw some new halal restaurants pop up, its a part of London that I venture out to much but there are some nice places below that might be worth the journey.
Band of Burgers Fulham Burgers Address: 98 Lillie Rd, London SW6 7SR
Bombay Chow brasserie Indian Address: Haste Hill Golf Club, The Dr, Northwood HA6 1HN
Hangar 22 Fast Food Address: 22 Devonshire Rd, Chiswick, London W4 2HD
La Fenice Italian Address: 48 Stanhope St, London NW1 3EX
Monak Pan Asian Address: 63 Abbey Rd, London NW8 0AE
The Orangery by Sapna Indian Address: Golf Club, Stockley Park, Hayes, Uxbridge UB11 1AQ
Yoko Sizzlers Grill Address: 16 Church Rd, Stanmore HA7 4AR
The Lantern Middle Eastern Address: 35 Bond St, London W5 5AS
South
South London may have the fewest number of halal restaurants in the area, but this year it has seen the opening of a truly standout dining option. Meli-melo is a must-visit restaurant for anyone who appreciates delicious food and great ambiance. Despite the limited selection of halal restaurants in the area, Meli-melo stands out as a shining example of what a restaurant should be.
La Moda Mediterranean Address: 259 Burlington Rd, New Malden KT3 4NE
Meli-melo Fusion Address: 16 Coldharbour Ln, London SE5 9PR
Because I’m a nice guy, here is the whole list in a sortable table for you!
Name
Cusine
Part of London
Address
Alici's
Breakfast/Brunch
North
405 Lordship Ln, London N17 6AG
Asado
Steak
East
Address: 166 High Road, London E15 1UA
Aura
Turkish,Breakfast/Brunch
East
Address: 179-181 High Rd, Loughton IG10 4LF
Azura Restaurant & Bar
Mediterranean
North
Address: 265 Hampstead Rd, London NW1 7QX
Babel Grill House
Middle Eastern
East
Address: 40 Brick Ln, London E1 6RF
Band of Burgers Fulham
Burgers
West
Address: 98 Lillie Rd, London SW6 7SR
Beithak Whitechapel
Indian
East
133 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DT
Black Lotus
Thai
East
Address: 597 Cranbrook Rd, Gants Hill, Ilford IG2 6JZ
Bombay Chow brasserie
Indian
West
Address: Haste Hill Golf Club, The Dr, Northwood HA6 1HN
Bramleys Restaurant
Mediterranean
North
Address: 217 Bramley Rd, London N14 4XA
BurgerX
Burgers
North
Address: 71 Holloway Rd, London N7 8JZ
Burgo Town
Burgers
East
Address: 951 Romford Rd, London E12 5JR
Central Lounge
Indian
East
Address: 271 Green Ln, Ilford IG3 9JR
Chapters
Breakfast/Brunch
East
Address: 833-835 High Rd, Ilford IG3 8TD
Chicos Brick Lane
Burgers
East
Address: 28 Osborn St, London E1 6TD
Chingon
indian
West
Address: 322-324 Uxbridge Rd, Pinner HA5 4HR
Chourangi
Indian
Central
Address: 3 Old Quebec St, London W1H 7AF
Cloud7
Breakfast/Brunch
West
Address: 7, Handel Parade, Whitchurch Ln, London HA8 6LD
Coco Asia Lakeside
Pan Asian
East
Address: Unit 1A, W Thurrock Way, West Thurrock, West Thurrock,Thurrock Thiar RM20 2ZN
Dine-Inn
Steak
East
Address: 576 Cranbrook Rd, Ilford IG2 6RF
Flip n Sear
Burgers
North
Address: 2nd Floor, Hawley Wharf, Water Ln., London NW1 8JZ
Forks and Green
Breakfast/Brunch
North
Address: Downhills Park Entrance, 338 Philip Ln, London N15 4AB
Gallio
Mediterranean
Central
Address: Cabot Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 4QT
Hangar 22
Fast Food
West
Address: 22 Devonshire Rd, Chiswick, London W4 2HD
Hashtag Cafe
Breakfast/Brunch
East
Address: 701A High Rd, Seven Kings, Ilford IG3 8RH
I checked out No.5 a lovely Turkish-inspired restaurant and lounge in North London.
The decor is very Instagram-friendly and has a great vibe – I’m not a fan of all that jazz so decided to go on a quiet Monday evening and took my bestie out for his birthday.
My favourite dish was the Crispy truffle croquettes – filled with truffle, mushrooms, onions and bechamel sauce, coated in a crispy and light bread crumb roll – this was so good i ordered it twice – A MUST ORDER
The scallops were very good as to the octopus which had a delicious charred taste. (note octopus might not be permissible under certain schools of Islamic thought)
I got the fillet steak, it was cooked more towards medium than the requested medium rare, it didn’t have a deep flavour profile, I’ve definitely had better. I think the Kitchen rested it for too long, by the time it got to me the temperature wasn’t hot. It was also served with Macadamia paste, beetroot purée and quinoa which really was a strange combination that didn’t work, but it did come with chips.
My mate got the lamb shoulder, 14 hour of slow-cooked lamb moulded in 2 discs on the plate served on carrot puree, I found it just okay, I expected a richer level of flavours.
For desserts, we moved to the stylish lounge area, where we shared a Chocolate bowl a fun dessert that’s dropped onto the table; inside the bowl, you’ll find loads of sweet treats like brownies, ice cream, macaroons, strawberries and toffee cake served with warm white chocolate poured on top. I found it too sweet for me, 2 of us couldn’t finish it.
This spot would be ideal for a special occasion, girl’s night out or date night with live entertainment from Friday to Sunday. The starters were fantastic but the mains I had were a little average. The drinks were very balanced and well made.
In general, I was very impressed with the overall quality, presentation and taste of the food. The starters were great, the massive portion of bhindi fries were so moreish, delicious scallops, scrumptious chaat and the lamb chops which come with 4 were 1 inch thick, French trimmed, soft, tender and tasty, something you don’t see in East.
The biryani was a surprise hit, absolutely delicious, with generous amounts of soft tender lamb and packed full of flavour, probably one of the best I’ve had at a restaurant (better than a £33 I had at a central London restaurant)
The decor has a dark modern look, and you don’t feel like you are in East London. Prices are a little high, but you’ll pay more for similar restaurants in Central, but the good point is this is a fully halal restaurant with no alcohol on the menu.
The drinks and dessert were not on the same level as the food, needs a bit more refinement but still decent.
Overall a fantastic addition to the food scene, kudos to the owners for a full non-alcoholic menu, brave in such a middle-class area. I went on a Friday evening and every table had a baby or child so that was good to see it’s a family-friendly place. Free parking after 6.30pm with 1-hour free parking before. Close to the station. My meal was complimentary. Full Review to follow on the blog in a few weeks.
I made a rare trip to Central London for the first time this year! Unreal for me as I used to go to Central London every day for the last decade when I worked there. I left the wife and baby at home and linked up with a friend to try the latest Indian that you have seen all over your feed Chourangi which has opened up close to Marble Arch Station, at the end of Oxford Street.
The restaurant has a classic Indian colonial decor vibe and a focused menu that explores the flavours of Calcutta.
The food here isn’t cheap! So good thing I was invited, I got to try a range of items
The use of strong spices was a common theme with the dishes, they didn’t hide away and tone down the food. Some dishes I found unbalanced with strong whole spices, like Cardamom.
My favourite dishes were actually the mains, the Kosha Lamb and Butter Chicken, I liked the use of large pieces of meat and chicken and the flavours were delicious.
The Welsh lamb rack or chops at over £7 per chop for me wasn’t worth it. The cut I got was on the thin side and had the fat removed. I could taste an over-spiced marinate that coated the chop, while it was cooked perfectly I just wasn’t blown away by the flavours and spices.
The mango ginger stone bass (fish) was a dish I ordered because it’s something I’ve only ever seen at another restaurant, this inspired dish was delicate, light and delicious.
I’d avoid the biryani as it was just rice cooked with meat and didn’t feel anything like a layered and well-made Biryani. The cracking Spinach was not what I expected, it’s a bar snack.. Maybe the fact it’s called a bar snack should have been the clue.
I didn’t like the Laal Murgi Kebab, I found it dry and absent of flavour. The poppadums we had were old and stale. The jumbo prawns were good, but at £23 for 3 was on the pricey side.
The service was just okay, I’d expected more attentive staff and one that doesn’t bring warm tap water, but the food did arrive in a speedy manner.
Mocktails were £9 and tasted unique, I got a nimbbu soda that had a contrasting tangy flavour of chaat masala to spice it up.
Overall, If you like authentic flavours then this place does offer some good food, normally I’m more interested with small Plates and starters but the curries seemed to be the stars of the show here.
I was invited to review here. Meal was complimentary. Thoughts my own.
Redesigned Tube map shows the nearest restaurant that serves halal food closest to each London Underground Station
Download “November 2022” v1 – Updated November 2022 – NEW! Added Station Names alongside restaurant names – Updated the map to the new current map from TFL – Elizabeth Line and other stations added – Added new places
Download “Jan 2020” v1.3 – Updated December 2019 – Added new places – Replaced a few
Download v1.1 – Updated September 2019 – Fixed a few errors – Added over 20 new places
This map is totally free and took me a lot of time and effort to make, if you find this map useful and want to say thanks you can follow this link and treat me to a slice of pizza or burger.
or you can use TipJar below
I started with Central, it was tough as there are so many places close to tube stations, so I listed my favourite ones. Then I moved to East which was pretty easy, a little tougher was North London. West London is where TripAdvisor had to help, then came the turn of South London..yeah not much there sorry.
I amazed myself in that I listed most of the places on this map from memory! (So I could have made a mistake, but I think most of it is pretty accurate) Hope you find this map useful, the places listed are all my choices and I’ve tried to list places by distance from the tube station and by my rating.
If you have any suggestions for Stations are don’t have a restaurant listed please leave a comment below! Also, Sorry South London but It was tough to find anything decent for you.
Also, remember I also have my amazing google map that will list all my recommended halal places based on your location in London – for more info go here or access the map directly here
The Tube map is copyright to Tfl. This map was created under Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 30ACaricature, parody or pastiche(1)Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of caricature, parody or pastiche does not infringe copyright in the work.(2)To the extent that a term of a contract purports to prevent or restrict the doing of any act which, by virtue of this section, would not infringe copyright, that term is unenforceable
I rarely travel south of the river, mainly due to the long journey times by car, there’s always traffic and it’s never fun. When it comes to restaurants, there’s a lack of anything good South with only a few exceptions.
If you like restaurants with a vibe, amazing decor and quality service.. Then this is not it. However, if you are a true foodie this place is must visit.
Meli-melo is a restaurant that offers a wide range of unique dishes with elite presentation. From brunches, roasts, burgers and steaks there’s plenty to use from.
The signature Sunday roast that’s available every day is a work of culinary mastery. It’s available as Beef, Lamb, and chicken. Every element on the plate was a delight, it’s easy to see the love, passion and energy that’s gone into this dish. It’s easily the best halal Roast you can get. The lamb rack was cooked perfectly with the tasty fat left on for that extra flavour. All the vegetables were elite and the secret orange mash is like crack, so good. It’s worth going here just for this dish alone.
Lamb Rack Sunday Roast
The Beef cheek cannelloni was something similar to what I had once at The Great Chase, what I loved about this dish was the leak croquette.
I decided to try some other dishes off the menu, Lamb quesadillas, Baboon fries, and Crispy cauliflower. While these dishes didn’t have any faults with them cooking wise, I just wasn’t impressed with the overall flavours and taste and thought the sauces on most of these dishes overpowered everything.
Old-school foodies might remember a burger joint called Brioche Burger, who levelled up the halal burger scene, the owner and chef worked there and current foodies will know about The Great Chase where he was the Head chef.
There isn’t a halal restaurant like this in London, the place is small and intimate and only offers space for 16 guests at maximum capacity. It’s like one man band, the chef takes the orders, cooks and serves the food! So don’t expect top service here or a vibe, just really good food.
We finished off the meal with an elite dessert, another dish made up of loads of separate elements that came together in harmony. The croffle, is the chef’s unique invention of mixing a waffle and a croissant. The freshly made vanilla and pistachio creams were a pleasure to eat.
I’d strongly suggest making a booking if you go as seating is limited. All food is halal. No alcohol served. No music, Quran and nasheeds played. I paid for my meal.
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