I've been to this place multiple times over the years, mainly to get the mixed shawarma wrap and have always thought it was the best. That hasn't changed but I will say the size of the actual wrap is half of what it used to be. Same price, half the size, unfortunately. Now, I'm not saying to avoid the spot because I still think it is the best you can find. This review and especially the portion size issue is only for the shawarma for takeout. read more

The food was delicious and hospitality were lovely. The labneh and chicken kebab were perfectly seasoned. read more

Some of the best meals start with no plan at all. While picking up a rental car from Hertz on Edgware Road, I found myself surrounded by the unmistakable sights and smells of London's Arab quarter--meats slowly roasting on vertical spits, the warm scent of spice and charcoal lingering in the air. I stopped in front of Al Balad, watching the rotisserie turn, until I realized I was no longer just passing by--I was already sold. Inside, the place was buzzing with what seemed to be locals--always a promising sign, especially for a Friday lunch. I was greeted with a cheerful Salam Alaikum (my look often leans Afghani), handed a menu, and welcomed without hesitation. Though the weather was perfect for outdoor seating, I took a table indoors--something I mildly regretted once I saw the tea service wafting outside amid a backdrop of people-watching paradise. I ordered the eggs with spiced lamb sausage and a pot of mint tea. I had my eye on the lamb shawarma but decided to keep it simple. When the dish arrived, it looked modest--but the flavor was anything but. The lamb sausage was rich, complex, and deeply satisfying, and the pita bread was impossible to stop eating. Fresh, warm, and perfect for scooping up every last bite. Al Balad is a reminder that sometimes, the best dining experiences are the ones you stumble into. Step off the beaten path, take a seat, sip your tea, and enjoy the moment. read more

This is Lebanese restaurant. We tried fish & shawarma taste was good. Service good. Environment is not bad . Recommended read more

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Decided to eat here my first night in London given the proximity to my hotel and the reviews. The restaurant is small inside and you can be seated rather closely to strangers. The staff was friendly but at times felt like hovering. Maybe the small space? They serve you pickled banana peppers, olives, garlic sauce, and a spicy sauce when you get seated. I ordered the lebaneh (yogurt). It was flavorless. Got the chicken platter as my entree. The chicken was so tender and juicy. Honestly the best part of the experience. I got white rice in confusion. If they had vermicelli rice that's what I'd get next time. The salad on the plate was nothing special. Overall, an okay meal. I felt that despite the chicken being so amazingly tender, the overall meal lacked seasoning. It need an oomph that it was missing. read more

Al Balad - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

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Pretty good. I was in the UK with my kids staying in the Marble Arch area and so got take out for the kids. The staff were very friendly and the food was pretty decent. The hummus was really good, so I recommend that - nice and creamy. My kids also really liked the naan. Typical ambiance for what you would expect in a middle eastern restaurant. read more

The food was very tasty. We had different mixed grill dishes, hommos, baba ganouj, and kibbeh. Delicious and well prepared. Even the green salad was a nice blend of veggies with different flavors. read more

Al Balad isn't half balad (except for the service). This is a very nice, bustling restaurant in the heart of Little Arabia. The serving sizes are ample, food is solid (fresh ingredients), and the ambiance is clean and bright. But, beware the slow and inattentive service. Our family of four stopped in here on Christmas Day. Despite popular belief, London doesn't completely shut down on the 25; you just half to head to one of the many rich, international neighborhoods. We ordered the vegetarian platter, chicken skewers, Sayadieh, etc. it was well above average in taste and presentation. The only real challenge was with the service. It was a busy day, and most all of the tables were taken. But they had adequate waitstaff to do a much better job. We had to ask for silverware a few times. There was a long lag between the time one of us got a meal and the rest were served. I was refused ice water (I know an American habit), though they gave the tables next to us tap water, others cups of ice (for sodas), and instead I was given (unordered) a bottle of water. Then we waited for an eternity for the check, when we finally walked up to a register. We liked Al Balad. I'd actually highly recommend it. Just give yourself a lot of extra time and prepare to excercise a lot of patience. read more

Al Balad - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

OMG! This place is legit and the food is out of this world. I ordered the chicken taouk and kefta kabab. The chicken taouk was tender and very flavorful. The garlic sauce was super. I think they mixed up our order and gave us some rice dish instead of the kefta kebab. No harm no foul. It was great as well! This is defintiely the best Lebanese food that I have had. It is super popular and it was loud and bustling inside. Glad we did takeout. read more

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Really great Lebanese food. The food was delicious and very authentic. We had different mixed grill plates, hommous, baba ganouj, and even a green salad that had a nice mix of vegetables and a tasty dressing The ambience was fine but nothing special. The service was good. I'd go back for sure! read more

Nice lunch specials- got the mixed shawarma and that was plenty for 2 people to share. Very fresh and flavorful! Thick coffee, warm flatbread, quick service and friendly customer service. Outdoor seating in a prime corner lot for people watching or cozy indoor tables. Will come again! read more

This place is absolutely excellent! If you like Mediterranean food, just for you to know that Lebanese is the best. But that doesn't mean all Lebanese restaurants are good. This one is the best of the best! Food exceptional, service fast and friendly, and the place is small but very nice atmosphere. The owner came to the table to ask about the food, he was very attentive. Thank you for the best dinner in London! read more

Al Balad - Kibbeh, hummus and falafel - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

In London for a long layover, decided to make my way around town to check out some sights and eats. Found Al Salad conveniently located in a nice area for some cool tourist attractions. Seating seemed to be tight inside as it was pretty busy. I opted for an outdoor table just before it started raining. Rain wasn't an issue as they have a nice quality awning that kept me and my food nice and dry. The food was pretty good. It wasn't necessarily bursting with the spices and flavors I was expecting. Rice came out not hot, but not cold either. The rice did get cold pretty quickly. The veggies were also pretty good, but again, not bursting with the kind of flavor I was expecting from a Mediterranean eatery. Afternoon definitely is a very busy time so be aware that seating might be limited. The service was really good as I had a waiter that was pretty regularly checking on me making sure I had everything I needed. read more

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Really good food! Chicken and hummus were on point! Portions are huge and the service was nice! Great location

Casual dinner experience with authentic Lebanese food. We had the chicken shwerma, chicken and lamb kabobs, and the hummus and fried potato squares as starters. The kabobs were very tasty. The humus and fried potatoes hit the spot. I though the shwerma was good but lacked flavor and was a bit on the dry side. Go with the kabobs if you have to choose. Service was excellent. They saw we needed more bread with our hummus and brought out more. Water was refilled as needed. Eat inside unless you don't mind the smoke from this smoking at the outdoor tables. I like this place. read more

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This is the most AMAZING food I've had in London!! By far my favorite place and I always look forward to going back. The staff is just as awesome as the food!! Thank you Ammar for always taking good care of me when I come in. read more

Al Balad - Sorry, I couldn't help myself I had to dig in. I probably should've taken the pictures before - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

My girlfriend and I had dinner at Al Balad while we were on vacation visiting from the US. We hyped it up all week and Al Balad did not disappoint! The food slapped, and we loved everything we tried! Restraunt was packed, service was quick, and the food was fresh! Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good healthy dj read more

Al Balad - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

Delicious food. Great service, very nice. We are from the states so was a new experience but would highly recommend

Needed to grab a quick late lunch and went here to Al Balad. Ordered a chicken shish taouk sandwich and a side of falafel. Both were amazing! The falafel were fresh, homemade and perfectly fried, served with pita bread, tahini sauce and side of olives and pickles. The shish taouk was made with the most tender chicken breast in delicious sauce. Really was good and highly recommended! read more

Al Balad - Falafel - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

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I feel violated. The food was good except for the bones in the meat of my chicken Shawarma. Fries were good. However they screwed me on the bill. Charged me for a full dinner when I ordered a sandwich by pointing at it on the menu during lunch. They also charged me for 3 cokes. They weren't surprised when I questioned the bill. It seemed like they did it on purpose, trying to take advantage of the non-local boy. I won't be back. Too bad. read more

Al Balad - Chicken Shawarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

Delicious food, affordable and good portions. Nice ambiance and polite and helpful servers. I would definitely recommend it and come back here if there's an opportunity. read more

Al Balad serves authentic mediterranean cuisines from their fattoush salad to lamb shawarmas including humus and babaganoush. read more

Al Balad - Fresh fattoush salad and a side of olives and peppers - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

Good food, great customer service, excellent location. Highly recommended if you're looking for Arabic food around Marble Arch area.

Best food I think I've ever had! Large portions the mint tea after dinner is super yummy. Don't get me started on the hummus it's the best the best the best everything is top notch and the wait staff is very informative friendly and funny. read more

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INTRO Lebanese cuisine has not tickled my fancy like Al Balad and so with delight comes my raving review. Yes, this will be as fair as possible seeing as how I have samples true Lebanese food from many different families as well as places around the county and now world. QUALITY Al Balad holds their own easily when speaking of middle eastern deliciousness. From the classic hummus and pita, to the falafel and spices, to the not one but three types of shawarma, there are tons of options for parties small and very large (will be discussed later). For me, Al Balad was the quintessential home flavor you would hope to receive from a mom and pop like such. The quality of every item I sampled, and we had a ton, was top notch. Hot, fresh, delicious and ready, wow the quality was amazing. SERVICE I really do think a lot about service when dining out, and since I dine out often, I feel a sense of the level of service everywhere. At Al Balad, the family run atmosphere is prevalent and refreshing. From the time you walk up to place your name in the que, to being sat and welcomed, I had a smile to let me and the workers know we were all having a great time. Ah, a breath of fresh air. AMBIANCE/CROWD I have a rule that says that when I step inside an establishment of cultural food or something specific (non-American chain) if I see many folks from said culture, I feel the food or service I seek will be top notch. So is the case at Al Balad. Wow, there you can find folks from all over the Middle East and friendly together enjoying the goodness that is the wonderful vibe and food. There are small and very large parties to be seen (noted that the night one we visited, a family of seventeen had tried to get a table or so - wow). Anyway, the crowd is rather loud in volume , if that is at all important, but very friendly to each other and even willing to share a Hookah pipe if you fancy. Yes indeed. VALUE I was truly amazed at the value of each item we ordered. The hot or cold meze plates were a great portion for the cost and surely the main dishes as well were modestly priced for the amount of food we ate. Special shout out to the falafel pita sandwich which was so affordable and yes so fresh and delicious. We fancy a local Lebanese spot back home that does a similar thing, but Al Balad had it together very well is all. PARKING As always I am the parking snob, but when traveling abroad this is little concern since I typically am either on foot or a short trek from mass transit. Once again, Al Balad hits this chord well. Situated very close to the 'Marble Arch' Underground 'Tube' stop, even in the cold, after a quick five or so minute walk, you will see the lit up signs and crowd of people. EXTRA There is so much positive to say about this spot, and so one would not wonder why I would go back twice in a six day visit. When you find something you like, stick with it - is my motto - and we found a great place serving up amazing food, at an affordable price, with exceptional quality and the most friendly staff around - all packaged together in a neat little diner style restaurant- in London. So if you fancy these types of great tastes and are on your way, stop in and enjoy the cuisine and atmosphere. Until next time, SYOY! read more

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The food is very good - the fattoush salad is the best that I've had! Service is quick and efficient

Delicious Hummus, Babaganouj - and mixed grill plates. Funny guys. Know they will likely intentionally mis-hear you if you try and order shawarma sandwich and bring you a plate instead. And bottled water, no tap water. No alcohol here. But delicious and fun, and very authentic Lebanese food - and attitudes. - read more

Food is actually decent but not the service. I ordered 3 wraps but they brought us 3 plates. When I told them I ordered wraps, the waiter came by with a bit of an attitude and brought "his" notepad showing me what "I" ordered. As if "I" was the one that wrote it down wrong on the piece of paper. (Maybe that's their way of making more money since the plates are pricier). I realized then that there was no use in arguing. It's a he said, she said situation... also, it ruins the mood. I'm here on vacation with my sons and looking to have a good time. They're young and it's easier for them to eat a shawarma wrap vs a plate. So I never order "plates. For a minute, I doubted myself but my boys said, "...mama we heard you and you ordered wraps"... Also, we used most of the bread to eat the hummus and they never replenished it. (Good thing I'm watching my carbs :) and didn't need it.) The point is, no one came by at any point to check if we needed anything once they gave us our food. read more

Al Balad is a hopping Lebanese restaurant packed with patrons in the evening. The place sings with happy banter and bustling servers and smells of delicious Lebanese cuisine. I only came for a wrap for takeaway, which was tasty, although it took over half an hour, and the overall takeaway setup isn't great. But if you're looking for a fun dine-in experience with a group, it seems Al Balad could be a great place to check out! read more

Good food. Very authentic. Service is very good and I feel it's a very good value. Very authentic.

There's a lot of high ratings behind me for Al Balad, I wish I could agree. I have fond memories of Lebanese food in London. The organization in Al Balad seemed haphazard. Some staff are nice, others not so nice. Everyone milling around. The waiter was not very interested in helping me. But a shy waitress was. I requested "just water," should have said "tap water," the waiter brought me bottled water, and I returned it. But of course this makes for conflict in dining, which is not conducive to a good meal. Maybe they can clarify what a customer wants, and not presume the most expensive thing. The waiter also seemed intent on pushing more things on me. I ordered 3 meza plates, and he seemed to think I should also have a salad. It all seemed very pushy, like "spend more, spend more." But again, this ruins the good feelings of a great meal. Regarding the food: The white bean-garbanzo combination dish was not tasty for a slightly western palate, maybe that is a cultural thing. When I ordered it, I asked if it was good. The waiter perfunctorily said "Yes." But it was not good, for my taste at least. I wouldn't serve it in my restaurant. The babaganoosh is very good. The shy waitress asked if I didn't like my barely-touched white bean-garbanzo dish. When I said, "It wasn't to my taste, but I didn't think it had gone bad," she looked concerned. She brought me three pieces of baklava. OMG. The baklava is actually incredible and worth coming back for that alone. I think if I came back, I would order simple, common mezas. But then I would have to get some confidence that the waiters all cared about me having a good meal. Maybe I will make sure I get waited on by that shy waitress who seemed to care, instead of the lazy waiter who did not. read more

It's not that great! The reviews r over rated. We ordered kibbi, and it was cold inside. They re - did it and made another order but by that time we were almost on main course. Hummus was standard good. But bread was barely warm when served. I had the mixed grill and it was overall : good. The minced kebab was just ok. Chicken cubes were good and lamb cubes were very good. Chicken shawarma was good. Lamb chops were very good. read more

Al Balad - Mixed grill plate. - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

As someone of Moroccan/Egyptian/North African descent, Arabic food is MY soul food. The flavours that speak to the deepest arts of my very being. That remind me of home. Wherever I go, I love to try Arabic food and see what restaurants truly speak to me. So when my bestie and I were in London running around at 1 am in Hyde park, and there was an urgent emergency, I looked around to see the safest place for two young women to pop into. Of all places, Al Balad was open. The very serious cooks were still over the range. There was a young hijabi woman running around as a server. The tables and booths were filled with groups of young adults, the elders of the community enjoying midnight tea, families and children. Everything was bright and clean. I felt safe. It reminded me of home and enjoying dinners with family. That feeling of safety. It was two days before we had to leave back across the pond and I knew that Al Balad was going to be the last Resturant we went to. I knew we were going to come back. So we did. When asked by the server what we wanted to order, instead of choosing ourselves, I asked the server to bring us what he loved the most and what he would eat. So he filled our table with food. How to describe the flavours? There are no words. The only thing I could compare this profound culinary experience is to the song be our guest from the live action beauty and the beast. The flavours were an explosion of tartness and joy that was capped off with a cup of Middle Eastern Tea. If ever I am in London again I will make a point to return to Al-Balad. read more

Incredible find on my visit in London. Perhaps some of the best middle eastern cuisine I've enjoyed. Will be coming back on my next visit to London. read more

This place serves outstanding Lebanese food, and best of all, they open late. The chicken shawarma is one of the most flavorful and moist chicken I've had in the shawarma realm. Overall, the food was great and made to order. We also tried the falafel and fried kibbeh, they were very good. An special mention goes to the garlic sauce, amazing. We visited this place while in London twice, great late nite dinner spot around Hyde Park. read more

The food was not impressive and the service even less so. There are plenty of Lebanese restaurants nearby so choose a different one.

Mind Blown!! I normally don't say phrases like "to be honest" or "to tell you the truth". Those phrases are useless most of the time and you should not use them to preface anything you're about to say. HOWEVER, for emphasis, I have to say WITH ALL HONESTY, this is the finest Lebanese meal I ever had the pleasure of enjoying! It might even be one of the top five meals of my life - my wife's cooking notwithstanding. The place is full of locals and kids. I don't understand a word anyone is saying. I'm getting G the full experience of London Lebanese urban culture. I could eat like this for the rest of my life. I can't wait to return and bring my wife. read more

Al Balad - When the chilis hit the table I was convinced I'd come to the right place - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL

I've tried their breakfast and lunch, it was amazing! The owner is so humble guy, servers are so friendly Their shisha is very clean and fresh. Mohammad the guy who work at the shisha is the kindness, most respectful guy I recommend going there read more

I really liked this place. The food is all very good, fairly priced, and amply portioned. The falafel is solid. The service is great. I wouldn't call it 'friendly'; more like efficient and no-nonsense. They get the job done. The setting is fairly casual, low-key. You'll find all range of folks eating in here, from young couples on a date to families with small children to older couples on a date to a group of young men feasting before an evening out. Convenient location. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Great food, decent portions, authentic and flavorful! We were in London for a day and wanted something authentic so we stumbled across this place and kind of glad we did. Got the lamb shawarma sandwiches and it was really good, if you're not used to the gamy flavor of lamb then I recommend the chicken instead. Tabouli was good and fresh and the Hummus was creamy and smooth! Manager treated us with tea and baklava! read more

Al Balad - Middle Eastern Near Me - London, XGL