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    Alounak

    4.1 (117 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Alounak Photos

    ALOUNAK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Alounak

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    Reviews With Photos

    Combination appetizer with bread
    Priscilla O.

    What a delicious Persian restaurant nearby! We enjoyed their combination appetizer plate that included 2 types of eggplant dips, a hummus, and a chicken dip. The best part was the tafton bread made right on premises and arrives hot to the table. For our main course, one occasion we ordered the bone-in marinated baby chicken on rice and on another, the Sunday special, cod cooked in a delicious cilantro sauce. Each of the dishes were flavored just right. Alounak was open on Christmas Day and we were grateful for the cheerful waitstaff who were working on this National Holiday.

    Front, on Westbourne Grove
    Bruce K.

    Here's to adventurous taste buds and to Yelp! When the place I really wanted to dine was closed, I turned to my trusty iPhone to tell me about the interesting looking place across the street. And so instead of having barbecued American food, I had Middle Eastern. Wha-huh? It's a good thing my stomach just let my brain decide because it was the right choice! A table for one was a long bench along the wall that gave me the opportunity to watch the door and the street, but I also got to see how the taftoon bread is made and prepared. The baker is an artist and he made it look surprisingly simple. It's a naan-like flat bread that is cooked when it's stuck to the inside wall of a clay oven. Very clever! Since I don't know much about Persian food, I just went with a cucumber salad to start and the "Saturday special" for main. I was not disappointed. While my order was prepared, I tore pieces of the bread and put a bit of butter on it. When it arrived, the fresh bowl of finely diced cucumber, tomato and onion was fresh and crisp, setting me up for the star of the meal - a big pile of yummy rice and a lamb shank. The phrase "fell off the bone" is overused, but in this case it was true. A light push with my fork and the meat just... fell. No knife needed. Moist and yummy, I spooned some of the juices from the bowl on to it just because it was there, even though it really wasn't needed. Before I knew it, the plate was clean, the tummy was full and I was very well satisfied. No need for dessert. Really good food, good service, an excellent value. You won't spend a lot of money here because it's proper Arabic and therefore you will save a ton that you'd otherwise be spending on wine and beer. Nothing wrong with that at all!

    Schelly Y.

    tasty taste! We lucked out and got the last table which is key since they do not take reservations and there was a line. When you walk in you, are greeted by the bread oven and you immediately know you have to eat some bread like right this second. We tried the chicken kebap and koobideh and both were healthy portions and yummmmay. This place is super efficientprobably because there was a constant line of people waiting for tablesso once you order your food comes out pretty quickly. You have the option to have your food with either rice or bread. Can't go wrong with either but as I said..the bread oven is calling out to you.

    Claire L.

    I'd never been to a Middle Eastern restaurant before coming to Alounak. The food was absoloutely superb, full of flavour, there was some veggie options available, for some reason I thought Middle Eastern food was all met but I was wrong. My boyfriend and I ate really well for under £20 which is great in this area of town. I must say the staff were a little "brisk" and I felt like we were being rushed a bit, which I didn't appreciate. This was a good experience but for me, the vibe was as good and although I enjoyed the food I'm not in a hurry to go back,

    Mural on the way to the toilets upstairs
    Ranjana P.

    I would love to know what Alounak means. My only available translation from a Google search was Small Persian. Maybe it's correct as the restaurant is very small and there can be long queues to get in on cold winter nights. Winter however is the best time to visit Alounak which is busy, warm and served well with the special earthenware oven. The latter is used to make the delicious flat breads similar to the Indian roti and delicious with the mezze and meat. I have been coming to Alounak once or twice a year and eash time the food has been very tasty. The portions have got smaller but this appears to be the case everywhere. My favourite is the mixed platter which is for two people. It come with lamb shish, chicken cutlets and beef strips. Each has excellent flavour and texture. The beef is extremely good and I appreciate its flavour even after eating it. I do not remember eating any desserts at Alounak as I fill myself up on the starter and main. Alcoholic drinks can be brought in and there is a Sainsbury or Waitrose nearby with a decent wine selection. Service is excellent as the many beautiful waitresses are quick to serve and very polite. The toilet is clean although located on the third floor. The murals are everywhere in Alonak which is quite pleasant. I have eaten Turkish, Greek and Persian and of all the meats the Persian is my favourite. If you need a good place to eat in Bayswater and not a vegan then I would definitely recommend Alounak.

    #26- enough food for 2! Minced lamb kebab, chicken, and lamb kebab
    Paty D.

    When in London, eat ethnic food! There are a plethora of choices to choose from but Alounak is a sure fire winner! We walked in and noticed it was quite busy for a weekday- always a good sign. It is not a large place but it is definitely homey. There is a large, clay pot when you walk in in which they make the bread to order. It was nice to be able to see how it was done while we ate. And whatever amount of bread you order- double it because that's really what you'll eat! It is served immediately after making and is warm and soft and absolutely addicting! We just kept ordering more. As to the food we started with the mixed appetizer platter which comes with a variety of dips to try- all of them were amazing! Even their version of a potato salad is unlike anything I've tried. My favorite dip was the one made with eggplant. For the entrees we all ordered number 26 and it was big enough for two! It gives you a little taste of everything. It comes with chicken, lamb skewer, and minced lamb kebab. The chicken- which I normally never order anywhere- was probably my favorite because it was so moist and flavorful. The minced lamb kebab was also great because of the flavors. The lamb skewer was my least favorite because it was overcooked and a little dry. Overall however the food was delicious and different from the Lebanese cuisine I'm so familiar with. The service was wonderful as well. All the girls were very helpful and attentive. It was one of the meals I most enjoyed while in London- and it's friendly on the wallet!

    Iranian bread. Forgot the name
    Eakan G.

    This was the first time I ever had Iranian cuisine. And I am in love with it. I realize that the Persians, now known as Iranians, have had a great influence on North Indian cuisine. The bread they have is what has evolved into Roti/Naan etc in India. The clay pot oven they use to make it is what evolved into what we call the tandoor. I don't know much of the history but the Persians definitely came to India a long time ago and did some good and bad things. I wish to say the food was probably the best thing they gave us. Now getting to the food one of my friends and I had, chicken special. It was marinated cubes of chicken grilled in their oven. Not sure if it is the clay pot oven or the normal grill. But the rice was special. They had plain basmati kind of white rice, with some special yellow coloured basmati type rice on top of it. As we all know saffron is an expensive spice, that obviously meant, the saffron spiced rice was just a topping. They served us two of their local breads, it has a very different name from the Indian bread so I don't really remember what they called it. And we ordered one of the aubergine based vegetarian starter dish which we had with the Iranian bread. It was bloody brilliant. The marinated Chicken cubes also tasted amazing. But the only main course vegetarian item on the menu was served with the same sort of rice combination with a slightly less impressive vegetarian gravy based dish. The gravy didn't taste as rich but the rice was just as good as the others. After the meal to top it all up, we ordered their traditional sweet, Zolbiah and balmieh. Indians know Zolbiah as Zalebi or Jalebi depending on which part of India you belong to. Over all, I loved the food, the music, the tea and what not! I would definitely recommend this place to my friends, especially those that love lamb. I would love to go there again to try out many of their other dishes too.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food is great , service is nice. And the atmosphere is refreshing. My fist distention for Iranian food when in London

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Wonderful food with freshly baked bread. Service helpful in selecting dishes. The mixed appetizers is a must.

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    Review Highlights - Alounak

    Drinks ordered, we ordered the mixed starter which came with 4 different dips and ordered bread.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    People searched for Middle Eastern 248 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Alounak - mideastern - Updated May 2026

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