Harden's says
The third branch of this vegetarian Middle Eastern outfit is a two-story spot with an outside terrace in the new Cadence Court to the north of King's Cross station. A menu of Bubala classics will be enhanced by some new specials.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“I dream about the hummus and flatbread…!”; “Believe the hype: even the meat-eaters don’t complain” and visit “these vibrant (often heaving!)” venues whose “completely brilliant” meat-free dishes (“such variety, with great combinations of flavours”) provide “taste explosions” of “fill-yer-face food”. But even fans concede you get “squashed in” and that “the bare walls and decor make it noisy” – “then again a more comfortable ambience would just push up the reasonable prices” and the net outcome is “jolly”. From its Soho base, expansion has come to Shoreditch and – from April 2025 – also now to King’s Cross. Top Tip – avoid W1’s “cramped basement”.
Summary
“Don’t worry you won’t miss the meat!” – “Bubala really seems to tap into what modern dining and modern food is about”; “the depth of flavour is unbeatable” at these “fantastic Middle Eastern-inspired vegetarian restaurants” in Soho and Shoreditch. “You definitely feel you’re in a hip part of town once the waiting staff arrive at your table and plentiful food arrives quickly”. “An excellent choice if you want something plant-based and memorable” – “the only problem is that it‘s always crowded!” (“it’s so hard to get a table, book well in advance”). Top Menu Tips – “The ‘Bubala knows best’ set menu has a great selection and is very filling”; “Oyster mushroom skewer and the sublime Halloumi with honey are real highlights”; “the smoky Baba ganoush is unforgettable”.
Summary
“Every course hits harder than the next… and you don’t even realise all are vegetarian!” – this former pop-up – now with outlets in Soho (on the site of the now-transferred Vasco & Piero’s) and Shoreditch – serves “stunning” Middle Eastern-style dishes from founder Marc Summers (ex-Berber & Q) and head chef Helen Graham (ex-Palomar and Barbary). “If I could eat this food every day, I could easily become meat-free”. Plan ahead – “it’s hard to get a table!”
Summary
“Prepare to be blown away by the flavours at this tiny spot in Spitalfields” – its “absolutely brilliant vegetarian and vegan”, Middle Eastern-inspired dishes “truly sing”, delivering “a taste explosion” such that “carnivores will not miss the meat” (“the charred oyster mushroom skewers are stunning… thinking about the labneh, hummus and laffa bread makes me salivate!”). Having opened it in 2019, Marc Summers launched a 50-cover sibling in Soho in July 2022 on the former site of Vasco & Piero’s Pavilion (see also), complete with open kitchen and counter-style dining. The chef is rising star Helen Graham.
For 35 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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