6 Halal Dishes to Eat This Week | March
With the grey skies, indecisive rainfall, and corona virus plaguing the city, chilling in front of the tv with a bowl of popcorn and hot cocoa sounds like the perfect evening. However, there is only so much long shelf-life food one can eat so I’ve made a list of comfort foods that are worth the outing.
[Jokes aside, please do stay safe and vigilant when it comes to corona virus.]
This week, we’ve got Syrian fried chicken, deliciously rich nihari, and perhaps the best halal kung pao chicken in the city that you just have to check out. Is that enough to coax you out of your warm and cosy haven?
As always, do double check the halal status of all the places mentioned on this list before you visit as the suppliers may change.
SIX HALAL DISHES TO EAT THIS WEEK | MARCH EDITION
HALEEM AND NIHARI, ALADIN KEBABISH
Aladdin Kebabish is an iconic establishment with queues of people waiting for their halwa puri on the weekend. Their dinner seating is just as busy and with dishes like haleem and nihari, you too will want to join the queue. The nihari gravy is incredibly rich and filled with large chunks of slow-cooked lamb and pearls of bone marrow floating around, whilst the haleem is deliciously moreish and heart-warming.
Halal Status: All meat served here is halal. No pork or alcohol present. HMC certified.
Website: aladinkebabish.co.uk
Address: 147-149 W Hendon Broadway, Hendon, London NW9 7EA
CARIBE’
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Caribe’, a West Indian concept, has just opened up a permanent spot in Pop Brixton. The menu steers away from the stereotypical jerk and aims to introduce dishes from all parts of the Caribbean like boulette from St Lucia and saltfish acca from Trinidad. Start your meal with a small plate of green plantain chips served with avocado salsa, followed by the 48-hour brined corn fried chicken served with smokey molasses bbq sauce, and finally, a large plate of slow cooked oxtail with butter beans.
Halal Status: All meat served here is halal. No pork but alcohol is present.
Website: caribeuk.com
Address: Unit S36 POP Brixton, 49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ
HALF BROASTED CHICKEN, THE BEST BROASTED
Three words: Syrian fried chicken, that is all you need to order over here at The Best Broasted. The chicken is deep fried in a pressure fryer before being sprinkled with an assortment of spices like chicken salt, za’atar, cinnamon, coriander, and a little bit of sugar. As you can imagine, the chicken turns out incredible – super juicy with a crunchy, wholesome batter. The chips are just as good and the toum (garlic sauce) is what dreams are made of.
Halal Status: All meat served here is halal. No pork or alcohol present. HMC certified.
Website: thebestbroasted.co.uk
Address: 18-f High Road London NW10 2QD
KUNG PAO CHICKEN, TURPAN
London is seeing the Uyghur food scene grow by the minute and we’re certainly not complaining. Let me introduce you to Turpan, the new kid on the block, who has taken over Eve’s Cafe in Bloomsbury. Whilst you cannot go wrong with the traditional hand pulled noodle dishes here (the qoruma chop is exceptionally good), the kung pao chicken really stands out at Turpan. From the crunchy peanuts lying in the bright red sauce to the refreshing pops of cucumber in every occasional bite, I think this is the best halal kung pao chicken I’ve had in London.
Halal Status: All meat served here is halal. No pork or alcohol present.
Website: turpan.co.uk/
Address: 108 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3NA
CHANNA ROTI, ROTI JOUPA
If you’re in Shepherds Bush/Clapham/Finsbury Park and need to find cover from the temperamental rain, head to Roti Joupa for one of their heavy duty rotis. This small Trinidadian cafe specialises in delicious staples like curry goat/duck, macaroni pie, and pholourie, but you will want their channa roti, an incredibly soft and flaky roti filled with an aromatic, moreish chickpea curry. For a tiny £3.50, it hits the spot at all times of the day – late breakfast, quick lunch, or even an early dinner.
Halal Status: All meat served here is halal, except duck. No pork or alcohol present.
Address: Shepherds Bush – 58 Goldhawk Rd, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 8HA | Finsbury Park – 20 Stroud Green Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 3EA | Clapham – 12 Clapham High St, Larkhall, London SW4 7UT
LABNEH & ZA’ATAR MANAKISH, Z&Z BAKERY
Lebanese bakeries are often understated gems and don’t deserve to be lumped with your generic Lebanese restaurant. Z&Z still stands to be one of our favourite Lebanese bakeries in London; from the crisp flatbread base to the flavoursome toppings, their manakish really are fantastic. Opt for the labneh (strained yoghurt) and za’atar – our personal favourite – and the lahm beajin (minced lamb).
Halal Status: All meat served here is halal. No pork or alcohol present.
Website: zeitzaatar.com
Address: 354 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 7LL
