Al Balad in City of London, Westminster

It's not my habit to comment, but to be honest, it's one of the tastiest shawarmas I've ever eaten in my life. I ordered a shawarma plate, not a sandwich. It was very delicious. I ate in the small Al-Balad restaurant branch opposite, not this one, but they said they were all the same.

Food not tasty Lamb chopsticks, not good chicken not good only shish kebab good

This is my first time eating Lebanese food. Generally speaking, Middle Eastern food is really not to my liking. It's a little sour and a little spicy. Except for the mutton (the original meat is delicious), I think the others are average, but some people think it's delicious. I read the Google reviews. Remember to check the bill when you check out. Yesterday, I was charged an extra 10 pounds. Although it was corrected after communication, I still need to pay more attention. LAHEM MESHWI is similar to kebabs, the mutton is quite tender, there is no smell, and it is quite delicious. FATOUSH is a meat salad with a bit of sour taste, which is okay The salad made with MOUTABAL hummus has always been tasteless. There is a little pomegranate and olive oil that can be eaten with bread.

Great experience overall. The food was fantastic, service was excellent and friendly and the atmosphere was enjoyable.

We have spent years walking past this restuarant which is always bisy and today we finally had the oportunity to pop in for lunch. The staff were amazing, very friendly and guided us through the menue as it was the first time we had Lebanese food. And we were not dissapointed we had two platters showcasing thier signature dishes. The taste was out of this world and we will most definitley be going back!

This place does the best shawarma on Edgware Road, hands down. It's so good I travelled all the way over from East London just to have it again.

Grandios, fanstastisch, delicious, phenomenal… wir wollten nur probieren und mussten 3x soviel essen wie wir eigentlich wollten! Vom Salat über die Teigtaschen, Falafel und vieles mehr… das leckerste Abendessen seit langem und sowas von freundlichen Personal Top top top

By far the best shawarma in LONDON

AVOID AT ALL COST! Tonight marked my first visit to Al Balad since returning to London, and it pains me to say it was nothing short of a DAYLIGHT ROBERRY! I used to come often to this restaurant with friends and even recommended it to many, but tonight's experience was beyond horrible. I went with my friend, the floor manager was rushing to take our order so we opted for the iftar set menu as we were led to believe it would include “everything." However, what we received was far from satisfactory. The set menu included 2 soups, 1 small baba ghanouj, 1 small hummus, 1 fattoush salad, 1 shawarma, and 1 Kabsa (chicken rice). We also ordered water for the table and 2 coffees at the end. Half way through, we realised the soups were not served. the bread was not fresh, and the chicken in the kabsa was undercooked. I must admit that the salad was good. To top it off, the bill was £94.50 including service charge; they charged us £6 for water and £8 for coffee, these items are typically complementary in any iftar. Astonishingly, the iftar menu alone amounted to £35 per person! I complained to the waiter as we were paying to which his response was “you are right” “I’m sorry” “it’s expensive” “I only work here”. It's not just about the money, but the principle of fair value for good food and service. Comparable Lebanese restaurants offer iftars including a variety of Mezze starters, multiple mains, beverages, and desserts for a fraction of the cost, with prices capped at £25 max! For those considering alternatives, I strongly recommend Ayam Zaman, Mihbaj Cafe and Kitchen, or Beit al Zaytoun, where you can enjoy buffet iftars ranging from £19 to £25 including EVERYTHING. Until Al Balad undergoes drastic operational improvements, I won’t be setting foot in that place again.

The food is very delicious and yummy. The falafel, hummus and lebneh is very tasty. Also they give very nice salad and pickle. The desserts are also yummy and authentic. Must try place. Delivery is also very nice

Absolutely overpriced and doesn’t taste nice - the main guy is really rude and the food came cold. Then had the audacity to add service charge and say the food is good. I’ve been to many of the food places on Edgware Road and this was definitely the worst

Great sharing plates. Super tasty and prices are so decent.

The lamb shawarma is a disgrace. Smelly meat waste of money.

Flying flags for Al Balad. Hummus, fatoush, baba, lamb shawarma, fatayer, mango juice, baklava, mint tea, everything was amazing. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and helpful. A+++ can't wait to come back.

There is a lot there claiming to cook proper Lebanese food, yet there is nothing better than Al balad. Trust me, I am Lebanese and I know I know what I am talking about 😁

Excellent choice for the area and taste

Ordered take out but the meat at this place was great! Very juicy and cooked well. Quality is very high and tastes authentic. A little high priced but delicious nevertheless. Got a take out and was great.

Prices above the average for food and services below the average

we went to town on that food, and it was amazing

The meat shawarma, falafel sandwich, hummus, and fatoosh salad were all delectable, and the service was efficient.

They have really bad customer service. They robbing customers when they know you new they rub you . Hopefully they don’t do that to others .

Shisha is very bad and expensive The tea is ordinary, has no taste or flavour, and has a strange colour A bad experience..

I think this place is one of a kind on Edgware road. Where you can find authentic Lebanese Flavours. Best service, best food quality and reasonable prices.

Bad service, small portion. The woman was just standing next to us looking at us while we were eating. Felt uncomfortable and when I told them I felt uncomfortable, a man and the woman showed attitude. Don’t waste your money

اكل ممتاز والعاملين ممتازين لكن بعض الاطباق اغلى مقارنه بالمطاعم الي بنفس الشارع

Really bad service and too expensive trying to scam people as if we don’t know

Great restaurant, delicious food. We had the chicken shawarma which was one of the best in London that we’ve tried.

The service was very good (relative to what you would expect at a restaurant of this caliber). Nice seating area and plenty of tables outside for when the weather is nice. The hummus and tabbouleh were very good. But the main event for me was the shawarma. I got chicken/lamb mix and liked it but didn't love it. It was rather too salty for me. Don't think I'll be going back for that reason.

My friend and I went last night. Terrible experience. The tables are all cramped together, barely any space to move. They sat us in this corner that was impossible to get out of. There is only 1 female toilet and it is disgusting and tiny, can’t even close the door without touching the faeces filled toilet seat. They didn’t bring our drinks and left us sitting at our table until the people next to us left because they couldn’t reach us to give them the bill. I tried paying with Amex, the rude waitress shouted declined across the restaurant instead of just saying they don’t accept Amex. THE WORST THING is that I was sitting in the booth side of the table until I noticed a bed bug crawling on the front of my coat. The sofa booth I was sitting on was filthy and I know it must’ve come from there. I spent my night washing and drying the clothes I was wearing after visiting this disgusting place. Save yourself the hassle and DO NOT COME HERE.

Food was amazing Staff were nice Atmosphere was good and good location Good prices considering the location and food quality

Food is ok not that bad , but staff is quite rude unfriendly not cooperative. Knows nothing about dealing

I have been coming every year. The food is great 👍 👌

Worst restaurant ever in central and rude staff you will ask for spoon fork and everything poor table service

Essen ist echt super, hat uns gut gefallen. Bis auf die Musik😅.

Laoud music made having a conversation very difficult

Food is not up to the mark the way it seems from outside. Tasteless food. I don't recommend at all. The price is way high for such small portions Service is even worst.

Very disappointed, went with the familly for a early dinner, service if you can call this way is zero , nobody check how was the food, seevice come and put on a table like eat qucik and go away, if you wish to order extra drink or ask for a spoon forget someone will remember, food very blend , very small portion amd tge way is server , waist of time and money,as we love lebanese food and had visited many levanese restaura t but that one is the worst so far, not recommended

I stopped by last night to order a take out. It was crowded, noisy, screams from everywhere, smokey and smelly. I stood by the teller to give my order which was: 4 portions of grilled (lamb tikka , chicken tikka, kebab) plus rice, plus salad came to £137.80 I just walked out, thought their prices are outrageous for a filthy place like Al Balad 👎👎👎👎👎🤢

مطعم اكله زوين يفتح في اي وقت تعال وكل واهم شي الشيشه طلبنا كل شي بس الكنافه حرقوها بالميكروبف والقهوه ما تسر ولا تنفع والأسعار غاليه

Food is very good and tasty. Courses are served very quickly but there is too much noise in the restaurant. There is approximately 12 guys and women working inside and they put some stress to the clients by running between tables and speaking very loud. We very felt like we need to eat as quick as possible in a very stressed atmosphere.

I went there with my family for dinner and I ordered shawarma and hummus but I got the order I feel like I got mugged by looking at the size of baby shawarma when they charging £8.50 so it's not value for the money on top check on service charge as it says on menu 7% but charge you more than 10% so do your math. Overall I wouldn't recommend the place for the amount you spend.

The food was actually pretty good but every other aspect was terrible and consistent with the other recent negative reviews I've just read on here. Small portions... and the staff seem to literally go out of their way to be rude and made us feel very uncomfortable. They also did the whole minimum order scam with no menu or information about of this outside to be seen. We hadn't ordered a banquet but it was still two chicken wraps (£8.50 each!?) and a salad with more to come if we felt like it. But obviously not after how we were treated. We tried to order tea but were told quite rudely that they didn't have any and basically every communication was very rude. We were made to feel unwelcome from start to finish. We eat at many Lebanese restaurants and this one is now firmly off our list. If this was first experience of a Lebanese restaurant I'd be put off for life! Avoid.

Very rude staff (who actually lied to us as it was clear they didn't want to serve us), they started by saying that wraps are takeaway only as it was Christmas day - we had not even ordered at that point. Following this, the waiter left the table and called on someone else to come and tell us that the minimum spend was £25 per person, again as it was Christmas day - although there were no signs or notice of this anywhere, as well as no one being told this when initially asking for and waiting for a table. We immediately decided to leave due to their poor attitude and quickly realised that no other customers were told about the minimum spend amount. We asked another table to confirm, and they weren't told this - so the restaurant staff had actually lied to us as they did not want our custom. My family have been regular visitors whenever we were in London. We will now never go back, and we will be telling all our friends to avoid.

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. Food is average but very overpriced. Cleanliness is horrendous couldn’t even wash my hands in the tiny bathroom. But the worst part was the service!!! I have never come across such rude and inconsiderate staff they tried to force us to order more food, we’re extremely grumpy and the dragged my sons stroller across the restaurant without even asking! Never again.

Al Balad restaurant in London is a culinary gem that transported me to the heart of the Middle East with its authentic flavors and warm hospitality. The ambiance exudes a cozy charm, setting the stage for a delightful dining experience. From the savory mezzes to the perfectly grilled kebabs, each dish showcases meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to genuine taste. The staff's friendliness and knowledge of the menu further enhance the overall satisfaction, making Al Balad a standout destination for those craving an exceptional taste of Middle Eastern cuisine in the heart of London.

A bit crowded. Good customer service .. not long wait for a meal

Very rude staff, it was clear they didn't want to serve us (we were a table of 6), they started by saying that shwarma wraps are takeaway only as it was Christmas day, and then when we asked again the waiter got another guy to come and tell us that we had to spend minimum £25 per person, again as it was Christmas day (no signs or notice of this anywhere).. we decided to leave and quickly realised that no one else was told this. We asked another table to confirm, and they weren't told this. They only told us. My family have been regular visitors whenever we were in London. We will now never go back. And we will be telling all our friends to avoid.

Talking about food means talking about the high quality of Lebanese dishes. The meat was very tender, the shish tawook very well seasoned and the kafta very juicy. It was well cooked. but not dry! I really enjoyed my dish. Without forgetting the shawarma (meat or chicken) I tried both and it was very delicious. For the appetizer, I recommend the cheese bricks, wow, very delicious and the kibbeh was just like what my mother made!! Without forgetting the tabbouleh, fattoush and hummus!! Everything was excellent, they kept the original taste of the lebanese dishes. The service was fast, the restaurant atmosphere was friendly and it was very family-friendly. very clean. I recommend this restaurant!!!

Talking about food means talking about the high quality of Lebanese dishes. The meat was very tender, the shish tawook very well seasoned and the kafta very juicy. It was well cooked. but not dry! I really enjoyed my dish. Without forgetting the shawarma (meat or chicken) I tried both and it was very delicious. For the appetizer, I recommend the cheese bricks, wow, very delicious and the kibbeh was just like what my mother made!! Without forgetting the tabbouleh, fattoush and hummus!! Everything was excellent, they kept the original taste of the dishes. The service was fast, the restaurant atmosphere was friendly and it was very family-friendly. very clean.

Food was ok, the drinks came out after our mains and my friend got food poisoning.

N'y mettez pas les pieds. Horriblement cher. Quantité limitée. Et ça ressemble plus à du fast food

Excellent on everything except the meat shawarma

Very good and good price. Molto buono e ad un ottimo prezzo.

Friendly staff fantastic food great ambiance. A little piece of Lebanon in London

amazing food. very fast service. absolutely fantastic staff. best place in london 100% recommend. would definitely be back

Un restaurante libanés bien ambientado con trato amable y buena comida. El único inconveniente es que el precio es elevado.

The best and most authentic kibbeh I’ve had! This place is 100% authentic Labenese cuisine.

لذيذ جداً جداً ب الذات الشاورما اللحم و تعامل ممتاز و اهتمام المدير سعيد شي جدا ممتاز الله يوفقكم

البلد في قلب شارع العرب والاكل مرره لذيذ بس المشكله بالسعر الحقيقه غاالي

الأكل لذيذ الكباب و الرز والبامية 👍 الخدمة بطيئة و المكان زحمه

Delicious food , cozy atmosphere, inexpensive, super close to Marble Arch station.

Mustafa and Raga were very nice and very welcoming and the food was great and mostly people were very nice

Loved the food and service was excellent. Highly recommended.

خدمة سيئة و اسعار مبالغ فيها جداً

Worst experience ever, Staff not paying attention to whatsoever, food came too late and one of our dish came when we almost finished eating. So Expensive and OVERPRICED. I don’t recommend it to anyone and I’ll never come back again.

Amazing food, friendly staff and lovely environment.

مطعم جميل ورائع ويستحق التجربة

مطعم لبناني مشويات مميزه وموقعه مميز والاراقيل افضل اراقيل في لندن

The best lamb shawarma I've ever tried.

Poor customer service. My husband and I started eating already, then a group of customers came and one server ask us to transfer to a different table which for me is rude and inconsiderate. Just because the other customers are their friends and the same ethnicity,m. Truly, bad experience and not inclusive. Not recommendable at all.

مطعم عنصري ولا يحب العرب دخلت عنده وبيتكلم في السعودية وشيوخها ويسب ويلعن فيها

Good food. Gets very busy and the prices are on the high side. It's a small restaurant so the tables are packed and bathroom facilities on low side (no disabled or baby changing facilities). They got my order wrong and didn't correct it. The food is nice though so can't complain on that but if the service and cleanliness was better I'd rate it 4 or 5.

شكرا ابو علي صاحب المطعم والاخوان الموظفين مطعم اكل لذيذ وفريش وتعامل قمة بالرقي

Food was alright. Shawarma was a bit l salty but earlier experience was much better. But service was good.

Everything is tasty. Shish Taouk, chicken shawarma, Al balad salad and Hommous is the best. They have amazing baklava

Amazing food and service as always - my go to place for Lebanese in London. Served by the lovely Rajae

Very good Restaurant with delicious food and very Service

Really good food and also very well service. Coming again soon!

They give value for money. Their humus falafel and other stuff are great.

Amazing food and very friendly staff.

I love the food here, so fresh. I always come eat here after the gym. Best shawarma and Batata harra

Very delicious food and great taste, really neat and tidy , clean and good friendly staff. Thank you

I loved everything about this place. The food was so incredibly tasty. Staff is so friendly and sweet, my new fav place in Edgware Road

Very nice and delicious food!! We loved it. We sat inside and there was, ofcourse smell.of sheesha which I didn't like but otherwise great location, yummiest food and beautiful ambience!!

I am not impressed with the food, the service was lousy, the place was not exactly clean and loud Middle Eastern music was eardrum-blasting. To me, this place is a rip-off joint unless for Lebanese speakers. Surprises are awaiting when you see the bill. Sides that are inclusive at other Lebanese eateries in London are charged as sides here and you must pay extra for them. I ordered a Lamb Kaefta, and the menu price was listed at less than £18, but my bill ended up being more than £40. I would never return to this restaurant again and I would not recommend this place for any traveler.

Never come here again. Over priced for a normal shawarma. On the menu was 7 pound and when we order and ate the food, it was 18 pound. They said cause you ate in. 😂😂😂

nice restaurant with good taste and selection of grill, fast service and polite people. a little bit tight

كويس المعطم .. بس تعرف الغالي؟ هذا اللي بعد بعده.

Excellente adresse! Good good, Good mood

مطعم جميل واطباقة جميلة لكن مزدحم للغاية ، لم استمتع بأكلي بسبب التوتر وكثرة الناس وقرب الطاولات من بعض ، اتمنى تكون في مساحة بين الطاولات ، وعدم وضع طاولات اكثر من قدرة المحل ، وان يتم تقليل الاسعار لانها مبالغ بها .

The worst experience at any restaurant I have ever had in the world. The staff were inconsiderate, rude and disrespectful to my family. My mother was feeling unwell and requested tea before ordering food, which they initially refused. After requesting again and again, they relented. After starters, we decided to take a bit of a breather before ordering more, especially as an additional guest was joining us. They refused to let us wait even 5 minutes before ordering mains (they were not overbooked or anything) and requested us to leave. All the while my mother looked visibly unwell (and dizzy) and in need of a few minutes of rest. Pathetic. There is really no need for such unkind behavior. I am not one to leave reviews, especially bad ones, but this had to be said.

The food was delightful however the service was atrocious. The waiters themselves were friendly but the owner, or whoever the bald obese man in the white shirt was, was extremely rude. He needs to learn some customer service skills before attempting to serve customers.

Best shish tawouk on the whole of Edgware Road, so juicy and fresh. Love their Hummus and bread too, you can’t go wrong with Al balad, will always be a go to for us!

Delicious food and friendly stuff, the rating is low for some reason but the food is worth your visit! Get the grilled baby chicken!

Nunca me he sentido tan estafado como en este antro, nos hizo pagar en la cuenta patatas fritas que son incluidas en el palto 4.5£ , el gerente de sala te propone acosandote platos de entrante que pruebes que te los cobran. Comimos 4 personas cada uno a un Tiempo ya que traían a cada uno al rato el pedido frío. Y tiene la cara de Cobrarte en la Cuenta 10% de servicio de sala. De vergüenza total.

In my opinion the best Lebanese Restaurant on Edgware Road. Meat tastes amazing.

Delicious food. Must be tried. Recommend

I went to this restaurant on the recommendation of my mother. I tried their kabsa, unfortunately it wasn't the best. The meat was nice and tender, but the flavor cud have been better, there were portions of that meal that had alot o salt which spoilt the taste of the rice. Overall it was alrite. I am a visitor from Canada, I dont think i will make the effort to go there again.

We went for a late snack after a show and the food was so good we returned the next evening for dinner. You must try the exceptional hummus and falafel. Great service and friendly staff.

What can I say Our family went for a meal there staff were OK food wasn't bad apart from the price but my main concern was ..... After wevsatbdown I went to the toilet to use the toilet and to my surprise Iwhen I finished I trid to unlock the door but it would not OPEN !!!! The toilet was very small and after a few attempts of turning the lock mechanism which was just going round and not opening I started to panic and my heart was beating faster!!! I shouted for help and started to bang on the door after 5/6 minutes somebody heard me and called for help.Eventually they had to kick the door to get it opened!!! What a relief as the 5/6 minutes seemed to have been nearly an hour !!! I was releaved and went upstairs to my family and told them about it. I actually needed to go outside and drink some water and get some air after the horror. I'm in my 40,s and the fact of being locked in a small tight toilet was quote scary and any longer would have seriously given me problems!!! Staff were apologetic but I accepted a little bit more as when we got the bill there was nothing there to award the unpleasant situation. So sadly won't be going there again as they've clearly showed they don't CARE !!!!!