Balagan in Hertsmere

This was probably the worst dining experience we’ve ever had. The restaurant was noisy from work going on in the kitchen, the service was slow and the food was absolutely awful. We actually walked out half way through our meal because it was so uncomfortable to be there. We will never go back to this restaurant in its current form.

I used to order regularly and now under new management. Honestly the worst Kosher food. The laffa bread was dry as if it was from a week before. The shuarma was burnt and dry. I threw half of it away. My wife’s food was inedible. Fried Aubergine wasn’t cooked or marinated. I think they need to take a leaf out of the other kosher grill places in Hendon and Golders Green I will never go back and would never recommend. Don’t waste your money

I always think really hard before posting a negative review. I'd rather boost someone upwards and let the silence in other reviews speak for itself. So please understand how bad this experience was for me to give a negative review and especially a 1-star rating. Firstly the food. I had a shwarma in laffa. It was structurally awful with the (tasteless) bread disintegrating from the moisture left in the salads, before being poorly wrapped and then sliced in half to ensure there was no integrity anywhere. It was toasted for a short period in a sandwich press which seemed to offer no benefit either for taste or construction. The salads were average to poor, the meat serving was stingy and the construction meant that some bites were all meat, others all salad and others all bread. It was a soggy disaster and even the meat marinade was pretty tasteless. The kicker however was the hygiene. I've worked in professional kitchens. You do not accept mess. You clean up continuously. Not this place. Filthy, food debris all over the place and the chef wore gloves (fine, I disagree with this practice but not the point) which were never changed. Order to order, in and out of drawers, touching utensils and equipment and even using his phone and mopping his brow without ever changing his gloves or washing his hands. Gloves give an illusion of hygiene, but often make practice worse. I felt queasy and awful after my meal and I don't think that's all psychological. If I could give a 0, I would. It's the worst place I've eaten at in a long long time, and surprisingly, I wouldn't go back.

Went to Balagan for dinner with my partner and was very disappointed. My plate did not look very clean and there was not one but two hairs in my food. The food is bang average and overpriced. Didn’t really complain but will not be going back.

I just got a takeaway remade due to the first delivery being totally messed up, cold and inedible. Also, the falafel were freezing cold and hard and smothered in hummus (which was also probably the most unpalatable I have ever tasted) so couldn’t even microwave the falafel or the hummus would be hot all around it. The remade version was just collected and here is my dinner…. Which has gone straight in the bin… I will never go again and am disappointed that it was so awful. I also don’t like complaining but this is definitely something that needs to be reviewed I’m afraid… particularly as it was not cheap by any means

I had a lunchtime meeting in the area. I decided to be healthy and environmentally friendly by walking instead of driving. Called to place the order. The guy was very helpful and friendly. I said when I would be arriving to collect and he said, "it will be ready when you get here". A lie. I arrived and he said, "your food is almost ready." A lie. For the next 25 minutes, he kept repeating that the food was almost ready. Eventually he handed the bag over and, because it had taken so long, I had to get an Uber to the meeting location. I arrived and we opened the bag to discover they had missed out the chips. I phoned and, to be fair, they drove over to deliver them. So much for me trying to help the environment. As I said, dishonesty and incompetence in one neat package. Won't be back. Ever.

I really felt like being back in Israel while eating my lunch at Balagan, Borehamwood. The enormous portions and tasty food was enhanced by the very friendly staff. Very economical too! Can strongly recommend Balagan.

I had a great time dining at balagan a few weeks ago. The staff were so helpful and friendly and the food was great! Fantastic kosher dining experience and would strongly recommend.

I know that diners don't need to wear face masks but servers and kitchen staff do. Except here, it seems. In a small, poorly ventilated restaurant that's unacceptable. We also had a problem with our bill, which was much cheaper online than when we went to pay for it click and collect. The manager was lovely, and did what he could to help (nope, no face mask for him, either). After all that, food? - pretty good, in a rustic, street-food style and with ample portions. But I'd always get a takeaway rather than eat-in as the restaurant is very small and you'd come out reeking of cooking from the open grills.

We made an order on deliveroo half our order was missing. They didn’t seem to care or bother to send it to us they told us we have to come and get it ourselves or to get a refund by contacting deliveroo when they messed up absolutely shocking service!!! Won’t order from them again!

I came to this restaurant with my daughter for an early supper before going to see Mock the week at Elstree studios.We ordered the chicken soup(as we were so cold!).we also had a plate of fallafel and houmous to share.The soup was very tasty but we would have liked some lokshen/knadelech(dumplings) included!

Appalling wait for very average food and the manager should be ashamed of himself !!!! Plenty of far better places to eat in Borehamwood

We order a meal for £15.50 and we are given meat and chips no salad. Specifically ask if everything is there and they say yes before leaving. Absolute disgrace of service. Not an enjoyable takeaway with family as all food is cold before returning to restaurant to collect salad. Very upsetting. Attention to detail is lacking and probably more Interested in doing Uber and Deliveroo orders. Shame as local Kosher which can excel.

It’s hard for restaurants in these trying Covid-influenced times and we’re pleased Balagan has stuck it out as it adds to the diversity of offer in the town. It’s food is hot and served quickly. It’s all fairly basic stuff and it’s not overpriced. It’s fine for what it is. It just left us a bit underwhelmed.

It's not easy to find a proper midlle east spot in London and even more in Borehamwood but this place make the difference specially if we talk about kosher restaurants. we started our adventure with harissa wings and maroccan cigars. the wings were melting in our mouths and the maroccan cigars were just incredible, the pastry was fried at a perfect point and the meat was marinated in a perfect way. already half full from our starters we decided to go with a small main course (we expected small but we end up with a huge portion. we ordered a pita falafel and a pita shawarma. both of them crazy full and absolutely tasty. honestly we are going back there next week and we are sure we will go there many other times

Compared for what I saw from the bad previous reviews the place is much better. Food is amazing, service really clear and fast, I have been here several time and never disappointed me

Having heard good things on Facebook decided to try it out but was very disappointed. Ordered online for collection as live 5 minutes away. We got the Schwarma pitta and falafel pitta and homemade chips. The food was cold, pitta bread, falafel and meat! The...

Ordered delivery today. Food arrived stone cold and although advertised as coming with chips or rice it came with neither. Definitely better places for a shawarma! Won’t be ordering from here again!

It was a disappointment meal delivered cold to our home 3 swarms in in pitta plus chips home made a little greasy. The driver obviously delivered to other home before us .

Impressed with the online ordering system but that is far as it goes. We didn’t get what we ordered, poor quality, cold and most of it inedible. Really disappointed and won’t ever be re-ordering. There are much nicer kosher restaurants.

Just had another take away today. Great friendly service. Food was delicious. Definitely my local favourite. Didn’t last long enough to photograph it!

I had lunch here this week. There Falafel starter was ok. The Falafel themselves were tasty but the Humous was a little watery. We had Burgers for Main Course which were adequate. I asked for medium rare and got well done. The burgers themselves were...

My family and I had two burgers which were amazing. I had a shawarma and felt like it was just as good as eating in israel. The chips were homemade and delicious. We will be going again.

Had a shawarma and chips with falafel. It was ok. Reasonable portions but the chips were greasy. Nothing to get excited about. It was delivered by Just Eat in a reasonable time.

Meat restaurant: Chicken soup, shwarma, humus, salads etc. Israeli TV on giant screen. It was full when we went; 15% off Monday-Wednesday.

It's very obvious that the owner is excited by his new venture and I'm just upset that the food was so very bad and the complaint we made was responded to in such a ridiculous way. Two meat eaters and two vegans. Shwarma was OK,...