Latest reviews for Take Aways in London, United Kingdom

Trinidad Roti Shop - The best roti in London by drizzleboi

drizzleboi — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:39:57 +0000

Review by drizzleboi

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8838 4800

This has got to be the best roti shop in London, they also have doubles and it is run by real Trinis . The food is so good and a bargain. Try the soup or black pudding on Saturdays
I only had to wait 5 minutes for a real roti the first time I went so I was a bit pissed off to read the the review by Jerry Biggs who must be trying to drum up business for the Jamacian Patty place.
I have been back several times and the food has always been great. people who know about good food should give this place a try
This has got to be the best roti shop in London, they also have doubles and it is run by real Trinis . The food is so good and a bargain. Try the soup or black pudding on Saturdays
I only had to wait 5 minutes for a real roti the first time I went so I was a bit pissed off to read the the review by Jerry Biggs who must be trying to drum up business for the Jamacian Patty place.
I have been back several times and the food has always been great. people who know about good food should give this place a try

Highgate Spice - Best take away by ShAbigail

ShAbigail — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:49:24 +0000

Review by ShAbigail

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7267 8726

Website: www.highgatespice.com

I regularly drop in at Highgate Spice; they serve a wonderful food, tasty and delicious. I will be booking my Xmas party.I regularly drop in at Highgate Spice; they serve a wonderful food, tasty and delicious. I will be booking my Xmas party.

The Catch - Chiswick's best Fish & Chips outlet! by AliZebu

AliZebu — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:04:48 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8747 9358

The Catch is simply the BEST place for Fish & Chips in Chiswick.

It has only been around for a couple of years but has easily established itself the superior outlet to the more basic 'Chris's Fish Bar' on Turnham Green Terrace.

The chips are good old fashioned chunky ones. The choices of fish are excellent and I have ended up trying some different ones rather than wait for a fresh batch of my faves, Cod & Haddock, to be fried up.

Everytime I have eaten fish from here it has been filleted properly so no surprise bones!

If you did want to eat in the atmosphere is quite pleasant and NOT a brightly lit "chav" style one you might expect from a chippy.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!The Catch is simply the BEST place for Fish & Chips in Chiswick.

It has only been around for a couple of years but has easily established itself the superior outlet to the more basic 'Chris's Fish Bar' on Turnham Green Terrace.

The chips are good old fashioned chunky ones. The choices of fish are excellent and I have ended up trying some different ones rather than wait for a fresh batch of my faves, Cod & Haddock, to be fried up.

Everytime I have eaten fish from here it has been filleted properly so no surprise bones!

If you did want to eat in the atmosphere is quite pleasant and NOT a brightly lit "chav" style one you might expect from a chippy.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Tian Tsin - by RoniD

RoniD — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:03:12 +0000

Review by RoniD

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8673 8809

Local!!! Don't even ask my address any more... 1000's of top dinners out of these top people... Not enough love for them... ;-)Local!!! Don't even ask my address any more... 1000's of top dinners out of these top people... Not enough love for them... ;-)

Munch - Munch ain't no Monster! by AliZebu

AliZebu — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:33:51 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 0208 748 3007

'Munch' is a new face on Hammersmith's King Street. It offers a variety of pizzas, burgers, curries, southern fried chicken as well as Kebabs.

I detect an Indo-Asian influence as the kebabs are wrapped in Nan bread. The skewered kebabs were all Tandoori spiced so I looked at the spits.
The Lamb Donner looked unappetizingly grey so I opted for the Chicken.
The server went off to the kitchen and returned with some presumably refrigerated chicken which he preceded to heat on the grill.
The Nan bread was fresh and quite nice, if you like that sort of thing. The salad was OK but nothing special. The Chicken Donner was NOT really of a good standard, but it being reheated may have something to do with that on this particular occasion.
The Chilli sauce was not to my particular tastes but not the worst I have encountered either.

Service was polite and attentive.
The value of a Â£3.49 regular Donner that was average at best is debatable. Overall 'Munch' is slightly below average on the kebab scene but IF they manage to build up a clientele they would improve solely by offering a fresher product.'Munch' is a new face on Hammersmith's King Street. It offers a variety of pizzas, burgers, curries, southern fried chicken as well as Kebabs.

I detect an Indo-Asian influence as the kebabs are wrapped in Nan bread. The skewered kebabs were all Tandoori spiced so I looked at the spits.
The Lamb Donner looked unappetizingly grey so I opted for the Chicken.
The server went off to the kitchen and returned with some presumably refrigerated chicken which he preceded to heat on the grill.
The Nan bread was fresh and quite nice, if you like that sort of thing. The salad was OK but nothing special. The Chicken Donner was NOT really of a good standard, but it being reheated may have something to do with that on this particular occasion.
The Chilli sauce was not to my particular tastes but not the worst I have encountered either.

Service was polite and attentive.
The value of a Â£3.49 regular Donner that was average at best is debatable. Overall 'Munch' is slightly below average on the kebab scene but IF they manage to build up a clientele they would improve solely by offering a fresher product.

Halal Kebab House - by AliZebu

AliZebu — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:24:39 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8840 8512

I found this outlet, simply named "Kebab House" on the Broadway in West Ealing, while heading to an Ocakbasi Restaurant called "The Olive" (it has closed down) also on the same street.
The shop looked more like a Fried Chicken Take-Away and indeed offers this along with Burgers and fish.

I ordered a Mixed Donner and a Fanta as I sat down at one of the few tables. I observed the cook re-heating the Chicken Donner/Schwarma on the grill but the Lamb Donner minced meat mix was taken straight from the Bain Marie. I had asked for lots of Chilli Sauce when I saw that this was also kept warm in the Bain Marie. I was presented with a nice looking plate of diverse salad on the right side and a round Lebanese type Pita bread topped with meats and sauces in the middle.
The Lamb Donner was average and the Chicken was well marinated but quite fatty thigh meat. I regretted not going for the Shish which looked quite appetising but would have taken more time to be grilled. I ate most of the Mixed Donner as it was covered in the nice Chilli Sauce but the meat took a long time to digest later on.
The Salad was GREAT - obviously very fresh and finely chopped lettuce, cabbage, onion, tomato & cucumber with a dash of lemon dressing. The round Pita bread was also fresh and tasty. The Garlic Sauce was fine.
The Chilli Sauce was GOOD! Thick and savoury with a pure chilli taste although perhaps a tad too salty. It made the average tasting meats more palatable.

The service was efficient and very jubilant owing to it being New Year's Eve. Price wise the medium Mixed Donner was Â£4.50 for a generous portion. Overall "Kebab House" could have been very good but was let down by the quality of the meats on the Spit. If I am in the area again I would probably head towards "Ealing Mangal" - an EXCELLENT Turkish BBQ with quality meat products.I found this outlet, simply named "Kebab House" on the Broadway in West Ealing, while heading to an Ocakbasi Restaurant called "The Olive" (it has closed down) also on the same street.
The shop looked more like a Fried Chicken Take-Away and indeed offers this along with Burgers and fish.

I ordered a Mixed Donner and a Fanta as I sat down at one of the few tables. I observed the cook re-heating the Chicken Donner/Schwarma on the grill but the Lamb Donner minced meat mix was taken straight from the Bain Marie. I had asked for lots of Chilli Sauce when I saw that this was also kept warm in the Bain Marie. I was presented with a nice looking plate of diverse salad on the right side and a round Lebanese type Pita bread topped with meats and sauces in the middle.
The Lamb Donner was average and the Chicken was well marinated but quite fatty thigh meat. I regretted not going for the Shish which looked quite appetising but would have taken more time to be grilled. I ate most of the Mixed Donner as it was covered in the nice Chilli Sauce but the meat took a long time to digest later on.
The Salad was GREAT - obviously very fresh and finely chopped lettuce, cabbage, onion, tomato & cucumber with a dash of lemon dressing. The round Pita bread was also fresh and tasty. The Garlic Sauce was fine.
The Chilli Sauce was GOOD! Thick and savoury with a pure chilli taste although perhaps a tad too salty. It made the average tasting meats more palatable.

The service was efficient and very jubilant owing to it being New Year's Eve. Price wise the medium Mixed Donner was Â£4.50 for a generous portion. Overall "Kebab House" could have been very good but was let down by the quality of the meats on the Spit. If I am in the area again I would probably head towards "Ealing Mangal" - an EXCELLENT Turkish BBQ with quality meat products.

Crystal Charcoal - Good location but average Kebabs! by AliZebu

AliZebu — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:20:02 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 0208 993 8311

Crystal Charcoal kebabs stands where another kebab shop called 'Marks' used to be (which incidentally has moved to where 'Express Kebab' used to be on Little Ealing Lane!) and is just right upon exiting Acton Town tube station.

It appears somewhat shabby but does good business due to the amount of passers by.
As well as the usual kebabs & burgers they also do a "Southern Fried Chicken" that is obviously inspired, but no great threat to KFC or even Chicken Cottage. It being too dry and of inferior quality.

I opted for an extra large Mixed Kebab which consisted of all they had to offer: Lamb Doner, Chicken Doner, Lamb Kofte, Lamb Shish & Chicken Shish.
The Doners were both acceptable but average and the Kofte was slightly rubbery. The Shishs were both fairly standardised as well but cooked over charcoal so had a nice smoky flavour.
The Chilli sauce was served warm from the Bain Marie - nice but lacked that complex spicy & herby flavour that I crave. Still, the hot sauce AND the fact I was particularly hungry meant I finished most of it in one sitting.
The Garlic sauce was a herby one and I only had a little of it as not to overpower the kebab, it was fine.
Salad was OK, bread was OK.
The pickled Chillies must have been there too long as they were sour tasting and "shrunken" looking on the inside. The XL Mixed Kebab was Â£8 something - which was good value for all the meaty variety it offered.
The chips were like KFC style fries and were good.

Service wise the staff were efficient & friendly but lose marks because the server "forgot" my change on my second visit whilst I was talking with the manager, admittedly I went on for 5 minutes but as I left I asked the server about my change he assured me I had been given it.
It was when I got home I realised I was short a few quid and partly blamed my own distraction. I am NOT accusing anyone of deliberately cheating me but I never went back a third time as it put me off. If you are in the mood for a kebab there are better outlets in Acton but you could do a lot worse.Crystal Charcoal kebabs stands where another kebab shop called 'Marks' used to be (which incidentally has moved to where 'Express Kebab' used to be on Little Ealing Lane!) and is just right upon exiting Acton Town tube station.

It appears somewhat shabby but does good business due to the amount of passers by.
As well as the usual kebabs & burgers they also do a "Southern Fried Chicken" that is obviously inspired, but no great threat to KFC or even Chicken Cottage. It being too dry and of inferior quality.

I opted for an extra large Mixed Kebab which consisted of all they had to offer: Lamb Doner, Chicken Doner, Lamb Kofte, Lamb Shish & Chicken Shish.
The Doners were both acceptable but average and the Kofte was slightly rubbery. The Shishs were both fairly standardised as well but cooked over charcoal so had a nice smoky flavour.
The Chilli sauce was served warm from the Bain Marie - nice but lacked that complex spicy & herby flavour that I crave. Still, the hot sauce AND the fact I was particularly hungry meant I finished most of it in one sitting.
The Garlic sauce was a herby one and I only had a little of it as not to overpower the kebab, it was fine.
Salad was OK, bread was OK.
The pickled Chillies must have been there too long as they were sour tasting and "shrunken" looking on the inside. The XL Mixed Kebab was Â£8 something - which was good value for all the meaty variety it offered.
The chips were like KFC style fries and were good.

Service wise the staff were efficient & friendly but lose marks because the server "forgot" my change on my second visit whilst I was talking with the manager, admittedly I went on for 5 minutes but as I left I asked the server about my change he assured me I had been given it.
It was when I got home I realised I was short a few quid and partly blamed my own distraction. I am NOT accusing anyone of deliberately cheating me but I never went back a third time as it put me off. If you are in the mood for a kebab there are better outlets in Acton but you could do a lot worse.

Marks Take Away - by AliZebu

AliZebu — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:11:06 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 8993 8311

CLOSED DOWN!CLOSED DOWN!

Canary Kebab House - by AliZebu

AliZebu — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:07:21 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8896 3807

Tags: kebabs

Canary Kebab House is one of many kebab outlets in this area and apparently one of the most popular judging on volume of custom on this humid May evening.

It is just off the Acton High Street with a garish orange lit sign - so it is hard to miss. The immediate impression upon entering the establishment is a favourable one. I was given a friendly greeting by the server who was quick to take my order which was a Mixed Kebab of Lamb Shish & Donner.
I ate in at no extra cost and before the plate arrived I had time to enjoy the jovial atmosphere as the employs joked with many of the patrons whilst maintaining very efficient service.

The plated Kebab was well presented with the meats on the lower portion and the salad around the top. The server asked me which sauce I would like and brought me 2 squeazy bottles to comply with my answer of Chilli & Garlic Sauces. The Lamb Shish was juicy but not very tender and hard to chew - but had a nice taste. The Donner was average, not too greasy or overly seasoned but nothing special. I would guess it was not a house made Donner roll from the generic taste. The Pita bread presented in a side basket was grilled just right and the salad was acceptable if a little plain with no dressing. The Chilli Sauce was MILD and tasted ketchup based. It was not to my particular tastes being somewhat sweet but not the worst I have had, having the bottles to myself meant I could try out a little first so it did not ruin the kebab. The Garlic Sauce was OK but again sweeter than usual.
'Acton Hill Kebab & Grill' who do a nice store-made Donner and fresh Chilli Sauce, is further along the High Street and are the only standout outlet I have thus far discovered in this area overpopulated by Kebab Shops.

When I went to the counter to pay I remarked to the guy who took my order that I had heard the sauce was hot he explained many customers said it was too hot so they now use a milder one. The kebab & a can of 7up (Â£4.50 + 50p) came to Â£5 which is good value in a way although I did not finish it as it was just so-so.

The food at Canary Kebab House is decidedly average at best which is a shame because the guys who work there really impressed me with their attitude.
A friendly, efficient & attentive manner made the relaxing yet upbeat time I spent there a memorable one. A deserved high mark of 9 out of 10 on that score, I just wish there was more I could compliment about the actual grub!Canary Kebab House is one of many kebab outlets in this area and apparently one of the most popular judging on volume of custom on this humid May evening.

It is just off the Acton High Street with a garish orange lit sign - so it is hard to miss. The immediate impression upon entering the establishment is a favourable one. I was given a friendly greeting by the server who was quick to take my order which was a Mixed Kebab of Lamb Shish & Donner.
I ate in at no extra cost and before the plate arrived I had time to enjoy the jovial atmosphere as the employs joked with many of the patrons whilst maintaining very efficient service.

The plated Kebab was well presented with the meats on the lower portion and the salad around the top. The server asked me which sauce I would like and brought me 2 squeazy bottles to comply with my answer of Chilli & Garlic Sauces. The Lamb Shish was juicy but not very tender and hard to chew - but had a nice taste. The Donner was average, not too greasy or overly seasoned but nothing special. I would guess it was not a house made Donner roll from the generic taste. The Pita bread presented in a side basket was grilled just right and the salad was acceptable if a little plain with no dressing. The Chilli Sauce was MILD and tasted ketchup based. It was not to my particular tastes being somewhat sweet but not the worst I have had, having the bottles to myself meant I could try out a little first so it did not ruin the kebab. The Garlic Sauce was OK but again sweeter than usual.
'Acton Hill Kebab & Grill' who do a nice store-made Donner and fresh Chilli Sauce, is further along the High Street and are the only standout outlet I have thus far discovered in this area overpopulated by Kebab Shops.

When I went to the counter to pay I remarked to the guy who took my order that I had heard the sauce was hot he explained many customers said it was too hot so they now use a milder one. The kebab & a can of 7up (Â£4.50 + 50p) came to Â£5 which is good value in a way although I did not finish it as it was just so-so.

The food at Canary Kebab House is decidedly average at best which is a shame because the guys who work there really impressed me with their attitude.
A friendly, efficient & attentive manner made the relaxing yet upbeat time I spent there a memorable one. A deserved high mark of 9 out of 10 on that score, I just wish there was more I could compliment about the actual grub!

Best Grill - by AliZebu

AliZebu — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:54:08 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8740 7418

Tags: kebabs

This is a standard kebab shop with a fast & friendly service.
The Lamb Shish was decent if not outstanding in any way. The pita & salad were fresh.
The Chilli sauce would have been rather good but was VERY salty on my visit, I did ask for 5 spoons though.
The staff were friendly and efficient even though the drunks seemed trying - they must be well used to it!

If you are in the Goldhawk Road Shephered's Bush area this is a better choice than nearby Pasha due to the fast turnover and therefore fresher meat.
Eating in is the same price as take away, a written sign says in the window - it is not the sort of place I would enjoy eating in though unless it was raining.This is a standard kebab shop with a fast & friendly service.
The Lamb Shish was decent if not outstanding in any way. The pita & salad were fresh.
The Chilli sauce would have been rather good but was VERY salty on my visit, I did ask for 5 spoons though.
The staff were friendly and efficient even though the drunks seemed trying - they must be well used to it!

If you are in the Goldhawk Road Shephered's Bush area this is a better choice than nearby Pasha due to the fast turnover and therefore fresher meat.
Eating in is the same price as take away, a written sign says in the window - it is not the sort of place I would enjoy eating in though unless it was raining.

The Kebab Kid - Great, apart from the sauce! by AliZebu

AliZebu — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:57:03 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7731 0427

Tags: kebab, tasty, take-away

I think the 'Kebab Kid' COULD have been a truly Excellent Kebab experience but the sauces REALLY let it down.
The Lamb Shish was obviously good quality cubed meat and on a par with such top notch places as 'Dionysus', 'Bosphorus' and 'Brothers Kebabs' in South Ealing.

The salad was an unusual but good 'Italian Leaf'(?) looking affair and the pita was fresh.
The young lady behind the counter offered me "Chilli or BBQ sauce?". Only those two sauces are available. They do not do a garlic sauce/mayo. I did not see a 'Cypressa' style lemon dressing but the salad was dressed. I asked for lots of chilli sauce as I like it hot. She squeezed a thin orange liquid on the top of the kebab. The heat level was fine but the flavour was not. It was sweet and almost ruined a really good shish. The best description I can give is it tasted like Heinz baked bean sauce with added chilli heat and some weird spices I could not recognise. I scraped it off as best I could and tried to enjoy the lamb. The aftertaste made it difficult.
I decided to order a Lamb Schawarma instead (without any sauce) and must admit it was 1st Class and really did taste like a fine English Roast of Lamb.
I did not dare risk the BBQ sauce for fear of it being sickly sweet and kebab ruining!
They have something called Javanese Chicken Wings on the menu so I infer an Oriental influence. I don't like Chinese or Thai Chilli sauces but the ones I have had previously would have been preferable to the Kebab Kid's.

Service was friendly if not particularly fast or knowledgeable. I suggested to the female server a fresh chilli sauce would be most welcome, she smiled and pointed to the red squeezy bottle. The prices were high for the portion sizes but did reflect the area and exceptional quality of the meat. If you fancy a great Schawarma this is your stop if you are in the area - if you want a choice of decent sauces head to nearby '696 Mangal' on Fulham Road for a more traditional Turkish Kebab experience.I think the 'Kebab Kid' COULD have been a truly Excellent Kebab experience but the sauces REALLY let it down.
The Lamb Shish was obviously good quality cubed meat and on a par with such top notch places as 'Dionysus', 'Bosphorus' and 'Brothers Kebabs' in South Ealing.

The salad was an unusual but good 'Italian Leaf'(?) looking affair and the pita was fresh.
The young lady behind the counter offered me "Chilli or BBQ sauce?". Only those two sauces are available. They do not do a garlic sauce/mayo. I did not see a 'Cypressa' style lemon dressing but the salad was dressed. I asked for lots of chilli sauce as I like it hot. She squeezed a thin orange liquid on the top of the kebab. The heat level was fine but the flavour was not. It was sweet and almost ruined a really good shish. The best description I can give is it tasted like Heinz baked bean sauce with added chilli heat and some weird spices I could not recognise. I scraped it off as best I could and tried to enjoy the lamb. The aftertaste made it difficult.
I decided to order a Lamb Schawarma instead (without any sauce) and must admit it was 1st Class and really did taste like a fine English Roast of Lamb.
I did not dare risk the BBQ sauce for fear of it being sickly sweet and kebab ruining!
They have something called Javanese Chicken Wings on the menu so I infer an Oriental influence. I don't like Chinese or Thai Chilli sauces but the ones I have had previously would have been preferable to the Kebab Kid's.

Service was friendly if not particularly fast or knowledgeable. I suggested to the female server a fresh chilli sauce would be most welcome, she smiled and pointed to the red squeezy bottle. The prices were high for the portion sizes but did reflect the area and exceptional quality of the meat. If you fancy a great Schawarma this is your stop if you are in the area - if you want a choice of decent sauces head to nearby '696 Mangal' on Fulham Road for a more traditional Turkish Kebab experience.

Express Kebab - by AliZebu

AliZebu — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:36:53 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 8840 8165

Tags: kebabs, pizza, seating area

THIS PLACE HAS NOW CLOSED DOWN!

I found myself in this establishment on a cold and windy January Sunday afternoon solely because my original lunch destination of the 'Brothers Kebabs' was closed! Express Kebabs was empty on this occasion (as is usually the case when I walk past to the Bros!) and as I walked in I immediately noticed the Lamb & Chicken Donner spits were both turned off with the meats uncooked. Not relishing the thought of what would be long standing Donner taken from the Bain Marie I decided on the Shish.

I could see the server through a doorway at the back of the shop reading a book and after a few minutes of waiting while scanning the menu and meal combo offers I called her over. I ordered a Lamb Shish and having noticed that Nan bread is favoured by the outlet I enquired if Pita was an option instead. She went back through the doorway and emerged a few moments later with a bag of Pita Bread and the Lamb cubes. Once cooked the kebab arrived on a plate with the salad stuffed in the bottom with the meat on top, which is unusual compared to the many Kebab Houses I have previously visited. The Kebab meat turned out to be Tikka/Tandoori marinated and cut into very large cubes. It was heavily spiced and surprisingly tender but not very succulent. I like Indian food but prefer my kebabs Turkish style so the meat score was downgraded.

The Salad was average for the most part save for a tasty pickled Chilli pepper and some over-vinegary cabbage which tainted the other components. The Pita bread was stodgy and grilled either too lightly or not at all. The slight warmth could have been from the contact of the meat. I sat facing the window at one of the two tables inside the small outlet so did not observe the cooking process.
The Chilli Sauce was quite interesting. It was obviously a homemade one served slightly chilled from a large silver bowl made with a lot of oil. The heat level was decent and the flavour seemed quite unique to my taste buds. It was savoury and thankfully not sweet but probably not something I would ever grow to crave, unlike the Hot Sauce from the nearby Brothers Kebabs which is EXCELLENT.
The Garlic Sauce was fine if a little tame by comparison to the unusually spiced Chilli one. The Chips were OK but a tad "crumbly" in texture for some reason (?).

Service was friendly but a little inexperienced, perhaps? Value wise the small Lamb Shish, Chips & a can of Fanta cost Â£4.99. Express Kebabs reminds me of 'Laroash Kebabs' (next to Ealing Broadway station) in some aspects. There is a similar Indo-Asian influence what with the Nan Bread & Tandoori spicing but Express does not have Laroash's location and hence fast turnover from frequent custom so a quick & fresh Donner seems unlikely at most times. The Chilli Sauce is better here though!

Express Kebabs would no doubt be better if it had more customers Â but it would need to be better to attract said customers in the first placeÂ&THIS PLACE HAS NOW CLOSED DOWN!

I found myself in this establishment on a cold and windy January Sunday afternoon solely because my original lunch destination of the 'Brothers Kebabs' was closed! Express Kebabs was empty on this occasion (as is usually the case when I walk past to the Bros!) and as I walked in I immediately noticed the Lamb & Chicken Donner spits were both turned off with the meats uncooked. Not relishing the thought of what would be long standing Donner taken from the Bain Marie I decided on the Shish.

I could see the server through a doorway at the back of the shop reading a book and after a few minutes of waiting while scanning the menu and meal combo offers I called her over. I ordered a Lamb Shish and having noticed that Nan bread is favoured by the outlet I enquired if Pita was an option instead. She went back through the doorway and emerged a few moments later with a bag of Pita Bread and the Lamb cubes. Once cooked the kebab arrived on a plate with the salad stuffed in the bottom with the meat on top, which is unusual compared to the many Kebab Houses I have previously visited. The Kebab meat turned out to be Tikka/Tandoori marinated and cut into very large cubes. It was heavily spiced and surprisingly tender but not very succulent. I like Indian food but prefer my kebabs Turkish style so the meat score was downgraded.

The Salad was average for the most part save for a tasty pickled Chilli pepper and some over-vinegary cabbage which tainted the other components. The Pita bread was stodgy and grilled either too lightly or not at all. The slight warmth could have been from the contact of the meat. I sat facing the window at one of the two tables inside the small outlet so did not observe the cooking process.
The Chilli Sauce was quite interesting. It was obviously a homemade one served slightly chilled from a large silver bowl made with a lot of oil. The heat level was decent and the flavour seemed quite unique to my taste buds. It was savoury and thankfully not sweet but probably not something I would ever grow to crave, unlike the Hot Sauce from the nearby Brothers Kebabs which is EXCELLENT.
The Garlic Sauce was fine if a little tame by comparison to the unusually spiced Chilli one. The Chips were OK but a tad "crumbly" in texture for some reason (?).

Service was friendly but a little inexperienced, perhaps? Value wise the small Lamb Shish, Chips & a can of Fanta cost Â£4.99. Express Kebabs reminds me of 'Laroash Kebabs' (next to Ealing Broadway station) in some aspects. There is a similar Indo-Asian influence what with the Nan Bread & Tandoori spicing but Express does not have Laroash's location and hence fast turnover from frequent custom so a quick & fresh Donner seems unlikely at most times. The Chilli Sauce is better here though!

Express Kebabs would no doubt be better if it had more customers Â but it would need to be better to attract said customers in the first placeÂ&

Mark's Kebab - by AliZebu

AliZebu — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:31:18 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 8354 3933

'Mark's' stands where 'Express Kebab' used to be just off South Ealing Road.
The small Lamb Shish cost Â£3.50. It was lean, well cooked and had a nice charcoal flavour but lacked the juicy succulence & tenderness of nearby 'Brothers Kebabs'. A Mixed Doner, available in large only, is Â£4.50. The chicken looked inviting on the spit with a few small burnt black bits but was dry and not very well spiced. The lamb doner had that strong smell of Mutton that you usually find in cheaper places, but some people prefer the stronger taste anyway. It had very little fat for this type of doner, again which could either be a good OR bad thing depending on personal preferences. Overall the meats in general seemed to be overcooked.

The salad was average with lots of fresh onions, OK tomatoes & cucumber BUT limp lettuce. The small pickled chilli peppers were fine. The pita bread was fresh and toasted lightly. The Chilli sauce was the sweet ketchup kind which I don't like but I ordered it separate in a cup so it did not ruin the kebab. It was alright as a dip for the 90p small portion of OK chips.

Service was generally good, though as often is the case with Arabic run outlets customers who speak the same language get better treatment.

Markâ¬"s is one of the few kebab houses in West London that offer a delivery service. If you are within their delivery boundaries you MAY wish to try their average Kebabs. Apart from that I see no reason why anybody would want to eat here when a few doors away the â¬ÜBrothersâ¬" consistently produce vastly superior Turkish kebabs and better chips.'Mark's' stands where 'Express Kebab' used to be just off South Ealing Road.
The small Lamb Shish cost Â£3.50. It was lean, well cooked and had a nice charcoal flavour but lacked the juicy succulence & tenderness of nearby 'Brothers Kebabs'. A Mixed Doner, available in large only, is Â£4.50. The chicken looked inviting on the spit with a few small burnt black bits but was dry and not very well spiced. The lamb doner had that strong smell of Mutton that you usually find in cheaper places, but some people prefer the stronger taste anyway. It had very little fat for this type of doner, again which could either be a good OR bad thing depending on personal preferences. Overall the meats in general seemed to be overcooked.

The salad was average with lots of fresh onions, OK tomatoes & cucumber BUT limp lettuce. The small pickled chilli peppers were fine. The pita bread was fresh and toasted lightly. The Chilli sauce was the sweet ketchup kind which I don't like but I ordered it separate in a cup so it did not ruin the kebab. It was alright as a dip for the 90p small portion of OK chips.

Service was generally good, though as often is the case with Arabic run outlets customers who speak the same language get better treatment.

Markâ¬"s is one of the few kebab houses in West London that offer a delivery service. If you are within their delivery boundaries you MAY wish to try their average Kebabs. Apart from that I see no reason why anybody would want to eat here when a few doors away the â¬ÜBrothersâ¬" consistently produce vastly superior Turkish kebabs and better chips.

Woody Grill - by AliZebu

AliZebu — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:01:03 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 4.00Shepherd Bush is an area with MANY places offering kebabs. There are various Turkish, Middle Eastern and "fast food" versions (there is a small outlet called 'Bagel Bites' which has a Doner/Shwarma roll of some sort!) and after trying a handful of the plethora of outlets I was not impressed.

That was before I found 'Woody Grill'. The style of the restaurant is all fake wood cabin and if I had not heard about it specifically I might think it was a Tex-Mex BBQ type fast food diner along the lines of 'Taco Bell'.
It is in fact a solid outlet serving GOOD Turkish Kebabs.

I opted for a Mixed Donner at Â£5.30 (Â£4.50 for just Lamb OR Chicken) served in Turkish 'Village Bread' that is smaller in diameter but thicker than the version at 'Best Mangal' or 'Tad' on North End Road. The bread had the same floury quality but being thicker was more like a Pita AND held everything together better. The salad was very fresh and crunchy owing to the coarsely chopped ingredients. The Lamb & Chicken Donners were excellent - only slightly bettered by 'Best Mangal'.
The service was very good. I was greeted warmly and the server was helpful throughout, only losing points because he thought I said "Lots of Garlic Sauce & and just a little Chilli" when I specified the reverse. He corrected this by putting more Chilli on as soon as I told him. The garlic sauce was nice, fresh and flavoursome. The Chilli sauce was drowned out by the garlic one but it must have been at least OK.
If you do eat in there is plenty of space and the atmosphere while being "fast food" style is more akin to Nando's than a Burger joint.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!Shepherd Bush is an area with MANY places offering kebabs. There are various Turkish, Middle Eastern and "fast food" versions (there is a small outlet called 'Bagel Bites' which has a Doner/Shwarma roll of some sort!) and after trying a handful of the plethora of outlets I was not impressed.

That was before I found 'Woody Grill'. The style of the restaurant is all fake wood cabin and if I had not heard about it specifically I might think it was a Tex-Mex BBQ type fast food diner along the lines of 'Taco Bell'.
It is in fact a solid outlet serving GOOD Turkish Kebabs.

I opted for a Mixed Donner at Â£5.30 (Â£4.50 for just Lamb OR Chicken) served in Turkish 'Village Bread' that is smaller in diameter but thicker than the version at 'Best Mangal' or 'Tad' on North End Road. The bread had the same floury quality but being thicker was more like a Pita AND held everything together better. The salad was very fresh and crunchy owing to the coarsely chopped ingredients. The Lamb & Chicken Donners were excellent - only slightly bettered by 'Best Mangal'.
The service was very good. I was greeted warmly and the server was helpful throughout, only losing points because he thought I said "Lots of Garlic Sauce & and just a little Chilli" when I specified the reverse. He corrected this by putting more Chilli on as soon as I told him. The garlic sauce was nice, fresh and flavoursome. The Chilli sauce was drowned out by the garlic one but it must have been at least OK.
If you do eat in there is plenty of space and the atmosphere while being "fast food" style is more akin to Nando's than a Burger joint.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Relish - by ColmMcMullan

ColmMcMullan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:06:21 +0000

Review by ColmMcMullan

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7828 0628

great range of options for lunch, everything from lasagne to sandwiches (try the chicken, bacon and avacado roll - yum).

only a small seated area but on a nice day bring it round to the side of tate britain or sit in the square of the art college with the hipsters and fashionistas.great range of options for lunch, everything from lasagne to sandwiches (try the chicken, bacon and avacado roll - yum).

only a small seated area but on a nice day bring it round to the side of tate britain or sit in the square of the art college with the hipsters and fashionistas.

Dionysus - by AliZebu

AliZebu — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:41:46 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7434 4204

Tags: kebabs, seating area

Dionysus is simply one of the BEST places in London for a kebab. The Lamb Doner is about the best I have ever had of the minced meat mix style. The Shish, Kofte, & Chicken Doner are also great. The only thing I am not overly fond of is the unusual Chilli sauce - but when the meats are of such high quality who needs it?

I have had many kebabs in the UK & abroad and Dionysus has been in my top 5 for over 20 years, consistently maintaining their high standards. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!Dionysus is simply one of the BEST places in London for a kebab. The Lamb Doner is about the best I have ever had of the minced meat mix style. The Shish, Kofte, & Chicken Doner are also great. The only thing I am not overly fond of is the unusual Chilli sauce - but when the meats are of such high quality who needs it?

I have had many kebabs in the UK & abroad and Dionysus has been in my top 5 for over 20 years, consistently maintaining their high standards. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Crystal Charcoal Restaurant - One of London's 5 best Kebab Houses! by AliZebu

AliZebu — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:28:49 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7281 2846

Tags: burgers, kebabs, seating area

'Crystal Restaurant' of Holloway Road is so highly regarded by Kebab fans that my expectations on my first visit were high - but easily met.

Firstly, it was not quite what I imagined in terms of conception. I had believed it to be an ocakbasi restaurant similar to 'Best Mangal' of North End Road with a large open Turkish BBQ in the centre but it was a smaller more intimate cafe type place that also serves burgers and rather more unusual - stews.

However, shop appearances aside, the Mixed Donner I ordered was truly EXCELLENT.
The busyness brought on by its local popularity meant both the Lamb & Chicken Donners (cuts of meat - schwarma style) were freshly carved from the spit and hence were perfectly cooked being both crispy and succulent.
The salad was basic but fresh and everything was thickly chopped. The Chilli Sauce was a nice thick one spooned on from a steel bowl - moderately hot but tasty. The Garlic Sauce was fine. The wrap was that floury Turkish "Village Bread" and while smaller than those served in Best Mangal the price was only Â£3.30 (Â£4.30 to eat in) so in comparison is good value for money.

Service wise they were fast, competent and prepared the kebab to my specifications albeit somewhat curtly. They seemed to be friendlier to the regular customers and were obviously used to serving many people promptly.

One visit is enough to convince me Crystal's is one of London's finest Kebab Houses and deserving of their reputation.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!'Crystal Restaurant' of Holloway Road is so highly regarded by Kebab fans that my expectations on my first visit were high - but easily met.

Firstly, it was not quite what I imagined in terms of conception. I had believed it to be an ocakbasi restaurant similar to 'Best Mangal' of North End Road with a large open Turkish BBQ in the centre but it was a smaller more intimate cafe type place that also serves burgers and rather more unusual - stews.

However, shop appearances aside, the Mixed Donner I ordered was truly EXCELLENT.
The busyness brought on by its local popularity meant both the Lamb & Chicken Donners (cuts of meat - schwarma style) were freshly carved from the spit and hence were perfectly cooked being both crispy and succulent.
The salad was basic but fresh and everything was thickly chopped. The Chilli Sauce was a nice thick one spooned on from a steel bowl - moderately hot but tasty. The Garlic Sauce was fine. The wrap was that floury Turkish "Village Bread" and while smaller than those served in Best Mangal the price was only Â£3.30 (Â£4.30 to eat in) so in comparison is good value for money.

Service wise they were fast, competent and prepared the kebab to my specifications albeit somewhat curtly. They seemed to be friendlier to the regular customers and were obviously used to serving many people promptly.

One visit is enough to convince me Crystal's is one of London's finest Kebab Houses and deserving of their reputation.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Larosh Kebab Take Away - Popular AND unpopular Kebabs in Ealing Broadway by AliZebu

AliZebu — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:55:16 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8810 7913

Tags: kebabs

I travelled to Ealing Broadway station specifically to find out the truth about Laroash Kebabs after reading many conflicting opinions on the internet.

FIRST VISIT: The shop itself has a somewhat grotty appearance. I am not implying they are lax with their food hygiene standards - it is just tatty. The store has an Indian sub-continent influence with a mini-tandoor next to the grill and Curries also available.

The server greeted me in a friendly manner and I opted for a small Mixed Donner with everything in a fresh Nan. They also serve the more usual Pita bread. The meats were sliced from the spit with a rotary cutter!

The Lamb Donner minced-meat mix was juicy but well cooked and of a uniform medium thickness.
The Chicken Donner/Schwarma cuts were crispy and well marinated. The Salad was very basic just undressed lettuce, onions & tomatoes.

The fresh Nan was very nice if a little more filling than pita or wraps and did not harden on the journey home.

Sauce wise the server put THREE sauces on the kebab. They blended together in the Nan Kebab but I detected a slight sweetness from one of the sauces. I do not like sweet tastes in my kebabs but it was not overpowering enough to ruin the kebab.

The small Mixed Donner was Â£5 in the Nan, and I believe a quid less if in a Pita. I noticed they do a Â£1.20 mini lamb doner for lunchtime.

SECOND VISIT: I returned 2 days later to try something else on the menu. The same server greeted me as I looked at the Skewered kebabs. There was Kofte and Lamb & Chicken Tikka cubes. I chose a small Chicken Tikka in Pita for Â£4 The Chicken Skewer was not sliced into during cooking but came out a little dry. The meat marinade (Tikka) was nice and spicy but I still prefer a regular Chicken Shish.

This time I asked about the sauces. The buttery looking thick sauce (I thought it was Salad Cream) next to the Salad is the Garlic Mayonnaise and the herby white sauce next to the Chilli is a mint sauce.
I just had LOTS of the Chilli Sauce with salad this time and was disappointed to find out it was rather sweet despite looking like a nice fresh one in the silver bowl.

Service wise Laroash were very good on both occasions, to me personally, and with the other customers who were obviously regulars.

I would probably not purposely visit Laroash again as I am quite particular about Chilli Sauce and there are top places like Ealing Mangal & West Kebab of Pitshanger Lane (they do a GREAT Chilli Sauce!) fairly close by who are more suited to my tastes.

Laroash Kebab is better than I had been led to believe but is not really a contender for entry into London's best Kebab Houses.I travelled to Ealing Broadway station specifically to find out the truth about Laroash Kebabs after reading many conflicting opinions on the internet.

FIRST VISIT: The shop itself has a somewhat grotty appearance. I am not implying they are lax with their food hygiene standards - it is just tatty. The store has an Indian sub-continent influence with a mini-tandoor next to the grill and Curries also available.

The server greeted me in a friendly manner and I opted for a small Mixed Donner with everything in a fresh Nan. They also serve the more usual Pita bread. The meats were sliced from the spit with a rotary cutter!

The Lamb Donner minced-meat mix was juicy but well cooked and of a uniform medium thickness.
The Chicken Donner/Schwarma cuts were crispy and well marinated. The Salad was very basic just undressed lettuce, onions & tomatoes.

The fresh Nan was very nice if a little more filling than pita or wraps and did not harden on the journey home.

Sauce wise the server put THREE sauces on the kebab. They blended together in the Nan Kebab but I detected a slight sweetness from one of the sauces. I do not like sweet tastes in my kebabs but it was not overpowering enough to ruin the kebab.

The small Mixed Donner was Â£5 in the Nan, and I believe a quid less if in a Pita. I noticed they do a Â£1.20 mini lamb doner for lunchtime.

SECOND VISIT: I returned 2 days later to try something else on the menu. The same server greeted me as I looked at the Skewered kebabs. There was Kofte and Lamb & Chicken Tikka cubes. I chose a small Chicken Tikka in Pita for Â£4 The Chicken Skewer was not sliced into during cooking but came out a little dry. The meat marinade (Tikka) was nice and spicy but I still prefer a regular Chicken Shish.

This time I asked about the sauces. The buttery looking thick sauce (I thought it was Salad Cream) next to the Salad is the Garlic Mayonnaise and the herby white sauce next to the Chilli is a mint sauce.
I just had LOTS of the Chilli Sauce with salad this time and was disappointed to find out it was rather sweet despite looking like a nice fresh one in the silver bowl.

Service wise Laroash were very good on both occasions, to me personally, and with the other customers who were obviously regulars.

I would probably not purposely visit Laroash again as I am quite particular about Chilli Sauce and there are top places like Ealing Mangal & West Kebab of Pitshanger Lane (they do a GREAT Chilli Sauce!) fairly close by who are more suited to my tastes.

Laroash Kebab is better than I had been led to believe but is not really a contender for entry into London's best Kebab Houses.

Horn Lane Kebabs & Burger House - Nothing to blow their own HORN at... by AliZebu

AliZebu — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:47:30 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 8993 0949

Tags: kebabs

This is a small takeaway Kebab house with a small wall bench to eat in should you wish to.

On first impressions it seems a little dingy, on second impressions too, if the truth be told.

The staff are laid back and friendly enough in a relaxed way. When I walked in they were joking with a regular who was trying to haggle for a discount on his already cheap Cheeseburger meal deal!

The two spits of Donner looked equally unappetizing so I looked to the skewered meats.
The skewered Lamb Shish looked fatty and grey, in the end I opted for the chicken Shish. The pita was heated just right and the salad was about as average as you can get with the pickled chillies being overly bitter. The Chicken cubes themselves were quite bland in themselves and noticeably dry.

The Chilli Sauce was the best thing in the pita, hot, thick and savoury - not up there with the best but still so much better than sweet ketchup based ones.

Price wise they are cheap, but you are not getting good quality so the actual value is questionable.

I can't really recommend this place because of the apparent lack of cleanliness but it seems popular enough with certain locals.This is a small takeaway Kebab house with a small wall bench to eat in should you wish to.

On first impressions it seems a little dingy, on second impressions too, if the truth be told.

The staff are laid back and friendly enough in a relaxed way. When I walked in they were joking with a regular who was trying to haggle for a discount on his already cheap Cheeseburger meal deal!

The two spits of Donner looked equally unappetizing so I looked to the skewered meats.
The skewered Lamb Shish looked fatty and grey, in the end I opted for the chicken Shish. The pita was heated just right and the salad was about as average as you can get with the pickled chillies being overly bitter. The Chicken cubes themselves were quite bland in themselves and noticeably dry.

The Chilli Sauce was the best thing in the pita, hot, thick and savoury - not up there with the best but still so much better than sweet ketchup based ones.

Price wise they are cheap, but you are not getting good quality so the actual value is questionable.

I can't really recommend this place because of the apparent lack of cleanliness but it seems popular enough with certain locals.

Flames - Flames went right through me! by AliZebu

AliZebu — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:44:26 +0000

Review by AliZebu

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 8788 0088

Flames is located just by the main entrance to Putney Railway Station and the wafting smell of grilled onions has no doubt tempted many a traveller to its fare.

Firstly, it is very small and has no seating area but I suppose you could eat on the counter (?) if you had no other option and the staff did not object.
As it was a sunny May afternoon I went to a nearby Church garden bench.
When I initially ordered the small Mixed Doner I thought the server had made a mistake as he proceeded to over fill the small Pita with Lamb Doner only - I was wrong; he then shovelled an equally huge portion of Chicken on top before asking for my sauce preference. I asked for lots of Chilli & a small amount of Garlic and got LOTS of both. A request for a "small amount of all the salad" got me yet another giant helping and a very stuffed LARGE Styrofoam carton was handed to me for Â£4!

The Meats were both taken from the Bain Marie and had perhaps had been waiting there too long. The Lamb Doner was the standard minced meat roll - taste wise it is hard to define because it was as average as you could get. Moderately spiced, medium sliced, standard texture, OK flavour not too greasy and not too dry.
The Chicken Doner (schwarma) was again just alright, juicy but a little too "fatty" for my tastes. The amount I was given meant I picked out the more crispy pieces. The salad was basic. Thickly chopped lettuce, onion, tomato & cucumber without dressing. The small Pita bread was fine. The fresh Chilli Sauce spooned from a bowl may have been quite nice but was overpowered by the Garlic sauce. It was full of herbs and tasted sour. I tried to avoid it as best I could. If the server had followed my request for a little of the Garlic Sauce I could perhaps better describe the Chilli one!

Service was efficient but somewhat impolite. The rather dour server was very fast but lost points for unfriendliness AND more importantly not hearing (or understanding!) the word SMALL. I might be being harsh on that score as many customers would be pleased at such generous portions.

The kebab did not "sit well" with me and 20 minutes after I finished eating (roughly half the original amount!) It gave me a "dodgy tummy" for want of a better phrase.

Even if I had one of these "regular" sized kebabs without the lousy garlic sauce and on a late night drinking session I doubt I would have finished it - obviously for quantity but also quality.Flames is located just by the main entrance to Putney Railway Station and the wafting smell of grilled onions has no doubt tempted many a traveller to its fare.

Firstly, it is very small and has no seating area but I suppose you could eat on the counter (?) if you had no other option and the staff did not object.
As it was a sunny May afternoon I went to a nearby Church garden bench.
When I initially ordered the small Mixed Doner I thought the server had made a mistake as he proceeded to over fill the small Pita with Lamb Doner only - I was wrong; he then shovelled an equally huge portion of Chicken on top before asking for my sauce preference. I asked for lots of Chilli & a small amount of Garlic and got LOTS of both. A request for a "small amount of all the salad" got me yet another giant helping and a very stuffed LARGE Styrofoam carton was handed to me for Â£4!

The Meats were both taken from the Bain Marie and had perhaps had been waiting there too long. The Lamb Doner was the standard minced meat roll - taste wise it is hard to define because it was as average as you could get. Moderately spiced, medium sliced, standard texture, OK flavour not too greasy and not too dry.
The Chicken Doner (schwarma) was again just alright, juicy but a little too "fatty" for my tastes. The amount I was given meant I picked out the more crispy pieces. The salad was basic. Thickly chopped lettuce, onion, tomato & cucumber without dressing. The small Pita bread was fine. The fresh Chilli Sauce spooned from a bowl may have been quite nice but was overpowered by the Garlic sauce. It was full of herbs and tasted sour. I tried to avoid it as best I could. If the server had followed my request for a little of the Garlic Sauce I could perhaps better describe the Chilli one!

Service was efficient but somewhat impolite. The rather dour server was very fast but lost points for unfriendliness AND more importantly not hearing (or understanding!) the word SMALL. I might be being harsh on that score as many customers would be pleased at such generous portions.

The kebab did not "sit well" with me and 20 minutes after I finished eating (roughly half the original amount!) It gave me a "dodgy tummy" for want of a better phrase.

Even if I had one of these "regular" sized kebabs without the lousy garlic sauce and on a late night drinking session I doubt I would have finished it - obviously for quantity but also quality.