Bubala

Culinary Contenders: The All-Vegetarian Restaurant Shaking Up the London Food Scene!

Where? Spitalfields, 65 Commercial St, London E1 6BD / Soho
How much? ££
Cuisine? Middle-eastern
What? Vegetarian sharing plates
Gluten free options? Yes

This all-vegetarian restaurant is raising the stakes within the restaurant industry, proving that you don’t have to serve meat in order to produce high-quality, delicious plates. Bubala may be small, but it is by all means mighty, serving up some of the best food – yes, food, not just vegetarian food – I’ve had in London so far. Producing dish after dish with flavour that packs a punch, it is no wonder why Bubala has become one of the most popular restaurants in town.

Attending the Spitalfields branch, Bubala’s interior, much like its food, is simple yet refined. A small space, occupied by a sparkling bar, decorative shrubbery, and satisfied customers – it’s hard not to notice the multitude of empty plates returning to the kitchen upon arrival – satisfied customers indeed! We were seated at the bar, where we conversed with our incredibly friendly waitress and watched the skillful craft of our watermelon margaritas (these, by the way, are divine). You will be met with two menu options: the ‘Bubala Knows Best’ (£40pp) set menu or the à la carte menu – we opted for the latter.

The service was swift and helpful, offering guidance on what to order based on both personal preference and the crowd favorites; recommendations which, I must say, were spot on. Overall, our experience was wonderful; great food, great service, and a great atmosphere in general. So, without further ado, here’s what I thought of the food!

The Food

Flatbread with Confit Garlic Labneh & Burnt Butter and Pine Nut Hummus – £18 total

Flatbread – 8.7/10 – Very light and delicate, with a subtle outer crunch. This was perfect as an appetizer as it left you satisfied and eager for the main course instead of feeling full and heavy. Not to mention, flatbread serves as the perfect dip scooper, allowing you to gather as much of the delicious accompanying side sauces as possible!

Labneh – 9.4/10 – One of the standout dishes of the meal. This tangy and creamy Labneh was one of the best I’ve ever tried. It was incredibly rich and infused with the aromatic oil of the garlic confit, perfectly paired – though you may want to avoid sitting next to anyone on the Tube ride home!

Hummus – 7.8/10 – The burnt butter gave this a warm, smoky flavor, which was absolutely delicious. The consistency was smooth, just to my liking, contrasting with the crunch of the pine nuts. Personally, I preferred the Labneh. If I were being critical, the Labneh could stand out amongst a hundred Labnehs, while the hummus may just blend in. Still delicious, but not as memorable.

I highly recommend ordering a few portions of flatbread if there are more than a couple of you – it will disappear quickly, I assure you. The same goes for the dips – a couple should suffice, three if you’re feeling ambitious! They make for perfect pairings with the main dishes if you don’t manage to scoop up every last drop with the flatbread.

Falafel, Tahini, Amba, Za’atar, Sumac Onions – £7.50

6.3/10 – These were perfectly crispy, and the pickled sumac onions were a nice touch. The flavors were nice, but nothing extraordinary, and I was hoping for something a bit more original with this dish. Tasty, but not new – tahini and falafel – I’ve seen it before, and I’ll certainly see it again. I think there is real potential for them to highlight the tart sumac flavor more prominently, rather than just as a side garnish. These, for me, were the most interesting yet most sparse part of the dish.

Smacked Cucumbers, Tahini, Chilli Crunch – £8.50

9.7/10 – This dish was everything I had hoped for and more. Fresh, crisp cucumber, a luxurious, sweet, spicy, nutty marinade, and crunchy garlic and chili to top it all off. When I tell you that I could have drunk the dressing, I am not exaggerating. This dish is highly acclaimed online, and I have to admit, I was hesitant – I mean, how good can cucumber be? It’s safe to say, this dish exceeded all expectations and demonstrated how a simple ingredient can be elevated with the right pairings.

Halloumi, Black Seed Honey – £12

8.6/10 – Another show-stopping dish. This jiggly cheese sensation was melt-in-the-mouth delicious. Thick, spongy halloumi with a decadent honey sauce. It was sticky, smoky, and fragrant – a texture and taste extravaganza! This dish is definitely one for sharing and would pair well with some more flatbread to subdue the sweetness slightly. I wouldn’t recommend tackling this halloumi mountain alone; you may find yourself in a cheese coma.

Thank you for reading. For more London eats, please head to my socials linked below and subscribe to my blog. Happy eating!