"Masala Wala opened in 2015 with just five tables and has since grown into a Brockley institution. It was founded by Saima Thompson and her mother Nabeela Muqadiss with the aim of showing off Nabeela’s Pakistani home cooking. The small menu changes each month, featuring four homestyle curries, roti, basmati rice, and salads — everything feels light and fresh with distinct flavours. Do not miss Saima’s auntie’s hot carrot pickle if it’s on the menu — deftly spiced with sour and spicy notes which make it impossible not to eat by the spoonful." - Helen Graves