Al Kareem Sweets & Bakers East London

Tried this place after seeing all the hype on social media, but honestly, it was a huge letdown. The food was extremely basic — nothing special at all, and definitely not worth the price. The taste was mediocre, and the quality felt like something you’d quickly put together at home. What made it worse was the attitude of the staff. They spoke to customers as if they were doing us a favour, with an unprofessional tone that made it feel like we were in a street-side spot in Pakistan, not a proper restaurant. Zero customer service, and no sense of courtesy. The management clearly doesn’t care. The way things are run shows no sign of hospitality or respect for diners. The entire experience was disappointing, and it’s clear that the social media buzz around this place is all talk with no substance. Would not recommend.

Al Kareem Sweets, based in East London, is a must-visit spot if you’re craving a traditional Desi breakfast. Known for their weekend special – Halwa Puri – this place stands out in a sea of local options. With so many shops offering Halwa Puri in the area, it’s hard to find one that truly gets everything right. But Al Kareem Sweets delivers the full experience, and in my opinion, they’re the best around. Their Halwa Puri combo is nothing short of delicious. The puris are light, fluffy, and perfectly golden – not oily or soggy. The chana (spicy chickpeas) are cooked to perfection with just the right kick of flavour, and the suji halwa is smooth, rich, and not overly sweet – just how it should be. It’s the kind of breakfast that hits the spot and leaves you wanting more. What takes the meal to the next level is their sweet lassi. Thick, creamy, and served chilled, it’s the perfect companion to the spicy and savoury dishes. The lassi is mouth-watering and refreshing – easily one of the best I’ve had in East London. Despite being busy, especially on weekends, the service is efficient and the staff are friendly. The atmosphere is lively, and there’s a real sense of community among the regulars who clearly know this place is a gem. If you’re in the area or even just visiting, Al Kareem Sweets is worth trying at least once – though odds are, you’ll be coming back. Between the top-tier Halwa Puri and the unforgettable sweet lassi, this place offers a weekend breakfast experience you don’t want to miss.

This place is a must for breakfast on the weekend (not served on weekdays). Weekends are always busy but it is well staffed so you never have to wait for very long for your order. If you’re eating in, you may have to wait when it’s busy as there are only a small number of tables. Staff are friendly and the food is good value and hits the spot. I usually have a halwa puri half portion and a pink chai - all really good for a fiver. Recommended.

Completely ruined the whole experience, shoddy, irresponsible service. ordered food from uber as I'm at work on the road ordered the lassi Lassi comes with no straw so I'm sitting here with a drink and it's completely lumpy I've nothing to mix this drink with don't know how I'm gonna drink it thank you very much. I did call and all they could say was sorry not really expecting anything much from them anymore. sorry you've lost a customer I will not be using your services again

I had half of the Halwa with Puri and it was sooooooo good. The chana with achar was incredibly rich, the aloo bhaji so soft and layer and that combined with the Puri was otherworldly. I ate the halwa last and I died in every bite, the crunchyness of the nuts with the softness of the paste was so good. I also had (not pictured) their Kashmiri tea and it was very yum. Moreover the service was incredibly sweet even though I came on peak hour (a Sunday at 11)! Very gentle and kind. And all for £7 –so worth it!!

Delicious food and super friendly service! Highly recommended👍🏻 thank you sabir bhai

We tried Halwapori and Kashmiri Chai from here. Food was fresh, served hot and the taste was up to the mark. Definitely recommended. Only down point is the sitting area. You have to wait foe your turn. Our waiting time was 15 minutes. Over all good experience. Definitely place to be if you want to eat delicious halwapori.

We ordered close to 20kg of mithai to celebrate the birth of a baby girl and we were able to place the order and get fresh mithai within a couple of hours. The mithai boxes had a super cute design which made it even more special to share with family and friends! Amazing service and great quality, fresh mithai! Thanks for your amazing hard work!