Aladin Kebabish

"We can’t think of many laid-back dinner situations that Aladin Kebabish, a Pakistani spot in Hendon, doesn’t suit. Stepping off the busy, grey broadway and into this restaurant, we were comforted by familiar, homely sights—sports playing on the TV, framed family photos on the walls, and a fish tank sitting atop a chest of drawers. As dishes kept coming out of the kitchen, we relaxed further into our seats, laughed louder, and bickered over the last shards of papadom. Dishes at this restaurant are soothing, especially the qeema masala—a thick, rich gravy, perfect for scooping up with big pieces of garlic naan. Aladin’s phone rings off the hook with people wanting to snag last-minute tables, so book ahead." - rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, jake missing, daisy meager

"We can’t think of many laid-back dinner situations that Aladin Kebabish, a Pakistani spot in Hendon, doesn’t suit. Stepping off the busy, grey broadway and into this restaurant, we were comforted by familiar, homely sights—sports playing on the TV, framed family photos on the walls, and a fish tank sitting atop a chest of drawers. As dishes kept coming out of the kitchen, we relaxed further into our seats, laughed louder, and bickered over the last shards of papadom. Dishes at this restaurant are soothing, especially the qeema masala—a thick, rich gravy, perfect for scooping up with big pieces of lightly charred garlic naan. You should also make room on your table for the karachi nihari lamb. It arrives at the table on the bone, but the meat is so tender that the bone will soon be swimming alone in the hot gravy. Aladin’s phone rings off the hook with people wanting to snag last-minute tables and get takeaways, so book ahead. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch" - Sinéad Cranna

"Aladin’s Kebabish in West Hendon is being slept on by everyone outside of about one thousand Pakistani families who know that it is one of the essential places in London to explore the “holy trinity” of Karachi cooking: haleem, nihaari, and Karachi qorma. The haleem contains the ghost of the strands and fibres it once was, rich and glutinous, while the nihaari is among the city’s best, the fat forming little islets bobbing in an ocean of red oil, above a shank that can be dismantled completely with the back of a spoon. The qorma is unlike any korma Londoners know, inspired by the Mughals but rich without being creamy, with heavy black pepper spicing, all cut through with subtle acidity." - Jonathan Nunn

"London is sleeping on its Pakistani restaurants. Perhaps it’s the prevalence of strict no alcohol policies; perhaps it’s that many of them are still working class hubs. Perhaps if more Londoners took measure of the cuisine, the food would change irrevocably. Schrodinger’s chaat. Aladin’s Kebabish in West Hendon is being slept on by many but it doesn’t matter to about one thousand Pakistan families: it is one of the few restaurants that come close to capturing the essence of Karachi and the must-order dishes make up the “holy trinity”: haleem, nihaari and Karachi qorma. The meat porridge of haleem contains the ghost of the strands and fibres it once was, rich and glutinous, lifted by the table addition of ginger, chillis, coriander and lemon. The nihaari is among the city’s best, the fat forming little islets bobbing in an ocean of red oil, above a shank that can be dismantled completely with the back of a spoon. The qorma — either chicken or lamb — is unlike any korma Londoners know, inspired by the Mughals but rich without being creamy, with spicing heavy on black pepper and a subtle acidity. One of London’s best curries." - Jonathan Nunn

"If London stopped sleeping on its Pakistani restaurants they would change: Schroedinger’s chaat. Aladin’s Kebabish in West Hendon is being slept on by many but it doesn’t matter to about one thousand Pakistan families: it is one of the few restaurants that come close to capturing the essence of Karachi and the must-order dishes make up the “holy trinity”: haleem, nihaari and Karachi qorma, the latter of which is one of London’s best curries" - Jonathan Nunn