Alounak (Bayswater)

"This small but mighty Persian spot on Westbourne Grove has been serving glorious joojeh since 1995. A quarter of a century later, you’ll still find a queue for a table on a Saturday night. Expect warm, freshly clay-baked taftoon bread that you can smell wherever you’re sat, delicious dips, and grilled meats. Do as we do and hit this place up in a small group. Start with their kashke bademjan and more bread than necessary, and move onto a mixed kebab and boneless chicken skewer to share." - rianne shlebak

"This spot on Westbourne Grove usually has a queue of people hoping to get a last minute table and some koobideh. But you can get their excellent chelo kebab koobideh, zereshk polo with chicken, and tafton bread delivered straight to your door. Oh, and keep an eye on their daily specials." - rianne shlebak

"This small but mighty Persian spot on Westbourne Grove has been serving glorious joojeh since 1995. A quarter of a century later, you’ll probably still find a queue for a table here on a Saturday night. Expect incredibly addictive freshly clay-baked taftoon bread, delicious dips, and grilled meats, and do as we do—hit this place up in a small group, start with their kashke bademjan and more bread than necessary, and move onto a mixed kebab and boneless chicken skewer to share. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch" - Rianne Shlebak

"The chargrilled kebabs are excellent at this popular Persian eatery. But Alounak’s Saturday special is baghali polo, broad bean stew with dill rice and lamb shank, and as Nowruz falls on the weekend this year, it’s an excellent alternative to sabzi polo ba mahi, the herb rice with fish." - Amira Arasteh