Balady
Middle Eastern restaurant · Holborn ·
Crispy, herby falafel in fluffy pitta with amba, zhug, tahini
Crispy, herby falafel in fluffy pitta with amba, zhug, tahini
"Balady is very good at putting, or wrapping, things in bread, whether the sabich, cauliflower shawarma, or the incredible falafel (our go-to). Everything at the Israeli spot, at the original Temple Fortune location and its Leather Lane sibling, is offered with a huge choice of salads, pickles, hummus, red pepper, and jalapeño schug, as well as tahini and amba." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna
"There are many things to like about Balady’s location on Leather Lane. Of course it’s all about their falafel: crisp and fresh out the fryer, fluffy inside, and steaming with green herbiness. All of which cry out for the combination of fruity amba, punchy zhug, and cooling tahini that lines their soft pittas. That will always be the number one appeal, closely followed by the Israeli spot’s fantastic hand-cut chips." - rianne shlebak, jake missing
"There are many things to like about Balady’s location in Farringdon, like its grab-and-go convenience, and order station that demands decisiveness. Of course our favourite thing about it is their falafel: crisp and fresh out the fryer, it’s fluffy inside, steaming with green herbiness and spices, all of which cry out for the combination of fruity amba, punchy zhug, and cooling tahini that lines their soft pittas. That will always be the #1 appeal, closely followed by their fantastic hand-cut chips." - jake missing, rianne shlebak
"First thing’s first: Balady doesn’t make its own pita. They get it in from Taboon on Golders Green Road, but that doesn’t matter. Not one iota. Because firstly, they have the good sense to realise that Taboon’s pittas are the best in the business. Fluffy and cavernous pockets that are begging to be filled with a pick ‘’n mix array of falafel, aubergine, hummus, amba, and more. Of course, you can also go straight and pair fresh warm pitta with a 2oz tub of hummus and just go at it. Tear it off and get some aubergine and tahini to soak up while you’re in the swing of things." - jake missing
"The line between what is and isn’t a salad is as blurred and cloudy as a dressing that’s just had a dollop of dijon thrown into it. Balady—the legendary Israeli falafel spot with locations in Clerkenwell and Temple Fortune—makes some of the most delicious boxes around. They’re filled with Israeli salad, shredded carrots, thinly sliced red and white cabbage, pickles, dollops of hummus, and squeezes of zhoug. What you choose to get in said box—steaming hot herby falafels, roasted cauliflower, sweetcorn schnitzel—is up to you." - heidi lauth beasley, daisy meager, sinead cranna, jake missing, rianne shlebak
