Balady
Middle Eastern restaurant · Holborn
39-41 Leather Ln, London EC1N 7UY, United Kingdom
Highlights
Crispy falafel, sabich, hummus, and hand-cut chips
Crispy falafel, sabich, hummus, and hand-cut chips
"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
"Falafel pita 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 Oliver, Rianne Shlebak
"The Temple Fortune sabich slinger opened its second restaurant, Alaesh at the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns and its third, on Leather Lane, as things receded. It’s taken it in its stride, with that sabich, one of the best sandwiches in the city, flying out alongside tubs of mafioso-smooth hummus and top-tier chips. Call for takeaway or order through the apps." - James Hansen
"There are plentiful falafel stands on Leather Lane, but Balady is the place to go in the area. Whilst falafel isn’t Moroccan, the Moroccan-origin Israeli Sabbo brothers behind Balady more than do it justice. Crisp on the outside, tender and aromatic inside, they can be ordered inside a fluffy pita with a range of fresh accompaniments. Moroccan-spiced tomato and carrot salads come along for the party, together with the usual hummus, tahini, chopped salad, and pickled cucumbers, and the less usual amba and harissa, if desired. The sprinkling of sumac and fresh parsley on top of the final layer of tahini that covers the surface of the sandwich adds freshness, in a small gesture that reveals the depth of care on show here." - Joel Hart
