You gotta try the following when your there: mixed appetizer, fresh Iranian bread, Shirazi Salad, Masto Khiyar, Kebab Koobedeh & wrap it all up with their one of a kind Faloodah.
I’ve heard good things about Alounak for a while now. I have always planned to visit the restaurant at Bayswater at some point for dinner or what not but somehow I never came round the time to do so. I did finally get to try this place out, but not at the restaurant. Instead I ordered it through Deliveroo (get £5 off your order here) and it got my food delivered to my doorsteps. I try hard to not make ordering deliveries a habit but sometimes when you are dead exhausted and desperate for a long due break, you are allowed to be lazy and spoil yourself a bit.
No complains in this place Iranian food in London !
Probably the best for me and tried quite a few places this is 30 Mints from my place where I stay on holidays in London and it's totally worth the drive with the black cabs !
I orders the sultani and koobidah both are very good and juicy the bread is made on the spot so can't get any fresher. This time as well I ordered the special dish of the day the Sabzi ( Lacked flavor ) once I added more drizzle if lemon and salt it was good.
Food 3.5/5
Service 3.5/5
Ambience 3.5/5
Eating the most authentic Iranian dishes London has to serve. The only downside is the atmosphere and ambience of the place, a little sore on the eyes. But the food surely makes up for what the decor lacks in. The kebabs are luscious, and falooda dessert is far above average. Recommended.
Dinner at this place was super. Some of the staff were a little abrupt. The food was incredible. The bread is made fresh and to order and it was delicious. I would highly recommend a short detour to visit this place. It is very busy and there are no bookings. I was recommended to arrive just before 7pm and that worked (no waiting).
The juices were okay, not the best. The food is superb. Enjoy
Visited here twice. The service is friendly and prompt.
The food is very good. The bread (Roti) is excellent. The chicken kabab are soft juicy and mildly spiced. The mint tea needs special mention here. Overall a good experience.
I can say it's the best persian restaurant in london.
Food quality, price and presentation are just perfect.
Variety and taste are very authentic and the service is fast and friendly.
Try the appetizer mixed platter and the freshly baked bread.
Go for their grills, all are awesome and the portions are excellent.
End up your meal ordering tea with mint and you will just repeat the full experience again and again.
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Fact number one: there are at least three Persian restaurants within a five-minute walk from my office. Fact (or promise) number two: I will try them all before my company moves to Central London.
Alounak is my second experiment, and the one I had the highest hopes for: they have another branch in West Kensington (that is, within walking distance of my house), and heaven knows how much I need a Persian restaurant I can trust, afford, and reach without topping up my Oyster. Going by this experience, I shall try my "local" branch soon: Alounak's Westbourne Grove restaurant may not offer the same variety or old-school charm as nearby Al Waha, but its food is right on the mark in both quality and quantity, and made me glad to have finally got round to visiting.
The lunch menu includes a set of hot and cold starters, and a selection of mains, among which you'll spot most of the classic meat dishes you'll no doubt know if you're any familiar with Middle-Eastern restaurants. They also offer one special course for each day of the week; I quite liked the looks of the Tuesday one (Zereshk Polo - steamed saffron rice with berries and chicken), which made the realisation that it was only Monday all the more bitter. Not that I'm complaining about my main: my saffron chicken breast skewer was well cooked and fulfilling, masterfully charred at the edges, and paired with the kind of fluffy, buttery rice that makes you wonder why on earth anyone should pick salad as their side (I might judge you if you do. I'll try not to. At least get the bread, for Pete's sake!). I've recently learnt to master a similar recipe at home, thanks to Sabrina Ghayour's "Persiana", and have, as a result, grown more and more demanding towards its restaurant version. I couldn't fault this one, just as I couldn't fault the Kashke Bademjan (smoked aubergine, garlic, walnut and fried onion dip) I had as a starter, paired with soft, freshly cooked taftoon bread; both a delight, and large enough to feed two people.
Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get: £13.50 each (service included) bought me and a colleague a generous starter to share, and even more aboundant mains. Not bad at all, considering that in most Middle-Eastern restaurants £13.50 would be the price of the main alone. Visiting on a Monday also turned out to be a good idea. I've walked past Alounak enough times to know it's often crowded, but yesterday, there was no one but us inside at 1.30pm, and we could benefit from a speedy service that allowed us to enjoy a leisurely, relaxed meal well within our lunch break. Could this be my new recipe for beating the Monday blues? I'm feeling positive, and might soon make it a Friday treat too. Or Tuesday, as I'll have to come back for that Zereshk Polo. That's also a promise.
A nice meal if you are in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way for it simply because the West Kensington branch surpasses it on atmosphere and food.
Not a bad Iranian meal but slightly bland in taste.
A warm and friendly environment, no matter how busy the restaurant gets at peak time on a Saturday night. A simple, basic decor is more than made up for by a comprehensive menu of Persian dishes that would please any Epicurean. My very first experience of Persian cuisine, and I suspect not the last...! Well worth a visit.
Yummy but not the best. I love mahdi, the iranian in hammersmith, and my friend assured me this was better.
my meal was delicious but the portion size and value for money is definitely better at mahdi. the decor is great, but i didn't like the long queue outside, which you don't get at mahdi's either. taste was pretty similar. both have the yummy bread that they bake on site in front of your eyes!
Alounak excels at anything involving fire, i.e., charring, grilling, braising, or roasting. So, for example, their Mirza Ghassemi (£3.50), a purée of grilled smoked aubergines, tomato, garlic, and egg was light, subtle, and perfectly balanced with a delectable note of char running throughout. Their taftoon naan (£1.50) – expertly prepared in a tandoor at the front of the restaurant by a handsome impassive man with a ponytail – is superb – light, crisp, flaky, and especially delicious when steaming hot. Their grilled meats, which dominate the menu, are spot-on. But my favourite thing about Alounak is their daily specials. I love Saturday’s lamb shank, braised until tender in a rich buttery brown sauce, and served with rich buttery dill rice (yes, there is a theme here). My sister and I devoured Thursday’s stew of lamb and aubergine (£8.70), which was aromatic and surprisingly delicate. In fact, if I have one complaint about Alounak it is that I think they don’t do enough Persian stews,
When ever im super hungry id always go for alounak. They serve Cheelo kabab that hugs your tummy. Fresh baked iranian bread. Very friendly staff. I recommend this place! ?
This is one of those places which is known all in all for it's great Iranian food. The food is of excellent quality and is priced accordingly. The service is just fine and the ambience is not that good but no one really cares about it as most of the crowd visits this place for it's food. I personally loved the tea post the meal which made the whole experience all the more better. I would surely like to recommend this place.
This place will offer you the tastiest food ever! This place does not accept reservations and you can make out how popular it is looking at the queue outside. As soon as you enter, you come across the freshest of aromas which confirms that you are going to have a great time in here. We tried the chicken kebab among others and everything came in very generous portions. The staff is very efficient and quick despite the place being super busy. Definitely recommended!
I have been going here since very long and every time i go in there I come out with full satisfaction . The first time i visited here I had sultani for the main course and after that day I can not think of any place else.
You might end up waiting in line because the quality of the food that they serve you is awesome so a lot of people come here on a regular basis.
I went to this place a week ago and must say that the dinner was absolutely delicious. The quality of the bread was impeccable. I ordered a Alounak special which was pretty amazing. It consisted of lamb and chicken pieces. The entire meal was delicious and I also had mint tea which complimented the dishes pretty well.
The place is a small one and is usually packed to its full capacity. You might also feel cramped for room. This restaurant is perfect for a family meal. The interior was also quite good and I found to be of above average quality. We had hummus and a couple of dishes the names of which I can't remember right now. The entire meal was very well-prepared and presented and I must say that the food was an absolute delight. The prices were also in a reasonable range, however, the service was pretty bad. This place can become great but the service just doesn't let it to do so. Overall, it was a good experience and I will definitely come back.
For a great time I would recommend everyone that you should visit this place because you are going to have so much fun and you won't regret this decision of yours.
The food was amazing and was full of flavors , the service was also very good.
The bread is baked in front of you so you need not worry about the quality of that.
I am going to come here again and again.
This place is extremely affordable and under no circumstances should you say no to this place. You will find extremely delicious food in very generous portions, made of fresh and high standard ingredients at just the right prices! All flavours are unique and innovative. The place is almost like an eating joint serving Persian middle eastern food. However, everything was just amazing! Do give it a try.
This place serves some really delicious Persian food and must say it was the best I had compared to my experience at any other restaurant. I had kebabs and ice-cream. The quality of both dishes was pretty good. In also had lam which was quite soft and tender just the way I like. Moreover, those who are planning to visit this restaurant must order a yoghurt drink as it compliments the entire meal pretty well.
The place is usually overcrowded during peak hours. And the service is also a bit rushed at the time, and therefore it is advised to go in the afternoon, before the peak hours. Usually I order the Kashke Bademjan here, and try to recreate it at home. Even though there have a number of times I have cooked a good one, nothing comes in comparison to that of the Kashke Bedemjan of this place. The Kebabs are brilliant here and so are the breads.
If Persian cuisine if your thing, then you must visit this restaurant. With very few seating capacity, this place falls short of waiters every time. What one must try is the mint tea after he has finished the food!
This place is very popular among our society. A must try for foodies who like to experience new cuisines every week!
This was place a pleasure to eat and I had a very enjoyable time here! The place is so centrally located that it always attracts people. The kebabs here are outstanding and so soft. They are full of flavor.
The portions this place serves are big and generous. It was a delight to taste this kind of cuisine!
This place is a wonderful enticing experience. It does live up to your anticipations, as you may also visit it after reading the several positive reviews about it. The service is fast and efficient and the food is up to the mark. The best part about this place is the fact that one witnesses fresh bread being made in the same setting as they dine. A must try item on the menu are the kebabs!
I was delighted by our appetizer dishes of hummus and Mirza Ghazzemi. They were absolutely ravishing. The pomegranate juice was also yummy. It was fresh and fruity. This place has brilliant grills, which taste even better with rice and bread. The bread is freshly baked, and the grills are also nice and meaty. I loved coming here.
You might end up waiting in the queue when you visit this place but do not loose hope , that wait is worth it. The portions are very filling and the food is way delicious from what you will be expecting.
The meats are moist. I really liked the service here , the staff is very good and overall the price of all this is also very reasonable.
Overall this place is a must visit.
I have been visiting this restaurant for the last 15 years and have always found the quality of their food to be top notch. The place is small though quite cosy. Their naan bread is always a delight and the kebabs are always juicy and delicious. I also like their yoghurt.
This restaurant made our first day in London very enjoyable. We were privileged enough to have an amazing dinner at this Persian restaurant. All the food items we ordered were affordable and very appetizing. The staff was amicable, prompt and knowledgeable about the menu. We look forward to our next visit here.
Whenever had a look form outside the place was jam packed.
My order on a recent visit include the grilled meat and daily special which tasted pretty amazing.Though in my opinion the menu could incorporate some more rice dishes given the Persian appeal.
The prices are reasonable.The service pretty sweet.
A special mention to the service which made the most busy place a wonderful and delighting experience. It is welcoming, prompt and attentive! An experience like this makes you content and pleasing! The food is fresh and is truly value for money and worth the food quality! We came on Eid and queue was really long expect this place to be busy almost all the time!
This place is fiery, in the true sense of the word. They serve the mirza ghassemi, a dish with a pure of tomato, garlic and egg. This combination itself is very fascinating. The subtle hint of char running through the dish is what gives it a smoky yet delectable taste.
This is a very relaxing restaurant in Bayswater. I had heard a lot about this place from its regular customers who all seem to be full of praises for this Iranian restaurant. I went here with high expectations and I must say I was very impressed. The Mirza Ghassemi offered here is made with aubergine and is delightful which is saying a lot from someone who dislike aubergine. The tea is calming and has a nice aroma to it. The rest of the dishes were also delicious. Will be revisiting this place.
Shivakumar Ramaswamy
+3.5
Good neighbourhood restaurant! Good option for a takeaway. I had a very nice kebab but my Indian palette found it a tad too dry and would have loved a sauce/ gravy to accompany.
The rest of the family had vegetarian food and found it palatable. If you are dining here ensure you request for low quantity of oil in your food.
A reasonably priced persian restaurant with a great interior and ambiance. Ordered a serving of kebab khodedah which was served at almost lightning speed ! how ever the portion could have been a little more generous ! adding more rice would be nice
Do your self a favour and go there!
Its insane if you know what to order. Ill help you out:
Boneless chicken
Mirza qasimi
Salad Olivier
Hummus
There are rave reviews for Alounak (and rightly so!) but my review is for vegetarians who are after good Persian! Look no further than Alounak.
They do three Aubergine dishes, all three really good but I always get the grilled and the mashed fried Aubergine dips (as you may have worked out, I like eggplant). All of the dips are served with warm pita bread right out of the stove that you can keep topping up. The feta, hommus and spinach dips are great too.
I normally eat too much to get to the rice but don't shy away from the generic sounding 'stew and rice' as it is an exceptional main course!
Alounak is super crowded on any week night during peak times and packed with large families on the we so choosing off peak times will ensure a shorter wait for tables in the smalllish restaurant!
Alounak is a fantastic Persian restaurant situated in Bayswater, serving up a pretty straightforward menu made up of starters and kebabs. But what place lacks in choice it more than makes up in quality with some of the tastiest food and generous portions I've come across.
Service was adequate and prompt, except when it came to chucking us out which was appreciated. The place, although clean, is small and so can get a little crowded at times - something possibly a pain for larger parties - but managed to leave a more intimate, close and cosy feel anyway.
And at around 15 quid a head (without drinks) it was pretty much a bargain. Recommended.
Without a doubt Alounak is one of the top Iranian restaurants in London. I have been here quite a few times and have never been disappointed. The food is of a high quality and the staff are always friendly and very polite.
Koobideh is usually the cheapest dish on the menu of any Iranian restaurant as they can use low quality meat without you realizing it. That is why I would't usually order koobideh at a restaurant that I am not familiar with. Alounak however has one of the most amazing koobidehs that you can find in London. Although the cheapest on the menu, it is probably the best. Go for the Chelo kabab koobideh (which is just koobideh with rice) and you wouldn't be disappointed.
I would strongly recommend getting the mixed starter if it's your first time having Iranian food, it would give you a good idea about the taste and texture of Iranian cooking in general.
This is one of the best, most authentic Persian restaurants that I've been too. Things to try are always the sultani for the main meal and a mixed starters for appetizers. This will basically give you a taste of everything! The portions are large and the meat and chicken is always fresh and juicy. The food is also seasoned really well. I especially love their butter-filled rice.
Great Kebab (possibly one of the best I've tasted!). Must try the Chelo Kebab Koobedih with rice (May have spelt it wrong). Absolutely delicious.Good location and friendly staff. Would return for sure...
Good Persian restaurant in Bayswater.
Had dips for starters. Make sure you order the crunchy bread to eat the dips with - it is a delight.
Had mixed grill for the main and the portion was huge. Two massive skewers of well grilled chicken and lamb. Taste was good but a bit dry. Perhaps order a side salad.
After-dinner tea was nice and helped us digest all the food.
Service is good and the vibe is nice.
My favourite Persian restaurant! Delicious food every time, especially the koobideh. Small, family-feel place. Quick service, but they don't rush you out either. Lovely decor too.
The food was amazing delicious. Home made ice cream was very delicious and very interesting that I never eat before. Everything was super, fast and the porcion was great.
Really good! Well priced with good service and friendly staff. I didn't try any specific Persian dishes unfortunately, what I did have was really decent. Special mention to the stone baked bread, first time I've had my entire meal on top of the bread. Can't really complain about anything major maybe my lemon was a bit dry😁
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A Persian Speciality Restaurant Alounak, in Bayswater, London has been a cherished part of our lives for nearly four decades, ever since its inception in 1995.
Our visits, whether with family or friends, have consistently been an exceptional culinary journey.
The food quality remains at its pinnacle, and the ambiance continues to transport us to the heart of Persia, sparing us the need to travel thousands of miles.
During our recent visit, we had the privilege of being attended to by the remarkable Ms. Hasti and her team, including the skilled Ms. Nara and others.
They provided insightful narratives about our beloved dishes, which, although familiar, now come with delightful twists that have left our taste buds yearning for more.
This enduring excellence is a testament to the dedication of the restaurant's Management, Executive Officers, and the entire staff at Alounak Restaurant, Bayswater, London.
We shall appreciate if our compliments are duly conveyed to the Staff concerned, as in addition to making us happy, it will also motivate them and other staff to always strive for their best.
Their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to their patrons is truly commendable.
A journey to Alounak Restaurant, Bayswater, London continues to be an enchanting and delectable adventure, and we eagerly anticipate returning for many more decades to come.
Kudos to Alounak Restaurant, Bayswater, London for their continued pursuit of excellence in all their endeavours!
Ash-Cash and Ashandkaren
I’m a regular at Alounak for last two years and must have tried it at least a dozen times and never disappointed with food. The Taftoon bread is alway so fresh out of the wood over and delicious to try with butter. Boneless chicken with rice is my usual with their mint lemonade. Highly recommended if you’re looking for good Persian food in Westbourne Grove and Notting Hill / Paddington
The best thing about this place is the ambiance. We were seated right next to the oven and were able to observe as the bread was made. The smell from the oven was amazing.
My favourite Persian restaurant in London since early 80’s , but the food is not as tasty as used to be. This very sad .
It was a long waiting, still they were helpful and trying to arrange tables according to our requirements. Food was really good, servant was very helpful and she was trying to accommodate our wishes through recommending mix of dishes that wouldn’t increase the price yet give us what we want as a group. Really appreciate their openness and friendly approach. Their tea is very recommended after the delicious heavy dishes they have. Both food and experience were excellent would highly recommend it.
Good experience overall, the food was good and the staff were attentive🙌🏻 Koobideh wasn’t the best I had but Chenjeh was alright👍🏻 The mixed platter on the starter menu is a great way to taste some favourite dishes, minus the homous… that could be swapped with Mast-o-moosir which is a more authentic Persian starter/side🤔 Also not too sure about the deserts menu, only two options and the Baklava was a bit dry
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