Bubala Spitalfields — Restaurant in London

My friend and I visited for lunch and a long-overdue catch-up, and we had such a lovely experience here! The restaurant is conveniently located on Commercial Road, just a six-minute walk from Aldgate East Station. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was lively, and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming.

The food was absolutely delicious, though the portions were on the smaller side, despite being meant for sharing. We ordered four dishes between the two of us, which felt just right for a light yet satisfying lunch. If we were hungrier, we probably would have ordered more, but overall, it worked out well. The bill came to £50 for the two of us, including service charge, so we paid £25 each at the bar—fair for the quality of food and service, though not necessarily a bargain.

I’m usually hesitant about paying service charges unless the staff have really gone out of their way, but in this case, it was well deserved. The team was attentive, regularly checking on us, refilling our water, and answering any questions we had. Of course, I expect this level of service in any good restaurant, but when it’s done well, it really enhances the experience.

The atmosphere was vibrant and busy, even at lunchtime, which speaks to the restaurant’s popularity—we had to book a few days in advance and could only get seats at the bar. That said, the bar seating didn’t take away from the experience at all.

Now, onto the food—the dishes were packed with flavor! The halloumi was an absolute standout, perfectly cooked and beautifully seasoned. While I’m not usually a fan of mushrooms, the oyster mushrooms were done well, though they were slightly burnt, which impacted the flavor. At £9 per skewer, I normally would have addressed this, but we were short on time. The hummus was wonderfully creamy and rich, and the latkes were crispy and flavorful. Everything was beautifully presented, and you could tell a lot of thought went into the flavors and textures.

All in all, this was a gorgeous dining experience, and I’ll definitely be...

I feel a bit like an alien as everyone seems to love this. I thought the food was a massive disappointment. I LOVE mezze food and went to this restaurant as a treat knowing that the prices are a bit steep. We had quite a late booking as it was the only time they had available, we arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early and had to wait 15 minutes to be seated which is not a big deal if you get an early booking but we were starving, standing in a cramped queue in the doorway. The vibes inside weren’t great… it’s a bit cramped, the tables are too small for the amount of plates they give you. The service was meh? The staff are just too busy to really give you any attention or engage with you in anyway. The food was the biggest disappointment, considering the price, the hype etc. I had the vegan tasting menu which is £45 pp, I’m a bit confused at how much food you’re meant to get for your money - there were two of us and we seemed to have the same amount of food as a table of 3 next to us. The pickle plate was meh, nothing to write home about. The dips were too oily in my opinion, everything had a slight chargrilled flavour (this becomes a theme of the meal) which started to make me feel a bit ill. We only got one piece of bread considering the amount of dips you get and the amount you’re paying, I think that’s a bit ridiculous. As you’re paying per person I feel like a piece of bread each would be reasonable - do people showing up on their own get half a piece of bread?! This part of the meal was the high point, everything else was inedible to be honest. Everything tasted like it was slightly burnt. I love artichokes, I thought the artichoke dish was disgusting, it tasted like poison. I love beetroot, I thought the beetroot dish was gross. The lettuce with apples and crushed nuts was weird and not exciting in the least. The smashed cucumbers were pretty nice actually. I don’t know, I feel like I live on an alternate planet, this was just… not great and super overpriced and super overhyped. I left hungry with a...

I visited Bubala last night for a valentines weekend and had a mostly enjoyable experience. The food was packed with vibrant, bold flavors, and the standout dishes for me were the sweet potato with hawaij and sunflower seed tahini, and the muhammara with sour cherry and walnut. Both were absolutely delicious, with the sweet potato being perfectly spiced and the muhammara offering a delightful balance of sweet and savory.

While the food was tasty, it’s worth noting that the plates are quite small, especially the mushroom skewer so you need to several to feel satisfied. I wanted the taster menu but couldn’t order it for one and my boyfriend did not want it as he couldn’t eat several of the dishes on it due to dietary requirements. Just to mention - To eat from the taster menu all diners on your table need to order from it.

Plus the taster menu looked too large and I know I wouldn’t have managed it all even between two of us.

The vegan dessert options were a bit of a letdown, as the grapefruit didn’t appeal to me as a dessert choice, and the fudge felt more like a snack that should come with the bill rather than a stand-alone option for dessert.

Another downside was the temperature inside the restaurant – it was quite cold, and I ended up putting my scarf back on. Our server, Will, tried to make the room warmer by putting the wall heater on which was super attentive and impressed me, but it didn’t quite raise the temperature enough to make things comfortable.

Our server Will was definitely the highlight of the evening. He was an absolute gem – charming, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. His service truly made the experience delightful, and it’s clear he cares deeply about providing an excellent dining experience. I’d return for the service 🙌🏻

Overall, Bubala offers delicious food and an excellent atmosphere, but there are a few areas for improvement, particularly for vegan diners looking for more dessert options and a warmer place to have a cosy...