Sabiib Somali Restaurant - Harringay — Restaurant in London

Visited the newly opened Sabiib Harringay branch for the first time last night with a friend.

From the moment you enter you can tell you’re in an up-market, warm ambience Somali restaurant. The first of its kind.

We were politely greeted and given a nice table seated in a not-too busy part of the restaurant. Staff were very professional, attentive and polite - catering to all our requirements. Warm smiles all around.

We opted for the Haanid, rice, suqaar - and of course the legendary bananas and bisbas which complement the food.

Food came extremely well presented. The Haanid had a beautiful fragrance coming from it, really amplifying the East African flavours. The tenderness of the meat was exceptional. Price to quality ratio was also really good. Portion sizes were good too and a lot of emphasis had been put into making the dishes aesthetically pleasing.

I’ve been eating Somali food for over a decade, the concept of Sabiib differs a lot from other Somali cuisines - with the focus being on both high presentation (of shop settings) and food (aesthetically more like that of a high end restaurant). They’ve also opted to open in Green Lanes, which is primarily Turkish-based restaurants, so the design they’ve opted for will definitely give them a competitive edge, as it’s a very well presented restaurant.

Restaurant had ample seating. There’s also an on-site prayer room - so you can get your prayers in time without having to leave the restaurant. Very thoughtful and extremely beneficial for customers.

The owner, Liban, came over to our table and we had a great conversation. Very polite and attentive to our needs. A big thanks also to all the lovely staff members who assisted us through the night.

I’d highly recommend checking out this branch if you’re looking to visit with friends, family for a social. Impressively decorated and very good food, I look forward to...

I’d always been curious about Somali cuisine—it had long been on my foodie bucket list. So when a family member suggested dining at Sabiib, I didn’t hesitate to say yes.

We started with the Hummus Oodkac, a creamy, perfectly seasoned dip elevated by a topping of spiced Somali beef jerky. It was a beautiful balance of texture and flavour—a wonderful introduction to what was to come.

For mains, we ordered the sharing platter, a generous feast of lamb, beef, and chicken over fragrant rice—and, to my surprise, spaghetti. The unexpected addition of pasta hints at Somalia’s history and its Italian influence, resulting in a fusion that’s become a hallmark of Somali meals. As if things couldn’t get more intriguing, the whole spread was served with a banana on the side.

The lamb Haniid stole the show—so tender it fell effortlessly off the bone. The beef and chicken suqaar were equally impressive: juicy, well-spiced, and bursting with flavour. The two house condiments added depth and contrast, rounding out the meal perfectly.

While I noticed subtle Middle Eastern influences, Somali cuisine stood out as distinct from Ethiopian food.

I didn’t try the banana combination this time, as I was too busy savouring each dish on its own, but I’ll definitely give it a go on my next visit.

A special mention goes to Samira, our wonderful server, who patiently explained the menu. With her contagious smile, she also told us that Somalia was once the world’s largest banana exporter—hence the beloved tradition of pairing banana with almost every meal.

Sabiib truly delivered a memorable first experience of Somali cuisine—warm hospitality, bold flavours, and a meal that told a story, enriched by fascinating Middle Eastern and...

Wow, wow, WOW! Dining out is about the food, service, environment, rest room, other diners and price and Sabiib is excellent on all counts. On arrival, there were other diners waiting to be seated, but I instantly noticed smiles and a calmness from all of them. The reason was that they were attended to by staff’s promptly with a smile and curtesy. I requested a table that was more comfortable and away from the main entrance, it was accommodated but the air condition was too much and expressed this and was moved. He did this without any sign of annoyance and kind customer service skills.

We were attended to by a really kind front of house waitress (whose name I did not get) who I asked advice from regarding the menu, recommendation and etiquette of eating our meal traditionally with the banana. She explained clearly, simply and kindly.

We ordered a platter for two because I wanted lamb and rice. I chose not to have the pasta and added diced beef as the extra meat. We added two hot drinks and a mocktail. The platter could honestly have served four people, but for my ten year old and myself, it was a lot.

We finished off with the traditional date cake with caramel sauce and ice-cream! I was sold after the first month full. Sweet, but balanced sweetness with the ice-cream that it was not overly sweet.

Everyone was attentive, but a special shout out to Gokul and Samara … thank you both for ensuring our experience was enjoyable. We will definitely be coming back again. Sabiib is the place to have GREAT authentic Somalian cuisine cooked with care and...