Chicken Shawarmas at Barakat

Barakat is my "go to" spot for a unique food experience in London.

Sure, there is Rei Dos Leitoes (Hamilton Road location has a more extensive menu than Cherry Hill location) for premium Portuguese piri piri chicken and roasted suckling piglet (deserving of the title "King of Pigs" and much better than Romados in Montreal).

And for authentic Szechuan cuisine (Szechwan Sichuan, tomato tomahtoe) that is the shiznit, the New Kung Fu House is the real deal.

Lest we forget about the fresh, local and organic fare at The Only on King which needs no introduction.

Okay, back to Barakat. It specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine and is located on Richmond Row. The long line-ups move quickly and the place is open late until 330am on weekends for the college club crowd.

Barakat, 551 Richmond Street


Shawarmas... chicken or beef, are ~$5 a pop. Of note, they only take cash but will accept debit above $15.

I prefer the do-it-yourself approach with their platter combos (~$10-12).

Combo plate #2 is my personal favourite. It's for "meat lovers" and includes a beef shish kabob and chicken shawarma with all the fixings.

The colourful fixings include garlic (white), hommos (shade of chickpea?), red cabbage (purple incongruously, intially), Lebanese pickles, and fresh tomatoes.





Tomatoes and pickles...


Cabbage... so good and uniquely prepared.


Hommos


A focus on the meat...



Mala Special- Fattoush salad (Roman lettuce, tomato, parsley, cucumber, garlic, onion, lemon juice, olive oil, toasted pita) with chicken shawarma on top accompanied by hommos, garlic sauce, and cabbage.


You'll leave Barakat with the lingering hint of garlic on your breath... and the lingering thought about when you will return.