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Middle Eastern · Vegetarian · Soho, London

Bubala Soho Menu: London's Best Vegetarian Middle Eastern Guide (2026)

Everything you need to know about Bubala Soho — London's celebrated vegetarian Middle Eastern restaurant on Poland Street. Founded by Marc Summers, Bubala serves vibrant Israeli and Levantine plant-based cooking: exceptional hummus, charred flatbreads, smoky burnt aubergines, mushroom shawarma and creative mezze in a warm, buzzing Soho setting. Below: the full menu, what to order, the Bubala experience, and answers to common questions.

100% vegetarian menuMostly vegan optionsMezze sharing stylePoland Street, SohoFounded by Marc Summers
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Sample · $$$

Signature items

Hummus with Tahini & Olive Oil~£9
Charred Flatbread with Za'atar Butter~£6
Mushroom Shawarma~£16
Burnt Aubergine~£11
Malabi Milk Pudding~£9
Jump to: What to order The Bubala experience Full menu Vegan options Location & booking FAQ
Quick answers

What you need to know about Bubala before you go

The four most common questions about Bubala Soho answered in one glance.

Cuisine style
Vegetarian Middle Eastern (Israeli & Levantine)

Mezze-style sharing plates inspired by the food of Israel, Lebanon and the wider Levant.

Must-order dish
Hummus with tahini & olive oil

Widely considered London's best hummus -- silky, well-seasoned and generously drizzled.

Dietary coverage
100% vegetarian, mostly vegan

No meat or fish anywhere on the menu. Most plates are fully plant-based.

Price per head
~£30-50 per person sharing

Dishes £3-16 each; plan for 3-5 plates per person with flatbreads and a drink.

What to order

The best things to order at Bubala Soho

Whether you're a first-timer or returning regular, these are the dishes that define the Bubala experience across the entire menu.

The signature

Hummus with Tahini & Olive Oil

Bubala's hummus is the dish the restaurant is most famous for -- silky, pale and deeply seasoned, with good olive oil pooled on top and a little paprika. Order it as soon as you sit down with extra flatbread. It is the benchmark for London hummus.

Essential pairing

Charred Flatbread with Za'atar Butter

Blistered at the edges, soft in the middle, brushed with za'atar and herb butter. The flatbread is the vehicle for everything else on the table -- always order extra. At £6 it is one of the best-value dishes in Soho.

The talking point

Crispy Fried Egg with Harissa & Sumac

A deceptively simple dish that generates the most conversation. The egg arrives shatteringly crisp around the edges and perfectly runny in the centre, pooled in harissa oil and dusted with sumac. Order one per person.

Vegan showstopper

Mushroom Shawarma

King oyster mushrooms rotisserie-cooked with shawarma spices and served with pickled red cabbage. The single dish that best demonstrates what Bubala can do -- complex, smoky, deeply savoury and entirely plant-based.

Smoky classic

Burnt Aubergine with Pomegranate Molasses

Whole aubergine charred until its interior becomes silky and smoke-saturated, finished with sweet-sour pomegranate molasses. A Levantine classic executed with care. One of the most ordered dishes at the table.

Dessert to finish

Malabi Rosewater Milk Pudding

The cool, fragrant rosewater milk pudding is the natural end to a Bubala meal -- light enough after sharing several dishes, scattered with rose petals and pistachio. The olive oil cake and baklava are strong alternatives.

The Bubala experience

What makes Bubala different from every other London vegetarian restaurant

Bubala is not a health-food restaurant. It is not a compromise option for vegetarians dining with meat-eaters. It is a fully realised, chef-led restaurant that happens to serve no meat or fish -- and the food is among the most exciting in Soho regardless of dietary category.

The menu draws on the food cultures of Israel, Lebanon, Palestine and the wider Middle East. The cooking centres on technique: charring over direct flame, long braising, deep frying to a precise crisp, and an understanding of how fat, acid and spice interact in Levantine cooking. Every dish is built to taste like itself, not like a substitution.

The format is sharing plates -- order three to five dishes per person alongside flatbread and pickles, then a dessert. The room on Poland Street is warm and informal, and the wine list focuses on natural and low-intervention bottles that complement the food.

  • 100% vegetarian -- no meat or fish, ever
  • Mostly vegan -- the majority of plates are plant-based
  • Sharing mezze format -- order 3-5 plates per person
  • Natural wine list -- curated to complement Middle Eastern flavours
  • Seasonally changing menu -- dishes rotate with availability
Browse the menu

Jump to a category

All six menu categories at Bubala Soho, from mezze through to drinks.

Mezze & Starters6 itemsSmall Plates6 itemsLarger Plates5 itemsSides4 itemsDesserts4 itemsDrinks4 items
The full menu

Bubala Soho full menu — all dishes & prices

Mezze and starters, small and larger plates, sides, desserts and drinks. All vegetarian; most plates vegan. Prices are approximate and may vary seasonally.

Vegan at Bubala

Bubala is one of London's best restaurants for vegan diners

No plant-based compromises here -- the majority of Bubala's menu is fully vegan, and the kitchen understands how to make plant-based food genuinely satisfying.

Vegan mains

Mushroom Shawarma & Roasted Celeriac

The mushroom shawarma and the whole roasted celeriac with tahini are both fully vegan larger plates with the depth and complexity of a meat-based main course. Either works as the centrepiece of a vegan spread.

Vegan mezze

Hummus, Burnt Aubergine & Chickpeas

The hummus, burnt aubergine with pomegranate molasses, braised chickpeas with tomato and dill, smoky butter beans and the za'atar roasted cauliflower are all vegan and among the most ordered dishes on the menu.

Vegan sides & drinks

Pickles, Tahini & Herbal Sodas

The house pickles, tahini sauce and herbal sodas are all vegan. The natural wine list is predominantly vegan-friendly (unfined) -- ask staff for specific bottles. Mint tea is vegan throughout.

Location & booking

Where to find Bubala Soho

Bubala Soho is on Poland Street in the heart of Soho, London W1F 8QE. The nearest Tube stations are Oxford Circus (Elizabeth, Central and Victoria lines, 5-minute walk) and Tottenham Court Road (Elizabeth and Northern lines, 7 minutes). The restaurant is surrounded by Soho's independent restaurants, bars and theatres.

Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner and weekend lunch. Book via bubala.co.uk. A small number of walk-in counter seats may be available, but do not rely on them for busy Friday or Saturday evenings.

  • Address: 15 Poland Street, Soho, London W1F 8QE
  • Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road
  • Booking: Reservations strongly recommended
  • Format: Sharing plates; 3-5 dishes per person
  • Official site: bubala.co.uk
About Bubala

London's most celebrated vegetarian Middle Eastern restaurant.

Bubala opened in Soho in the early 2020s, founded by Marc Summers, and quickly became one of London's most talked-about restaurants -- a rare achievement for a fully vegetarian kitchen. The restaurant's success is built on a simple premise: that plant-based Middle Eastern cooking, done properly, is not a compromise but a distinct and exciting cuisine in its own right.

The name Bubala is a Yiddish term of endearment, reflecting the Israeli and Ashkenazi Jewish influences woven through the menu alongside Levantine and broader Middle Eastern cooking traditions. The result is a menu that feels coherent, personal and deeply flavoured -- not a collection of dishes assembled to satisfy different dietary requirements, but a genuine point of view about how and what to eat.

100%Vegetarian
~£9Hummus (signature)
6Menu categories
SohoLondon, UK
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Common questions

Bubala Soho — frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the most common questions about Bubala Soho -- menu, vegan options, location and reservations.

Is Bubala entirely vegetarian?

Yes. Bubala is a fully vegetarian restaurant -- there is no meat or fish anywhere on the menu. The kitchen also avoids fish-based condiments and stocks, making the vast majority of dishes genuinely plant-based. Many items are vegan (marked on the menu), and staff are well-informed on dairy and egg content for those who need to know.

What is the cuisine style at Bubala?

Bubala serves Israeli and Levantine-influenced vegetarian cooking, drawing on the food cultures of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and the wider Middle East. The menu is built around mezze-style sharing plates -- hummus, flatbreads, charred vegetables, smoky aubergines, spiced legumes -- with the occasional larger plate (mushroom shawarma, roasted celeriac) for the table. The food is colourful, aromatic and ingredient-led, with a strong emphasis on good olive oil, tahini, za'atar, pomegranate and harissa.

Where is Bubala Soho located?

Bubala Soho is on Poland Street, Soho, London W1F 8QE -- a short walk from Oxford Circus (Elizabeth, Central and Victoria lines) and Tottenham Court Road stations. The restaurant is in the heart of Soho, surrounded by independent restaurants, bars and theatres. See bubala.co.uk for maps and the latest opening times.

What are the must-order dishes at Bubala?

The dishes that define Bubala are the hummus with tahini and olive oil (the benchmark version that many consider London's best), the charred flatbread with za'atar butter (essential for scooping), the crispy fried egg with harissa and sumac, and the mushroom shawarma. The burnt aubergine and halloumi with date syrup are also consistently praised. Order generously and share -- the format rewards exploration across the menu.

Does Bubala have vegan options?

Yes -- the majority of Bubala's menu is vegan. Most mezze and small plates are fully plant-based (hummus, burnt aubergine, braised chickpeas, roasted cauliflower, corn ribs, smoky butter beans, mushroom shawarma, yellow dal). The non-vegan dishes containing dairy or egg are clearly marked. There is no meat or fish on the menu at all.

Do I need a reservation at Bubala?

Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for dinner and weekend lunches. Bubala is one of Soho's most in-demand restaurants and tables book up quickly. Reservations can be made via the official site at bubala.co.uk. A limited number of walk-in seats at the counter or bar may be available for spontaneous visits, but booking ahead is the reliable approach.

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