Review: Bab E Khyber

Establishment: Bab E Khyber

Location: Hounslow, London

Cuisine: Afghani/Pakistani

Halal: Yes

Alcohol: No

Cost: Starter, Main, Side, Dessert & Drinks £25 (Serves 2)

With the the new trend of modern asian eateries and restaurants popping up everywhere, and people rushing to experience this new upmarket culinary trend, I want to pay homage to one of the original corner stones of asian restaurants in london, Bab E Khyber, located in Hounslow, London.

Bab E Khyber has been serving authentic and traditional flavours, recipes and unique regional dishes of peshawari cuisine that have been influenced by both afghani and pakistani techniques and spices; serving the best stuffed whole lambs, kabouli pilau, namakmandi karahi and chapli kebabs to the public for around 20 years. When visiting with family I kept a reign on the order, had I visited with the HFH team then I would have ordered much more. We ordered our favourite iconic menu dishes: Lamb Namakmandi Karahi, Bindhi Namakmandi, Chapli Kebabs and Large Peshawari Naan.

Lamb Namakmandi Karahi, Bindhi Namakmandi, Chapli Kebabs and Large Peshawari Naan

As a pakistani it is really nice to experience the different flavours, recipes and unique dishes from around pakistan; there is such diversity and variety in pakistani food yet people always tend to visit a typical pakistani punjabi cuisine establishment, ordering the same dishes time and again. A lot has changed in the culinary world over the past twenty years, more so since the first restaurants from the indo/pak subcontinent arrived in the uk. With there being so much variety now, it's time to explore food diversity and educate ourselves about food properly.

Namakmandi Karahi, Bindhi Namakmandi, Chapli Kebab (click arrows to scroll)

I do enjoy vegetarian food, one of my favourite vegetables is bindhi (okra) and this namakmandi bindhi dish had me at the first bite "IS DEFINITELY IN MY TOP THREE VEGETARIAN DISHES I'VE EVER ATE - IT IS THAT GOOD!..." I'll leave it to you to try it, rate it and crave it.

Chapli Kebab

Note: Authentic chapli kebabs are made from beef and not lamb, and fried in large thaal (a traditional large round hot cooking plate), so if you visit any establishment that uses lamb in their chapli kebab mix, then you were not served authentic chapli kebabs.

My Plate of Peshawari Heaven (click arrows to scroll)

I have been visiting this family run restaurant for over 10 years and their food, flavours and recipes always deliver, though service can lack on the odd occasion as does with most asian restaurants, the food always lives up to expectations!

I hope that I'm able to review their famous whole slow spit roasted lamb, stuffed with kabuli pilau for you all very soon, in the mean time do visit and experience their delicious food.

Food: 4.8/5 Service: 4.0/5 Value: 4.7/5 Interior: 4.0/5

Ambiance: 4.0/5

HFH Rating: 4.5/5

Address: 769 London Road, Hounslow, London. TW3 1RS Phone: 020 8577 5209 Website: N/A