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Bala Baya

  1. London
  2. Southwark Food

Reviews, get directions and contact details for Bala Baya

Bala Baya

About

Bala Baya is a Tel Aviv inspired restaurant, bakery and cocktail bar. Grab & go pitta kiosk at lunchtime or enjoy our all day menu and a buzzing restaurant at night.

Story

Bala Baya is a day in the life of Tel Aviv and its eating habits.

The restaurant is a poem to Tel Aviv through the eyes of Head Chef Eran Tibi and Sammy Shonn. Eran's vibrantly progressive cuisine is rooted in Middle Eastern cooking and generations of baking expertise. Bala Baya is a restaurant that is fluid and ever changing throughout the day under the backdrop of a Bauhaus interior created by the multi award winning architect and designer Afroditi Krassa.

Using the clean lines and curves of the Bauhaus architecture that covers Tel Aviv as inspiration as well as the unique look and feel of the White City, Bala Baya is a “Dessert Bauhaus.”

Breakfast will be filled with smells of freshly baked good from the bakery and the intoxicating smell of fresh pitta being made in house.

Lunchtime is fast paced and exciting. Staying true to Tel Aviv's lunchtime culture you will find our contemporary take on the classic pitta pockets. Eran’s stews and slow-cooked meats or his take on a fish finger sandwich, accompanied by the crunchiest of salads and homemade sauces, the pittas will demonstrate the honest balance of fine dining and informal eating at the heart of Tel Aviv’s gastronomy.

Our evening menu will encapsulate sharing in its true form; this is a hands-on, hands-in approach to family-style dining focusing on the pure enjoyment of the best seasonal, organic ingredients. A high end dining experience with the soul of the authentic traditional dishes we were brought up with.

Bala Baya also boasts London's very first Gazoz bar. Serving daily blends of this refreshing, homemade, fruit-filled sparkling botanical drink.

Our cocktails were created by Ali Reynolds winner of 2015’s Diageo Reserve World Class UK Bartender of the Year. He beautifully curated Bala Baya’s innovative cocktail list using unique produce from Israel’s singular landscape and Mediterranean climate.

Address: Arch 25, Old Union Yard Arches, 229 Union St, London SE1 0LR, UK
Phone: 020 8001 7015
ku.oc.ayabalab@ofni
State: Greater London
City: London
Zip Code: SE1 0LR

opening times

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM
Wednesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM
Thursday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Update Info

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Reviews
Had no idea what to expect from Israeli cuisine but to my surprise it was excellent. The menu is short and simple, and the food I cannot recommend enough. The star of the night for us was the eggplant mess, But the other dishes were equally amazing. Since we were 6 of us we got to try a lot of things from the menu. The cauliflower was great, the beet salad , the kebab dumplings, the prawns , the hummus and the pita breads they were soooo good, light and fluffy. Would definitely recommend to try
The most delicious food I’ve ever tasted!!! Beats Spanish, Italian, Japanese and even Turkish my experience! Absolute must try!!! Service is amazing! Everyone goes the extra mile to make sure you’re acknowledged and your needs are met! The best part is that is pet friendly- I bow to this!!! Well done Bala Baya!!!Food: 5/5
This food is excellent for lovers of bold but accurate taste. You feel a conversation on your pallet, like the words of a song meeting the melody. I really loved it. Sorry about the pictures, the food was so delicious I forgot to click. Vegetarian options: Coliflowr Artichoke Carmel market salad And ~ 12 more.
We loved the aubergine mess, and the pittas were incredible!! The wine was delicious and a perfect pair to the meal. We appreciate that there are natural wines included on the wine list. We also really appreciate the manager who spoke us through all the alternatives as we both have food tolerances. The staff made us feel welcomed and at home and were very friendly. Our evening was made very special, with complimentary birthday shots which was a lovely touch, and we can't wait to come back again. Dietary restrictions: Manager gave us alternatives for every dish for our gluten and lactose intolerances
Background Bala Baya is a Middle Eastern restaurant located in an alleyway at Southwark. The restaurant is inspired by the vibrant food culture of Tel Aviv, Israel. Ambience The restaurant has a lively and welcoming ambience with a modern and stylish interior. The decor is inspired by the Middle Eastern heritage of the owner, creating a unique and authentic atmosphere. Service The service at Bala Baya is excellent, with friendly and attentive staff. Food The food at Bala Baya is fresh, vibrant, and designed for sharing. The vegetarian selections are particularly noteworthy, with various flavorful and creative options. The standout dishes for me are the roasted cauliflower, the falafel, and the hummus. Overall It's a good restaurant for weekend brunch. Whether you're a vegetarian or a meat lover, Bala Baya has something for you.
The restaurant boasts an impressive array of vegan options. From what we sampled, the majority of dishes were rich in flavour and quite delightful. Particularly outstanding were the bread, cauliflower, aubergine, hummus, and Jerusalem artichokes – each bursting with its own unique and savoury profile. However, the experience was slightly marred by the vegan dessert, which unfortunately had an off-putting texture and an odd taste that didn't quite hit the mark. Dietary restrictions: Vegan options
The waitress was nice and tried to find out about gluten-free items on the menu for me. However, the food was salty and heavily seasoned and it was so overpowering. The hummus tastes like our tahini with salt so it actually tasted bitter. The lamb dish was really spicy and heavy too. People were smoking outside, but there is a canopy that keeps the cigarette smell between tables. We even got cigarette ashes into our drink. Overall, it is not a place that we will return.
Food is very good. I really enjoyed it and so did my friends. I think the atmosphere isn’t as good downstairs as upstairs and definitely not at the same level as the food. Service is good, possibly too fast - but overall would recommend
Great experience and great food at Bala Baya with the Prawn Baklava and Aubergine Mess the stand outs! It's my 4th time here Good place to go with a group so you get to order a variety of dishes and try them all! We got 13 dishes among 6 people and that was more than enough. The cocktails were also quite unique.
I’m a sucker for playful, tasty small-ish plates and Bala Baya delivers! The menu is quite interesting, and surprisingly heavy on vegetarian dishes. We started with light snacks, but the bigger sharing plates were the showstoppers. The pink carpaccio was probably the single best dish, with the baklava prawns being a close second. Among the meat dishes, kebab dumplings were delectable. The brisket doughnut was the only thing we tried that wasn’t particularly memorable. They also have a small but respectable selection of mostly Israeli themed cocktails and wines. TBH, my only complaint about the food is that some of the plates were a bit small for the prices. The space itself is quite cool, nestled under a railway arch and with cool industrial chic interiors. We sat on the upper floor, which unlike many other places had respectable space between the tables.
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