The humble kebab has somehow become the dish of the moment: Rupert Street’s white-hot The Palomar serves a deconstructed version, while chef Lee Tiernan triggered a kebab frenzy in Highbury with Black Axe Mangal. The latest development is Soho newcomer Le Bab, which opened quietly over Christmas and boasts an ex-Le Gavroche kitchen team. We popped in for dinner earlier this week – find out just how kebabulous Le Bab is right here.
![Le Bab kebab restaurant London Soho](https://cdn.squaremeal.co.uk/articles/restaurants/news/lebabinterior20161windowweb.jpg)
![Le Bab Turkish kebab restaurant Kingly Court Soho London](https://cdn.squaremeal.co.uk/articles/restaurants/news/lebab20152web.jpg)
Hidden away in a third-floor corner of Kingly Court, this compact kebab shrine is dedicated to giving the nation’s favourite twilight meal a gourmet makeover. With a semi-open kitchen and small dining room, a fiery scent of meat and charcoal permeates in promise of what’s to come. Head chef Manuel Canales Garcés was formerly the sous at Le Gavroche and it shows: kebabs arrive open, smoky meats are adorned with the likes of blackberry and chilli jam, squash hummus and cavolo nero kimchi, all piled atop crisp, homemade flatbreads.
![Le Bab Turkish restaurant London Soho Kingly Court](https://cdn.squaremeal.co.uk/articles/restaurants/news/le-bab-42-web.jpg)
![Le Bab Turkish kebab restaurant Kingly Court Soho London](https://cdn.squaremeal.co.uk/articles/restaurants/news/lebab20151web.jpg)
Perhaps surprisingly, the barbecue paneer kebab was the highlight on our visit, slathered with a playful mix of curry mayonnaise and beetroot purée but retaining a crisp edge via mini discs of fried onions. Other choices include chicken shish, with toum (garlic sauce prepared in-house) and biber (chilli pepper), while the roe deer adana reveals a bitter edge and hefty spice kick. The pig’s head kebab with kohlrabi and molasses sauce is made for sharing, while a pair of lokma (syrup-smothered sweet dough) doughnuts to start ooze a sumptuous chicken liver parfait. Intense flavours are matched by equally full-throttle cocktails (think mezcal and Laphroaig blended with walnut syrup) but, this being kebabs, London Beer Factory bevvies are a must. At an average price of £12 per ‘bab this isn’t cheap as chips, and the thin breads become dry and hard once cool – we suggest ordering kebabs one at a time.
![Le Bab Turkish restaurant London Soho Kingly Court](https://cdn.squaremeal.co.uk/articles/restaurants/news/le-bab-95-web.jpg)
![Le Bab kebab restaurant London Soho](https://cdn.squaremeal.co.uk/articles/restaurants/news/lebabinterior20162barweb.jpg)
Sit at the kitchen’s concrete counter for the full flame spectacle, although any seat here guarantees an energetic experience thanks to a youthful crowd, poppy playlist and smiling, bustling staff. With a mixture of walk-in tables and reservations available, this is one hot newcomer which you may actually be able to get a seat at.
Read more about the team behind Le Bab Soho or discover the bars and restaurants opening next in London.
This article was published 22 January 2016