Maida Vale, London

Chelo

Tucked away near the Central London area, Chelo is a charming little gem for anyone craving modern Persian cuisine in an intimate setting. The restaurant is quite small—seating around 20 guests at most—which gives it a cozy, almost homey feel. The outdoor space is a definite plus, especially on a nice day, offering a peaceful spot to enjoy your meal.

The atmosphere at Chelo is warm and inviting, with a modern yet authentic Persian touch. The staff were kind and helpful throughout, though at times they did seem a bit overwhelmed, likely due to the limited space and full house.

As for the food, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The appetizers didn’t quite hit the mark; they tasted a little aged and lacked the freshness one might expect from a place like this. That said, Chelo completely redeems itself with its fantastic Persian-style bread—fresh, warm, and incredibly moreish.

The chicken kebab is a standout. Juicy, well-seasoned, and grilled to perfection, it’s a dish I’d absolutely come back for. Their yogurt drink (dough) is also exceptional—cool, tangy, and refreshing, it perfectly complements the rich flavors of the mains.

All in all, Chelo is a cozy, promising spot that’s worth a visit—especially for the mains and the overall vibe. With a little fine-tuning in the starters and service, it has the potential to become a local favorite.

The main dish I had (Lamb Neck) was delicious. That garlicky buttery sauce was liquid gold and the meat was super tender. It's a small restaurant on the inside (4 tables) but there's more seating outdoors. The place was packed and they had a lot of delivery orders so I imagine it's a really popular local restaurant. What let it down for me were the starters (wings and salad). Personally they were a bit small for the price.

The food is meh 🫤 we tried the Kabab platter and the wings were burnt, they replaced with boneless chicken which was under undercooked (pink inside 🤢) but at at least they were nice enough to change again!

The biggest let down is the atmosphere. The place is so crammed with four round tables which are too small for four people😒 the plates are so small that you can’t enjoy your food without making a mess. And then there is the door which is just next to table and every time someone walks in there is cold wind coming in💨

Can’t honestly said that I enjoyed the experience☹️

The best Iranian restaurant. Lovely food! Everything tastes so good! Highly recommend. Place is great, clean and friendly, Erfan the owner is lovely and welcoming.

I really liked the vibe of the restaurant, cosy and friendly, with a welcoming atmosphere. The Joojeh Kabab was a standout: super soft, juicy, and packed with flavour. However, I was a bit disappointed with the Kabab Torsh. Being from northern Iran myself, I know the traditional marination well, it typically includes fresh herbs, ground walnuts, and pomegranate molasses, and this version didn’t quite hit the mark.
The Ghormeh Sabzi was tasty overall, but it was missing dried lime, which is essential for that authentic depth of flavour. Thankfully, the staff were kind enough to bring one when we asked.
As for the rice, I found it slightly undercooked and a bit too oily for my taste.

All of our food is absolutely Halal. We only work with Halal certified suppliers.

Classic Persian grills and stews with daily specials in an easygoing restaurant, plus takeaways

Kish Persian Restaurant

Kish catered beautifully for a party in Gunnersbury Park's heritage orangery. The food was spectacular, beautifully served by extremely friendly and helpful staff. The orangery has no kitchen or running water, so they brought everything themselves. They were even kind enough to let us continue using their glassware after the food had been enjoyed and cleared up, offering to collect it the next day. Can't recommend them highly enough!

I had the Koobideh with the Rafaello milkshake.
The Koobideh was great - quite buttery.
If there was a bit more rice then it’d be perfect
The Rafaello Milkshake was great and quite large

We ordered some Taftoon which was hot and fresh, it was great alongside the Koobideh & rice.

We ordered the “small” pot of chai which was the best I’ve ever tasted , it was enough for 5 cups for both of us.
Ghazal’s service was amazing and brought us complimentary nabat without asking.

We ordered Makhlot ice cream which was delicious and 100% worth ordering again. Safoora suggested the ice cream and her service was fantastic.

If you were to try Iranian cuisine for the first time this restaurant is great as there is a wide selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as desert providing the full Iranian experience

Overall a great dining experience, the service was brilliant and it’s worth returning just for that (and the ice cream).
Many thanks to Safoora & Ghazal once again

An Outstanding Persian Dining Experience at Kish Restaurant!

We recently had the pleasure of dining at Kish Restaurant in London, and we can’t stop raving about it! From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with such warmth and professionalism — the staff truly made this a standout experience. Every single team member we encountered was attentive, friendly, and incredibly professional, making us feel genuinely valued and well cared for throughout our visit.

The food was just as impressive! Everything we ordered was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The kebabs were grilled to perfection — juicy, tender, and full of authentic Persian spices. The baghali polo (rice with fava/broad beans) was an absolute highlight — fragrant, fluffy, and paired wonderfully with the meats. Even the starters were delicious — fresh, vibrant, and a perfect way to begin the meal.

Kish Restaurant is the kind of place you want to return to again and again — not just for the fantastic food, but for the exceptional hospitality that truly sets it apart. Highly, highly recommend this gem if you’re looking for an unforgettable Persian meal in London!

Venue: Kish
Date Of Visit: 13/09/2025

I visited Kish in Kilburn with a couple of friends to experience Persian cuisine.

The atmosphere/decor was pleasant and the staff were quite friendly.

I had the following:
- Hummous
- Saffron Chicken Soup
- Kebab Koobideh Nan
- Immune Booster (drink)
- Moroccan Tea

They served the starters initially within 10 minutes or so of ordering followed by the main dish shortly afterwards

The hummous was quite satisfying and I thoroughly enjoyed the saffron chicken soup which was served nice and hot - perfect for the cool weather. The flavours really stood out.

The Koobideh Kebab nan was rather different to the typical seekh kebab served at Pakistani restaurants. It was bland and moist in comparison but in a pleasant way.

I really enjoyed the Immune booster drink which had a mix of orange, honey and ginger which was perfect for the weather and the Moroccan Tea was great too.

Total cost for the above was around £46 (the hummous and Moroccan pot of tea was shared).

Overall I enjoyed the experience even though It was a bit on the expensive side.

5/5 Stars

We had “Kaleh Pacheh” for breakfast absolutely delicious! The service was excellent, friendly, and very attentive. Everything was fresh, authentic, and perfectly prepared. Highly recommend Kish Persian Restaurant for anyone looking for a real Persian experience in London.

Halal restaurants in Maida Vale, London

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