South Woodford

Sakura Sushi and Bao Buns

Never been to Sakura Sushi before yesterday, and I'm sad I haven't! Upon arrival, it smelt amazing, and the guy that served us was very kind and patient with us as we browsed the sushi menu! We picked the Salmon platter which was 2 salmon nigiri, 2 salmon and avocado uramaki, 2 salmon sashimi and 4 salmon maki. We asked for no salmon sashimi and instead 4 salmon and avocado uramaki, and they were very kind in doing so, and keeping the price the same. We waited about 10 minutes, and then they gave us the nicest platter I've ever had!! Rice was slightly vinegary, but the salmon was fresh, and I couldn't complain. the portions were beyond generous, and ill definitely be going back if not today, then tomorrow!

Amazing Japanese Dishes, so many choices for both veg and non veg. I've only had the veg dishes and I can say that each one was so tasty and would highly recommend their Bai buns, gayozas, sushi...list is endless. Definitely worth a try if you haven't and looking for quality food. You get free snacks while you wait for your collection. Great customer service...amazing chefs.

I've been coming here for a while and the food is always delicious — super fresh, full of flavour, and consistently great quality. The Chicken Katsu has been a favourite of mine for ages, and one of the reasons I loved it so much was the generous portion sizes.

Lately, I’ve noticed there seems to be a bit less chicken than there used to be, which is a shame since those big portions were part of what made the meal so satisfying and great value. Still, it’s one of the tastiest spots around, and I’ll definitely keep coming back — just hoping the portions go back to how they used to be!

Amazing customer service, everyone is so lovely and accommodating and smiley - especially since we came in close to closing time! Lovely broad vegetarian/vegan options and very clean! The whole place looks modern - there’s a reason why this place is so busy! Can’t wait to come back!

Honestly our absolute favourite takeaway! It needs 10 stars. The Chicken Karrage buns are too good. The staff are so lovely and friendly. We are so sad to move away from the area for a while, and will definitely be stopping by whenever we pass south Woodford.
Thanks for all the amazing food! James & Darcey

We don't sell any alcohol or pork. Everything is Halal.

Sakura

Meat-inspired Turkish menu with a smart-casual dress code

Mixed Grills all round! 🍗

This was our third time at Lokkum and since we enjoyed the  mixed grill before, we knew it would be wrong to go for something else! As always, the lamb shish was tender and the chops and Adana were full of flavour! However, the chicken shish was a tad bit dry. For sides, we ordered chips and bulgur rice, which was a little bland. The calamari was crunchy and we mopped the delicious cheesy mushrooms up with bread! The drinks at Lokkum are also lovely; we ordered a pina colada, mojito and strawberry daquiri. All in all, a great experience!

Settings: 7/10
Food: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Overall: 7/10

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@twopeasfoodies's review of Lokkum South Woodford on Instagram

Mix grill from the up market @lokkumlondon. I really liked this mix grill, nice thick juicy cuts of chicken and lamb. .

For more pics and in depth review search for Lokkum on halalfoodguy.co.uk

@halalfoodguy's review of Lokkum South Woodford on Instagram

Lokkum Bar & Grill

Lokkum was very accommodating, really tailoring their private dining space for my brother's surprise with his friends. The food was great, with good options, and they let us have a DJ and decorate early. It was a great space and an even better team who helped us with everything from the planning to the actual execution. This is long overdue; it was in August, but it was so good that I was reminded to share this now!

The only thing I can’t remember is the waiter from that night, but he deserves a pay rise. He handled the load incredibly well and was very intentional and caring. Shout out to Ertan and his team that night!

I came here for my 21st birthday and it was hands down the best birthday I’ve ever had. The service was so fast and perfect, all items came out on time, we never had a problem and if we asked for something they would bring it to us straight away.

The fact that the whole restaurant was so busy, yet they still have perfect service and gave the best experience. It didn’t even feel busy to me until I walked around and saw. I was never sat there waiting. They really can handle so many customers at once. I’ve eaten out many times and seen busy restaurants struggle, but not this one!

The atmosphere was so welcoming and wholesome, they put a big sparkling candle on my cake when they didn’t have to, they reserved a huge spot for my party and put so much effort into this. The area they gave my party was so peaceful and serene. I loved it.

The effort was really noticeable, the waiters were so respectful. They followed all our instructions perfectly, the presentation of food was amazing! The way the restaurant looked was amazing. The food was cooked and seasoned so well! I don’t usually have lamb chops in Turkish restaurants but this lamb chop was so succulent, all the meat on the platter was soft and appetising. And the live show was spectacular. The lady who performed was very kind! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone. It’s perfect for parties and big gatherings. I’m sure you will leave with a smile on your face, just like I did. They are all so hospitable and didn’t rush us at all. It felt very relaxing and peaceful here. Thank you to everyone who gave my family such a wonderful experience.

I took mostly videos because I wanted to catch the full beautiful place, so I will screenshot some of those to share here.

We came here for my husband’s birthday and overall the food was really good. Fresh, tasty and nicely presented. However, we specifically chose Lokkum because their Instagram mentioned live performances on Friday and Saturday nights, which felt perfect for a special occasion. Unfortunately, when we arrived we were told that the performance had been cancelled last minute. It was quite disappointing as I had looked through many options and decided on Lokum because of the vibe and the promise of live entertainment.

So while the food and atmosphere were nice, I left feeling a bit let down that what was advertised wasn’t delivered, especially on a night that was meant to feel extra special.

We booked Lokkum Bar & Grill for our Christmas dinner party for 16 people, mainly because of the advertised entertainment and atmosphere. Unfortunately, the experience was very disappointing.

Despite booking in advance, we were seated in a secluded corner of the verandah/conservatory, away from the main restaurant and entertainment. This was never communicated beforehand and completely undermined the reason we chose the venue for a festive group event.

Service was poor overall. Although our waiter Kesavan was polite and did his best, the bar service was abysmal. Drinks took far too long to arrive — to the point where food was served before drinks, which is unacceptable for a pre-booked large party.

To be fair, the food itself was nice, but good food alone does not make up for poor organisation, lack of atmosphere, and extremely slow bar service — especially for a Christmas event with a significant bill.

Based on this experience, I would not recommend Lokkum Bar & Grill for large groups or organised events.

Felt mixed emotions coming here. Returned after a few years and it just didn’t feel the same. We went at 9:45 (the restaurant closes at 11, the kitchen, at 10:15) and felt extremely rushed. Waiters seemed annoyed when we wanted to order additional drinks, were reluctant to give us the dessert menu because ‘the kitchen was about to close.’ With such a high service fee, you’d want to experience better service! We paid the service fee, of course, but felt the luxury of dining was spoiled by the constant reminders of closing time - even though we’d had ordered as soon as sitting down and left by 10:30. I wouldn’t recommend, only because I have paid the same bill at much nicer restaurants, with much better service and this wouldn’t be one I’d return to again.

On a positive note, the lamb Adana was wonderful, everything else, sub-par. Also, mocktails were not good!

Lokkum

Zest - South Woodford

I had an amazing experience at Zest. I ordered the pasta and it was genuinely delicious. The whole place was very clean, which made the visit even better. The service was top tier too. Bensu and Seray were especially great. Super friendly, helpful, and you can really see how well they work together. They made the whole vibe very welcoming. I can’t recommend Zest enough, I’ll definitely be coming back!

Literally the best healthy option around. Amazing selection and great flavours. It is always a bonus to order a takeaway and still feel good afterwards. I’ve been ordering here for years, just leaving a review now because I appreciated the call I received to inform me one of the options were unavailable, but they had plenty of alternatives. The meal was delicious regardless, thank you Zest South Woodford.

Zest Salad Bar in South Woodford is a hidden gem for anyone who loves fresh, healthy food. The food is always fresh and full of flavour, with generous portions and great variety — from custom salad bowls and warm pastas to smoothies and fresh juices. Prices are fair for the quality, though extras can add up. The service is consistently friendly and efficient; the staff make you feel genuinely valued. Overall, Zest delivers on taste, freshness, and atmosphere — easily one of the best healthy spots in the area. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Every time I visit Zest, I get blown away by how fresh, vibrant, and delicious everything is. You can tell real care goes into the ingredients and combinations, their salads are packed with flavor, and the portion sizes are generous without being overwhelming.

The staff are always friendly, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about what they do. Whether you’re grabbing a quick, healthy lunch or looking for a fresh juice, Zest never disappoints. The space is clean, inviting, and has a great community feel to it.

It’s so refreshing to find a place that makes healthy food exciting and satisfying. Highly recommend to anyone in the area — once you try it, you’ll keep coming back!

Mel was so welcoming and delivered amazing customer service. Food was 10/10 and the ginger shot was so refreshing and strong.

Only our roast chicken is Halal at the moment.

Zest

Ookii Sushi

Ever since the ownership has changed I have been massively disappointed. The prices have gone up but the quality of the sushi and presentation have massively decreased.

They have stopped putting soy sauce and wasabi in each roll- we ordered 3 sushi’s and were only given two pots of soy sauce, one pair of chopsticks, and one wasabi which is definitely not enough for three people.

The mushroom roll we ordered has barely any mushroom- instead has more asparagus and rice proportionally (where is the mushroom??). The rice paper rolls also have barely any tofu in them, and are all different sizes and lengths- this has happened on two separate occasions. The sushi is also falling apart as you pick it up.

I have attached photos of these situations, compared to what they used to look like when we would order from here.

I called up to raise my complaints and I have just received an email now saying my order has been cancelled even though we picked it up and paid an hour ago?

This is not the ookii sushi we have been ordering from for the last few years. Such a shame but I think now we will have to order from elsewhere.

Fantastic sushi and great service!
I recently visited Ookii Sushi and was really impressed — the food was incredibly fresh and full of flavour. The sushi rolls were perfectly made, especially the salmon and avocado and the spicy tuna rolls which are the most popular sushi plates. Everything tasted super fresh and beautifully presented.

I LOVE THESE GUYS, BEST EVER SERVICE, BEST EVER FOOD ESPECIALLY PRAWN TEMP. DRAGON ROLL. DEFINITELY COMEBACK AGAIN

Ookii sushi changed owner few months ago but they are not informing their customers about this.
They kept the same menu/concept but unfortunately the quality and customer service is not the same. I kept ordering as I wanted to support this family business while they were overseas.
Orders aren’t  stored at the right temperature, the quality is not the same and the portions are not good.

Unfortunately, I have to give this place a negative review. I booked food for a certain time and had to wait at least 15 minutes longer. The fish wasn't fresh at all, it had no flavor, and the fish inside of the sushi rolls was barely visible. The tuna sashimi had a questionable color, and the seaweed, ginger, and wasabi seemed days old. They also forgot to include a dish I had ordered, and I called to get a refund. This place used to make some of the best sushi I've ever had in London. It's a shame it's become so bad.

Sahara Grill

I'm honestly pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my meal here!

For starters, we got the prawns and the chops. The chops were cooked so beautifully I had to fight my husband to get the last one 🤣. The prawns were cooked to perfection!

For mains we got rib eye steak and a rib. The steak was seared beautifully and had such nice flavour with the sauce provided. The rib was fall off the bone, flavourful and so worth it.

For drinks we stuck to cola, but next time will be trying the mocktails because we saw a neighbouring table rave about them.

My kid loved the cat robot waiter, and the staff were diligent and receptive. Thank you, will definitely be coming back!!

Went here with few friends. Interior of restaurant is top notch. The service started good but towards the end we had to wait for drinks and bill. We Buffalo Wings, Chicken Tenders and King Prawns. Starters all good. Mains was T-Bone steaks and Rib-eye steak. The t-bones were ridiculously big and tasty. My Rib Eye was good, soft but had a funny taste source on top of it. Would of been good to get a choice of flavours to choose from. Overall very good

I had an amazing time at sahara grill leyton we had the sahara feast and it was a feast indeed. Mr Ridwan was extremely professional, courteous and offered a warm service to us and we are definitely coming back for more. And the food was absolutely delicious.

Great taste, I really liked the quality and taste, chicken and coleslaw was top class! However 20£ for 5pcs lamb chop not justified. I highly recommend chicken with 2 sides but avoid 20£ lamb chops.

The food was sensational !!! Absolutely loved the lamb steak that was recommended by Azha whose customer service was excellent, he was kind, patient and very helpful which made the whole experience enjoyable and worth every penny. Fantastic all round and will definitely go back again !

Everything on our menu is Halal. We don't serve alcohol or pork. A Halal certificate is available upon request - please ask a member of staff.

UberEats UK

JustEat UK

Wood Oven BBQ

Have not been here in a couple of years as I moved out of London but for my birthday I drove 60 miles as I wanted the lamb chops from here. Did not disappoint. Still amazing and the service is still excellent. I love the new refurbishment they have done. The place is always clean and parking is easy enough to find on the side road if none out the front.

We are coming here quite often, the food never disappoints. Everything we tried was very tasty, love the atmosphere ⭐️

The service at this restaurant was outstanding. The staff were fast, attentive, and genuinely friendly from start to finish. They made sure all our needs were met and went out of their way to accommodate a few extra requests without any hesitation. The atmosphere felt welcoming and relaxed, and everything ran smoothly thanks to the team’s professionalism and warmth. It’s rare to experience such thoughtful service, and it really made our visit memorable. Highly recommended.

The Wood Oven BBQ is conveniently located a short distance from the South Woodford underground station, right along the main high street. It is a popular venue among locals and tends to be busy during peak times. However, there were little wait times unless you arrive at the peak. The staff are friendly, welcoming, and well-presented. The decor is clean and spacious.

However, the menus could use an update as they appear a bit tired. There are plenty of food options available, and the prices are reasonable, though drink prices are a little higher and typical for London. The food is well-cooked and flavourful, with the hummus and chicken kebabs being the highlights.

While the desserts are enjoyable, they tend to be quite heavy, and the portions are large. There could also be more gluten- and dairy-free options, especially for warmer or room-temperature desserts. The atmosphere is vibrant and enjoyable, although the servers can get a bit forgetful during busy times. Nevertheless, this does not detract from the overall enjoyable experience.

After 6pm u can park outside
Lovely helpful attentive staff
Food was amazing..

Wood Oven

Noir

Deliveroo UK

Our chicken is Halal, we also serve fish and vegetarian dishes. Our lamb and beef is not Halal.

Halal restaurants in South Woodford

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