Although Abu Afif is canteen in style, the Iraqi restaurant’s plastic trays and paper plates belie the flavour and tenderness of its shawarma. Pretty much everything about this big corner spot on the Edgware Road is straightforwardly solid. A plate with salad, hummus, taboon straight from the tandoor, and a pile of steaming meat is a tenner and it’s great. While the space—full of solo diners stuffing their faces with shawarma, friends scrolling on their phones mid-bite, and families taking a break—is exactly what everyone needs night and day.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch