Al Kahf

Al Kahf is a lowkey Somali restaurant off of Whitechapel Road, not obvious to the eye and nor to Google maps but a quick search will tell you it’s very much known about - and you’ll be able to taste why. Their lamb shank is so tenderly cooked that a cursory glance at it will cause the juicy meat to fall from its bone. It’s perfect. The best shank we’ve eaten in years, up there with the best lamb too. Paired with a sharp whack of basbaas (Somali green chilli sauce), a tear of smokily charred flatbread, and a scoop of sweet and lightly spiced bariis iskukaris. Alternatively you can go for beef suqaar (a spiced stir-fry), marinated tandoori chicken leg or, of course, some Somali spaghetti. Either way you’re getting a 10/10 meal for around £10 or less.