Guanabana

There are a few meals that, when done well, are worth crossing London for. And the jerked beef Sunday roast at Guanabana, a casual Caribbean spot in Camden, is one of them. It’s not a place for the backdrop for your next Instagram post, or where to crack out your very sparkly, very expensive new shirt. But it is a dining room for getting down with gravy and curry lamb.

The Kentish Town Road staple has been around for more than a decade and has had a facelift in recent years. A cheeky paint job here, a hanging plant—or 10—there. Even after the subtle spruce up, Guanabana’s dining room is a relaxed place made solely for eating. No one will look twice if you rock up in your trackies. The chef dashes out order after order from the open kitchen, and on a Sunday, when the roast service is in full swing, it can all get a little bit chaotic. Ask for a table in the back—it’s a spacious room with exposed brick and foliage, and easily rearranged tables for groups made of jerked beef-craving adults and mac and cheese-fixated children. The chaos from the kitchen can sometimes spill out into the dining room—a forgotten side of mash, or a delayed portion of jollof rice. But the staff are friendly and quick to fix any little mishaps. Plus, when that roast is in front of you, you’ll forget about the lychee mocktail you thought you ordered.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

The common thread between most of the dishes—other than being Caribbean-inspired—is comfort food. The lamb curry is a peppery, spicy dish that doubles as an electric blanket. The jerk chicken platter will end up being eaten for lunch the next day, and the Sunday roast—which is the star of the show—is a cut above other halal roasts in the city. It’s a hefty plate of food that’s as nap-inducing as it is filling. If you don’t need to unzip your jeans after a meal at Guanabana, you’re doing it wrong.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Sunday Roast

The best halal roast in London, it’s got the right ratio of rich jerk gravy to everything else. The perfect bite includes a little bit of everything: spicy, tender jerked beef, the edge of a crispy roast potato, a caramelised baby carrot, a piece of sweet plantain, and an unevenly cut corner of a beautifully deformed yorkshire pudding that’s soaked in that spicy gravy.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Curry Lamb

A generous portion of slow-cooked lamb cut into cubes, this is our favourite thing to order on a weeknight. It feels home-cooked, it’s satisfying enough to keep you full until lunch the next day, and the peppery, oil-heavy curry mixed with the rice and peas is a winning combination.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Jerk Chicken Alfredo

This might sound a little out there, but trust us—it works. It’s not quite as cheesy as a classic alfredo, but this peppery, spicy pasta with strips of smoked jerk chicken breast throughout is really great.

Boneless Jerk Chicken

A huge plate filled with bbq sauce-covered, smoky jerk chicken, served with rice and peas. This is a very respectable portion—we’d be impressed if you finished the whole thing.