LDNReview
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Queen Of Sheba
Included In
Whenever we come to this decade-old Yemeni spot in Paddington, we know exactly what we’re going to order. Because coming to Queen Of Sheba without ordering the laham madfoon is like going to Nando’s and ordering plain-ish: it should be illegal. Slow-cooked for hours, the lamb slips right off the bone, where it should go from your hand straight into your mouth. If you’re not familiar with Yemeni food, this warm neighbourhood spot is the best place to start because we think it’s the best Yemeni restaurant in London.
The casual interiors make us feel like we’re in a friend's very dimly lit, very spacious living room. It’s old-school and simple, with stone interiors that pay homage to the Old City of Sana’a and locals smoking shisha outside at all times of the day. While it’s perfectly comfortable, you're not going to get any interior design inspiration. This is a place where the food is the focus and phones eat last—if at all.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Around the room, big families gather around platters of spiced mandi, scooping spoonfuls of the colourful rice straight into their mouths—because who needs sharing plates? Friends who miss their mum's cooking gather for some golden chicken mandi, and hungry diners see the incredibly soft ratab bread being pulled apart on another table and immediately order one for themselves. If you’re a soup kind of person, you’ll appreciate the brothy lamb soup to start, but otherwise we’d skip straight to the mains.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
The laham madfoon is a must—forget cutlery and pull apart the lamb shank with your hands or even better, scoop pieces with the layered, buttery ratab flatbread that’s generously lathered with ghee. And make sure to get the fattat banana with cream to finish. We’ve even stopped by just for the comforting, bready dessert when we’re in the area.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Kibbah
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Laham Madfoon
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Mandi Dajaj
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Ratab Bread
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Fattat Banana With Cream