Bubala King’s Cross Restaurant London Review: A Vegetarian Middle Eastern Place

September 9, 2026

Bubala King’s Cross restaurant in London is proof that vegetarian food does not need to introduce itself apologetically. There is no fake meat, no health-food sermon, no sense that dinner is missing a main event.

Instead, the table fills with laffa, burnt butter hummus, labneh, oyster mushroom skewers, halloumi, chilli, tahini and enough pickles to make the wine taste better. It is lively, generous and particularly good for groups. Come hungry, order the set menu and do not treat the bread as a side issue.

At a Glance

Best for: Vegetarian dinners, group meals, casual dates and King’s Cross lunches
Cuisine: Vegetarian Middle Eastern
Location: Lewis Cubitt Park, King’s Cross
Price: £27 weekday lunch mezze; £39 Bubala Knows Best set menu
Signature dishes: Laffa, burnt butter hummus, oyster mushroom skewer, smacked cucumbers and halloumi with chamomile and fennel honey
Atmosphere: Warm, buzzy and relaxed
Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras
Booking tip: Choose the set menu for the easiest introduction

What Is Bubala King’s Cross?

Bubala means “darling” in Yiddish, which tells you something about the tone. The restaurant is warm, informal and built around the idea of feeding people properly.

The King’s Cross branch follows the success of Bubala’s Spitalfields and Soho restaurants. It keeps the vegetarian Middle Eastern identity, but gives it a larger, lighter home near Lewis Cubitt Park.

The menu is designed for sharing. Most dishes are vegan unless marked otherwise, and the restaurant offers both à la carte and set-menu options for lunch and dinner.

The Atmosphere and Design

The King’s Cross site feels calmer than Soho and roomier than Spitalfields. It sits slightly away from the busiest station rush, which helps.

Large windows, brick arches, greenery, wooden furniture and green tiling give the room warmth without trying too hard. The open kitchen adds movement, while the outdoor terrace makes the restaurant useful on brighter days.

Upstairs, the mezzanine can seat up to 30 for private dining. It is a good fit for the food, which wants a full table and a certain amount of passing plates around.

The Menu

The menu begins exactly where it should: with laffa. It arrives charred, oily and salted, ready for labneh with confit garlic and za’atar, or hummus with burnt butter. This is where Bubala wins the table.

From there, the dishes build through texture and heat. Oyster mushroom skewers are deeply savoury and satisfyingly sticky. Smacked cucumbers come with tahini and chilli crunch, cool and sharp at the same time. Falafel arrives with tahini, amba and sumac onions, while baba ganoush gets curry leaf oil and pine nuts.

The sweeter, richer dishes are where the kitchen becomes most indulgent. Halloumi with chamomile and fennel honey is the obvious crowd-pleaser. Spring cabbage with baharat, date and tahini shows how good the vegetable cooking can be when it stops pretending to be virtuous.

The £39 Bubala Knows Best menu is the sensible order. It gives you the pickles, bread, dips, skewers, cucumbers, halloumi, vegetables and latkes without forcing the table into negotiations.

Drinks & Wine

The drinks list is short, bright and well matched to the food. Cocktails include a pomegranate sour, orange blossom spritz, sour cherry Negroni, Pickletini and Bubie’s Spicy Marg. Wines lean fresh and drinkable, which is exactly what tahini, chilli, herbs and fried potatoes require.

What to Order at Bubala King’s Cross

Best bread: Laffa
Best dip: Hummus with burnt butter
Best skewer: Oyster mushroom
Best vegetable: Spring cabbage with baharat, date and tahini
Best crowd-pleaser: Halloumi with chamomile and fennel honey
Best lunch option: £27 weekday mezze menu
Best full dinner: £39 Bubala Knows Best menu

For two people, the set menu is easiest. À la carte, order laffa, two dips, oyster mushroom skewers, smacked cucumbers, halloumi and one larger vegetable dish.

Who Is Bubala King’s Cross Best For?

Bubala King’s Cross is best for diners who want vegetarian food with real generosity. It works well for groups, casual dates, solo diners, family meals and anyone catching up near King’s Cross without wanting another chain restaurant. It is less suited to people looking for a quiet, formal meal. The room has buzz, and the food is designed to be shared.

Is Bubala King’s Cross Worth Booking?

Yes. Bubala King’s Cross is one of the area’s most useful restaurants: lively enough for dinner, relaxed enough for lunch, and interesting enough to please people who normally claim they “need” meat.

The food is bright, smoky, creamy, acidic and generous in all the right places. Book for the set menu, keep asking for bread and let the table get messy.

Practical Information

Address: 1 Cadence Court, Lewis Cubitt Park, London N1C 4ED
Area: King’s Cross
Nearest station: King’s Cross St Pancras
Cuisine: Vegetarian Middle Eastern
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 12pm–3pm and 5pm–11.15pm; Saturday, 12pm–11.15pm; Sunday, 12pm–9.15pm
Menus: À la carte, weekday lunch mezze and Bubala Knows Best set menu
Walk-ins: Yes, subject to availability
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, with ground-floor washrooms
Best for: Vegetarian dining, groups, casual dates, solo meals and King’s Cross lunches

FAQs

What type of food does Bubala King’s Cross serve?

Bubala King’s Cross serves vegetarian Middle Eastern food designed for sharing. The menu includes laffa, dips, pickles, skewers, falafel, halloumi, vegetables, latkes, salads and set sharing menus.

Is Bubala King’s Cross fully vegetarian?

Yes. Bubala is a vegetarian restaurant. Most dishes are vegan unless marked otherwise, and a vegan menu is available.

Where is Bubala King’s Cross?

Bubala King’s Cross is at 1 Cadence Court, Lewis Cubitt Park, London N1C 4ED, close to King’s Cross St Pancras and Coal Drops Yard.

What should I order at Bubala King’s Cross?

Order the laffa, burnt butter hummus, labneh with confit garlic and za’atar, oyster mushroom skewers, smacked cucumbers and halloumi with chamomile and fennel honey. The Bubala Knows Best set menu is the easiest way to try the signatures.

Is Bubala King’s Cross expensive?

No, not by central London standards. The weekday lunch mezze menu is £27 per person, while the Bubala Knows Best sharing menu is £39 per person. Drinks and service will raise the final bill.

Does Bubala King’s Cross accept walk-ins?

Yes. Bubala keeps some space for walk-ins, although availability is not guaranteed. The restaurant recommends arriving around opening time: noon for lunch or 5pm for dinner.

Is Bubala King’s Cross good for groups?

Yes. Bubala is particularly strong for groups because the sharing menu removes most ordering decisions. The King’s Cross branch also has a mezzanine private dining room for up to 30 guests.