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    Home » World Travel

    Sunday Brunch at Bala Baya London

    Published: Jul 1, 2025 by Jennifer Che

    Bala Baya London

    As we left our hotel on Sunday morning to try and attend service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, we found ourselves unexpectedly caught up in the energy of a citywide race weaving through central London.

    London Race

    Though exciting, it also became quite challenging for us to cross certain streets to get to the Cathedral!

    Thankfully, we were able to get to the church and enjoy a lovely traditional Sunday service. Afterwards, we made our way on foot back toward our hotel near Tower Bridge. It was almost lunchtime, so we did a quick search and stumbled upon Bala Baya, a spot that immediately stood out with its rave reviews and vibrant East Mediterranean menu.

    Bala Baya London
    Bala Baya London
    Fruit juice + cava

    The restaurant itself is located under the railway arches of Southward, which is pretty cool. Multiple restaurants in the same area have the distinctive arched high ceilings.

    Snacks & Starters

    Bala Baya London
    We started with the shawarma & maple roasted almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts, a sweet, savory, and spicy mix of nuts that was quite addictive!
    Bala Baya London
    The homemade pita was warm and fluffy, ideal for scooping up the Hummus 'katan', which came topped with spiced chickpeas, a zingy coriander and chili relish, and a touch of sumac.
    Bala Baya London
    Hummus Katan
    Bala Baya London
    The "Mini Mess" was a beautiful blend of smoky roasted eggplant, tahini, oregano, pomegranate molasses, and just a hint of lychee.

    Brunch Dishes - Lots of Poached Eggs

    Bala Baya London
    The Lamb Kofta Shakshuka was excellent. The generously sized pan featured salt-baked celeriac and tender lamb kofta in a rich tomato and aubergine sauce, topped with poached eggs, tahini, preserved lemon, fresh chives, and just the right kick from jalapeño.
    Bala Baya London
    I also really enjoyed the Smash & Shawarma Salmon: layers of shawarma-cured salmon over avocado smash and marbled harissa cornbread, finished with horseradish mayo and a soft poached egg.

    General Thoughts - Bala Baya London

    We really enjoyed our brunch here! We arrived right around 12, and we were surprised that the place was almost empty. It turns out, Londoners eat brunch LATE! By 1:30PM, the place was packed, and for good reason. It's a great restaurant with a bright, airy, and lively ambiance. The food is flavorful, healthy, and delicious. There are also a lot of creative drinks that they offer, which are fun to get.

    All in all, I'd certainly come back again.

    Sunday Brunch at Bala Baya London
    Arch 25, Old union yard arches
    229 Union St, London SE1 0LR, UK

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    Jennifer Che Tiny Urban Kitchen

    Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am an expat who moved from Boston to Hong Kong 5 years ago. Born and raised in Ohio to Taiwanese immigrant parents, I am a chemistry nerd, patent attorney by day, blogger by night, church musician on weekends, and food enthusiast always. Feel free to explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!

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