Imad’s Syrian Kitchen will open its second restaurant on Blossom Street in Shoreditch on Wednesday 18 November, nine years after its chef started out with a pop-up on Columbia Road.
The 71-cover restaurant is in the Norton Folgate development in Shoreditch, Hospitality & Catering News reports. It will serve dishes from the original restaurant at Kingly Court in Soho alongside some that are only available in Shoreditch.
“My journey in London really began on Columbia Road in East London, where I launched the first Imad’s Syrian Kitchen pop-up in 2017,” said Imad Alarnab, its chef and founder. “It feels very special to be returning to East London now, almost a decade later, with a permanent home for Imad’s Syrian Kitchen.”
What it will serve
Dishes named so far include jawaneh, crispy cauliflower with a pomegranate glaze; shish tawook, grilled chicken with spiced potato and harissa mayonnaise; baba ghanoj; and hummus topped with crispy chickpeas. The Shoreditch-only dishes have not yet been announced, Broadsheet reports.
The dining room draws on the homes, souks and tilework of Damascus. Alarnab, whose family background is in textiles, sourced lanterns, lampshades, a sofa and paintings by Syrian artists from Syria for the room. The restaurant is set up for weekday lunches, after-work meals and larger groups as well as dinner.
From pop-up to two restaurants
Alarnab ran restaurants and cafés in Syria before he came to London as a refugee in 2015, Broadsheet reports. He began cooking at supper clubs and fundraisers before the Columbia Road pop-up, and opened at Kingly Court, off Carnaby Street, about six years ago. He also runs Aram, a café and deli at Somerset House, and published a cookbook in 2023.
Other restaurants already open in Norton Folgate include Osteria Angelina and Noisy Oyster.
The essentials
- What: Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, second restaurant, 71 covers
- Where: Blossom Street, Norton Folgate, London E1 6PL
- Opens: Wednesday 18 November 2026
- Updates: Imad’s East and Instagram @imadssyriankitchen
- Nearest stations: Shoreditch High Street (Overground) and Liverpool Street