The story
"In Syrian culture, we can't make any journey without first planning the food," says chef Imad Alarnab. That philosophy runs through every dish at his Soho restaurant, a place that feels less like a meal out and more like an invitation into a generous home kitchen.
Imad is a Syrian chef, entrepreneur and refugee who once ran three successful restaurants, several juice bars and cafes in Damascus. When war destroyed his businesses, he was forced to flee. Making his way through Europe, he cooked for other refugees—up to 400 at a time. Arriving in London in 2015, he worked a number of jobs before bursting onto the city's food scene with a series of charity supper clubs that sold out within hours.
The restaurant opened in Kingly Court in early 2020, then moved into a larger space in the summer of 2023, still within Kingly Court. That new home gave Imad room to show his full vision. The space, called Aram, is more than a restaurant: it is a platform for collaboration and cultural exchange, hosting charity events and supporting emerging chefs, particularly those from refugee backgrounds.
The Middle Eastern menu spans the day. Breakfast (served Monday to Saturday until 11.30am) includes Syrian classics like Ful—a warming dish of fava beans and chickpeas with fresh tomato and cumin, topped with lemon garlic sauce—and Fatteh, rich layers of fried flatbread, chickpeas, tahini and ghee. Shakshuka and Riaayiq pastries filled with halloumi or vegetables also feature. Lunch and dinner continue the theme, with a wine and cocktail list to match.
The quality of the cooking has earned Imad's Syrian Kitchen a Michelin Bib Gourmand, awarded for good quality, good value cooking. It is recognition that speaks to what the restaurant does best: honest, generous food served with real warmth.
Kingly Court is located down the walkway next to the Dr Martens store on Carnaby Street.
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good quality, good value cooking
Feeding hungry people is second nature to Imad Alarnab – and he has the backstory to prove it. A well-respected restaurateur in his native Damascus, he was driven out by the Syrian war and forced to trek across Europe, cooking for his fellow refugees along the way. Once in London, he started making a name for himself with pop-ups, charity events and sell-out supper clubs. In 2021, he went permanent on the upper tier of Carnaby's Kingly Court, and his bright, noisy dining room chimes perfectly with cooking that has a familiar edge but plenty of ‘memorable’ twists – from golden-brown, sesame-studded falafels fashioned like ring doughnuts to bowls of mahalaya (a rose-water milk pudding with blackberries, coconut, mastic and pistachio). The menu is short and sharp, ranging from vegetarian small plates to meaty high-protein grills. Aside from those Instagrammable falafels, the meze-style roster runs from labneh with crispy okra and dots of green coriander oil to muhamarra dip (roasted red peppers with pomegranate, chilli and walnut). If meat is required, go for grilled chicken with spiced potato, harissa mayo and pitta bread or slow-roast lamb shoulder with basmati rice. Weekday set lunches are a decent deal, and the short, eclectic wine list includes representatives from Cephalonia, Georgia and Croatia, among others. Above all, Imad's story 'resonates and brings renewed hope in difficult times'.
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