Tuk Tuk

Venue: Tuk Tuk, Old Compton Street

Food: Noodle Bar

Cost: £4-5

Rating: 59%

Tuk Tuk noodle bar is certainly in no danger of setting the culinary world alight, but what it does offer is a solid, cheap and cheerful environment with a diverse range of Asian dishes.

Although primarily a restaurant for those in search of a no-fuss lunch in clean and sparse surroundings, the exterior neon lights leave you in no doubt as to their takeaway service.  The most commendable feature is the sheer extent of menu options, covering a whole swathe of Asian cuisine, from Vietnamese to Thai or Malaysian - although it probably won’t win awards for authenticity.

Whilst I am sure a sit-down meal would give a slightly different impression, in short the service was abrupt yet efficient, the food average yet sizable. Their takeaway service seems a tad chaotic, with no real process for ordering and waiting. We just grabbed a waiter and then sat ourselves down at a free table to wait for our food, admiring the iconic elephant-themed décor.

There is not too much more to say. Tuk Tuk does what it sets out to do and no more!

Taste 6

Portion size 7

Service 5

Speed 4 (judged by takeaway standards)

Originality 5

Choice 9

Workability 7

Office response 5

Value for money 6

Brand 5

Overall: 59%

Yalla Yalla

Venue: Yalla Yalla, Greens Court

Food: Beirut Street Food

Cost: £4

Rating: 78%

www.yalla-yalla.co.uk

“What’s Yalla Yalla?”

“It’s Beirut Street Food”

“Beirut Street Food??”

The Q&A session above has by no means been held just once. “Beirut Street Food” inevitably provokes an inquisitive response, as people demand to know more…and for good reason.

Set in the seedy underbelly of Soho on Greens Court alleyway is the bustling little gem Yalla Yalla, bringing a small piece of Lebanon to the heart of London. I suggest Greens Court is definitely not the type of alleyway frequently used by anyone other than people searching for Yalla Yalla or neighbouring businesses, so it really must thrive on word of mouth!

With an instantly appealing name (never underestimate), quirky interior design and most importantly serving good quality and authentic Lebanese wraps, mezze and pastries, Yalla Yalla is an essential addition to your Soho lunching roster.

I recently had the pleasure of both taking out and dining in, sampling a range of their offerings from lamb and chicken shawarmas to Soujoc sausages and manaee zaatar pastry. High standard, good value (at around the £4 mark).

Yalla Yalla suffers the same problem as a number of other Soho establishments in the queuing department. Space is at a premium and my two colleagues (HC/BG) and I were in a constant state of shuffling about the premises to avoid new customers, until in a moment of divine inspiration it dawned on us that it was easier for two of us to wait outside. 

I equally fear that seated customers might feel quite claustrophobic at busy times with the sheer volume of traffic brushing past their ears - a long counter is primarily used to exhibit the options available, resulting in a bottleneck effect for people ordering.

Nevertheless, whilst Middle Eastern/North African cuisine is by no means off the radar in Soho, Yalla Yalla’s concentration on takeaway sets it apart from the likes of Kaslik or (slightly further afield) Souk and its’ range of options distinguishes it from, say, Hummus Bros.

A very cool restaurant, Yalla Yalla is intimate enough to confirm you have stumbled off the beaten track, but busy enough to back up its quality.  Appropriate for a long lunch or evening bite as much as for its takeaway, I fully recommend you take the trip.

Taste 8

Portion size 7

Service 6

Speed 6

Originality 9

Choice 8

Workability 8

Office response 9

Value for money 8

Brand 9

Overall: 78%