West London's sleek Somali eatery, Sabiib in Acton, has been officially crowned the best East African restaurant in the capital. The honour comes from Time Out's brand new, expert-curated list of the city's top 20 places for East African cuisine, published on Thursday 4 December 2025.
An Expert's Culinary Verdict
The prestigious guide was compiled by Time Out contributor Paula Akpan, a noted Nigerian-Trinidadian writer and historian from London. Akpan praised Sabiib as a "sleek Somali spot… that plates traditional dishes with flair." She specifically recommended diners try the hummus oodkac (traditional dried beef jerky), meat sambus (filo pastry parcels) served with a homemade spicy bisbaas sauce, and nafaqo (mashed sweet potato with sautéed spinach and mixed veg). The restaurant's signature haniid, a slow-cooked lamb shoulder, also earned high praise.
A Diverse Top 20 Showcasing Regional Flavours
Time Out's list celebrates the breadth of East African cuisine available across London. While Sabiib took the top spot, the selection also features long-standing Ethiopian favourites such as Addis in King’s Cross, the family-run Wolkite in Upper Holloway, and Lalibela in Tufnell Park.
The top 20 is notably diverse, extending beyond the Horn of Africa. It includes the Mauritian restaurant Le Chamarel in Turnpike Lane, the Zanzibari street food spot Mwendo Kasi in Docklands, and the family-run Eritrean restaurant Laza in Canonbury. The guide comprehensively covers food from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Expanding the Somali Food Scene
Sabiib's success highlights the growing prominence of Somali cuisine in London's vibrant food landscape. The Acton location is not its only outpost; the restaurant also has a branch on Green Lanes in Harringey. Its recognition by a major publication like Time Out is set to draw further attention to this culinary tradition, promising to introduce more Londoners to its rich flavours and expertly crafted dishes.
The creation of this definitive list by an authority like Paula Akpan, who recently published her first book When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors, adds significant weight to the recommendations. For food lovers in the capital, it provides an essential roadmap to exploring some of the city's most exciting and authentic culinary destinations.
