Nestled on the busy Lordship Lane in Wood Green, Uriel’s Diner is a cheap and cheerful spot where diners can enjoy a huge selection of global dishes. The signatures, however, come from the African section of the menu, where you’ll find classics like fried tilapia with plantain, fish stew and okra with bitter leaves. The owner of Uriel’s travelled all through south-east Asia, India, North Africa, Mexico and her native Nigeria, so you can expect an impressive breadth of cuisines here. Whichever cuisine you decide to go for, you can rest assured it will be packed with flavour and affordable.
The menu here is organised by country of origin, so you can select dishes from all over the world with ease. Mediterranean options such as grilled chicken skewers, peppers stuffed with goat’s cheese and kofta are a good place to start. Alternatively, head further east with some paneer, pakoras and parathas from the Indian selection. From the Mexican section, meanwhile, you’ll find classic dishes like tacos, guacamole, enchiladas and burritos too. You can even get British like a full English or fish and chips, or Italian food like pizza, lasagne and spaghetti meatballs, but we recommend being a little more adventurous.
The main event, however, is the African food. Sample various delicacies like okra and snail soup with ogiri (a seasoning made from fermenting sesame seeds). There is plenty of seafood on offer, so be sure to try one of the various fish stews, packed with deliciously fresh fish. Elsewhere, you’ll find meatier dishes like assorted offal meat or meat and bitter leaf soup. The authenticity here makes Uriel’s an excellent place to try African cuisine if you haven’t before. And, for those, who have tried before, this is a great place to go back to for more.