SOUK Kitchen has established itself as a standout destination in Bristol’s dining scene, offering a menu that thoughtfully combines Middle Eastern and North African culinary traditions with high-quality local ingredients. It’s a match made in heaven. Sitting pretty opposite the always-rammed Tobacco Factory Theatres in ever-buzzier Southville (Sonny Stores, also part of our IDEAL 22, is just two minutes down the road if you’re up for a tasty one-two punch), SOUK Kitchen is perhaps a restaurant best enjoyed in the daytime.

One of my all-time favourite places to eat, this modern Middle Eastern restaurant hits the spot every time. Their North St branch in Southville opened back in 2009, followed by a very welcome second branch just off Whiteladies Road which closed after the covid lockdowns. The dishes are inspired by a range of Middle Eastern & Mediterranean flavours, from colourful mezze through to slow cooked meats and lightly spiced curries, and every single thing I’ve ever eaten here has been lick-the-plate delicious.soukitchen.co.uk

Souk Kitchen remains one of the best places to eat on North Street; their outstanding weekend-only brunches, Wednesday to Sunday lunches and daily dinner menus, see this long-standing business continuing to thrive. Souk Kitchen have been awarded ‘Best Mediterranean’ restaurant in Bristol at the Bristol Good Food awards for 2014, 2015 and 2016. Using local and seasonal ingredients, Souk Kitchen cite their influences as “The foods of the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and in fact much of the ex- Ottoman empire.

If we could only visit one restaurant for the rest of our lives, Souk Kitchen would be up there as a seriously strong contender. The Middle Eastern menu gets top marks for its locally sourced ingredients, with standouts including a falafel and beetroot salad, chilli chicken thighs and tomato-drenched keftedes. Brunch fans should save their visit for a weekend, when banging veggie fry-ups are served alongside extra-spicy bloody Marys.

If Biblos is the know-how whippersnapper, then Souk Kitchen is its 'bougie', sophisticated older brother. With its vast array of Middle Eastern-meets-North African cuisine, Souk Kitchen brings an element of class to the simple falafel, which is served with a combination of hot and cold mezzes. Their menu is constantly changing due to the restaurant serving seasonal foods, and have an ethos of using local ingredients.

About: Local chain venue serving varied Middle Eastern specialities and spice mixes to take home. newest addition to the Soukitchen family, is situated on Apsley Rd, just off the popular Whiteladies Road. Soukitchen Clifton has the added benefit of the Souk shop selling all those hard to come by Middle Eastern ingredients and products.You’ll find everything from Arganix argan oil to our own blend Zatar.

DESCRIPTION: Local chain venue serving varied Middle Eastern specialities and spice mixes to take home. Middle Eastern dining & delicatessen. categories: Middle Eastern restaurant; Ethnic foods; Western food; Greek restaurant; Lunch restaurant; Brunch restaurant; Turkish restaurant; Moroccan restaurant; Small plates restaurant; Mediterranean restaurant; North African restaurant

BBC Good Food says: "Serving one of Bristol’s most interesting brunch menus, Souk Kitchen (in Clifton and Southville) offers dishes like spicy shakshuka (eggs poached with tomatoes, peppers & onions) and meze dishes with hummus & Turkish chilli burnt butter. "The Southville branch is a useful pre-theatre pit stop if you’re heading to an event at the Tobacco Factory opposite.

Sorry, you need to accept cookies from Instagram to view this content. Plonked in south Bristol right opposite the stellar Tobacco Factory theatre, Souk Kitchen is a restaurant where the food is as warm and comforting as the ambience. Sample the flavours of the levant with orders of chargrilled halloumi, dolma, and juicy beef and pork keftedes.

Offering up Middle Eastern and North African cuisine here you can enjoy a whole range of dishes, like shakshouka – a traditional dish of poached eggs in tomato sauce and served with flatbread. The modern decor with Middle Eastern touches will make you feel like you’re on an exotic holiday.Where: 277 North Street, BS3 1JPBook Now: Souk Kitchen

With two locations across Bristol, Souk Kitchen serves up vibrant and delicious Mediterranean food for great value – think marinated halloumi, chargrilled meats, falafels and lots of hummus. 277 North St, Southville, Bristol BS3 1JP and 59 Apsley Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2SW, soukkitchen.co.uk. Featured image: Getty Images

At Souk Kitchen you can get a Greek marinated Pork T-bone with a delicious tabbouleh salad, all before 11am. The rest of the menu features plenty of healthy brunch staples, all with a Middle Eastern and North African twist. Best for: Those looking to expand their brunch horizons.

Souk Kitchen – I think Souk Kitchen is the closest thing you can get in Bristol to eating the rainbow, bar ploughing through bags of Skittles. Expect striking dishes that demonstrate pure finesse when it comes to vegetables, pairings and flavours of the Middle East.

Soul Kitchen is a vibrant hub in South Bristol, you'll find it located directly opposite the popular Tobacco Factory Theatre. Here, the menu is packed with ...