Despite loving food, despite loving London and despite spending most days writing about London food, I hate Camden Market. It's congested and expensive and doesn't offer much that you can't find elsewhere in the capital. What once used to be buzzing with its underground over-the-ground scene of artsy, alternative and generally cool people and places is now a go-to destination for Instagrammers and visitors alike, with more dessert shops and photo props than there are days of the week.
So any opportunity to still visit the area and eat without being in the trenches of tourist hell is particularly welcome. Hala Wala recently opened their new shawarma shop right round the corner from the market and with the promise of cheap food and less queuing; I jumped at the invite.
And it's true, it really is cheaper than most spots on the market and I didn't have to queue at all. But it wasn't quite the Camden foodie experience most people are after.
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Quite the bargain compared to some of the pricier lunches you can find at Camden Market, the Chicken Shawarma Wrap costs just £5.95 and only an extra £2 to add a generous portion of fries and canned drink. Packed with slices of chicken, lettuce, pickles and Toum sauce, the wrap sat tightly in its paper but perhaps isn't made for transporting back to the office for a hot lunch.
This wrap was absolutely wet, wet, wet and not with a particularly tasty sauce. The Toum had whispers of garlic but didn't do much to lift the flavour. Instead the pieces of meat were just slimy with juice and began to soggy-up the wrap. Warm spices of shawarma were lost in the watery liquids that made the shreds of lettuce sad. It was a good wrap lost to the cruelty of wetness.
Crispy rather than limp, however, were the delicious golden fries that were jean-unbuttoningly moreish. And making them even better, the accompanying sauces were not just limited to the average ketchup and mayo but I got a little tub of Tzatziki (one of my favourites). It was perfectly fresh and minty and lemony - excellent for dipping those crisp and fluffy fries in.
Price: £7.95
Wrap Alone: £5.95
It was like a vat of the stuff. The portion of hummus itself was very generous but the proportion was so off the oil pooled on top of it like a puddle rather than a drizzle.
Price: £3.50
Price: £4.50
Price: £4.50
I've admittedly had 2am shawarmas outside a nightclub with better flavour but if given the chance to go back, I'd probably request better sauces on the wrap. It's an average takeaway though it's definitely cheap considering the location.
Hala Wala is great if you want to save money with a filling meal in Camden but if you're wanting that Camden foodie experience, it's probably best not to choose this spot. Regardless, it's decent for what it is and enables you to avoid the crowds in the tourist trap just up the road.
You can find Hala Wala at 235 Camden High St, London, NW1 7BU.
Where would you like to see us go next? Let us know at whatson@mylondon.news or jessica.battison@reachplc.com
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