Paramount Lebanese Kitchen makes UK debut with three simultaneous openings

The Canada-born group is opening a flagship site on Kensington’s Gloucester Road alongside restaurants in Paddington and Brixton

The latter location has until recently been trading under the name Ya Hala, but has now been rebranded as Paramount Lebanese Kitchen.

The restaurants are halal. Appetisers include falafel; hummus; and - in a nod to its Canadian roots - shawarma poutine.

Mains include mixed grills; shawarmas; lamb koftas; wraps; salads; and topped flatbreads, which are cooked in wood burning ovens.

Less traditional options include unusual pizzas such as Philly shawarma and chicken Caesar.

Fresh juices are available, and sweets include baklava.

The group was founded in Ontario in 1997, and now operates at over 60 locations across Canada, the US and the Middle East.

It plans to open an additional 26 locations across the UK, Europe, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. It aims to operate over 80 restaurants worldwide by 2019.

“With the opening of these three new restaurants, which marks the start of our planned expansion in the UK and Europe, guests will appreciate the quality and authentic cuisine Paramount has to offer,” says Mohamed Fakih, Paramount’s founder and CEO. “The UK is an exciting new opportunity for us.”

Paramount Lebanese Kitchen is part of the Paramount group, which also operates Paramount Butcher Shop, which breeds animals for slaughter and ensures all the restaurant’s produce is halal; AYA Fine Foods, which specialises in Middle Eastern products; and Paramount Kids Playground, which provides play areas at the restaurants.