Villa Mamas: Bahraini Comfort Food in Chelsea

Villa Mamas: Bahraini Comfort Food in Chelsea

Villa Mamas

Villa Mamas

Villa Mamas is the kind of restaurant that doesn’t need to try too hard. Tucked away on a quiet street off Chelsea Green, it’s small, always busy, and doesn’t rely on gimmicks or overblown fuss. The low lighting, flickering candles, and the warm scent of fresh flatbreads and spices make it instantly inviting. The staff greet you with understated hospitality, a quiet reverence in keeping with the restaurant’s origins. It’s the kind of place where people become regulars after a single visit, as I found after moving nearby last year.

Founded by Bahraini chef Roaya Saleh, Villa Mamas first opened in Bahrain in 2012 before landing in London in 2017. Saleh’s food is an ode to Bahraini and Gulf cuisine—comforting, deeply flavoured, and made with care. The restaurant itself is a reflection of her culinary philosophy—seasonal ingredients, slow-cooked dishes, and a seamless blend of traditional recipes with refined execution. Jars of her signature sauces and her cookbook line the shelves, a quiet nod to the woman behind the menu.

I’ve eaten here enough times to have a firm routine. The baba ganoush is smoky with real depth but still clean and zingy. The hummus is the best I’ve ever had—so smooth and rich that it almost ruins hummus elsewhere. The baba’s tikka combines it with the most beautifully marinated pieces of lamb, packed with warm, layered flavour. The quinoa tabbouleh is citrusy and fresh, while the crispy kale and apple salad is quite unique—light, crisp, and drizzled with a smooth tahini dressing that adds just the right touch of richness.

And then there’s the Persian-style chicken tahchin, bejewelled with barberries, pine nuts and crushed pistachio. Crunching a spoon into the golden crust of baked rice, revealing a layer of tender marinated chicken beneath, is deeply satisfying. The accompanying yoghurt marinade is the perfect sharp contrast, and the chilli oil—always served with a stern warning by the server—is something for the over-confident at the table to scoff at and then regret, to fellow diners amusement. Villa Mamas’ tahchin manages to be rich and interesting in flavour without leaving you feeling stuffed, a truly nourishing comfort food.

For dessert, always the Um Ali. A rose-infused Egyptian croissant pudding—lighter and silkier than any British bread and butter pudding, which in comparison feels stodgy and frumpy. Cleopatra against Queen Victoria. A scattering of crushed pistachio lends a little colour to an otherwise unassuming looking dish, which saves its impact for the palette. 

Villa Mamas is easily my favourite local restaurant. Five minutes from my front door, consistently excellent, extremely welcoming, and the kind of place that doesn’t just serve good food—it makes you want to linger. One day, I might branch out, but for now, the tahchin wins every time.

25 Elystan St, London SW3 3NT

www.villamamas.uk