Tagine & Grill brings Moroccan charcoal cooking to Soho
- James Massoud
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
World Kebab Day arrives this Friday (10th July), and Soho may have just found the perfect place to celebrate it. Inside The Sun & 13 Cantons, Tagine & Grill is giving one of Britain’s favourite foods a smoky Moroccan makeover, built around charcoal, spice, flatbreads and generous cooking designed to be shared with loved ones.
Founded by Moroccan-born hospitality entrepreneur Yassir Chair, the new permanent residency follows a sell-out five-week pop-up at King & Co in Clapham and marks the next chapter for one of London’s most quietly ambitious pub-dining operators. During the recent major heatwave, The Knife paid a visit to the aptly named Sun & 13 Cantons.
A Soho pub with a new flavour
The Sun & 13 Cantons has long been one of Soho’s most characterful pubs, but its latest kitchen residency brings a completely fresh flavour profile to the area. Following the departure of the much-loved Cambodian restaurant Mamapen, Tagine & Grill moves in with a menu delivering North African tradition but shaped for modern London dining.
The idea is simple: bold Moroccan flavours, open-fire grilling and food that feels as comfortable alongside a pint as it does across a full dinner. There is smoke, spice and heat, but also yoghurt, herbs, citrus, pickles and pomegranate, giving the menu a freshness that keeps everything bright and balanced.
Kebabs take centre stage
At the heart of Tagine & Grill are its signature kebabs, served open on flatbread rather than bundled away out of sight. It's a small detail that makes a big difference, allowing the colour and texture of each dish to do the talking.
The Chargrilled Lamb Kofta brings together smoky grilled lamb, lemon and mint yoghurt, pickled red cabbage, coriander and chilli sauce; it's exquisite, in a word, while the Chargrilled Chicken Thigh Kebab is finished with ras el hanout dressing, harissa mayo and lime, and the Harissa-glazed Halloumi Kebab arrives with pomegranate and coriander, making a strong case for being far more than the vegetarian back-up option.
These are kebabs with proper intent. They still deliver the comfort and generosity people want from the dish, but with the layered flavour, colour and confidence of a kitchen trying to shift the stereotype.
More than a late-night bite
Beyond the flatbreads, the wider menu leans into the same open-fire spirit. Chargrilled Merguez sausages bring deep Moroccan spice, while Crispy Chicken Briouats and King Prawn Tangier Bastila Cigars (these are excellent) nod to the country’s love of flaky pastry, savoury fillings and aromatic seasoning.
There is zaalouk (the personal favourite of ours), the rich roasted aubergine and tomato dip that deserves to be scooped up generously, alongside slow-cooked vegetable couscous and sides that keep the sweet heat coming. Halloumi fries arrive with honey and harissa mayo, while crisp skin-on fries are dusted in Moroccan spices.
Each week, the kitchen will also serve a changing seasonal tagine, giving regulars something new to return for and allowing the menu to move with the produce.
A personal story of Moroccan cooking
For Chair, Tagine & Grill feels like more than another successful residency. Born and raised in Morocco before moving to London at 20 to complete his master’s degree, he has spent years building his reputation through Afuego Burger, the Latin-inspired street food brand now running across five pub residencies in the capital.
With Tagine & Grill, however, he turns towards the food he grew up with: "Moroccan cuisine is still underrated in London and hasn’t received the recognition it deserves," explains Chair. "With Tagine & Grill, I want to introduce people to the richness of Moroccan food and culture through bold flavours, charcoal grilling and a modern approach that feels exciting and accessible."
That balance of heritage and accessibility is exactly what makes the concept work. It does not try to make Moroccan food feel formal or distant. Instead, it places it where Londoners already love to eat: around pub tables, over drinks, with dishes arriving steadily and meant to be shared.
Soho’s newest dining destination
There is something fitting about Tagine & Grill arriving in Soho, a neighbourhood built on movement, appetite and late-night energy. The food has enough punch for a quick dinner, enough colour for a table of friends, and enough depth to remind diners that Moroccan cooking still has far more room to shine in London.
World Kebab Day may provide the hook, but Tagine & Grill looks built for much more than a single Friday. With charcoal at its centre, Moroccan spice running through the menu, and Yassir Chair’s personal story behind it, Soho’s newest dining destination has arrived with fire in its belly.
