Set over two floors, the restaurant will hold 90 covers inside and a further 30 on the outdoor terrace, making it Bubala’s biggest restaurant to date.
Bubala was founded by former Berber & Q general manager Marc Summers in 2019 with Helen Graham, who had previously cooked at The Palomar and The Barbary, as executive chef.
The pair launched their first site in Spitalfields and followed it with a second location in Soho in 2022.
Graham subsequently stepped away from the group to pursue her own solo projects in late 2023.
“We’re thrilled to bring Bubala to King’s Cross and to continue expanding our vision of accessible and exciting vegetarian Middle Eastern inspired cuisine,” says Summers.
Executive chef Ben Rand will oversee the menu at Bubala King’s Cross, which will feature signature dishes including the oyster mushroom skewer with tamari and coriander seeds; and confit latkes with garlic toum and Aleppo chili.
There will also be new additions to the menu such as charred cucumber tzatziki; fava bean with vadouvan braised broad beans; and mujadara, a combination of lentils and rice topped with dollops of tahini, zhoug and amba.
Alongside this there will be a drinks selection featuring wine on tap, as well as a selection of bottled natural wines; UK produced beers, and gazoz house sodas.
The interior design is described as blending ‘grand architectural features with Bubala’s signature warmth’ and will include an open kitchen with a wood-fired oven and charcoal grill, and a large halo light installation in the entrance area.
“This new location is a perfect blend of the vibrant energy of the area and the welcoming atmosphere we’ve cultivated at our other restaurants,” continues Summers.
“We can’t wait to share it with our guests.”
Bubala’s first site was considered something of a game changer for veg-focused restaurants in the capital when it launched and received significant critical acclaim.
The Observer’s Jay Rayner called it ‘exuberantly vegetarian’, while Jimi Famurewa described it as ‘a rare gift’ in the Evening Standard.
Speaking to Restaurant back in 2022 ahead of Bubala’s Soho opening, Summers said voiced his ambition to grow the business further in the future.
He said: “If you asked me a year ago, I wouldn’t have thought there was any chance of us opening a second site in the near future. The pandemic has taught us that we don’t know what’s going to happen.
“I do see us being able to offer more in the future, though, We’re still a relatively young brand, and there’s much time for new concepts down the road.”