Pasha Glasgow – A Hidden Gem for Middle Eastern Flavours I visited Pasha Glasgow today for a quick drink and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of their food and drinks menu, especially the fresh juices, which were vibrant and refreshing. Although I didn’t try the main courses this time (as I’d already eaten), I was impressed by the generous portion sizes I saw being served. The lamb kabsa, in particular, stood out, served with a large, tender shank that looked absolutely delicious. Their Iraqi tea was a highlight: strong, aromatic, and full of authentic Middle Eastern character, a real treat for tea lovers. The staff were warm and welcoming, and the prices were very reasonable, making the experience even better. I highly recommend Pasha to anyone looking for a relaxed spot with great food and drinks. I’ll definitely be returning next time I’m in Glasgow!
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Before you go
- Chef / owner
- Hasan (founder/owner)
- Opened
- 2015
- Style
- Casual all-halal Middle Eastern restaurant and takeaway with Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi influences, open kitchen and shisha lounge
- Setting
- City-centre counter-style room with open kitchen and plain tables; shisha lounge for lingering (Mackenna: utilitarian, near student land).
- Awards
- Best Multi-Cuisine in Scotland 2017 — Dine-In Awards; Best Multi-Cuisine in Scotland 2018 (restaurant-claimed; awarding body not named on site); Best Takeaway in Scotland 2018 (restaurant-claimed); Best Middle East food in Scotland 2018 (restaurant-claimed); Best World Food in Scotland 2019 and 2020 (restaurant-claimed)
- Known for
- shawarma and kebabs, halal Middle Eastern cooking, shisha lounge
- Signature dishes
- Shawarma Araby (Damascus-style chicken and lamb double shawarma), Starter mezze platter, Lamb kabsa (call ahead; often sells out), Jumbo Mixed Grill, Peri-peri / Gourmet Shahlik shawarma
- Good for
- casual dine-in or takeaway, value city-centre meals, groups and celebrations, halal dining
- Prices
- Google PRICE_LEVEL_INEXPENSIVE. Herald review cited ~£6.50 shawarma araby and ~£10 skewers — dated press, not a live price list.
- Lunch
- Official hours start at 3pm daily — no lunch service listed.
- Reservations
- Walk-ins often fine
- Booking
- No public online booking URL found. Phone 0141 237 6750 or email hassan@pashaglasgow.co.uk.
- Dietary tags
- halal, vegetarian options
- Dietary
- Marketed as fully halal; vegetarian mezze and falafel available. Vegan/GF not clearly detailed on the site.
- Groups
- Marketed for birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events — contact the restaurant to arrange.
- Dress code
- Casual
- Drinks
- Not clearly stated on official pages; do not assume a bar.
- Noise / pace
- Informal and lively: Arabic music and a busy counter room rather than quiet fine dining (Mackenna).
- Getting there
- About 2 minutes' walk from Glasgow Queen Street and George Square; about 4–5 minutes from Buchanan Street Subway.
- Parking
- Third-party listings mention paid street parking that can be hard to find; not confirmed on the official site.
- Also
- Hours listed as Mon–Sun 3–10pm, plus a conflicting Everyday 5pm–Late line (possibly shisha).; Opened 2015.
Glasgow restaurant
Pasha Glasgow
Opening hours
- Monday: 3:00 – 10:00 PM
- Tuesday: 3:00 – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday: 3:00 – 10:00 PM
- Thursday: 3:00 – 10:00 PM
- Friday: 3:00 – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 3:00 – 10:00 PM
Overview
Pasha is a casual Middle Eastern restaurant and takeaway at 48 North Frederick Street, just off George Square in Glasgow city centre, open since 2015. Founder Hasan (contact email hassan@pashaglasgow.co.uk) presents it as a halal kitchen drawing on Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi cooking, with an open counter-style setup, plain tables and a shisha lounge for after-dinner stays. The site also pitches itself for birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events. What sets it apart from a generic city kebab shop, on its own telling, is daily prep and cultural mash-ups rather than pure traditional plates: peri-peri and ‘Gourmet Shahlik’ shawarmas sit alongside classic mezze, kebabs and kabsa. Signature dishes the restaurant itself highlights are the Shawarma Araby (Damascus-style double chicken-and-lamb shawarma), a starter mezze platter, slowly cooked lamb kabsa (sold out often enough that they ask you to call ahead) and the Jumbo Mixed Grill, a customer favourite since opening. Independent press has long treated it as a serious shawarma stop rather than a late-night afterthought. Herald critic Ron Mackenna scored it 24/30, calling the Glasgow kebab ‘done properly’, praising service and value while describing the room as utilitarian ‘edge of student land’ — come for the food, not the décor. More recently, Traitors / food TikTok personality Faraaz Noor filmed a peri-peri chicken kebab visit and rated it 9/10. Expect an informal walk-in or phone-booked meal; there is no obvious OpenTable-style booking link, and listed hours are 3–10pm daily (the site also prints a conflicting ‘Everyday 5pm–Late’ line that may refer to the shisha side). Practicalities: it is a short walk from Glasgow Queen Street station and Buchanan Street Subway, on George Square’s east side. Third-party listings mention paid street parking that can be hard to find. Food is marketed as fully halal with vegetarian options (falafel, mezze); alcohol service is not clearly stated on the official pages.
Reviews
No frills but fantastic food. I had the halloumi to start and a mixed grill for one as my main, and everything was excellent. The food is fresh, full of flavour, and the portions are generous. Service was friendly without being over the top. It’s the kind of place where the focus is on good cooking rather than fancy décor; recommended.
Read on Google MapsCategory: Middle Eastern, BBQ, Shawarma, Arabic, Halal Dishes ordered: mixed grills, Lamb Makboos, Iraqi tea Taste: very tasty and fresh. Atmosphere: good decoration but not big dining area. Toilet available. Good air conditioning. No much smell around. Value for money: good and average price. Other features: good staff.
Read on Google MapsPasha Glasgow is honestly a gem! The food was excellent from start to finish. The kebabs were on point — fresh, juicy, and packed with flavour. The highlight for me was their lamb kabsa. It was cooked perfectly, tender and full of rich, aromatic spices. It also comes with a soup on the side which was amazing and paired so well with the dish. Great service and good atmosphere too. Definitely one of the better spots in Glasgow for quality Middle Eastern food.
Read on Google MapsTried Pasha today. Had lamb khabsa, chicken khabsa, and shawarma wrap. It's just an okayish restaurant, and the kabsha is definitely not original taste. I have had much better taste than this one. The chicken was good, and lamb shank was good as well, but definitely not original khabsa. Parking on the street but pretty expensive. Soup was full of salt.
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