Faanoos II

The strip running west from Hammersmith to Turnham Green is a competitive spot for Persian restaurants. There’s Mahdi, Piano, Rice and, until recently, glitzy Chella. Faanoos II has carved its own niche in this Little Tehran by offering cheap, cheerful cooking, with mains starting at £5.95 and few breaking the £9 barrier. The interior is low lit, scented by bread cooking on the open oven and skewers of meat sizzling at the grill. Starters consist of the standard-issue selection of dips and salads; our favourite was kashk-e bademjan, a dense, flavourful mix of fried aubergine, yoghurt and onions, scooped up on hunks of sesame-seeded flatbread. The kebabs are pretty straightforward too – chicken, lamb and minced lamb, freshly cooked and served with a mountain of rice. They’re decent if not inspiring, but for the price they represent excellent value. You might not come here for a masterclass in the best of Persian cuisine – there’s no fesenjoon on the menu, for example – but as a reliable neighbourhood kebab joint, Faanoos II holds its own against the competition.