The Mosque Kitchen

No-frills, canteen-style dining room, serving basic but tasty meat and vegetable curries at low prices.

The 2017 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

Nestled in a little enclave of curry houses next to the Edinburgh Central Mosque, this hot-plate café is a haven for students, university staff and, of course, the post-prayer hungry. Plain white and yellow paintwork brings a fresh clean feel and big round tables are ideal for groups of friends set on putting the world to rights over a generous portion of chicken, lamb or vegetable curry. Halal meat is freshly cooked each day in medium spices and may include a tikka masala or a biryani. Vegetarians and vegans are well catered for with a thick, rich tomato aubergine curry or a nice gooey sag aloo. It’s all wheat-free unless you request a naan on the side, which you can ask to be freshly cooked. It’s also worth noting Mosque Kitchen is completely alcohol-free. It may not be Edinburgh’s finest, but with a chicken tikka masala with rice served with a friendly smile for a mere £6, it's a popular choice, particularly at lunchtime.

• High point: Maybe the best value curry in the UK?
• Low point: Comfort comes second to convenience – it's a bit of barn