Sababa

Sababa appears in the London Beth Din (OJK) kosher directory as 'Sababa (Dairy)', which confirms current kosher-dairy certification. Its Instagram bio mentions 'KLBD' (Kashrut London Beth Din). The menu shows a dairy-focused kitchen (cheese, butter, cream, milk-based sauces, milkshakes, ice cream). The restaurant is a fully kosher-certified dairy restaurant.

The venue has a dedicated vegan menu with a vegan burger, vegan kebab shawarma, and vegan cheese for pizzas. HappyCow reviewers confirm pizzas can be veganised with non-dairy cheese. A vegan diner reports staff will check ingredients when asked, and the menu now lists a separate vegan section (as of July 2024). The kitchen is shared with dairy, meat and fish, so cross-contamination is possible, but the structural setup (separate vegan items, a vegan cheese option) shows strong intentional accommodation.

A very wide range of vegetarian dishes appears on the menu, including multiple salads, pasta, pizza, omelettes, and savoury crepes. HappyCow lists the restaurant as having 'Lacto, Ovo' vegetarian options. The menu has clear sections for vegetarian-friendly items. Staff awareness is good, per HappyCow reviews. The kitchen is shared with meat and fish, but plenty of clearly vegetarian dishes are available.

The extensive menu lists no shellfish dishes. Sushi includes salmon, tuna, and kani (imitation crab, typically fish-based). No prawns, shrimp, lobster, crab, or molluscs appear on the menu. The OJK kosher-dairy accreditation implies no shellfish on the premises, as kosher rules forbid shellfish entirely. This is structurally safe for shellfish allergy.

The menu carries a large fish section covering salmon, sea bass, cod, and tuna steaks, with tuna and salmon also appearing in sushi, poke bowls, salads, and sandwiches. Vegetarian options are plentiful. Meat dishes, including chicken, beef or lamb shawarma, and burgers, are present but avoidable. Clear fish and vegetarian choices make eating pescatarian here very easy.

The menu lists many dishes but does not mark any as gluten-free. The venue's own site and the OJK accreditation directory suggest the kitchen is kosher-dairy, which implies a structured kitchen, but no dedicated gluten-free equipment, fryer, or separate prep area is mentioned. No coeliac accreditation body (Coeliac UK, etc.) lists this venue. Without marked menu items or clear cross-contamination controls, coeliac safety is unconfirmed. Best to call ahead.

Sababa's menu relies heavily on dairy. Cheese, cream, béchamel, yoghurt, butter, and cream cheese appear on most pizzas, pasta, salads, crepes, and breakfast items. A vegan cheese option is available for pizzas, and some salads can be ordered without cheese. Alternative milks, including almond, soya, and oat, are listed for drinks at an extra £0.60. Because the kitchen uses dairy extensively, cross-contamination is likely. The venue does not mention a dedicated dairy-free preparation area. For those with lactose intolerance, the menu can be manageable with careful ordering. For a dairy allergy, it is tricky.

Eggs are present throughout the menu: poached, scrambled, fried, in omelettes, in French toast, in pancakes, in crepe batters, and as toppings. No egg-free options are marked. A vegan option like the vegan burger likely omits egg, but the kitchen is heavy on egg use. Cross-contamination risk is moderate to high. Vegan dishes are the safest bet.

The menu mentions soy sauce across several dishes, including grilled salmon in soy sauce, fish dishes in soy teriyaki, and soy and sesame dressing for salads. Soya milk is listed as an alternative milk option. No soy-free substitutes are flagged. Vegan options may use tofu. The kitchen is likely a shared environment for soy. Manageable for soy intolerance with careful ordering.

The menu includes no keto-specific items. Many dishes are carb-heavy: pizza, pasta, pancakes, waffles, sushi rice, bread, bagels, crepes, and French toast. Some protein-rich options, such as grilled fish, salad without croutons, and omelettes, could work for a keto diet, but the menu is not designed for it. A blog for the unrelated Chiang Mai Sababa mentions developing a keto menu, but that applies only to that location, not Borehamwood.

The menu contains nut-containing items such as Nutella, peanut-based sauces in bubble teas, and almond flakes, walnuts, and toasted almonds in salads and desserts. No nut-free options are marked on the menu. There is no mention of a dedicated fryer or separate preparation for nut-free orders. Nuts are handled throughout the kitchen, so the risk of cross-contamination is high. It is best to call ahead and ask.

This venue holds London Beth Din (OJK) kosher-dairy certification, a Jewish kosher authority. Kosher and halal are separate religious frameworks; kosher certification does not indicate halal compliance. No halal certification or claim appears on the venue's website, menu, or any aggregator listing. Do not assume halal.