London is a massive city with endless food options and it can be overwhelming to decide where to eat. This list of seven amazing must try restaurants in London will give you ideas and help you choose.
Greater London is a megacity comprised of the City of London and 32 boroughs. Whatever area of the city you find yourself in, you are sure to be greeted with countless restaurants to choose from. It was easy to feel overwhelmed and my partner and I certainly had these moments during our visit to London.
The following list of seven must try restaurants in London definitely stood out from the rest. It covers a good variety of cuisines and neighbourhoods.
Dishoom, King’s Cross
What is Dishoom
Dishoom is a chain of Indian restaurants inspired by the old Irani cafés of Bombay.
I really like their creative approach with their restaurants. You feel like you’ve been transported back in time to early 20th century India with their furniture and decor. For example, they call their toilets “Water Closets” and they had a large solid wooden slab with a hole in the middle instead of regular ceramic toilet seats.
They’ve created unique founding stories for each of their restaurant locations based on their concept of bringing people together for their love of good food and company. If you’re interested, check out their website and click on each location for each inspiring story.
Dishoom also supports charities by donating a meal to those in need for every meal served in their restaurants.
What to Order from Dishoom
Dishoom definitely comes highly recommended if you are in the mood for delicious Indian food. They have much more than they typical curries and are especially known for their breakfast and brunch items.
We ordered the Big Bombay, which is essentially their version of an English breakfast but with delicious Indian spices and flavours. As well, we tried their famous Bacon and Egg Naan roll and it definitely lived up to the hype! The sauce was sweet, just the way I like, and perfectly complemented the richness and saltiness of the bacon.
For drinks, of course we went with their delightful Chai Teas. They didn’t have iced chai tea on the menu but I requested for one and they gladly complied.
Where is Dishoom Located
My partner and I visited the Dishoom Kings Cross location but there are seven other locations in Kensington, Carnaby, Shoreditch, Covent Garden, Manchester, Birmingham and even Edinburgh.
ADDRESS
Dishoom King’s Cross
5 Stable Street
London N1C 4AB
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday-Wednesday: 8am-11pm
Thursday-Friday: 8am-12am
Saturday: 9am-12am
Sunday: 9am-11pm
Bank Holidays: Open as Usual
Poppie’s Fish & Chips, Camden
What is Poppie’s fish & chips
Poppie’s Fish & Chips is a popular chippy (fish and chips place) in London. It was founded by Pat “Pop” Newland, whose chippy career started at the age of 11. From his decades of experience, Poppie’s was established as a local favourite and became a go to for visitors wanting an delicious and authentic fish and chips meal.
What to Order from Poppie’s fish & chips
I mean the name says it all. Poppie’s specializes in fish and chips so it’s definitely a must try. We ordered their cod fish and chips, along with calamari rings. The cod and calamari were delicious and perfectly crispy but what stood out for us were the chips. They must use different potato varieties than what we use in Canada because the chips had a different and grittier texture and we loved it!
For dessert, we had to order sticky toffee pudding and it did not disappoint. The pudding itself was so flavourful and had the perfect texture. Add in the yummy vanilla ice cream and the rich caramel sauce and you’ve got the perfect dessert! Let’s just say that plate looked like it had been licked clean.
Where is Poppie’s fish & chips Located
The original Poppie’s location is at Spitalfields with two more additional restaurants in Soho and Camden.
My partner and I visited the Camden location after walking along the Regent’s Canal Towpath and exploring Camden Market. It is a cute little spot with a retro 1950’s vibe. We did not have reservations but they were able to seat us right away. Immediately after, a lineup started to form outside so we considered ourselves lucky with our timing.
ADDRESS
Poppie’s Fish & Chips, Camden
30 Hawley Cres,
London NW1 8NP
HOURS OF OPERATION
Sunday-Wednesday: 11am-10pm
Thursday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
The Ivy Market Grill, Covent Garden
What is the ivy market grill
The Ivy Market Grill is a modern European restaurant with a lovely atmosphere offering breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, pre-theatre and dinner.
It’s part of The Ivy collection of restaurants which have been around since 1917 and known for their excellence in quality and service. These restaurants can be found all over the UK.
What to Order from the ivy market grill
For an appetizer, we went with the Crispy Duck Salad and it was the perfect starter to get our appetites going. The duck tasted amazing and surprisingly went well with the cashews in the salad mix.
For the mains, my partner went with their Fish and Chips while I ordered the Chicken Milanese. The combination of the chicken with the fried egg and truffle cream sauce was magic!
Where is the ivy market grill Located
The Ivy Market Grill is located right in the heart of Covent Garden. There are many theatres nearby so it’s a popular spot for theatre patrons. It’s a very busy place so online reservations are definitely recommended.
ADDRESS
The Ivy Market Grill
1a Henrietta Street
Covent Garden
London WC2E 8PS
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday-Friday: 830am-1130pm
Saturday: 9am-1130pm
Sunday & Bank Holiday: 9am-1030pm
Street Pizza Gordon Ramsay, St Paul’s
What is street pizza gordon ramsay
Street Pizza Gordon Ramsay is part of the Gordon Ramsay family of restaurants.
The unique thing about Street Pizza is that it is an all you can eat restaurant, specializing in pizza. The servers would bring out whole pizzas fresh off the oven, walk around to each table and customers can choose which flavours to try.
They also offer a variety of drinks, sides and desserts to perfectly compliment their pizzas.
What to Order from street pizza gordon ramsay
We went with the simple bottomless pizza menu for £16 per person and were seated downstairs. You can upsize to include bottomless drinks (pop or soda) for a few pounds more.
Their menu of flavours isn’t large by any means but they have offerings for everyone. They offer Pepperoni, Classic Margherita, Charred Aubergine, Corn & Chorizo and their daily specials. We tried every flavour and they were all so tasty! The pizza had really thin crust but loaded with toppings.
As a huge sticky toffee pudding lover, of course we had to order theirs even though we were already stuffed. Gordon Ramsay’s sticky toffee pudding is so popular and it’s worth the hype. It’s honestly the best one I’ve ever tried!
Where is street pizza gordon ramsay Located
There are four locations of Street Pizza Gordon Ramsay in London: St Paul’s, Camden, Southwark and Battersea.
My partner and I went to the St Paul’s location, which is right across from St Paul’s Cathedral in the One New Change building. They have two floors with the second floor reserved for larger group bookings. We walked in without reservations and were luckily seated immediately downstairs.
The restaurant has nice decorations and even has a large tree incorporated into the middle of the room. There was also a live DJ performing a set during our visit.
ADDRESS
Street Pizza Gordon Ramsay, St Paul’s
One New Change
10 Bread Street
London EC4M 9AJ
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday-Saturday: 1130am-12am
Sunday: 1130am-10pm
Sichuan PoPo, Earls Court
What is sichuan popo
Sichuan Popo is an authentic Chinese restaurant specializing in Szechuan cuisine, a style which originates from Sichuan Province in China. Szechuan cuisine is known for the use of garlic, chili peppers and Sichuan pepper creating bold and spicy dishes.
What to Order from sichuan popo
Everything on their menu sounded delicious but we narrowed it down to three dishes. We ordered the Salt-and-Pepper Squid, Handmade Wontons in Chili Oil and PoPo’s Fresh Made Flat BiangBiang Noodles with Beef.
Where is sichuan popo Located
We visited the flagship location in Earls Court but they have a second location in Fulham Brodway.
ADDRESS
Sichuan Popo, Earls Court
35 Earls Court Road
London W8 6ED
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday-Saturday 12pm-1030pm
Sunday 12pm-930pm
Smiths of Wapping, St Katharines and Wapping
What is Smiths of Wapping
Smiths of Wapping is a fine dining restaurant known for their amazingly fresh seafood and locally sourced meat. They offer a set menu as well as a la carte dishes and an extensive wine list and cocktail options.
What to Order from Smiths of Wapping
As part of a large group of about 40+ guests, we ordered from the set menu which changes often.
For the starter course, we shared the scallops which, unfortunately, I don’t recall the exact dish name and description. All I remember is how massive they were and how buttery delicious!
I went with the Roast Breast of Suffolk Chicken for my main course while my partner went with their specialty, the Baked Norwegian Halibut. To share with the table, we were served Dauphinoise Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Buttered Asparagus, and Smith’s Chips.
Every dish was beautifully presented and tasted amazing. To top it all off, their service was impeccable.
Where is Smiths of Wapping Located
There are two restaurants in the Smith’s family, including one in Ongar, Essex. We visited their London location in St. Katharines Dock and Wapping.
The restaurant sits right by the river and has spectacular views of the Thames and the city skyline. The view of the Tower Bridge of London is unbeatable and it’s the perfect place to catch a beautiful sunset.
ADDRESS
Smiths of Wapping
22 Wapping High St
London E1W 1NJ
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday-Sunday 12pm-230pm and 6pm-9pm
Little Green Xi’an &Vietnamese Kitchen, Canary Wharf
What is Little Green Xi’an &Vietnamese Kitchen
Little Green is an amazing hidden spot specializing in authentic dishes from Xi’an and Vietnam.
They have only been open for a few months but have such glowing reviews that we knew we had to check them out while visiting Canary Wharf.
The restaurant is tastefully decorated and is definitely very Instagrammable. We visited on a workday right at opening at 5pm and we had the place to ourselves for the first few minutes.
What to Order from Little Green Xi’an &Vietnamese Kitchen
We love Vietnamese food so it was hard to narrow down our food selection but we ended up ordering the Bò Lúc Lắc (Shaking Beef), which is their marinated Wagyu beef served with salad, and the Bún Thịt & Nem Nướng, which is vermicelli with BBQ belly pork and spring roll.
Both dishes were phenomenal with fresh ingredients, tender meats and amazing flavours.
Where is Little Green Xi’an &Vietnamese Kitchen Located
Little Green is nestled within some residential buildings in the Docklands. We walked here from Canary Wharf by following Google maps. The closest DLR station is South Quay which is 5 minutes away.
ADDRESS
Little Green Xi’an & Vietnamese Kitchen
8 Dockyard Lane
London E14 9ZF
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday-Thursday: 1130am-3pm / 5pm-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 1130am-3pm / 5pm-1030pm
Sunday: closed
This list included seven amazing delectable must try restaurants in London.
What are your go to restaurants in London? Comment below and share!
If you’d like more ideas of what and where to eat in London, check out this list of must try pastries and this list of surprising hole in the wall restaurants.
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