Second London Question: where do I absolutely need to eat?
I like most everything, but particularly interested in excellent South Asian food and Stuff You Can Only Find in London
I like most everything, but particularly interested in excellent South Asian food and Stuff You Can Only Find in London
Comments
Of course, I love it.
Tragically my partner and my parents aren't into injera so I gotta get it when I can
https://www.thegrapes.co.uk/
Brick Lane has a decent Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_Lane
Depa Tandoori, 4 Leigh St
London WC1H 9EW
There’s another place on the Piccadilly line also does great bagels that I think is called the happening bagel bakery but I forget if that is its name
Wagamama is a great chain
Where are you staying?
Also, kind of an obvious suggestion, but go to St. John and get some bone marrow. I still think about how good it was.
i also am a huge snob as I make damn good steaks at home, but when in London....
"Gotta say, yours was better."
https://www.blackbellyfoods.com/s/order?shipping=true&item=9#2
Som Saa, on Commercial St. - excellent, non-typical Thai
Andina, also on Commercial St. - very good cevice
La Pepia, in Borough Market - get an arepa with a "cheese blanket"
There are lots more. London is packed.
Also Sagar in Covent Garden for astonishing Indian vegetarian food
https://www.garlicandshots.com/
so good, you HAVE to go
I'll see you at the bar.
Toba, Sumatran / Indonesian, high end
i gotta make this again soon
https://www.hungrylankan.com/recipes/sri-lankan-black-pork-curry/
But the wait is part of the experience: once you get to the front of the line, they shuffle you off to the Permit Room for cocktails (they’re good!) until the buzzer goes off.
Basically, show up an hour before you actually want to eat.
Also, you can get the original (allegedly) scotch egg at the Fortnum and Mason Tea room.
Rules, the oldest restaurant in London is great.
Gordon's wine bar is from thr 1800s and rules
Mc&Sons, great pub
Coach and Horses Covent Gardens, best guiness in the city.
Australian spots are basically UK Californian cuisine
Bar with shapes for a name
tbh I can always fuck with a classic chop house
The mushroom burger at Meat n Liquor is quite tasty - I can't speak to their meat options or liquor options, as they were out of both on the day I went 🤣 but that mushroom burger was still tasty
If its the USA other suggestions are to have really good savory pies, scotch eggs and fish as we have different varieties here like plaice and whitebait. Borough Market, as suggested by everyone, is a good place to look
For only in London try fancy pub Parlour - Modern British done well https://foursquare.com/v/parlour/5098d47ae4b0171c15454b45
We went.
And here I am telling you not to miss the black dal at Dishoom.
https://www.thecheesebar.com/
""I got me a Cardo that's as big as a whale
And we're heading on down to the Cheese Shack
I got me a Chevre that feeds about 20
So hurry up and bring your fromagerie money
this is the best thing I have learned lately
https://www.splatters.online/
Quite good for more obscure or rarely reported on.
SE Asian is a bit rarer in London compared to other cuisines tho.
Sudo in Queens Park or Satay Kingdom in Paddington are apparently good.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001z6s3
I understand/have seen a lot more HKers in those areas.
When I was last there I hit up the Kensington one and it was ace
https://theshiptavern.co.uk
Were you thinking of afternoon tea? (I have a spreadsheet.)
My editor from when I worked for a magazine in London for undergrad is now a professional foodie. (Dream job) so I have an entire London Yelp list if you’d like it?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/8EhYA6WsanktwQdv6
Chuku is a great Nigerian place but lots of amazing African food in London these days.
Mangal 2 or any of the number of ocakbasi places on Green Lanes.
I expect you to skip the first post, but there rest might be of interest to you (and I think my food is much more interesting than most of your replies)
https://bsky.app/profile/drvon2.bsky.social/post/3l5o5s2gw7c2c
(I live by the much bigger hill of Crystal Palace, so all the smaller ones tend to merge into one)
Also - while there is nice food at Borough Market, it is mainly a tourist trap!
Also, saw you mention elsewhere you like cocktails? Soho is the place to go right now: Three Sheets, Dram Bar, Swift, Bar Lina, Atelier Coupette, Soma - all within walking distance of one another. You easily could do the lot in one night, liver/budget allowing.
Mama Pho - Vietnamese, Surrey Quays
Flat Iron - steak, various places
Dirty Burger - Vauxhall station
Kriket (with the proviso that I had dinner at the Brixton location and it was one of the best meals I've ever had, and lunch at the Soho one which was only just ok)
Ginza St James (with the warning I did not see the bill when I ate there but was under the impression it was Not Small)
St John
Smokestak
Korean Cowgirl
Goodman - South Quay
Bleecker St Burgers
Turnips (although I think they closed a bit of it)
Cafe Murano
Brawn
Temper
24hr Beigel Bake
Makatcha
If you like beer then try some taps... particularly Signature/Wild Card. They often have great food trucks.
Brick Lane has a huge number of Indian/Bangladeshi restaurants, and is easy to get to.
Probably already said here, but Dishoom for Indian and Gordon’s Wine Bar.
St. John is also excellent, but depends on how adventurous you are (they specialize in offal).
Oh another: if you’re into tapas, Barafina is superb.
(My sister used to live in London, and despite that being a decade ago, I still end up there roughly every year for work or whatnot, so I could go on and on with recs…)