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Where to eat in London (Guide to London restaurants + more)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated:

We are constantly asked for recommendations on where to eat in London (or what to eat) and as we can’t possibly try every single one (I’d give it a go but it would take more than my lifetime) I have started adding recommendations from our UK and London Travel Planning Facebook group (which I will keep updating)

You will also find information about chain restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, markets and more below!

If you find a wonderful place for coffee or a bite to eat do let us know so we can include it below.

Thanks

Table of Contents
  1. Where to eat in London – Restaurants
    1. Covent Garden + Seven Dials
    2. Kensington
    3. China Town
    4. Soho + Carnaby
    5. Shoreditch
  2. Popular London Restaurants + chains (multi-location)
    1. Dishoom : Bombay-inspired Indian food
    2. Hawksmoor – Steakhouse
    3. Cichettis – Italian
    4. Kanada Ya Ramen – Japanese
    5. Ottolenghi – Middle Eastern Mediterranean-inspired
    6. Wagamama – Asian & Japanese
    7. Wahaca – Mexican
    8. Pho – Vietnamese Street Food
    9. Giraffe – Child friendly
    10. Pizza Express – Pizza
    11. Nandos – Peri Peri Chicken
  3. Vegan
  4. Gluten-free options
  5. London Supermarkets
    1. Marks & Spencers + M&S Simply Food
    2. Tesco + Tesco Express
  6. London Coffee Shops (chain)
  7. London Coffee Shops (independent)
    1. Instagram famous
  8. London Markets
    1. Borough Market
    2. Camden Market

Top London Food Tours

  1. 🥟 Ultimate Food Tour of Borough Market
  2. 🍻 Tastes, Tales & Traditional Ales: Food Tour of London’s Historic Pubs
  3. 🍤 London East End – Food Walking Tour with 8 Stops
  4. 🍔 Flavours of Camden Market Guided Walking Tour

Where to eat in London – Restaurants

Covent Garden + Seven Dials

The cheese bar at the Seven Dials is one place where to eat in London for something different.

Kensington

  • Dishoom – Indian
  • Zaika – Indian

China Town

Soho + Carnaby

  • Kanada Ya Ramen – Japanese
  • Dishoom – Indian
  • Kiln – Thai inspired

Shoreditch

  • Lahpet – Burmese

Popular London Restaurants + chains (multi-location)

Dishoom : Bombay-inspired Indian food

  • Located in Covent Garden, Kensington, Carnaby, Shoreditch & King’s Cross
  • Expect a long queue!

Hawksmoor – Steakhouse

  • Located across the UK there are 8 restaurants in London including Seven Dials, Knightsbridge, Borough and Piccadilly Circus

Cichettis – Italian

  • A number of restaurants across London including Covent Garden.

Kanada Ya Ramen – Japanese

  • 5 restaurants including Covent Garden, Angel, Carnaby and Piccadilly

Ottolenghi – Middle Eastern + Mediterranean-inspired

  • 7 London restaurants including Chelsea, Spitalfields, Marylebone and Notting Hill

Wagamama – Asian & Japanese

  • Numerous restaurants across London and the UK

Wahaca – Mexican

  • Numerous restaurants across London (Waterloo, Shoreditch, Covent Garden and more) and the UK

Pho – Vietnamese Street Food

  • Numerous restaurants across London and the UK

Giraffe – Child friendly

  • Numerous restaurants across London (Victoria, King’s Cross, Southbank Centre) and the UK

Pizza Express – Pizza

  • Numerous restaurants across London and the UK

Nandos – Peri Peri Chicken

  • Numerous restaurants across London and the UK

Vegan

  • Mildreds – 5 locations including Camden, Soho, Covent Garden and King’s Cross
  • Tendril – 5 Princes Street (2 minutes from Oxford Circus/Bond St. stations)

Gluten-free options

  • Niche – Angel, Islington
  • Cotto (Italian) – Waterloo

London Supermarkets

You will find that most of the larger supermarkets have smaller branches in London so they are pretty common, especially around train stations.

All have a selection of meal deals for lunch eg sandwich + crisps/fruit + drink for a set price.

M&S have an excellent evening meal deal range too.

Work in progress – more to come!

*PLEASE NOTE PICS (and prices) FROM 2022/3

Marks & Spencers + M&S Simply Food

Tesco + Tesco Express

London Coffee Shops (chain)

There are many chain coffee shops in London – as I don’t drink coffee I can’t comment on the quality of any but you can expect to find the following just about everywhere!

  • Costa Coffee
  • Cafe Nero
  • Starbucks
  • Pret a Manger

London Coffee Shops (independent)

Instagram famous

London Markets

We have a detailed guide to London markets on UK Travel Planning but here is a summary plus some of our favourite places to eat at each.

This is a work in progress – if you have suggestions please let me know!

Borough Market

  • Humble Crumble – delicious and Instagram-worthy crumbles
  • The Ginger Pig – Sausage rolls
  • Nanna Fanny’s – salt beef sandwiches
  • Kappacasein – Raclette
  • Richard Hayward’s Oysters – oysters!
  • fish!Kitchen – fish and chips
  • Bread ahead – doughnuts

Camden Market

  • Hans & Gretel – dessert cafe
  • Cereal Killers Cafe – cereal!
  • Honest Burgers – burgers!
  • Churros London – churros!
  • Poppies – Fish and chips!