TOPJAW picks

Berenjak

A restaurant that always delivers with consistently excellent food. Persian cuisine that truly earns the hype, especially the hummus. Beautiful dining room with excellent Persian classics like silky black chickpea hummus and chicken Olivieh, plus creative new dishes like tahdig with ox cheek curry and double lamb chops with charred Iranian spices. Bigger and more comfortable than its sibling restaurants, making equally delicious Persian food. The feasting is exceptional with koobideh that will live in your head forever. This Persian restaurant has significantly elevated its glamorous ambiance and dining experience.

St. JOHN

A pioneering temple of nose-to-tail cooking that's shaped how London chefs think about ingredients, anchored by unmissable deep-fried rarebit and bone marrow that justify the legendary status. The cooking is uncompromisingly British and unapologetically rich—gargantuan pies and homemade doughnuts included—delivered with the kind of charisma that makes celebrity dining actually worthwhile.

Guacamoles

Hand-rolled tortillas wrapped around meticulously sourced pork—whether it's the caramelised El Pastor or fall-apart carnitas—prove that exceptional Mexican street food doesn't require a sit-down restaurant. The guacamole is genuinely fresh and the prices absurdly fair, making this a genuine local favourite that's spawned a cult following from Peckham to Hackney Wick.

Alta

Rob Roy Cameron channels a decade of Spanish mastery into primal open-fire cooking that marries Basque tradition with British larder—expect sardine empanadas that sparked social media frenzy alongside squid sagotelli, smoked cheddar doughnuts, and venison kissed with juniper smoke. The kitchen's reverence for both flame and ingredient quality elevates what could be rustic into something genuinely thrilling, from cured meat boards to a Basque cheesecake that justifies the pilgrimage alone.

Roti King

Roti King nails the fundamentals with pillowy, hand-stretched roti canai and deeply fragrant curry dal that justify its cult status among London's Malaysian food devotees. For a tenner, you're getting the kind of technical precision and ingredient quality that would cost twice as much elsewhere, making this cramped basement spot near Euston an absolute steal.

Smoking Goat

Fiery fish sauce chicken wings and inventive wok work define this buzzy Thai spot, where bold Southeast Asian flavours are executed with real precision. The energy peaks on weekends, but the pork with Chinese olives and razor-sharp seafood dishes justify any night's visit.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers excels at unhurried Mediterranean cooking in an intimate setting that practically begs for lingering over a meal with someone special. The garlic-stuffed mussels alone justify the trip, but it's the romantic atmosphere that transforms a good dish into an unforgettable evening.

2210

Chef Nati Canook elevates Caribbean cooking with French precision, delivering dishes like jerk chicken and smoked lamb with baba ganoush that feel both rooted and inventive. A newly Michelin-recognised kitchen that reflects the chef's remarkable journey and uncompromising approach to flavor.

Agora

Agora delivers stunning Turkish and Mediterranean cooking at throwaway prices—think silky dips, crackling pork belly, and fall-apart chicken thighs for a fiver. The real magic is the in-house bakery's fresh, chewy bread and the infectious buzz of Borough Market's most unpretentious, genuinely joyful dining room.

Brigaders

Brigaders pulls off Indian barbecue with real ambition—their charcoal tandoor mixed grill is London's finest, while the woodfired suckling pig in goon curry sauce proves they're unafraid to push tradition. Go with friends, order the butter chicken wings, and let the smoky cocktails and beer towers fuel a proper feast.

Brutto

Brutto delivers sophisticated Italian cooking at prices that feel almost apologetic for the quality you're getting. The kitchen executes with precision and creativity, making it a rare find where ambition and restraint balance perfectly on every plate.

Camille

Camille channels French fundamentals through the playful lens of the Duck Soup team, proving Borough Market can still surprise. Chef Elliot Hashtroudi's inventive hand shines in audacious dishes like a stuffed trotter glazed in bone, where liver and peppermint collide with the kind of confidence that elevates offal to art.

Cinder

Cinder masters the art of fire-kissed cooking, delivering bold flavours and flawless technique across standout dishes like their renowned cedar plank salmon and expertly seared burgers. An exceptional-value lunch at £16 makes this one of London's smartest bets for restaurant-quality charring and balanced, confident cooking.

Core

Chef Ignacio Mattos crafts pristine, imaginative plates that justify splurging on an unforgettable evening—the kind of cooking that earns repeat visits from the city's most discerning diners. Late-night reservations reveal a playful, inventive side where technical precision meets uninhibited creativity, making every dish feel like a delightful surprise.

Dorian

Dorian delivers Michelin-caliber cooking with an open kitchen showcasing pristine ingredients and a refined dining room that justifies every penny spent. The legendary steak alone—a dish that's earned serious celebrity devotion—makes this one of the finest splurges in town.

Dove

Creative small plates showcase unexpected combinations—cuttlefish with lemongrass on toast and tuna ragu pasta—while the pastry program rivals the savory offerings with standout apple cider doughnuts and silky chocolate mousse. Dive in for the neighbourhood charm and the occasional special burger collaboration that reminds you why this place feels essential.

Duck Soup

The Camille team's French-focused venture delivers refined bistro cooking with serious technique and restraint. Inventive cocktails built around house-made pickled liqueurs elevate the drinking experience beyond the expected.

Dusty Knuckle

A brilliant bakery that transforms exceptional sourdough into craveable comfort food, most memorably a £11 cheese toastie layering British, Swiss, and Italian cheeses with kimchi for an unexpectedly gooey, complex bite. This is the kind of place where local food experts congregate—not for fussy technique, but for honest, elevated basics done brilliantly.

Homies on Donkeys

Irreverent Mexican street food meets serious culinary craft here, where playful vibes mask genuinely award-winning tacos that punch well above their weight at £9 a pop. Duck, steak, and vegan options showcase both creative technique and uncompromising ingredient quality that explains why this place keeps racking up accolades.

Kiln

Kiln delivers theatrical, fire-driven cooking that matches its bold flavors—especially a numbing jungle curry that justifies the hype. Smart pricing and inventive dishes (quirky names included) make this counter spot an exciting, accessible take on Thai cuisine.

Lahor Karahi

No-frills Pakistani cooking that delivers astonishing value, especially the famous kebab rolls stuffed with tender lamb and fresh naan for under three quid. Bold, authentic curries and street food that punches far above its price point make this a genuine local legend.

Napoli

Napoli has earned continental acclaim for pizza that spans from traditional Neapolitan to innovative pan styles, each executed with the precision that's made it a London standout. The kitchen's ambition extends beyond the oven—expect vegan iterations and decadent finales like brioche layered with hazelnut chocolate—all delivered in a contemporary space that matches the food's sophistication.

Noble Rot

Noble Rot's casual elegance and exceptional value—particularly the three-course lunch at £28—make it an easy choice for lingering over wine and bread that justifies a dedicated trip alone. The thoughtfully curated wine programme pairs seamlessly with confident cooking that never overcomplicates, delivering the kind of meal where you'll want to stay for hours.

Quo Vadis

A venerable London landmark that shaped generations of chefs through its unwavering focus on ingredient quality and classical technique, now refreshed with rotating centenary dishes that honour its heritage. The kitchen balances British foundations with Italian and French refinement, while the puddings alone justify a visit.

Rambutan

Rambutan delivers genuine Southeast Asian cooking amid Borough Market's lively energy, with a kitchen that excels at layered, aromatic curries. The crab and black pork versions are standouts—rich, complex dishes that justify the crowds.

Teal

Sally Abbey elevates British classics through meticulous technique and playful reinvention—picture raw scotch eggs with Oxford sauce and bone marrow paired with snails, culminating in marmalade ice cream sandwiches. This intimate bistro has already become the city's hottest reservation, drawing crowds eager to experience her distinctive take on familiar comfort food.

The Devonshire

The Devonshire resurrects the charm of Victorian-era comfort food with surprising sophistication, proving that nostalgic British fare needn't be humble. Under Oisín Rogers' direction, it transforms schoolyard memories into something genuinely craveable—all wrapped in period aesthetics that feel lived-in rather than theatrical.

The Ritz

The Wolseley

A glamorous all-day brasserie that executes classic British comfort food with surprising refinement, from silky pies to cream slices that rival nostalgic childhood memories. The polished, elegant setting near Monument makes it an ideal spot for everything from breakfast to late dinner, where traditional dishes arrive with a modern flourish.

Wigmore

Wigmore is a gloriously convivial pub that hits its stride when the weather turns cold, built on a foundation of exceptional hand-made pies that justify the pilgrimage alone. The kitchen flexes beyond comfort-food basics with showstoppers like their XL spiced lamb shank, where caramelised onions and root vegetables swim in silky gravy alongside triple-cooked chips finished with Bloody Mary salt.