My favourite East London Restaurants
My favourite restaurants
Probably the best Sunday lunch in all of London, but it’s worth a visit any day of the week. Masterful modern British cooking and attentive service in a traditional 150 year old East-End pub. Ordering the brown butter honey tart for dessert is a must!
95 locals recommend
Marksman Public House
254 Hackney RdProbably the best Sunday lunch in all of London, but it’s worth a visit any day of the week. Masterful modern British cooking and attentive service in a traditional 150 year old East-End pub. Ordering the brown butter honey tart for dessert is a must!
FKA P. Franco, now called 107: The carousel of rotating chefs at this Hackney wine bar and shop are currently responsible for some of the capital’s most arresting gourmet artistry. This is the pared-back playground for some of the world’s most innovative and movable chefs. Amazingly — given use of only three inductions hobs — over the past four years, chefs William Gleave, Tim Spedding, George Tomlin, Giuseppes Lacorazza and Belvedere, Túbo Logier, Anna Tobias, Chase Lovecky, Seb Myers, Meedu Saad, and now Jamie Smart have positioned 107 as one of the most exciting showcases in town. Current hob commander Smart comes from St. John and Flor, and is lending his touch to dishes like slip sole with saffron beurre blanc and ox tongue with marinda tomatoes.
62 locals recommend
P Franco
107 Lower Clapton RdFKA P. Franco, now called 107: The carousel of rotating chefs at this Hackney wine bar and shop are currently responsible for some of the capital’s most arresting gourmet artistry. This is the pared-back playground for some of the world’s most innovative and movable chefs. Amazingly — given use of only three inductions hobs — over the past four years, chefs William Gleave, Tim Spedding, George Tomlin, Giuseppes Lacorazza and Belvedere, Túbo Logier, Anna Tobias, Chase Lovecky, Seb Myers, Meedu Saad, and now Jamie Smart have positioned 107 as one of the most exciting showcases in town. Current hob commander Smart comes from St. John and Flor, and is lending his touch to dishes like slip sole with saffron beurre blanc and ox tongue with marinda tomatoes.
Chef Ed Wilson’s hearty Franco-Italian menu is a showcase for his own personal love of food. To eat here is to share that passion, especially now with an increased emphasis on fresh pasta, and spectacular comfort food. Wines are predominantly natural and biodynamic. Illustrated wine posters, art, and curios on whitewashed brick walls also make the two relaxed dining rooms on Columbia Road among London’s most handsome and cool.
162 locals recommend
Brawn
49 Columbia RdChef Ed Wilson’s hearty Franco-Italian menu is a showcase for his own personal love of food. To eat here is to share that passion, especially now with an increased emphasis on fresh pasta, and spectacular comfort food. Wines are predominantly natural and biodynamic. Illustrated wine posters, art, and curios on whitewashed brick walls also make the two relaxed dining rooms on Columbia Road among London’s most handsome and cool.
Undoubtably London’s best Thai food, from Chef Sirichai Kularbwong. Classic dishes such as phad thai, wok-fried morning glory with garlic and fish sauce, and fiery, acidic tom yums are always available, but look to the blackboard menu for the restaurant’s hits — and never miss the moo krob, twice-fried pork with garlic, basil, and chilli, one of the city’s most accomplished and delicious dishes.
36 locals recommend
Singburi
593 High Rd LeytonstoneUndoubtably London’s best Thai food, from Chef Sirichai Kularbwong. Classic dishes such as phad thai, wok-fried morning glory with garlic and fish sauce, and fiery, acidic tom yums are always available, but look to the blackboard menu for the restaurant’s hits — and never miss the moo krob, twice-fried pork with garlic, basil, and chilli, one of the city’s most accomplished and delicious dishes.
Brat’s more casual sister restaurant. San Sebastián inspired Basque cooking from chef Tomos Parry, using seasonal ingredients from the British Isles. Everything is cooked over wood fires. Get the whole turbot and don’t miss the grilled flatbreads! Great wine list too
37 locals recommend
Brat x Climpson's Arch
374 Helmsley PlBrat’s more casual sister restaurant. San Sebastián inspired Basque cooking from chef Tomos Parry, using seasonal ingredients from the British Isles. Everything is cooked over wood fires. Get the whole turbot and don’t miss the grilled flatbreads! Great wine list too
Authentic Vietnamese. This busy corner restaurant is packed full on the weekends for a reason. It’s the ideal place to have a spirited group dinner on a Friday night — for those who don’t mind the crowds. Brisk and efficient, it’s impossible to go wrong with its greatest hits: crispy chilli squid, grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf, traditional Vietnamese pancake with prawn and chicken. And of course, the phở.
110 locals recommend
Sông Quê Café
134 Kingsland RdAuthentic Vietnamese. This busy corner restaurant is packed full on the weekends for a reason. It’s the ideal place to have a spirited group dinner on a Friday night — for those who don’t mind the crowds. Brisk and efficient, it’s impossible to go wrong with its greatest hits: crispy chilli squid, grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf, traditional Vietnamese pancake with prawn and chicken. And of course, the phở.
High-end but not fusty; low-key but impeccable service. One of Britain's most talented chefs, Isaac McHale has put in time at high-profile spots Noma and The Ledbury. Stunning, meandering tasting menus — chiefly British — with flashes of flavour from such cuisines as India and Japan in the dining room.
106 locals recommend
The Clove Club
380 Old StHigh-end but not fusty; low-key but impeccable service. One of Britain's most talented chefs, Isaac McHale has put in time at high-profile spots Noma and The Ledbury. Stunning, meandering tasting menus — chiefly British — with flashes of flavour from such cuisines as India and Japan in the dining room.
Modern Turkish food. Mangal 2 is famous for three reasons: one, it prepares excellent, no-nonsense Turkish food from an historic ocakbaşı — grilled chicken, lamb, and quail kebabs, pickled chillies and a classic grilled onion, sumac and pomegranate molasses salad. Two, the artists Gilbert and George eat there almost every night of the week. And three, the charismatic young general manager — Ferhat Dirik, once authored the funniest, if unconventional, restaurant Twitter handle in town — runs the room with expert ease. Iconic, reliable and fun, Mangal 2 is the pick of Kingsland Road’s many Turkish options and will always be a London institution.
96 locals recommend
Mangal 2 Restaurant
4 Stoke Newington RdModern Turkish food. Mangal 2 is famous for three reasons: one, it prepares excellent, no-nonsense Turkish food from an historic ocakbaşı — grilled chicken, lamb, and quail kebabs, pickled chillies and a classic grilled onion, sumac and pomegranate molasses salad. Two, the artists Gilbert and George eat there almost every night of the week. And three, the charismatic young general manager — Ferhat Dirik, once authored the funniest, if unconventional, restaurant Twitter handle in town — runs the room with expert ease. Iconic, reliable and fun, Mangal 2 is the pick of Kingsland Road’s many Turkish options and will always be a London institution.
Iconic East London Punjabi restaurant. Tayyab’s is a family run institution that opened in 1972, and is currently plating up what is undoubtedly the best Punjabi-Pakistani cheerfully cheap curry in an ex-pub turned riotous BYOB restaurant in Whitechapel.
381 locals recommend
Tayyabs
83-89 Fieldgate StIconic East London Punjabi restaurant. Tayyab’s is a family run institution that opened in 1972, and is currently plating up what is undoubtedly the best Punjabi-Pakistani cheerfully cheap curry in an ex-pub turned riotous BYOB restaurant in Whitechapel.
One of my favourite casual lunch spots for freshly handmade udon. Here, in one of the city’s cutest little fast food 2.0 restaurants, find one of London’s few great breakfast menus. Three choices: Japanese breakfast comprising a piece of soy-marinated grilled fish, rice, pickles, and miso soup; a pork and ginger miso soup with either rice or udon noodles; or an “English breakfast” udon bowl, including buttery mushrooms, smoked bacon, spring onion, egg yolk, and soy — it’s like a bowl of carbonara drank a couple of pints of Monster for breakfast. Lunch, too, where a range of Koya’s classic udon and donnburi options are available alongside fried chicken, an excellent green salad, and a special kids menu.
7 locals recommend
Koya Ko Hackney
10 Broadway Market MewsOne of my favourite casual lunch spots for freshly handmade udon. Here, in one of the city’s cutest little fast food 2.0 restaurants, find one of London’s few great breakfast menus. Three choices: Japanese breakfast comprising a piece of soy-marinated grilled fish, rice, pickles, and miso soup; a pork and ginger miso soup with either rice or udon noodles; or an “English breakfast” udon bowl, including buttery mushrooms, smoked bacon, spring onion, egg yolk, and soy — it’s like a bowl of carbonara drank a couple of pints of Monster for breakfast. Lunch, too, where a range of Koya’s classic udon and donnburi options are available alongside fried chicken, an excellent green salad, and a special kids menu.
Fresh gozleme made to order by hand. On a Saturday morning, Broadway Market in East London is heaving with people who flock to the popular market. But the best food isn’t to be had from stalls in the street. Hiding in plain sight, Saray Broadway Cafe serves proper greasy spoon dishes — and gözleme, Turkish stuffed flatbreads. The savoury pastries are made to order on a big flat griddle by the window, where the dough is stuffed with cheese and spinach. It’s the best £3 one can spend all weekend.
Saray Broadway Cafe
58 Broadway MarketFresh gozleme made to order by hand. On a Saturday morning, Broadway Market in East London is heaving with people who flock to the popular market. But the best food isn’t to be had from stalls in the street. Hiding in plain sight, Saray Broadway Cafe serves proper greasy spoon dishes — and gözleme, Turkish stuffed flatbreads. The savoury pastries are made to order on a big flat griddle by the window, where the dough is stuffed with cheese and spinach. It’s the best £3 one can spend all weekend.
A bold and intimate Omakase style dining experience at the Chelsea institution’s new ‘chef’s table’ in Hackney. With only 12 seats, the chef’s table offers an unrivalled opportunity to be up close to the most progressive fish cooking in the city. Using the finest fish from around the UK and beyond and dry-aged fish prepared in our custom-built ageing cabinets, our chef’s table will serve inventive dishes created by Executive Chef Leo Carreira.
The Sea, The Sea - Hackney
337 Acton MewsA bold and intimate Omakase style dining experience at the Chelsea institution’s new ‘chef’s table’ in Hackney. With only 12 seats, the chef’s table offers an unrivalled opportunity to be up close to the most progressive fish cooking in the city. Using the finest fish from around the UK and beyond and dry-aged fish prepared in our custom-built ageing cabinets, our chef’s table will serve inventive dishes created by Executive Chef Leo Carreira.
Minimalist cafe-bistro just across the canal. From chef Max Rocha and his staff, who belong to a new-school which is a direct descendent of the ingredients-obsessed old-school: those like the River Cafe, Rochelle Canteen, and Quo Vadis. It can sometimes look a bit beige, but is so often bright, clever, and deserving of the attention it has received this year. Do not miss great steak and chips with peppercorn sauce, nor fruit tart at dessert.
6 locals recommend
Cafe Cecilia
32 Andrews RoadMinimalist cafe-bistro just across the canal. From chef Max Rocha and his staff, who belong to a new-school which is a direct descendent of the ingredients-obsessed old-school: those like the River Cafe, Rochelle Canteen, and Quo Vadis. It can sometimes look a bit beige, but is so often bright, clever, and deserving of the attention it has received this year. Do not miss great steak and chips with peppercorn sauce, nor fruit tart at dessert.
Modern vegan Chinese. Small dishes with influences from different regions of China such as Cantonese, Hunan, and Sichuan with Puerto Rican, Portuguese & American twists.
Julian Denis’s bigger space for the popular Mao Chow has lost none of the technicolour frenzy of the original. An early example of its expansion from the Sichuan repertoire to more regional dishes is a rendition of Macau baked pork chop rice, most expertly served in London at Cafe TPT in Chinatown, and here incorporating Puerto Rican coconut rice; melted vegan cheese; and fried oyster mushrooms acting as “chops.” This and more like sizzling aubergine; numbing twice-fried artichokes; and a vegan blood sausage prove that things are on the up.
Facing Heaven
1a Bayford StreetModern vegan Chinese. Small dishes with influences from different regions of China such as Cantonese, Hunan, and Sichuan with Puerto Rican, Portuguese & American twists.
Julian Denis’s bigger space for the popular Mao Chow has lost none of the technicolour frenzy of the original. An early example of its expansion from the Sichuan repertoire to more regional dishes is a rendition of Macau baked pork chop rice, most expertly served in London at Cafe TPT in Chinatown, and here incorporating Puerto Rican coconut rice; melted vegan cheese; and fried oyster mushrooms acting as “chops.” This and more like sizzling aubergine; numbing twice-fried artichokes; and a vegan blood sausage prove that things are on the up.
From a mono-product street food stall in Netil Market, warm, fluffy steamed pitta “pockets” here are theatrically stuffed, to order, with freshly fried falafel, loads of different salads, a slice of fried potato, hot chilli, tahina, chilli sauce, pickles, and seemingly much else. A sensationally fortifying lunch from one of London’s most popular vegan outfits.
pockets
367 Mentmore TerraceFrom a mono-product street food stall in Netil Market, warm, fluffy steamed pitta “pockets” here are theatrically stuffed, to order, with freshly fried falafel, loads of different salads, a slice of fried potato, hot chilli, tahina, chilli sauce, pickles, and seemingly much else. A sensationally fortifying lunch from one of London’s most popular vegan outfits.
Beneath two railway arches in Haggerston, Planque is a wine bar, restaurant, members' club and store, with a key focus on natural and low intervention wines and featuring a modern French menu by renowned chef Sebastian Meyers
Planque
322-324 Acton MewsBeneath two railway arches in Haggerston, Planque is a wine bar, restaurant, members' club and store, with a key focus on natural and low intervention wines and featuring a modern French menu by renowned chef Sebastian Meyers
Perfect for summertime al fresco snacking. An intimate spot with a love affair for European food and wine. Nestled into the historic neighbourhood of De Beauvoir
8 locals recommend
Hector's
49a Ardleigh RdPerfect for summertime al fresco snacking. An intimate spot with a love affair for European food and wine. Nestled into the historic neighbourhood of De Beauvoir
Casual, bustling Xi’an eatery specialising in wide hand-pulled “belt” noodles, covered in an umami-rich Sichuan pepper corn, soya-based, chilli sauces — served with Chinese greens; braised beef; or cumin-spiced lamb. Elsewhere on the menu there are fine cold skin noodles, with sesame or chilli sauces; smacked cucumber salads; boneless poached chicken in special sauce; and wonton and Qishan soups.
8 locals recommend
Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles
62 Wentworth StCasual, bustling Xi’an eatery specialising in wide hand-pulled “belt” noodles, covered in an umami-rich Sichuan pepper corn, soya-based, chilli sauces — served with Chinese greens; braised beef; or cumin-spiced lamb. Elsewhere on the menu there are fine cold skin noodles, with sesame or chilli sauces; smacked cucumber salads; boneless poached chicken in special sauce; and wonton and Qishan soups.
Yard Sale Pizza
105 Lower Clapton RdAward winning neighbourhood pizza joint
Perilla is a modern neighbourhood restaurant based in Newington Green. Using humble ingredients of the highest quality, the food focuses on a modern interpretation of classical European flavours, in an informal and relaxed dining room.
44 locals recommend
Perilla
1-3 Green LanesPerilla is a modern neighbourhood restaurant based in Newington Green. Using humble ingredients of the highest quality, the food focuses on a modern interpretation of classical European flavours, in an informal and relaxed dining room.
This restaurant is a marriage of its co-owner James Lowe's British heritage (St. John Bread and Wine) and his many stints across the globe, including at Noma. Lowe is a gifted chef and one of London's foremost proponents of the quality of British produce; his relaxed brand of ‘fine dining’ regularly celebrates mutton, game and goat, as well as wood fire-cooked seafood and seasonal English vegetables. Lyle’s is one of London’s very best modern restaurants, one of London’s best Michelin-starred restaurants, and, arguably, the best restaurant in Shoreditch.
61 locals recommend
Lyle's
56 Shoreditch High StThis restaurant is a marriage of its co-owner James Lowe's British heritage (St. John Bread and Wine) and his many stints across the globe, including at Noma. Lowe is a gifted chef and one of London's foremost proponents of the quality of British produce; his relaxed brand of ‘fine dining’ regularly celebrates mutton, game and goat, as well as wood fire-cooked seafood and seasonal English vegetables. Lyle’s is one of London’s very best modern restaurants, one of London’s best Michelin-starred restaurants, and, arguably, the best restaurant in Shoreditch.
Now operating from a little shop beneath a railway arch in London Fields, Willy’s Pies has been one of the biggest success stories to come out of lockdown. After being furloughed in the first lockdown former St John and Brat chef Will Lewis started knocking out pies and delivering them by bike from his base in Leyton. Since then he’s taken his pies across the city, selling out week on week, and now he’s taken half-time snacks up a notch by becoming the official pie supplier to Watford FC.
Willy's Pies
23 Westgate StreetNow operating from a little shop beneath a railway arch in London Fields, Willy’s Pies has been one of the biggest success stories to come out of lockdown. After being furloughed in the first lockdown former St John and Brat chef Will Lewis started knocking out pies and delivering them by bike from his base in Leyton. Since then he’s taken his pies across the city, selling out week on week, and now he’s taken half-time snacks up a notch by becoming the official pie supplier to Watford FC.
Modern Burmese food.
Classics are well-executed at Lahpet — its mohinga, Burma’s national dish of fish broth and rice vermicelli heaped with crispy split-pea fritters, roast chilli and coriander, is a treat, as is the signature dish of lahpet thohk which turns umami-packed tea leaves into a unique textural salad. The pone yay gyi salad is another must-order, made using a home-fermented black bean paste that could be deemed Burmese miso.
11 locals recommend
Lahpet
58 Bethnal Green RdModern Burmese food.
Classics are well-executed at Lahpet — its mohinga, Burma’s national dish of fish broth and rice vermicelli heaped with crispy split-pea fritters, roast chilli and coriander, is a treat, as is the signature dish of lahpet thohk which turns umami-packed tea leaves into a unique textural salad. The pone yay gyi salad is another must-order, made using a home-fermented black bean paste that could be deemed Burmese miso.
Casual, modern British pub food. Chef Jamie Allan, who before, most recently, working at Hill & Szrok on Broadway Market in London, worked at Paris’ seminal neo bistro, Le Chateaubriand, has opened a gastro pub. The focus is on “quality, local, British ingredients,” with the chefs pronouncing that “Four Legs bucks the current trends, championing meat across its concise changing menu.”
Four Legs
52 Saint Thomas's RoadCasual, modern British pub food. Chef Jamie Allan, who before, most recently, working at Hill & Szrok on Broadway Market in London, worked at Paris’ seminal neo bistro, Le Chateaubriand, has opened a gastro pub. The focus is on “quality, local, British ingredients,” with the chefs pronouncing that “Four Legs bucks the current trends, championing meat across its concise changing menu.”
Leroy is a wine bar and Michelin-starred restaurant from the team — Ed Thaw and Jack Lewens — who closed Michelin-starred Ellory in Hackney in March 2018. It is inspired by the Parisian “caves” (restaurant wine annexes) where former head chef Sam Kamienko cooked before coming to London. Like many of the capital’s restaurants in this formula, it’s adopted a set menu on the back of lockdown, with the same French-leaning, delicate dishes nodding to native British ingredients, like guinea fowl with girolles or steamed plaice with mussels, white wine, and samphire.
15 locals recommend
Leroy
18 Phipp StLeroy is a wine bar and Michelin-starred restaurant from the team — Ed Thaw and Jack Lewens — who closed Michelin-starred Ellory in Hackney in March 2018. It is inspired by the Parisian “caves” (restaurant wine annexes) where former head chef Sam Kamienko cooked before coming to London. Like many of the capital’s restaurants in this formula, it’s adopted a set menu on the back of lockdown, with the same French-leaning, delicate dishes nodding to native British ingredients, like guinea fowl with girolles or steamed plaice with mussels, white wine, and samphire.
Chef Mitshel Ibrahim’s Vyner Street trattoria cannily slants mainstays of Italian cuisine to create a restaurant that feels like the London Italian that it is, rather than the Venetian bacaró that inspires it but to which it isn’t really to be compared. The canalside dining room and ample terrace awaits faithfully with Roman artichokes; pillowy gnocchi fritti anointed with mortadella; carne salada paired with shimeji mushrooms alongside Parmesan; and quality rotating pastas. The tiramisù is deservedly legendary.
77 locals recommend
OMBRA
1 Vyner StChef Mitshel Ibrahim’s Vyner Street trattoria cannily slants mainstays of Italian cuisine to create a restaurant that feels like the London Italian that it is, rather than the Venetian bacaró that inspires it but to which it isn’t really to be compared. The canalside dining room and ample terrace awaits faithfully with Roman artichokes; pillowy gnocchi fritti anointed with mortadella; carne salada paired with shimeji mushrooms alongside Parmesan; and quality rotating pastas. The tiramisù is deservedly legendary.
Master butcher-turned lockdown provisioner par excellence, Broadway Market’s Hill & Szrok doubles as a restaurant and wine bar, which features just one stool-high sharing table (it doubles as the butcher’s counter during the day.) When open in the evenings by candlelight, the kitchen is preparing simple, seasonal mains from prime ingredients and large joints of meat to share — 1kg of cote de boeuf for £100, for example — alongside clever sides such as confit potatoes and onions cooked in stock.
65 locals recommend
Hill & Szrok Master Butcher & Cookshop
60 Broadway MarketMaster butcher-turned lockdown provisioner par excellence, Broadway Market’s Hill & Szrok doubles as a restaurant and wine bar, which features just one stool-high sharing table (it doubles as the butcher’s counter during the day.) When open in the evenings by candlelight, the kitchen is preparing simple, seasonal mains from prime ingredients and large joints of meat to share — 1kg of cote de boeuf for £100, for example — alongside clever sides such as confit potatoes and onions cooked in stock.
While the original St. John is rightly regarded as the most important British restaurant in a generation, Bread & Wine, the sister site in Spitalfields, is a better and more interesting restaurant today. If food were a religion, then this would be its church. Indeed, to many, Ferguson Henderson is God. Welsh rarebit, bone marrow and parsley salad, foie gras on toast, mussels with cider, devilled kidneys and half a dozen madeleines; a whole roast suckling pig?
25 locals recommend
St John Bread and Wine
94-96 Commercial StWhile the original St. John is rightly regarded as the most important British restaurant in a generation, Bread & Wine, the sister site in Spitalfields, is a better and more interesting restaurant today. If food were a religion, then this would be its church. Indeed, to many, Ferguson Henderson is God. Welsh rarebit, bone marrow and parsley salad, foie gras on toast, mussels with cider, devilled kidneys and half a dozen madeleines; a whole roast suckling pig?
While this exceptional-smelling venue is principally in the business of retail, it also offers a very decent breakfast, brunch, (at a push, lunch) deal: A deliciously chewy bagel filled with its house-smoked salmon, seasoned cream cheese, and the correct amount of pickles and capers. For a fiver, you can commandeer this sandwich and pick up a fresh orange juice or coffee as well.
Secret Smokehouse
Arch 378 Mentmore TerraceWhile this exceptional-smelling venue is principally in the business of retail, it also offers a very decent breakfast, brunch, (at a push, lunch) deal: A deliciously chewy bagel filled with its house-smoked salmon, seasoned cream cheese, and the correct amount of pickles and capers. For a fiver, you can commandeer this sandwich and pick up a fresh orange juice or coffee as well.
A second site for the brand from Borough Market sees one of the city’s newest modern bistros is turning out good plates of broadly modern European fare and some good pizzas. From the small plate section try the likes of grilled squid, ink, and chilli or veal tartare with tonnato dressing, and olive oil crisps; from the pizza section, an ubergine, friggitelli pepper, and green olive gremolata number or a more classic meat feast: beef ragu, pancetta, basil, and parmesan. Finally, the wood oven offers whole fish and slabs of big meat. Red mullet and mussel vinaigrette; monkfish, sweetcorn, pancetta, and coco beans, or a Middlewhite pork chop, sage, and brown butter for example. Like Bright, a very strong wine list should be well explored.
Elliot’s - Hackney
121-123 Mare StreetA second site for the brand from Borough Market sees one of the city’s newest modern bistros is turning out good plates of broadly modern European fare and some good pizzas. From the small plate section try the likes of grilled squid, ink, and chilli or veal tartare with tonnato dressing, and olive oil crisps; from the pizza section, an ubergine, friggitelli pepper, and green olive gremolata number or a more classic meat feast: beef ragu, pancetta, basil, and parmesan. Finally, the wood oven offers whole fish and slabs of big meat. Red mullet and mussel vinaigrette; monkfish, sweetcorn, pancetta, and coco beans, or a Middlewhite pork chop, sage, and brown butter for example. Like Bright, a very strong wine list should be well explored.
Korean BBQ. Tables with small charcoal grills give diners pleasing autonomy. Juicy chicken wings crackle and yield to tender flesh, while cubes of cumin lamb and beef rotate, dripping and popping with chilli-infused flavour. Meaty squid tentacles lathered in garlic are a highlight, as are thin strips of pork belly parcelled up with enoki mushrooms. Selections of offal adorn the extensive menu, making repeat visits a certainty — as certain as pairing it all with bottles of cold beer.
Yanji BBQ 延吉小串
153 Bethnal Green RoadKorean BBQ. Tables with small charcoal grills give diners pleasing autonomy. Juicy chicken wings crackle and yield to tender flesh, while cubes of cumin lamb and beef rotate, dripping and popping with chilli-infused flavour. Meaty squid tentacles lathered in garlic are a highlight, as are thin strips of pork belly parcelled up with enoki mushrooms. Selections of offal adorn the extensive menu, making repeat visits a certainty — as certain as pairing it all with bottles of cold beer.
Gripe all you want about east London’s current preponderance of boho bistros specialising in small plates and natural wines – but when it’s done right, it’s still a knockout formula. And Sune, just over the bridge from Broadway Market in Hackney, absolutely nails it. There are twists on the Spanish gilda – piquant olives, anchovies and guindilla chillies – mounted on a potato cake that’s essentially a hash brown, and warm flatbreads to dip in a horseradish cream topped with bursting trout roe and herb oil, the whole thing tasting like taramasalata with serious attitude. A smoked eel salad was an olfactory smash and Sune’s signature dish of soft beef tartare on a croque monsieur, was a wild combination, taking supreme skill to balance the optimal temperatures of raw beef and melted cheese.
Sune Restaurant
Gripe all you want about east London’s current preponderance of boho bistros specialising in small plates and natural wines – but when it’s done right, it’s still a knockout formula. And Sune, just over the bridge from Broadway Market in Hackney, absolutely nails it. There are twists on the Spanish gilda – piquant olives, anchovies and guindilla chillies – mounted on a potato cake that’s essentially a hash brown, and warm flatbreads to dip in a horseradish cream topped with bursting trout roe and herb oil, the whole thing tasting like taramasalata with serious attitude. A smoked eel salad was an olfactory smash and Sune’s signature dish of soft beef tartare on a croque monsieur, was a wild combination, taking supreme skill to balance the optimal temperatures of raw beef and melted cheese.
Abby Lee's Peckham market stall has moved to its first permanent restaurant space and it's truly sensational. A relatively chilled open kitchen churns out showstopping Malaysian food, full of fun, fragrance and heat. Order the lor bak – supremely crispy five spice pork and bean curd rolls with potent chilli vinegar jam – otak-otak prawn toast, and whopping big kam heong mussels, sensational in their messy, lip-smacking sloppiness.
Mambow
Abby Lee's Peckham market stall has moved to its first permanent restaurant space and it's truly sensational. A relatively chilled open kitchen churns out showstopping Malaysian food, full of fun, fragrance and heat. Order the lor bak – supremely crispy five spice pork and bean curd rolls with potent chilli vinegar jam – otak-otak prawn toast, and whopping big kam heong mussels, sensational in their messy, lip-smacking sloppiness.
Afghan Grill
Great grilled meats and rice. Big portions