London: a restaurant guide

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life" - Samuel Johnson

Some of you may know that I have an Instagram account (@omnomnomdiary) that is dedicated to restaurant reviews, but I’ve often had people say that scrolling down my posts is not always the most practical way to find a suitable spot for dinner.

Well my friends, here is the repository of all my favourite food places in London, distilled from my Instagram reviews into the creme de la creme and split by area and price as best as I can. Feel free to Ctrl + F to search by name, area or cuisine!

Kol, Marylebone (L), Chisou, Mayfair (C), Alley Cats Pizza, Marylebone (R)

This post will be constantly updated as I eat my way through my home city, so watch this space and do leave any suggestions in the comments below.

I’ve also linked the corresponding Instagram review where applicable, so follow me there for my detailed thoughts on each place, prices and mouthwatering visuals.

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*asterisks represent Michelin stars at the time of writing

North

£

• Tanakatsu, Angel (Japanese) - review

• Katsute 100, Angel (Japanese patisserie)

• Lanka, Finchley Road (Japanese patisserie)

• Xi’an Impression London, Arsenal (Chinese) - review

• Pho Ta, Finchley Road (Vietnamese)

• Ninh’s, Highbury (Vietnamese)

££

• Jin Kichi, Hampstead (Japanese) - review

• Jolene, Newington Green (Modern European) - review

• The Parakeet, Kentish Town (British) - review

• Noci, Islington (Italian) - review

• The Tamil Crown, Angel (Indian) - review

• Takagiya, West Hampstead (Japanese) - review

The Tamil Crown, Angel

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Central

£

• Speedboat Bar, Soho (Thai) - review

• The Eight Restaurant, Soho (Hong Kong) - review

• Alley Cats Pizza, Marylebone (Italian) - review

• Plaza Khao Gaeng, Tottenham Court Road (Thai) - review

• Coco Ichibanya, Covent Garden / Marylebone (Japanese) - review

• WA Cafe, Covent Garden / Marylebone (Japanese patisserie)

• Koya, Soho (Japanese)

• Tukdin, Paddington (Malaysian) - review

• Banh Mi Keu, Soho (Vietnamese)

• Lao Cafe, Covent Garden (Lao) - review

££

• Le Relais de Venise Entrecote, Marylebone (French) - review

• The Hero of Maida, Maida Vale (British)

• Mountain*, Soho (Modern European) - review

• Notto Pasta Bar, Piccadilly (Italian) - review

• Noble Rot, Mayfair (Modern European) - review

• Barrafina, Covent Garden (Spanish) - review

• Koba, Soho (Korean) - review

• Rita’s, Soho (Modern European) - review

• Salt Yard, Fitzrovia (Spanish) - review

• Cinder, St John’s Wood (Modern European) - review

Cinder, St John's Wood (L), Mountain, Soho (R)

• Bubala, Soho (Middle Eastern) - review

• Lisboeta, Fitzrovia (Portuguese) - review

• The Ninth*, Fitzrovia (Modern European) - review

• Jikoni, Marylebone (Pan-Asian fusion) - review

• Lina Stores, Marylebone / Soho (Italian) - review

• Maison Francois, Mayfair (French) - review

• Bancone, Soho (Italian) - review

• Chisou, Mayfair (Japanese)

• Roka, Strand (Japanese) - review

• Rai, Tottenham Court Road (Japanese) - review

• Abeno, Bloomsbury (Japanese)

• Ukiyo Handroll Bar, Covent Garden (Japanese)

• Toklas, Strand (Modern European) - review

• Chungdam, Soho (Korean)

Toklas, Strand

£££

• Humble Chicken*, Soho (Japanese) - review

• Locanda Locatelli*, Marylebone (Italian) - review

• Kol*, Marylebone (Mexican) - review

• Dinings, Marylebone (Japanese) - review

• Namaiki, Soho (Japanese) - review

• Frog by Adam Handling*, Covent Garden (Modern British) - review

• Chiltern Firehouse, Marylebone (American) - review

• The Ritz Restaurant*, Mayfair (British-French) - review

• The Colony Grill Room, Mayfair (American) - review

• Thames Foyer at the Savoy, Charing Cross (Afternoon tea) - review

• Sushi Tonari, Marylebone (Japanese) - review

• Gymkhana**, Mayfair (Indian) - review

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East

£

• Padella, Shoreditch (Italian)

• Smoking Goat, Shoreditch (Thai)

££

• Planque, Haggerston (Modern European) - review

• Angelina, Dalston (Japanese/Italian fusion) - review

• Sager + Wilde, Bethnal Green (Modern European) - review

• Casa Fofo*, Hackney (Modern European) - review

• Trattoria Brutto, Farringdon (Italian) - review

• Som Saa, Shoreditch (Thai) - review

• St John Bread & Wine*, Shoreditch (British) - review

• Manteca, Shoreditch (Italian) - review

• Elliot’s, Hackney (Modern European) - review

• Sune, Hackney (Modern European) - review

Trattoria Brutto, Farringdon (L), Angelina, Dalston (R)

£££

• The Water House Project, Bethnal Green (Modern European) - review

• The Clove Club**, Shoreditch (Modern European) - review

• Nobu, Shoreditch (Japanese weekend buffet) - review

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West

£

• Eggbreak, Notting Hill (Brunch) - review

• Chet’s, Shepherd’s Bush (Thai) - review

• Ria’s, Notting Hill (American Italian) - review

££

• Ixchel, Chelsea (Mexican) - review

• Caia, Notting Hill (Modern European) - review

• The Pelican, Notting Hill (British) - review

• Gold, Notting Hill (Modern European) - review

• Akub, Notting Hill (Palestinian) - review

• Dove, Notting Hill (Modern European) - review

• Zephyr, Notting Hill (Modern Greek) - review

• Canteen 310, Notting Hill (Italian) - review

Akub, Notting Hill

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South

£

• Maries Cafe, Waterloo (Thai) - review

• Milk, Balham (Brunch) - review

• Padella, London Bridge (Italian)

• Flour & Grape, Bermondsey (Italian) - review

Milk, Balham (L), Flour & Grape, Bermondsey (R)

££

• Evernight, Vauxhall (Japanese) - review

• Legare, Tower Bridge (Italian) - review

• Smoke & Salt, Tooting (Modern European) - review

• Temaki Hand Roll Bar, Brixton (Japanese)

• Archway, Battersea (Italian) - review

• Oma, Borough Market (Modern Greek) - review

• Brunswick House, Vaxuhall (Modern European)

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Further afield

££

• The Hind’s Head*, Bray (Modern British) - review

• The Coach*, Marlow (Modern British)

£££

• The Fat Duck***, Bray (Modern British)

The Fat Duck, Bray

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