London is a food lover’s paradise, offering a mix of traditional British dishes, multicultural cuisine, and Michelin-starred dining. Here’s a guide on what to eat in London and where to find it as a tourist!
- Traditional British Food & Where to Eat It
🍽️ Full English Breakfast
📍 Where:
- The Wolseley (Piccadilly) – A fancy spot for a classic breakfast
- Regency Café (Westminster) – No-frills but legendary
🔹 What’s in it? Eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, toast, mushrooms, tomatoes, and black pudding
🐟 Fish & Chips
📍 Where:
- Poppie’s Fish & Chips (Soho, Camden, Spitalfields) – One of the best-rated in town
- Golden Hind (Marylebone) – A historic spot serving fish & chips since 1914
🔹 Best with: Mushy peas & tartar sauce
🥧 Pie & Mash
📍 Where:
- M. Manze (Tower Bridge) – London’s oldest pie shop, famous for traditional minced beef pies
- Mother Mash (Soho) – Offers different mash and gravy options
🔹 Tip: Try it with liquor sauce (a parsley-based green sauce)
🥪 Afternoon Tea
📍 Where:
- Sketch (Mayfair) – A quirky, pink-themed Michelin-starred tea room
- The Ritz London (Piccadilly) – The ultimate luxury afternoon tea experience
- Fortnum & Mason (Piccadilly) – A royal-approved tea house
🔹 What’s included? Finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream & jam, pastries, and fine tea
🍗 Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding
📍 Where:
- Hawksmoor (Multiple locations) – A legendary steakhouse with an amazing Sunday roast
- The Harwood Arms (Fulham) – The only Michelin-starred pub in London
🔹 What’s in it? Roast beef (or lamb, chicken, or pork), crispy roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding, and rich gravy
🥪 The Best Sandwich in London: Salt Beef Bagel
📍 Where:
- Beigel Bake (Brick Lane) – 24/7 legendary salt beef bagels with mustard & pickles
🔹 Pro Tip: Go late at night after a pub crawl—it’s a London tradition!
-
International & Multicultural Food
London is home to incredible international cuisine, thanks to its diverse population. Here are must-try options:
🍛 Indian Food – Best in the World (Outside of India!)
📍 Where:
- Dishoom (Covent Garden, Shoreditch, Kensington) – Bombay café vibes with legendary black daal
- Gymkhana (Mayfair) – A Michelin-starred Indian restaurant
🔹 Must-try: Chicken tikka, lamb biryani, garlic naan
🥡 Chinese Food – Authentic Chinatown Experience
📍 Where:
- Four Seasons (Chinatown) – Famous for roast duck
- Hutong (The Shard) – Upscale Northern Chinese food with breathtaking views
🔹 Best dishes: Dim sum, crispy duck pancakes
🌮 Street Food & Markets
📍 Where:
- Borough Market – The best for gourmet food, cheese, and fresh-baked goods
- Camden Market – Famous for international street food (Mexican, Thai, Ethiopian, etc.)
- Boxpark Shoreditch – Trendy food stalls and pop-up restaurants
🔹 Must-try: Halloumi fries, bao buns, gourmet burgers
🍣 Sushi & Japanese
📍 Where:
- Sushisamba (Liverpool Street) – A fusion of Japanese, Peruvian & Brazilian flavors with an amazing rooftop view
- Sticks’n’Sushi (Covent Garden) – Danish-Japanese sushi & grilled skewers
🍔 The Best Burgers in London
📍 Where:
- Bleecker Burger (Various locations) – Award-winning, no-nonsense burgers
- Honest Burgers (Soho & others) – Delicious British beef burgers with rosemary fries
-
Michelin-Starred & Fine Dining Experiences
For those looking for an unforgettable dining experience, London has some of the best fine dining spots:
⭐ Gordon Ramsay’s Restaurants
- Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (Chelsea) – 3 Michelin stars, ultimate luxury
- Heddon Street Kitchen (Mayfair) – More affordable but still top quality
⭐ Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
- 3 Michelin stars, known for exquisite French cuisine
⭐ Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
- Historic British dishes with a modern twist
-
Best Cafés & Bakeries
☕ Specialty Coffee
📍 Where:
- Monmouth Coffee (Borough Market) – London’s best artisanal coffee
- Kaffeine (Fitzrovia) – An Aussie-style café with great flat whites
🥐 Best Bakeries & Pastries
📍 Where:
- Gail’s Bakery – Famous for fresh sourdough bread and croissants
- Ottolenghi (Notting Hill) – Middle Eastern-inspired pastries
- Best Pubs for an Authentic London Experience
📍 Where:
- The Churchill Arms (Kensington) – A historic pub covered in flowers
- Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (Fleet Street) – A 17th-century pub with traditional vibes
- The Mayflower (Rotherhithe) – Overlooking the Thames, one of London’s oldest pubs
🔹 What to order? A pint of real ale and some pub snacks like Scotch eggs or pork pies
Final Tips for Eating in London:
✅ Book ahead for popular restaurants – Some places, like Dishoom or Sketch, require reservations weeks in advance.
✅ Try food markets for budget-friendly gourmet options – Borough Market & Camden Market are must-visits.
✅ Don’t be afraid to explore different areas – Soho for trendy dining, Shoreditch for street food, Mayfair for fine dining, and South Bank for riverside restaurants.
Would you like recommendations for a specific budget, dietary preference (vegan, halal, etc.), or neighborhood? 😊
Sure! Here’s a detailed breakdown of the best dishes to try in London, including their ingredients and why they’re special.
🥞 1. Full English Breakfast
What’s in it?
- Fried or scrambled eggs
- Crispy bacon
- Sausages
- Grilled tomatoes & mushrooms
- Baked beans
- Toast or fried bread
- Black pudding (a type of blood sausage)
Why try it?
It’s the ultimate British comfort breakfast, packed with protein and perfect for fueling a day of sightseeing.
📍 Best places to try: The Wolseley, Regency Café, The Breakfast Club
🐟 2. Fish & Chips
What’s in it?
- Deep-fried battered fish (traditionally cod or haddock)
- Chunky fries (British “chips”)
- Served with mushy peas, tartar sauce, and sometimes curry sauce
Why try it?
It’s one of Britain’s most famous dishes, best enjoyed fresh and crispy by the Thames or at a classic chip shop.
📍 Best places to try: Poppie’s, Golden Hind, The Mayfair Chippy
🥧 3. Pie & Mash
What’s in it?
- Pie: Usually a meat pie (minced beef or steak)
- Mash: Creamy mashed potatoes
- Liquor sauce: A traditional parsley-based green sauce
Why try it?
A working-class London dish from the 19th century, still loved today for its hearty and nostalgic flavors.
📍 Best places to try: M. Manze, Mother Mash
🥪 4. Afternoon Tea (Traditional British Tea Experience)
What’s included?
- Finger sandwiches: Cucumber & cream cheese, smoked salmon, egg mayo
- Scones: Served warm with clotted cream & strawberry jam
- Pastries & cakes: Mini tarts, éclairs, macarons
- Tea: Usually English Breakfast, Earl Grey, or herbal teas
Why try it?
It’s a luxurious and classic British experience, dating back to the 19th century.
📍 Best places to try: The Ritz, Sketch, Fortnum & Mason
🥩 5. Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding
What’s in it?
- Meat: Roast beef, lamb, chicken, or pork
- Yorkshire pudding: A fluffy, crispy baked batter
- Roast potatoes & vegetables: Carrots, parsnips, peas
- Gravy: Made from meat drippings
Why try it?
A British Sunday tradition, perfect for cozy pub dining.
📍 Best places to try: Hawksmoor, The Harwood Arms
🥯 6. Salt Beef Bagel (Jewish Deli Special)
What’s in it?
- Bagel: Chewy, golden-brown crust
- Salt beef: Slow-cooked, juicy beef brisket
- Mustard & pickles
Why try it?
A favorite late-night snack in London’s East End, dating back to the city’s Jewish immigrant history.
📍 Best place to try: Beigel Bake (Brick Lane)
🍛 7. Indian Curry (London’s Best Non-British Dish!)
What’s in it?
- Chicken Tikka Masala: Grilled chicken in a creamy tomato-based sauce
- Lamb Biryani: Aromatic rice with spiced lamb
- Garlic Naan: Soft, fluffy Indian flatbread
Why try it?
London is famous for its Indian food, with some of the best curries outside of India.
📍 Best places to try: Dishoom, Gymkhana
🥡 8. Dim Sum (Best Chinatown Dish)
What’s in it?
- Steamed dumplings: Pork, prawn, or veggie
- Bao buns: Fluffy buns with BBQ pork
- Crispy duck pancakes: Sliced duck with hoisin sauce & cucumber
Why try it?
Perfect for sharing, dim sum is a must-try when exploring London’s Chinatown.
📍 Best places to try: Four Seasons, Hutong
🍔 9. Best Burgers in London
What’s in it?
- High-quality beef patty (usually medium-rare)
- Soft toasted bun
- Melty cheese, pickles, house sauce
📍 Best places to try: Bleecker Burger, Honest Burgers
🍺 10. Pub Snacks (For a True London Pub Experience)
What to order?
- Scotch Eggs: Boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat & deep-fried
- Pork Pies: Traditional flaky pastry with spiced pork filling
- Crisps (Chips): Often served with a pint of beer
📍 Best places to try: The Churchill Arms, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Final Tips for Eating in London:
✅ Try traditional dishes but don’t miss out on international flavors – London is home to world-class Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cuisine.
✅ Book ahead for popular restaurants – Especially for afternoon tea, Michelin-starred dining, and famous eateries like Dishoom.
✅ Explore food markets for affordable gourmet options – Borough Market & Camden Market are food-lover havens.
Would you like a food tour itinerary or recommendations for specific dietary needs (vegan, halal, gluten-free, etc.)? 😊