20 of The Best Must Eats in London
20 of The Best Must Eats in London
From steak to bottomless sushi brunches, here’s our list of must eats in London
Must eats in London are more than just viral dishes – they’re the flavours, food trends, and iconic plates that make the city one of the most exciting places to eat in the world.
So whether you’re planning a weekend food crawl, hunting down the best things to eat in London, or looking for the best restaurants in London for a memorable meal, this guide rounds up the dishes we keep coming back for.
From fluffy Japanese souffle cheesecake and hand-pulled noodles to indulgent afternoon tea, bottomless sushi brunches, and classic Sunday roasts, these are the bites that stand out in a city packed with choice.
If you want a practical list of the must eats in London, with a mix of cult favourites, comfort food, and special-occasion spots, start here.
UPDATED 2026
Quick list of must eats in London:
- Japanese souffle cheesecake at Kova Patisserie, South Kensington
- The Hell’s Kitchen roll at Sticks N Sushi, Soho
- Afternoon tea at Ting, The Shard
- Bottomless sushi brunch at Kaia, The Ned
- Roast duck at Impala, Soho
- Kunafah at Grilandia, Notting Hill
- Dry aged rib eye on the bone at Bottarga, Chelsea
- Popcorn Paris Brest at Onsu, Soho
- Hand-pulled biang biang noodles at Xi’an Impression, Highbury
- Beef shortrib at Bao, Fitzrovia
- Chilli cheese dosa at Tamila, Soho
- The burger at Plimsoll, Finsbury Park
- Dim sum at Baozi Inn, Soho
- Sunday Roast at The Devonshire, Soho
- Biryani at Gymkhana, Mayfair
- Cardamon buns at Fabrique, Notting Hill
- Deep dish pizza at Detroit Pizza, Shoreditch
- Duck and Waffle at Duck and Waffle, Liverpool Street
- Gulab jamun at Ambassador’s Clubhouse, Mayfair
- Tuna steak at Moi, Soho
Find out more below in our full must eats in London list.
1. Japanese souffle cheesecake at Kova Patisserie, South Kensington
For our first stop on the tour of must eats in London, we have souffle cheesecake. Specifically, Japanese soufflé cheesecake (yum). We can confirm that the best jiggly cheesecake can be found at Kova in South Kensington.
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Where To Eat Jiggly Japanese Cheesecake In London
2. The Hell’s Kitchen roll at Sticks N Sushi, Soho
The Hell’s Kitchen roll at Sticks’n’Sushi is one of the best things to eat in London if you think sushi should be bold as well as beautiful. It’s got layers of tempura prawn, creamy avocado and spicy sauce, wrapped in perfectly seasoned rice, delivering crunch, heat and richness in every bite. It’s indulgent without being clumsy, polished without being dull, which is why it’s a must eat dish in London.
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The Best Things To Eat At Sticks n Sushi, Soho
3. Afternoon tea at Ting, The Shard
Regular readers will know how much we adore The Shard, and the restaurants inside it. None are better though, than Ting on the 35th floor. And, if you’re looking for a properly iconic thing to eat in London, then head to Ting for their afternoon tea. It’s a serious contender for one of the yummiest must eats in London!
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Festive Afternoon Tea at Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard, London
4. Bottomless sushi brunch at Kaia, The Ned
One thing we love more than brunch? Bottomless sushi brunch! We’ve been to a couple of all-you-can-eat sushi brunches in London, and we think the one at Kaia is the best. Although it might not strictly be the best high-end sushi, it’s more than serviceable if you’re in the mood to eat tonnes, for under £50 a head. Om noms.
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The Ultimate Bottomless Sushi Brunch at Kaia, The Ned
5. Roast duck at Impala, Soho
The roast duck at Impala is one of the best things to eat in London right now. Dry-aged, brined and grilled over embers with black lime and molasses, the skin shatters while the meat stays impossibly tender. Finished with a rich duck jus and sun-dried figs, it’s deep, smoky and unforgettable. And it’s a true must try restaurant in London.
Read more
Is Impala Really That Good? We Went on Day Four to Find Out
6. Kunafah at Grilandia, Notting Hill
One of the best things to eat in London is Middle Eastern food. But, unless you know where to go, it can sometimes be a bit blah. Step in Grilandia, a restaurant that knows how to make this humble, homely fare shine. Try their meaty, fragrant kibbeh, their flavourful merguez sausages, and their delicious desserts. Including some very good kunafah!
Read more
The Ultimate Guide – Where To Eat Kunafa in London
7. Dry aged rib eye on the bone at Bottarga, Chelsea
The dry-aged rib eye on the bone at Bottarga is deep, beefy joy. Its exterior is seared to crusty perfection, the interior rich and silky. It’s one of the best steaks in the city, and has to be one of the best must eats in London.
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A Rare 10/10 Lunch at Bottarga, Chelsea
8. Popcorn Paris Brest at Onsu, Soho
The popcorn and miso caramel Paris-Brest at Onsu Bakery is one of the best things to eat in London’s brilliant bakery scene. Every part of this clever patisserie, from the crisp choux, to the popcorn-infused creme, brings fantastic layers of flavour and texture. It’s the kind of dessert you think about long after you finish it, making it a must eat dish in London and a top pick at this must try bakery in London.
Read more
Is Onsu Bakery In Soho Worth The Hype?
9. Hand-pulled biang biang noodles at Xi’an Impression, Highbury
For my partners birthday this year we went to see an Arsenal football game at Emirates Stadium. Although footy isn’t entirely our cuppa tea, hand-pulled Biang Biang noodles definitely are. And these stretchy, long, scrumptious bad boys are served at Xi’an Impression, a tiny, hole-in-the-wall eatery just outside the stadium. Good times all round!
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Tea Room at Bun House, Soho – A Hong Kong Brunch
10. Beef shortrib and cured egg bao at Bao, Fitzrovia
Bao London is by no means a shocker on this list of must eats in London. By now most people have been and know how delicious their steamed-milk bao buns are. But I’m flying the flag for them again, and especially for the buns filled with pulled beef shortrib and cured egg yolk. Yummy!
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Bao and marshmallows at Flesh and Buns
11. Chilli cheese dosa at Tamila, Soho
The chilli cheese dosa at Tamila Soho turns South Indian comfort into one of the best things to eat in London. It’s a light and spongy dosa wrapped around molten cheese and green chilli, served with tangy coconut and tomato chutneys. Each bite is messy, gooey, spicy and utterly moreish.
It’s a modern take on dosa that delivers big flavour and makes it a must eat dish in London for anyone chasing bold, playful brunch food at a must try restaurant in London.
Read more
Here’s What to Order at Tamila Soho and What to Skip
12. The burger at Plimsoll, Finsbury Park
The burger at Plimsoll is a delightful twist on the classic pub smash. It’s got tender beef, melted cheese, caramelised onions and a perfectly charred exterior, all sandwiched in a pillowy bun that still manages to hold up. It’s juicy without collapsing and rich without feeling sloppy, marking it as one of the best burgers in London and a must eat dish in London’s vibrant burger scene.
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The Plimsoll Burger Deserves Your Full Attention
13. All the dim sum at Baozi Inn, Soho
Our favourite place to eat dim sum is at Baozi Inn, Soho. Their steaming baskets are filled with all manner of different dumplings, which are as delicious as they are colourful, and are one of the best must eats in London.
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Rainbow Dim Sum at Baozi Inn, Soho
14. Sunday Roast at The Devonshire, Soho
The Sunday roast at The Devonshire is what London Sunday dreams are made of. Think glossy roast potatoes with crackled edges, tender meat that barely needs sauce, crisp yorkshire puddings and proper gravy. It’s a must eat dish in London’s roast scene and the type of meal that makes you revisit traditions you thought you knew.
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A Stunning Sunday Roast at The Devonshire, Soho
15. Biryani at Gymkhana, Mayfair
The biryani at Gymkhana is a fragrant, spice-powered celebration of Indian technique and flavour. The rich spicing hums with cardamom, cinnamon and rich meat juices, the textures layered and fragrant, and all topped with a flaky pastry top.
This biryani is more than a side note – it’s a proper centrepiece and a must eat dish in London’s Indian fine-dining landscape, cementing Gymkhana as a must try restaurant in London.
Read more
The Best Things To Eat On The Gymkhana Menu
16. Cardamon buns at Fabrique, Notting Hill
We’ve loved cardamom buns since the first time we tried them in Stockholm last year. Luckily, London do some lovely buns too, and the ones at Fabrique are the most moreish, cardamom-filled morsels that you’ll ever eat in the city. We’ll be eating many more of these.
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17. Deep dish pizza at Detroit Pizza, Shoreditch
The Tuscan pizza at Detroit Pizza takes char and cheese to new heights, with its thick yet airy crust and caramelized cheese at the edges. Olive oil, tangy tomato and rich toppings all mingle in every cheesy pull. It’s a deep dish pizza worth crossing town for, ranking among the best things to eat in London’s brilliant pizza scene.
Read more
Why Detroit Pizza London Is Worth The Hype
18. The iconic dish at Duck and Waffle, Liverpool Street
London has no shortage of restaurants with views, and Duck and Waffle has to be one of the best. If you do decide to pop in, try out their most iconic dish – the duck and waffle. It’s just as lovely as everyone says, and the views are a bonus too!
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Dirty Bones, High Street Kensington
19. Gulab Jamun at Ambassador’s Clubhouse, Mayfair
The gulab jamun at Ambassador’s Clubhouse is worth knowing about. It features soft, syrup-soaked spheres that yield with a gentle press and deliver floral sweetness without any heaviness. Each bite is nostalgic and comforting, a perfect finish to a fine meal, and deserves its place as a must eat dessert in London’s dessert canon.
Read more
Is Ambassadors Clubhouse As Good As Gymkhana?
20. Sharing tuna steak at Moi, Soho
The sharing tuna steak at Moi turns steakhouse theatre into seafood brilliance. It’s seared exactly like a beef steak would be, and has a rare, juicy centre, doused in peppercorn sauce. That’s to say, it’s big in flavour and beautifully executed. The tuna steak at Moi is one of the best things to eat in the city for anyone who loves crowd pleasers and one of our must eats in London.
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A Splurgy Sunday Lunch at Moi Restaurant, Soho
