London is home to several restaurants that specialize in roast duck and whenever roast ducks are mentioned, the names that come to mind are the usual Four Season and Gold Mine.

But what you really need to try is New Fortune Cookie at Bayswater. This nondescript restaurant sits just right beside one of the exits of Lancaster Gate station, and it is super accessible via public transport.

New Fortune Cookie has been a perennial favourite and one restaurant that we must dine at whenever we are in London. Why? Because it is the best.

Over the last 5 years, we’ve had meals here every single time we visit London and none of them disappointed us. New Fortune Cookie is the most affordable option if you compare it to Gold Mine Restaurant and Four Seasons Restaurant, and has a good consistency to boast.

The duck is prized for its fats (in a wonderful way), and every bite of the fatty duck comes with a gratifying aroma that lingers. If you are a fan of fatty ducks, this is the real deal. Their meat to fat ratio is absolutely wonderful.

For £12 per half duck, New Fortune Cookie wins in terms of price.

The menu is huge, and includes many other Chinese stir-fry dishes but we’d say to not waste your time and just go for duck and more duck. If you must, they’ve got pretty fragrant Egg Fried Rice (£3.50).  And for us typical Chinese who need our greens, you’d be pleased to know that stir-fry vegetables start from £6.80. That’s pretty reasonable, huh?

Pro tip: go during dinner and with every order of at least half a duck, you can ask for a free soup of the day.

If you want to get fat, go to London. The British city has cuisines from all over the world, and the sheer number of options is mind-boggling to say the least.

Meal times are never dull when in London, and we always look forward to the next meal because our list of places to check out never ends.

Getting this done was hard, because it is hard to point down to just one or two favourites. But here’s a Guide to 14 of Our Favourite Food Places in London; first-timers to London should visit all of these to have a fair glimpse of what London can offer!

#1 ASSA KOREAN RESTAURANT

Assa is our go-to Korean restaurant when in SoHo, London. The prices are relatively affordable (by London’s standard) and the Kimchi Pork Stew (£22) is the tastiest.

If you are with friends, or simply feeling extra hungry, go for their value-for-money set. For £35, you get a Korean stew with kimchi, rice cake, two bowls of rice and two drinks.

53 St Giles High St
London WC2H 8LH, United Kingdom
Daily: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

#2 BIG EASY

We found a lobster shack that can rival Burger and Lobster. At £20, you get a whole Maine lobster that is beautifully grilled, complete with fries and side salad. And it comes with a complimentary cocktail, too!

Not too sure if we were extremely lucky or what but on the several occasions we went, the lobsters were significantly huger than B&L’s, and the meat was a lot fresher. It is now a pit stop for us when in Covent Garden.

It has also one of the best kept-secrets in London. On every Monday, you can get UNLIMITED servings of a platter of North Carolina Chopped Pork, BBQ Chicken and St Louis Pork Ribs with Coleslaw, Beans and Fries for just £19.90. And it comes with a pint of beer too.

12 Maiden Ln
London WC2E 7NA, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 3728 4888
Mon to Wed: 12pm – 11.30pm
Thu to Sat: 12pm – 12.30am
Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

#3 BURGER AND LOBSTER

This – the famous Burger and Lobster. Where do we even start?

The concept of Burger and Lobster is brilliant. There are only three items on the menu – burger, lobster and lobster roll – and at £20 each, they represent fantastic value.

A whole fresh lobster grilled/ steamed (choose the steamed option), accompanied by a generous bowl of lemon butter dip, a side salad and a bucket of fries. All for only £20.

Burger and Lobster has the winning formula: a sexy crowd, sexier cocktails, unpretentious and fun atmosphere, and brilliant food at unbeatable price. As much as Burger and Lobster has become a place where every tourist would go to, it still remains as a must-visit dining destination in London.

6 Little Portland St
London W1W 7JE, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7907 7760
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

#4 DINNER BY HESTON BLUMENTAL

If you are a fan of Chef Heston Blumenthal – chef and owner of The Fat Duck – you definitely have to drop by Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the swanky Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park.

On a budget? Opt for lunch instead of dinner with the three-course sample menu – very reasonably priced at £36.

Dinner by Heston Blumental is a concept that banks on the comfort of ancient recipes. How the culinary team will surprise you is with its modern interpretations of these age-old traditional recipes, without steering away too far from its original ideas and tastes.

When you are at it, please do yourself the favour and order the Tipsy Cake. The famed dessert is reason enough for us to go back just for it.

66 Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7LA, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7201 3833
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Knightsbridge

#5 DISHOOM

It is no secret that Dishoom is our (and many others’) favourite Indian restaurant in London. Mystically sexy, Dishoom should be on everyone’s bucket list when visiting London. From its menu and price points to its decor and ambience, no other Indian restaurants come close.

Their menus differ during different times of the day, and while we love the classic lunch/ dinner menu, the breakfast is what we would get out of bed for. Be there as early as 8am to avoid long queues.

22 Kingly Street, London W1B 5QB
Tel: +44 20 7420 9322
Mon to Thu: 8am – 11pm
Fri: 9am – 12am
Sat: 9am – 12am
Sun: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

#6 DUCK AND WAFFLE

Everyone visits Duck And Waffle for two things – the splendid view overlooking the city of London from the 40th floor of Heron Tower, and the signature dish – Duck and Waffles (£15 during breakfast, £17 all day) – which gave the restaurant its name.

Duck and Waffle opens 24/7, but reservations are still recommended anyway because they are perpetually booked.

Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4AY, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 3640 7310
Open 24 Hours
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street

#7 FLAT IRON

There is only one dish on the menu at Flat Iron restaurant – the Flat Iron steak. The steak may not be of the best cut but at £10 for a steak, it is considerably cheap and warrants a visit.

You can order accompanying sides such as dripping cooked fries, creamed spinach, and roast aubergine.

Occasionally, they would offer special and better steak cuts at seasonal prices, as well as surprises such as burgers.

17 Beak St
London W1F 9RW, United Kingdom
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus

#8 LANTANA

Lantana is an all-time favourite brunch spots in London, and it is arguably the best. There are three outlets in the city, but we like to patronise the one on Charlotte Street.

It is a casual Aussie-style café with very relaxing vibes that is perfect for brunch over hearty food, coffee and pastries. If you are there for breakfast, you must try the English Muffin Breakfast with sausage patty, fried egg and bacon. The chilli jam is to die for.

The Asian Duck Rice surprised us. The ingredients – duck, pancetta, cucumber and chilli jam – elevated this seemingly ordinary dish to something quite special, and to us Asians, nothing beats the comfort of a fried rice dish.

13 Charlotte Pl, Fitzrovia
London W1T 1SN, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7637 3347
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Goodge Street

#9 KANADA-YA

We have tried numerous ramen shops in London, but sadly, most of them are catered to the Westerners’ palate and nothing near to how authentic Japanese ramen would taste like in Japan.

Kanada-ya is an exception. The tonkotsu ramen is exactly how a good pork broth ramen is supposed to be, with rich and flavourful broth, pork slices flavoured egg with a runny center, fungus and leek.

64 St Giles High St
London WC2H 8LE, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7240 0232
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

#10 MAISON BERTAUX

One of the oldest patisseries in London is Maison Bertaux, our go-to place for a quiet afternoon tea in London. They offer many beautiful cakes and rustic pastries. Make sure you try their almond croissant.

28 Greek St
London W1D 5DQ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7437 6007
Mon to Sat: 8.30am – 11pm
Sun: 9.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

#11 NEW FORTUNE COOKIE

After trying several roast ducks in London, New Fortune Cookie won our hearts with the best roast duck in London. Better than our previous favourite, Gold Mine. And better than the famous Four Seasons.

And at £9.50 for half duck – as compared to £13 at Gold Mine and £13.50 at Four Seasons - it is the cheapest option. The staff here are friendlier, and we like how we do not feel pressured to leave. In case you have no idea, the staff at Four Seasons will always chase you out once they see that your plates are empty.

1 Queensway
London W2 4QJ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7727 7260
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Queensway

#12 PATTY AND BUN

We have said it before and we will say it again: Patty and Bun’s Smokey Robinson burger is hands down the best burger in London.

Messy, greasy and finger-licking good, the Smokey Robinson Burger (£8.50) comes with everything you need in a burger – caramelised onions, bacon, smokey mayo, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and a juicy beef patty.

Beyond the amazing burger, the mood at Patty & Bun is hippy and loud; you instantly feel cool just by dining there. It truly delivers a unique and complete burger experience.

22-23 Liverpool St
London EC2M 7PD, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7621 1331
Mon & Tue: 11.30am – 10pm
Wed to Fri: 11.30am – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street

#13 PRUFROCK

Prufrock has achieved cult status in London and it is widely recognised as one of the best coffee shops in the city. The coffee here is rich, creamy and well-balanced; indeed, it is easily the best cup of coffee you can find in London.

There is a small selection of sweet and savoury baked goods to go along with your cuppa.

Its flagship cafe on the bustling Leather Lane in Clerkenwell also offers coffee tastings, training and events.

23-25 Leather Ln
London EC1N 7TE, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7242 0467
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane

#14 THE MUFFIN MAN

Have you heard? These are the best scones in London!

The Muffin Man is an old-school English tea shop in Kensington that serves a variety of breakfast dishes, rustic cakes and scones.

Come here for tea and get the legendary scones and you will be rewarded with crumbly, perfectly baked goodness. The Devon Cream Tea set (£6.50) comes with a pot of tea, two toasted scones with jam and Devon cream.

If this still ain’t a quintessential British experience, we don’t know what is.

12 Wrights Ln
London W8 6TA, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7937 6652
Mon to Sat: 8am – 8pm
Sun: 9am – 8pm
Nearest Station: High Street Kensington

For more recommendations, read our London travel guide on what to eat and where to go to.

London is synonymous with good food, and where the Chinese community is concerned, roast ducks are a must when in the British city.

Sure, there are many upmarket Chinese restaurants serving exquisite Chinese cuisine and dimsum, but most would agree that when in London, nothing beats the comfort of a plate of roast duck and a bowl of egg fried rice in a relatively old-school Chinese-looking eatery complete with (gaudy) red and gold decor.

So London has three very famous names when it comes to roast duck – Four Seasons Roast Duck, New Fortune Cookie and Gold Mine. These three are the most talked about restaurants, but which exactly is the crème de la crème?

We’ve been to all three many times on numerous occasions, and this is our humble take on the best roast ducks in London.

FOUR SEASONS CHINESE RESTAURANT

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: This is the legendary Four Seasons Roast Duck that everyone talks about, and is dubbed as the most branded place in London for roast duck.

HOW MUCH: It is £13.80 for half a duck – which is rather pricey considering how it does not taste fantastic and the skin ain’t crispy.

VERDICT: There are two outlets in London – one in Chinatown (that everyone goes to) and one in Bayswater. Surprisingly, the standards differ vastly. Let’s just say no one should waste their time at the Chinatown outlet.

The Bayswater outlet has (just very) slightly better service, and strange enough, better roast ducks. While it was not life-changing, it was a been-there-done-that experience for us. That said, we won’t head back to Four Seasons Roast Duck when in London because the next two options that we are about to share are much better.

EXTRA NOTE: You have been warned that service is atrocious and the staff are infinitely rude.

NEW FORTUNE COOKIE

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: Because it is the best. We had meals here on several occasions and none of them disappointed us. New Fortune Cookie is the most affordable option among all three places, and has a good consistency to boast. The duck is prized for its fats (in a wonderful way), and every bite of the fatty duck comes with a gratifying aroma that lingers.

HOW MUCH: For £10.50 per half duck, New Fortune Cookie wins in terms of price. It is the best roast duck in London, and the cheapest among all three.

EXTRA NOTE: The service is commendable and the staff are ever approachable. They do pretty mean Egg Fried Rice (£3) too!

GOLD MINE RESTAURANT

WHY YOU SHOULD COME HERE: Gold Mine Restaurant sits on the same stretch as Four Seasons Roast Duck in Bayswater and it is a cosy outlet with friendly staff. The roast duck is always good, with beautiful crisp skin and very fragrant sauce.

HOW MUCH: At £13.50 per half duck, Gold Mine Restaurant is a great option when you need your Chinese food fix.

EXTRA NOTE: The chunks of duck sits atop a bed of white cabbage that we always polish off too, because it being soaked in the sauce is too good to pass!

Fine dining is a flourishing business in London, with countless of hopeful fancy restaurants competing endlessly to be at the forefront of this extravagant trade. From United Kingdom’s highest restaurant to the regular hangout of Kate Moss, these extraordinary places will make your dining experience worth every pound. Here are 5 of the best fine dining restaurants in London that you must dine at.

Duck and Waffle

Dining at Duck and Waffle is truly an extravaganza. Upon entering Heron Tower, feel your pulses quicken as you are transported to the 40th level in 12 seconds. Its prime location on the 40th floor and offers an unrivalled panorama view of the capital of United Kingdom. What is most astonishing is that the modern European restaurant-cum-bar is open 24/7!

As its name suggests, Duck and Waffle’s signature dish is Duck and Waffle – A tender duck confit complemented with a fried duck egg and maple-strewn waffle. Photography is prohibited when celebrities happen to dine in the restaurant.

Heron Tower
110 Bishopsgate
London EC2N 4AY
Tel: +44 20 3640 7310
Daily: 6am – 11am, 11.30am – 4.30pm, 5.30pm – 12 midnight
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street

Gauthier

Gauthier Soho is a multi-award winning restaurant that offers marvelous food at very affordable prices. Their prices remain humble despite having been featured in reputable press such as The New York Times and being bestowed a Michelin-star in 2011.

Believe it or not, two-course set lunches at Gauthier start from as low as £18 per head! The French brasserie is located in a homely setting and patrons have to ring the doorbell before being led upstairs to the dining area. Gauthier Soho certainly deserves to regain its Michelin star for its excellent food, gorgeous interiors and lovely staff.

21 Romilly Street
London W1D 5AF
Tel: +44 20 7494 3111
Mon: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Tue to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

Hakksan

Hakksan was the first Chinese restaurant to be awarded a Michelin-star and till this very day, its prestigious star remains. Famous designer Christian Liaigre is the brainchild behind the dimly lit grand dining area, which grants patrons a sense of romantic intimacy.

Hakksan’s classy ambience and impressive dishes have revolutionized Londoners’ impression of Chinese food. The menu consists of traditional Cantonese cuisine with a Western twist. Start with their four-style dim sum platter, which consists of mouthwatering delicate fusion dumplings.

8 Hanway Place
Fitzrovia, UK W1T 1HD
Tel: +44 20 7907 1888
Mon to Wed: 12pm – 3.30pm, 6pm – 12.30am
Thu & Fri: 12pm – 3.30pm, 6pm – 12.45am
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 4.30pm, 6pm – 12.45am
Nearest Station: Green Park/Bond Street

Pearl Liang

British restaurant critic Giles Coren had given this thumbs up on Pearl Liang’s lobster noodles a few years ago and till date, the dish remains a hot favourite. After having a few bites of the aromatic dish, we had to agree with him.

Chunks of fresh lobster meat and chewy noodles dipped in the fragrant thick sauce had us sold. While prices are slightly steep (expect to pay two times more than what you pay in China Town), the aesthetics do make up for it. End your meal with the delicious deep fried chrysanthemum custard buns, which comes in a set of three.

8 Sheldon Sq
Paddington, UK W2 6EZ
Tel: +44 20 7289 7000
Daily: 12noon – 11pm
Nearest Station: Paddington

The Wolseley

While we will never be royals, the nearest experience of being one would be dining at The Wolseley. The grand European café’s stunning Venetian-Gothic architecture was once home to a prestigious car showroom in 1921.

Today, it is famed for its breakfast menu, especially the eggs benedict. During high tea, your eyes are in a treat as assortment of fluffy sandwiches, jam-filled scones and sweet cakes are stacked onto three tier stands. British celebrities are in favour of this glorious place and Kate Moss is the most frequently spotted one.

160 Piccadilly
Mayfair, UK W1J 9EB
Tel: +44 20 7499 6996
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Green park

About the writer
Hui Jun Ng was previously a marketing executive and freelance photographer in the food industry. Her work has been published on Epicure, Lifestyle Asia and Meld Magazine etc. She is currently on a break and traveling around the world. Follow her travel adventures on Instagram or The Keepers Map where she shares useful curated travel itineraries.

When I was planning my trip to London, there was only one goal – to squeeze in as many good meals as possible into my itinerary, and I am happy to tell you that I managed to check out most of the places on my to-eat list. The next time you are in London, I hope this guide on Where to Eat in London will be helpful.

Burger & Lobster

If there could only be one place for me to recommend, this would be it. The concept of Burger & Lobster is brilliant. There are only three items on the menu – burger, lobster and lobster roll – and at £20 each, they represent fantastic value. A whole fresh lobster grilled to perfection, a generous bowl of lemon butter dip, and served with a side salad and a bucket of fries – all for only £20?

It has the winning formula: a sexy crowd, delicious cocktails, unpretentious and fun atmosphere, and brilliant food at an unbeatable price.

36 Dean Street, Greater London W1D 4PS
Tel: +44 20 7432 4800
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

If you are a fan of Chef Heston Blumenthal – chef and owner of The Fat Duck – you should drop by Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the swanky Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park. Go there for their three-course sample menu during lunch, which is reasonably priced at £36.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
Daily: 12pm -2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Knightsbridge

Fernandez and Wells

When you are in Soho, you should go to Fernandez and Wells for a coffee. They have three locations – Beak Street, Lexington Street and St Anne’s Court – in the area, so I am sure you can find them easily.

73 Beak Street, London W1F 9SR
Tel: +44 20 7287 8124
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 6pm
Sat: 9am – 6pm
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus

Flat White

Another cafe in Soho to go for coffee is Flat White, a small and humble artisanal coffee joint which aims to bring good coffee to London.

17 Berwick Street, London, Greater London W1F 0PT
Tel: +44 20 7734 0370
Mon to Fri: 8am – 7pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Four Seasons Duck

Four Seasons Restaurant serves many Cantonese dishes, but what keeps people going back again and again is the legendary roast duck.

84 Queensway London, Greater London W2 3RL
Tel: +44 20 7229 4320
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bayswater

Hawksmoor

One of the most popular steakhouses in London, Hawksmoor has several branches in town, but we went to the new branch at Air Street, which is just a 2-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus station. Given the proximity to the theatres, it has a very value-for-money Express Menu for pre-theatre dining (5pm – 6.30pm), and post-theatre dining (10-11pm). A 3-course menu with a 250g ribeye as the main course is only £26.

5a Air Street, London W1J 0AD
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10.30pm
Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm
Tel: +44 20 7406 3980
Nearest Station: Picadilly Circus

Hix

This is a good place to sample Mark Hix’s signature seasonal British cooking in a stylish atmosphere. Some of the items on the main course menu include Ground Rib Steak Burger (£16.95), Glenarm Lamb Cutlets (£23.50) and Moyallon Bacon Chop (£18.75), but we would recommend the Hanger Steak with Baked Bone Marrow (£19.95). There is also a very hip underground bar where you can go for pre-dinner cocktails.

66-70 Brewer Street, London, W1F 9UP
Tel: 020 7292 3518
Daily: 12pm – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus

Hummingbird Bakery

A trip to London would not be complete without having the legendary red velvet cupcake from Hummingbird Bakery. Enough said. Do yourself a favour and pick up a red velvet cupcake; they make the world’s best red velvet cupcake, and few things in life are as satisfying as sinking your teeth into the moist and crumble red cupcake.

155a Wardour Street, Soho Square, London W1F 8WG
Tel: +44 20 7851 1795
Mon to Sat: 9.30pm – 8pm
Sun: 10am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

Jamie’s Italian

Jamie Oliver needs no introduction. Jamie’s Italian serves rustic and comforting Italian fare at prices that will not burn a hole in the pocket. Pastas are available from £6 – £15, and most main courses are under £20.

11 Upper St Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9FB
Tel: +44 20 3326 6390
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 11.30pm
Sat: 11.30am – 11.30pm
Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Covent Garden

Koya

This Japanese eatery in Soho attracts a long crowd during meal times – from tourists who have heard about this place from travel guides and blogs, to Asians seeking comfort food while being across the globe from home.

Koya is listed in our Top 10 Cheap Eats in London.

49 Frith Street, London, Greater London W1D 4SG
Tel: +44 20 7434 4463
Daiiy: 12pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

L’Eto Caffe

And then, there is L’eto that sits on the same street as Hummingbird Bakery. They have an insane display of daily fresh bakes, and it is almost frustrating to pick just one. Every item baked and assembled with love, and you can almost smell the pastry chefs’ passion in every piece. The best part? They are very affordable.

155 Wardour Street, London W1F 8WG
Tel: +44 20 7494 4991
Mon to Tue: 8am – 9pm
Wed to Sat: 8am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road

Little Social

For those of you who cannot get a table at Pollen Street Social, head to Little Social – Jason Atherton’s new restaurant that is just over the road from the original.

5 Pollen Street, London, Greater London W1S 1NE
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Lola’s Bakery

When I asked for suggestions on Instagram for the best cupcake bakery in London, many people told me to try Lola’s Bakery. I have to say that the recommendations are spot on. The cupcakes from Lola’s are moist and very delicious. Definitely one of the best cupcakes in London.

16 Lansdowne Row, Berkeley Square, London W1J 8QF
Tel: +44 20 7495 6166
Mon to Fri: 9am – 7pm
Sat: 10am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Green Park

Maison Bertaux

Maison Bertaux, one of the oldest patisseries in London, is our go-to place for afternoon tea. They offer many beautiful cakes and pastries, but our favourite is their almond croissant.

28 Greek Street, London, Greater London W1D 5DQ
Tel: +44 20 7437 6007
Mon to Sat: 8.30am – 11pm
Sun: 9.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Leicester Square

Ottolenghi

Ottolenghi is one place in London that sets a smile on my face because each visit sees me swooning over their amazing array of desserts and pastries. You will know why when you are there.

Ottolenghi is listed in our Top 10 Cheap Eats in London.

63 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AD
Tel: +44 20 7727 1121
Mon to Fri: 8am – 8pm
Sat: 8am – 7pm
Sun: 8.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Bayswater

Pollen Street Social

Pollen Street Social by Chef Jason Atherton is one of the places that I have always wanted to try. After eating there, I am delighted to say that it lives up to its billing. Pollen Street Social serves a very good value-for-money set lunch (2-course for £26, 3 course for £29.50), which I highly recommend. It is a good way to dine there without breaking the bank.

8/10 Pollen Street, London W1S 1NQ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7290 7600
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Polpo

In London, there are many great restaurants that serve simple and delicious food in a casual and lively atmosphere, and Polpo is one of them.

Polpo is modelled as a Londoner’s interpretation of a bacaro – a typical Venetian tavern that dishes out simple food and good local wines. Think of it as an Italian version of tapas restaurant where you order small plates and drinks to unwind after a long day at work. Prices here are affordable; all the tapas are under £10.

41 Beak Street, London W1F 9SB, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7734 4479
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.45pm
Sun: 12pm – 3.45pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Pitt Cue Co

Pitt Cue Co is one of those no-reservation restaurants in London, and it is not because they are playing hard to get, but because they only have 30 seats. The food here is not rocket science; just good ol’ American barbecue.

With limited seating capacity, this is a quick service restaurant and not a place to linger. If you do not mind waiting in line, what you get in return is a hearty meal at very decent prices.

Pitt Cue Co is listed in our Top 10 Cheap Eats in London.

1 Newburgh Street, London W1F 7RB
Tel: +44 20 7287 5578
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Oxford Circus

Punch and Judy

For a traditional British pub experience, go to Punch & Judy. This pub is where people go to grab a bite and have some drinks after work. The Sunday Roast, in particular, was hearty and satisfying.

40 The Market, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8RF
Tel: +44 20 7379 0923
Mon to Sat: 10am -11pm
Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Covent Garden

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay’s recent appearance in Singapore is a testament to his popularity. Love him or hate him, he is a character and with so many restaurants under his name, there is bound to be one that you will like. The set lunch at his flagship Restaurant Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road is only £55 for a 3-course menu – surely a steal for a three Michelin star restaurant.

68 Royal Hospital Road, London, Greater London SW3 4HP
Tel: +44 20 7352 4441
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.15pm
Nearest Station: Sloane Square

Roast Restaurant

If you are going to the famous Borough Market on the weekend, start off with a hearty brunch at Roast Restaurant. Perched above the Market, Roast uses seasonal ingredients to create classic British cooking.

Borough Market, Stoney Street, London, Greater London SE1 1TL
Tel: +44 845 034 7300
Mon to Fri: 7am – 11pm, 12pm – 3.45pm, 5.30pm – 10.45pm
Sat: 8.30am – 11.30pm, 12pm – 3.45pm, 6pm – 10.45pm
Sun: 11.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: London Bridge

Good Chinese food and restaurants are aplenty in London, but I have always found a general lack of variety in the food they serve. Whilst the food are tasty, finding the same few items on the menu in most restaurants can leave one relatively bored of Chinese cuisine after a while. So, you ask, where can one satisfy a Chinese cuisine craving and be pleasantly surprised by the meal at the same time? Well, if you are willing to splurge a little, I’d definitely recommend HKK London.

Opened by the international Hakkasan group of restaurants, HKK serves modern Cantonese cuisine that errs on the edge of fusion cuisine, but yet manages to retain its strong Asian flavours. HKK has adopted the concept of a blind-tasting menu, with 15 courses for dinner at £95 per person and a shorter 8 course version for lunch at £48. If you wish, you can ask for the menu beforehand, but the anticipation of the next dish definitely makes the meal more exciting.

The menu changes regularly, but for ours, we were presented with a total of 7 appetizers, 1 palate cleanser, 4 main courses, and 3 desserts. As with most tasting menus, certain dishes stood out more than others, but the overall standard of food was very high. Out of the fifteen dishes we had, these, in my opinion, were the highlights:

There is usually a certain guilty pleasure involved in eating Peking duck because of the unhealthy layer of skin and fat. With HKK’s version of the Cherry wood roasted Peking duck, however, the sinfulness was worth every bite. The duck meat was well roasted, and the sauce was not too sweet.

The Dim Sum trilogy comes up top, perhaps only second to the wagyu beef. Served in a bamboo basket, the waiter told us to use the paintbrush to coat the dimsum sparingly in the soy sauce. Think dimsum reinvented: notes of truffle were infused inside the different types of skins (one in pastry and another in fried skin) and each had a distinct taste from the others. I can safely say this is the best dimsum I have ever had.

Many people have tried lobster noodles in London, but HKK’s Wok-fried lobster with pan-mee takes the cake. At first glance, it looks more like lobster pasta, but they actually use the kind of yellow noodles you would find in wanton mee. I finished the noodles in a few mouthfuls, and was left imagining how wonderful it would be to have this lobster noodle served in full size portions as per other Chinese restaurants.

One word to describe the Jasmine tea-smoked wagyu beef: perfection. It is hard to explain how stellar the beef was. Simply saying that it was tender, fragrant, and flavourful, hardly does the dish any justice. I definitely wished that I could have had a second portion of it, or maybe even a third.

At the end of our meal, the head chef presented each of us with a stamped copy of our menu that night, as if to congratulate us on the completion of the meal. Indeed, a fifteen-course dinner may sound daunting, but with miniscule portions, we left the restaurant deeply satisfied, but not overly full. Dining at HKK was indeed a remarkable experience, and I would highly recommend it for a memorable night out.

HKK London
Broadgate West, 88 Worship Street
London EC2A 2BE
Tel: 44 (0) 20 3535 1888

About the writer:
Amanda is a Singaporean with a passion for good food, fashion, and travelling. She is currently attending boarding school in the United Kingdom, and looks forward to many such new experiences after she begins university next year. Follow her adventure on instagram.