Best of London
Where locals eat in London
Start with E. Pellicci in Bethnal Green for full English, Lahore Kebab House in Whitechapel for lamb chops, dry lamb curry and M. Manze (Tower Bridge Road) in Bermondsey for single pie, mash and parsley liquor. Here are all 12, with what to get at each.
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- E. PellicciBethnal Green · Full English breakfast
Get: Full English
A family-run East End café that is a London landmark.
- Lahore Kebab HouseWhitechapel · Curry
Get: Lamb chops, dry lamb curry
No-frills Pakistani grill, cheap and fiercely loved.
- M. Manze (Tower Bridge Road)Bermondsey · institution
Get: Single pie, mash and parsley liquor; a scoop of ice cream after
- Bocca di LupoSoho · regional Italian
Get: small plates of regional Italian pasta and fritti. Chefs bring their families here
Buzzy Soho Italian serving regional small and large plates from across Italy at a lively marble counter.
- BrawnColumbia Road · natural wine bar
Get: whatever pork dish is on the daily menu. The archetypal neighbourhood restaurant
Natural wine bar and restaurant near Columbia Road, big on charcuterie, offal and bistro-style small plates.
- KilnSoho · Thai-inspired grill
Get: The clay-pot glass noodles with pork and the Thai sausages, at the counter
A Thai grill counter that's been one of Soho's hardest walk-ins for years.
- Rochelle CanteenShoreditch · British
Get: the daily pie. A walled school garden canteen with a menu that changes every day
Hidden Shoreditch canteen in a former bike shed, loved for short, seasonal British menus and a quiet garden.
- Andrew EdmundsSoho · British bistro
Get: the daily set of English plates and a bottle off the list. Candlelit Soho townhouse
Candlelit Soho townhouse restaurant with a well-loved wine list and daily-changing seasonal British menu.
- Mangal 2Dalston · Turkish grill
Get: the grilled lamb and the pide. A Turkish grill run by the second generation
Dalston Turkish grill known for charcoal-cooked meats and its old ties to the Ocakbaşı scene.
- Quality Chop HouseFarringdon · British
Get: the confit potatoes and a pork chop. A dining room open since 1869
- TrulloHighbury · Italian
Get: the pappardelle with beef shin ragu. North London's Italian for regulars
Relaxed Highbury Italian known for handmade pasta, chargrilled meats and a tightly seasonal daily menu.
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Save the whole listAsk Chef for morePlan my London food tripWhere locals eat in London: questions people ask
What are the local restaurants in London?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with E. Pellicci (Bethnal Green), Lahore Kebab House (Whitechapel) and M. Manze (Tower Bridge Road) (Bermondsey). All 12 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At E. Pellicci, get full English. At Lahore Kebab House, get lamb chops, dry lamb curry. At M. Manze (Tower Bridge Road), get single pie, mash and parsley liquor; a scoop of ice cream after. At Bocca di Lupo, get small plates of regional Italian pasta and fritti. Chefs bring their families here.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in London?
Most of these are in Soho. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for London: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in London
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.