Long lines in London

The viral places people queue for, what to get when you reach the front, how long the wait usually is, and how to beat it. Waits are typical, not live.

11 places in London · by Chef Amazing · updated October 23, 2026
Photo: Danbu14, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

1. 1

   Padella

   Italian pasta · Borough Market

   Get: Pici cacio e pepe, and the beef shin ragù pappardelle

   Fresh pasta at prices that start London's longest queue. Expect: an hour or more at peak times. Beat it: use the virtual queue, or go at weekday opening.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
2. 2

   Dishoom Covent Garden

   Covent Garden

   Get: Black daal; the bacon naan roll at breakfast

   Bombay café food, and named the most viral restaurant in the world by Tripadvisor in 2026. Expect: 30 to 90 min at dinner, though breakfast books ahead. Beat it: book breakfast, or join the queue before 5pm.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
3. 3

   Beigel Bake

   Bagel shop · Brick Lane

   Get: Salt beef bagel with mustard

   A 24-hour Brick Lane institution. Expect: short but constant, 24 hours a day. Beat it: any time. It moves fast.

   Also on the list: Breakfast and sandwiches in London.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
4. 4

   TOAD Bakery

   Camberwell (Peckham Rd)

   Get: A croissant or fruit danish; the everything-bagel croissant

   South London's croissant line, built on social media and regulars. Expect: up to about an hour and 10 min on Saturdays. Beat it: go on a weekday morning.

   44 Peckham Rd, London SE5 · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
5. 5

   Pockets Falafel

   Falafel · London Fields

   Get: A stuffed falafel pita. The fried potato inside is the best bit

   A market stand that moved into a shop and kept its line. Expect: queues are always long. Beat it: go at opening on a weekday.

   367 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3RT · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
6. 6

   Fortitude Bakehouse

   Bloomsbury

   Get: Sourdough beignets, on sale from 11am until they sell out

   A tiny bakery whose beignets sell out daily. Expect: weekend queues are normal. Beat it: be there for 11am.

   Map · Add to Chef Amazing
7. 7

   Supernova

   Soho

   Get: A smash burger

   A smash-burger spot that went viral fast. Expect: lines at most dinner times. Beat it: go at weekday lunch.

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8. 8

   Bao Soho

   Soho

   Get: The classic pork bao, the fried chicken bao and the fried Horlicks ice cream bao

   Taiwanese buns that started at a market stall and still draw a queue. Expect: 30 to 60 min in the evening. Beat it: go at 5pm on a weekday.

   53 Lexington St · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
9. 9

   Kiln

   Thai-inspired grill · Soho

   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. Expect: 45 to 90 min at dinner, walk-ins only for most seats. Beat it: get there by 5:30pm and put your name down.

   Also on the list: Where locals eat in London.

   58 Brewer St · Map · Add to Chef Amazing
10. 10

    Kanada-Ya

    Covent Garden

    Get: The tonkotsu original, with extra chashu

    A Fukuoka ramen shop's London branch, always busy. Expect: 30 to 45 min at dinner. Beat it: go at 3 or 4pm.

    Map · Add to Chef Amazing
11. 11

    Monmouth Coffee

    Borough Market

    Get: A filter coffee and something from the bread basket

    A pioneer of London's specialty coffee. Expect: a long but fast queue on market days. Beat it: go on a weekday before 9am.

    2 Park St · Map · Add to Chef Amazing