12 Delicious Restaurants in Shoreditch
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5 months ago
The best foodie spots in London's Eastern shores
The beating heart of East London, Shoreditch has become something of a food mecca in recent years. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back hipster hangout or something more along the fine dining lines, these trendy ends cater for everyone. Here’s our pick of the best restaurants in Shoreditch, from Old Street to Brick Lane.
The Best Restaurants in Shoreditch
som saa
Breathing new life into a former East London fabric warehouse, som saa is a very-Shoreditch eatery but without any pressure to be cool. In a laid back, buzzy, open space, British and Asian produce of the highest quality sing across authentic regional Thai dishes. Every mouthful and morsel is jam-packed with flavour, with dishes rotating with the seasons to make the most of those ingredients, plus a few bonus unwritten daily specials. Start with moreish tua phrik krob (deep fried cashew nuts) and peruse the menu with a cocktail in hand: the siam sling (gin, triple sec, thai basil, makrut lime, sencha rose tea, lime) is a light, herbal start to the evening, or the rak tong ham (chilli, cucumber, basil and lime leaf infused tequila, elderflower, lime) is the perfect spicy marg alternative as summer heats up. Select dishes and eat family style, scooping a bit of the pad pak (stir fried farm greens), a touch of the seriously indulgent mu parlow (five spice soy braised pork with fermented chilli sauce and a soy cured egg), and trying not to eat all of the nang gai thort (deliciously crispy chicken skin), dipped liberally in sriracha. Not to be missed are the gai yaang (a mouthwateringly juicy and tender grilled chicken skewer) and the always-there nahm dtok pla thort, an isaan style deep fried seabass curved around a pile of isaan herbs as if captured mid swim – divine. By Olivia Emily
43A Commercial St, London E1 6BD; somsaa.com
Llama Inn
Peruvian restaurant Llama Inn developed a cult following after opening its doors in Brooklyn back in 2015 – and it’s causing a similar buzz upon its recent arrival in London. Perched on the rooftop of The Hoxton in Shoreditch, the eatery channels the spirit of the Williamsburg original, with a focus on South American small plates. Chef Marcin Maliczowski’s opening menu includes sharing dishes like scallops with yuzu kosho and nori; quinoa with bacon, avocado and cashew; and a pavlova dessert served with lemon verbena and muna ice cream. Guests can also try signature tipples including the ‘Chupetini (one shot martini)’, a blend of Japanese gin, dry vermouth, umami bomb and blue cheese olives.
81 Great Eastern St, Greater, London EC2A 3HU, llamainnlondon.com
Maene
Nick Gilkinson was behind one of 2020’s most exciting culinary launches, Townsend in the Whitechapel Gallery – and now he’s back with a new restaurant, Maene. Set atop a four-storey Victorian warehouse in Spitalfields, the venue is inspired by European bistro culture, with a terrace overlooking the city skyline. Open all day from breakfast through to dinner, the menu will focus on seasonal, modern cooking made using the best of British produce. Highlights include Mersea oysters with pickled jalapeno and sorrel, Springfield farm chicken with rosemary, garlic and burnt lemon, and a Yorkshire rhubarb pudding served with honey cream and bronze fennel.
7-9 Fashion St, London E1 6PX, maenerestaurant.co.uk
Lilienblum
The name behind cult Notting Hill favourite Miznon, Eyal Shani, has launched a new restaurant in East London, Lilienblum. With Israeli chef Oren King heading up the kitchen – whose CV includes the likes of Roka and Hide – the new spot serves family-style sharing plates, with dishes cooked in an open kitchen. In Shani’s typically quirky style, the menu is divided into ingredients rather than the classic starters, mains format, with standout dishes including ‘pearls from the ground swirled with farro and clams’ and ‘ribeye steak, the way GOD intended’: served straight on the table, no plate or anything.
80 City Rd, London EC1Y 2BJ, lillienblum.com
Jérôme Galland
Gloria
Brightening up Great Eastern Street with its sunny yellow façade is Gloria: the decadent, over-the-top Italian trattoria from Parisian powerhouse Big Mamma Group. If you haven’t been yet you’ll most likely have seen it on your Instagram feed: the interiors – courtesy of Studio Kiki – were designed to be photographed. With its pinstripe upholstery, marble table tops and gilded light fixtures, Gloria takes diners back to 1970s Capri. This sense of fun is mirrored in the menu: the carbonara sharing dish, for instance, comes served in a wheel of parmesan, and the slow-cooked meatballs are titled Filippo’s Big Balls. Playfulness doesn’t come at the expense of taste though – all ingredients are sourced from Italy, with big flavours and even bigger portions. Go with a big group, and embrace the chaos.
54-56 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3QR, bigmammagroup.com
Brat
Brat is slang for turbot: the star dish at this endlessly cool restaurant, cooked here in an iron cage over an open wood fire grill. It’s the first solo restaurant from award-winning Welsh chef Tomos Parry (previously at Kitty Fishers), and has become a hugely popular spot since opening in 2018, securing a Michelin star within just six months of opening. Brat sits above the equally trendy Smoking Goat, with pared-back interiors, tightly packed tables and an open kitchen which fills the space with a deep charcoal aroma. Alongside the show-stopping turbot (which will set you back a casual £85), the menu features a selection of Basque-inspired small plates and charcoal grilled mains.
4 Redchurch St, London E1 6JL, bratrestaurant.com
Laurel’s On The Roof
One of the rare rooftop restaurants in Shoreditch, Laurel’s On The Roof is elegant but laidback, sitting atop the uber-cool Mondrian Shoreditch hotel. With moody interiors inspired by 1970s Hollywood, the eclectic cocktail menu (filled with playful names like Sherry Cobbler and Maid In Hollywood) is brimming with heady, tasty concoctions. Low-hanging rattan lights, vibey music courtesy of a DJ, and relaxed lounge-style seating are well-accompanied by panoramic sundowner views of the surrounding Shoreditch skyline, its reflection twinkling in the famous rooftop pool.
Don’t underestimate the food: similarly Hollywood and California inspired, the sizeable, mainly fish and seafood oriented starters are well-balanced and bursting with flavour; try the Tuna Tostada for a refreshing, sashimi bite with a kick. Though there are fewer mains to choose from, there’s a good array and veggies are well catered for with Roasted Aubergine and Cobb Salad. Dessert is also not to be missed; throw it back to youthful days with the coconutty Ice Cream Sandwich, or refresh the palate with the fruity Eton Mess. By Olivia Emily
45 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3PT, sbe.com
Lyle’s
Proving less is more is Lyle’s, an understated restaurant with much to offer. Despite its Michelin star and spot in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, there’s nothing pretentious about James Lowe’s fine dining venture: instead of tablecloths and candles you’ll find white-tiled walls, concrete flooring and simple seating. But amid these stripped-back settings you’ll be treated to some rather extraordinary food. Classic British dishes are given interesting twists, showcasing Lowe’s impressive art and technique. Dinner is a tasting menu (four courses with an optional selection of Neal’s Yard cheese to finish), with short descriptions of dishes adding an element of surprise. At lunchtime, meanwhile, you can pick your own selections from the short and sweet à la carte menu. Everything is seasonal-led, with Scandinavian influence and some obscure ingredients thrown in for good measure.
Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6GY, lyleslondon.com
St Leonards
Named after its address, St Leonards ticks all the ‘hipster Shoreditch restaurant’ boxes. Wood-fired grill? Tick. Backstreet location? Tick. Minimalist interiors? Tick. But it’s much more than cool: this is a serious foodie spot, launched by top chef duo Jackson Boxer and Andrew Clarke, though since the pair parted ways, the restaurant is overseen by Clarke only. It’s loosely based around the opposing elements of fire and ice, with two open prep stations – one sizzling meats, the other shucking oysters. Unusual, cutting-edge dishes take centre stage here: expect to embark on a gastronomic adventure, with creative flavour combinations offering something new and exciting.
119 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JN, stleonards.london
Gunpowder
In the past, if you wanted Indian food in London you’d be met with two choices: curry house or fancy fine dining. Yet the past few years have seen an influx in mid-range Indian restaurants, inspired in part by the opening of the legendary Dishoom. One of these is Gunpowder, which first launched off Commercial Street in 2015, followed by a second branch in Tower Bridge. Food-wise, think classic Indian dishes reimagined: bhuna aubergine and crispy kale salad with goat’s cheese, seabass steamed in banana leaf, and spicy vension doughnuts all feature. It’s a tiny restaurant, often jam-packed and noisy – though this only adds to its charm and buzz, with jolly staff, and reasonable prices keeping spirits high.
11 White’s Row, London E1 7NF, gunpowderlondon.com
Lateef Photography
Daffodil Mulligan
Richard Corrigan’s third venture is a more relaxed affair than his other London restaurants, Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill and Corrigan’s Mayfair. A collaboration with fellow Irishmen John Nugent (Green & Fortune) and Tony Gibney (Gibney’s of Malahide), Daffodil Mulligan takes over what used to be Nuala, near the Old Street roundabout. The brasserie-style restaurant serves hearty Irish fare, while the snug saloon bar downstairs plays host to a series of live music nights.
70-74 City Rd, London EC1Y 2BJ, daffodilmulligan.com
Smoking Goat
Word of warning: if you’re not a fan of spice, Smoking Goat isn’t the place for you. It’s all about the heat at Ben Champan’s buzzing Thai restaurant, which opened following the success of the now-closed smaller Soho original. Thai barbecue small plates and seafood are the focus – think tamarind smoked lamb ribs, stir fried pork, grilled mackerel and chilli fish sauce wings, paired with some of the best fried rice in town. Brave spice lovers should try the infamous Laab-style pork, and cool down with a glass of vino from the excellent value wine list.
64 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ, smokinggoatbar.com
Featured Image: Goddard & Gibbs
