The best food in London to try right now - Top 3

Spring days are getting closer, but London’s chilly evenings still call for cosy dining. The capital’s inviting dining scene knows how to keep diners warm, with vibrant and exciting dishes that make social media go viral. If you’re craving a good dose of innovative flavours that will turn up the heat—quite literally—this season, these 3 must-visit hotspots serve some of the best food in London right now.

In Highbury and Islington, one of London’s best Thai restaurants brings the heat with a piping hot seabass in a luscious coconut cream sauce. Meanwhile, Kentish Town is home to a cosy local pub dishing up some of the best Sunday roasts in London, along with must-try wood-fired creations. In Clapham, a MICHELIN-starred gem delights diners with a sweet tooth with an exclusive French dessert.

For sexy date nights, post-pints after-work team dinners, Sunday lunches with the fam or weekend lunches with your mates—read on for the best food in London to try right now, and book your table on OpenTable.

3 must-visit spots for the best food in London this season

For some of the best Thai food in London – try the marinated seabass at Farang London in Highbury/Islington

The chef: Sebby Holmes, Chef, Director, and author of Cook Thai and Thai in 7 cookbooks, creator of curry paste and sauce brand Payst.

The restaurant: An award-winning neighbourhood gem loved by locals, known for serving the best of Thai and British produce. Accolades include MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, National Restaurant Awards cred, and the prestigious Thai Select award from the UK Thai Embassy. From a street food stall to a celebrated restaurant, a trip to Farang guarantees bold flavours and balanced spiciness. Crowds flock for the crispy golden triple-fish cakes, tender slow-cooked beef short ribs, and a refreshing coconut and passionfruit panna cotta. Wash it all down with imported Thai beer or a lemongrass-infused tequila cocktail.

The dish: A whole crispy seabass bathed in a three-sauce marinade of lemongrass, samphire, and ginger. Pair it with your choice of sticky or jasmine rice and garlic butter roti bread, and get ready to feel the breeze of the beaches of Koh Lipe.

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49437632 — Farang’s signature curry pastes can be bought on-site. Credit: Farang

A crispy whole seabass with dips and sides at Farang, a restaurant serving some of the best food in London. — Transportative and vibrant, Farang’s seabass is an adventure on its own. Credit: Farang

For some of the best pub food in London – try the wood-fired lamb at The Parakeet in Kentish Town

The chef: Ben Allen, Head Chef, ex Brat and former two-MICHELIN-starred Steirereck, specialises in wood-fired barbecue with a zero-waste ethos.

The restaurant: Imagine a North London local boozer, bustling with clinking pints of Guinness, bar snacks, and lively conversations on the ground floor. Climb to the upper level to find a warm dining room where the kitchen works its magic with flame-cooking techniques. Sunday roast is the name of the game, featuring smoked roast chicken, celeriac Wellington, or seabream to share, all served with trimmings and creamy swede mash. From the à la carte, must-tries include Tokyo turnip carpaccio and braised leeks in pecorino sauce and smoked mushrooms with a side of wood-fired pink fir potatoes. Better paired with a perfectly poured stout or a more creative sip, like a Japanese whiskey sour or a plum margarita.

The dish: A succulent wood-fired grilled lamb on a bed of fermented cabbage, red shiso leaf, and Singaporean black pepper sauce. Smoky, tender, and perfectly balanced flavours here prove that barbecue and finesse can go hand in hand.

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67482239 — Watch chef Ben Allen at work from the open kitchen. Credit: The Parakeet

51800015-1 — Turn up the heat to date night with chef Allen’s grilled lamb. Credit: The Parakeet

For one of the best desserts in London – try the iconic tarte tatin at Trinity in Clapham

The chef: Adam Byatt, Chef-owner of Trinity and Bistro Union, Chairman at the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Chef, Chef Director of Food and Beverage at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, where he oversees Charlie’s, and winner of the MICHELIN Chef Mentor Awards for 2025.

The restaurant: With a MICHELIN star to its name, Trinity is an independently-owned London icon that has been delighting diners since 2006. Infused with Clapham’s laid-back vibe, its innovative approach to cooking makes it a trailblazer in the London dining scene. The award-winning tasting menus blend British classics with French inspiration in dishes like Scottish scallop crudo, sardine Bolognese dumplings, and an Anjou pigeon with spiced date—praised by TopJaw. As for the wine pairings, the house cellar boasts more than 450 labels sourced from top Bordeaux and Burgundy suppliers.

The dish: A to-die-for signature tarte tatin to share, made with seasonal apples, butter, and puff pastry, caramelised upside down to create a decadent, glistening finish when unveiled. Served tableside with prune and Armagnac ice cream for the perfect hot-and-cold contrast, this exclusive dessert is available only by request when booking on OpenTable. With just ten made daily, be sure to secure yours before they’re gone.

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66879586-3 — Trinity boasts a refined yet local neighbourhood feel. Credit: Trinity

66887118-1 — Wow a special someone with chef Byatt’s unique tarte tatin. Credit: Trinity

3 viral dishes from London’s top chefs to try right now

3 must-visit spots for the best food in London this season

For some of the best Thai food in London – try the marinated seabass at Farang London in Highbury/Islington

For some of the best pub food in London – try the wood-fired lamb at The Parakeet in Kentish Town

For one of the best desserts in London – try the iconic tarte tatin at Trinity in Clapham

If you’re looking for the best food in London – you’ve come to the right place. Find your perfect restaurant whatever the occasion on OpenTable.

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