About Time: You Discovered London’s Hottest New OpeningsBy Alicia Grimshaw
We’ve left no stone unturned when it came to discovering the hottest new openings in London. From a new vegan joint to an exciting late-night kebab shop, here’s ten must-visit new restaurants in the capital.
1. For a Plant-Based Menu: Ready Burger
What: A new value-driven burger brand that is set to revolutionise the fast-food market with its pioneering plant-based menu, has officially opened the doors of its first venue in North London. Ready Burger’s first premises on Park Road in Crouch End presents a 100% plant-based menu featuring flavoursome plant-based burgers alongside classic sides, with premium and saver choices.
Eat: Options range from; The Saver Menu Ready Burger, to The Big Ready, to The Chicken Challenger, to the Saver MenuDouble Cheeseburger – all illustrating that plant-based options can taste just as good as their meat counterparts. Menus can be enjoyed by almost everyone from vegans, to vegetarians, flexitarians to meat eaters.
Where: 16 Park Road, London, N8 8TD
2. For Fried Chicken: Butchies
What: Outrageously tasty, sustainably sourced buttermilk fried chicken is the order of the day at Butchies fifth permanent shop in Earls Court. To celebrate the launch, Butchies is running a soft opening and offering 50% off food for the first week (1st – 4th June).
Eat: The all-new menu includes six of their famous fried chicken sandwiches served in soft butter-toasted buns. There’s The Original with house pickles and Butchies’ “OG” sauce; Cheesy Rider served with cheese dripping, house pickles and Butchies’ Sriracha chili sauce; Jenny from the Block with guacamole, chipotle mayo and smoked streaky bacon as well as the Vegan “OG” Burger, with plant-based fried chicken, vegan “OG” sauce and house pickles. Butchies’ award-winning Buffalo Wings and classic Buttermilk Chicken Tenders are also on offer, Popcorn Chicken, with 6 pieces for £3 or 10 pieces for less than a fiver, and, of course, the new dish: Mac N Crac.
Where: 7 Kenway Rd, London SW5 0RP
Photo credit: Nic Crilly Hargreaves
3. For a Sando: The Secret Sandwich Shop
What: From the team behind the iconic Globe nightclub in Notting Hill, the Secret Sandwich Shop is a new addition to W11. The sandwiches are based on the Japanese ‘Wanpaku sando’. Wanpaku means cheeky or naughty and that is exacty how these sandwiches look. Piled high, each sando is masterfully layered with vibrant colours and textures coming from fresh seasonal veg, eggs, deli meats and cheeses all tucked into their pillowy Japanese Shokupan bread.
Eat: Menu highlights include the 7th Avenue, a textural taste bomb inspired by the NYC classic pastrami on Rye. Layered with crispy shallots, crunchy pickles and their own house sauerkraut. Also the Egg Salad Sando, elevating the English staple, with a perfectly cooked soft boiled egg front and centre, Japanese rice vinegar, spring onion and kewpie mayo always finished with fresh cracked pepper.
Where: 103 Talbot Road, London, W11 2AT
4. For a Late Night Kebab Shop: Le Bab
What: Stephen Tozer, Manu Canales and Ed Brunet, the trio behind Le Bab, have set up shop in Old Street with their late-night kebab shop open until 5am. Le Bab Old Street is a major new presence in the late-night food scene, providing epic, ethical food into the small hours. Or as we like to call it… Paradise.
Eat: The menu includes the all-new ultimate late-night kebab special, the Pepperoni Pork Shawarma, combining their signature pork shawarma with the universally beloved flavours of pepperoni pizza: spicy soppressata, tomato pork jus, mozzarella fondue, basil and parsley. Alongside this will sit the NEW Le Bab Dirty Vegan Kebab made with Beyond Meat, house-pickled cucumber, sweet chilli relish, crispy fries, vegan mayo, sumac, vegan fondue sauce and cress. Le Bab’s modern classic kebabs, cooked on a wood and charcoal-filled robata, and served with freshly-made in-house flatbreads also feature a meaty Lamb ‘Madras’ Adana Kebab – inspired by Indian flavours, minced on a base of madras yoghurt, Bombay mix, red onion, lime, mint and coriander.
Where: 231 Old St, EC1V 9HE
Photo credit: Justin DeSouza
5. For Pizza: Four Hundred Rabbits
What: South London’s pizza masters Four Hundred Rabbits have opened the doors to their huge new flagship site at the new Elephant Park development in Elephant & Castle.
Eat: Expect the same delicious ‘London Sourdough’ pizza which has made Four Hundred Rabbits a South London institution, including the meaty The Chorizo One – San Marzano DOP tomato, fior di latte mozzarella, soft and semi-cured Brindisa Iberico chorizo, pickled red chillies and fresh basil; the vegan-friendly, The Clean One – San Marzano DOP tomato, courgette, piquillo peppers, pine nuts and chimichurri, and the famous house signature The Rhubarb One (yep, you read that right). There’s also craft beer from breweries such as Lost & Grounded, Gipsy Hill and Deya; Negronis on-tap (still the cheapest in London at £4 a pop).
Where: 16A Ash Avenue, Park Central East, Elephant Park, Elephant & Castle, London SE17 1GQ
6. For a New Breakfast Option: EggRun
What: A cult casual eatery dedicated to the humble egg (Clarence Court Burford Browns, no less) has opened in Monument where these spherical sensations can be enjoyed any way you like, with a myriad of vegan options. Let’s face it, we all need a place that offers these protein-packed oval delights throughout the day – EggRun has hatched.
Eat: From when the cockerel crows through to when the sun sets, there’s all manner of eggy delights to crack on with at EggRun, and with every dish created by Executive Chef, John Skotidas of Mazi, the recipes are top-notch. From the Originals including the namesake EggRun; scrambled eggs, caramelised onions, cheddar cheese, chives and EggRun’s secret sauce on a warm brioche bun; to Cup on The Run; scrambled eggs, avocado and feta cream. Vegans are also amply catered for with choices including the VeganRun; vegan scrambled ‘eggs’, caramelised onions, vegan cheddar cheese, chives, chilli, spring onions and EggRun’s secret sauce on a warm vegan brioche bun. Don’t miss the burgers, scrambled eggs, and more sides than you can shake a stick at.
Where: 46 Fish St Hill Bridge, London EC3R 6BR
7. For a Fusion Restaurant: Tokyo Pizza
What: Tokyo Pizza is an exciting new concept offering a casual yet lively setting, pairing Japanese-inspired pizzas with an impressive selection of premium Japanese sakes, whiskies and spirits.
Eat: In the spirit of Tokyo, signature dishes include wagyu, lobster and Japanese mushroom pizza, salmon mochi, burrata salad and Mochi nin’niku, a world-exclusive garlic bread, made with mochi and glazed in spicy mayo. The expansive menu also comprises a selection of traditional Japanese side dishes alongside an array of mouth-watering deserts and fusion puffy-crust pizza toppings, all of which are carefully prepared in the Japanese-specific style of cooking, with fresh Japanese ingredients and bases made from their original blended flour.
Where: 47 Maida Vale, London W9 1SD
8. For a Taste of Taiwan: Cafe Bao
What: Shing Tat Chung, Erchen Chang and Wai Ting Chung, the trio responsible for putting Taiwanese steamed BAOs on the London map when they founded BAO, have opened the doors to Café BAO in King’s Cross.
Eat: Taking inspiration from Taiwan’s oldest Western Style cafe, Bolero, as well as the old kissatens of Japan, classic western and Asian dishes have been designed to sit alongside each other. The breakfast menu features the BAO Loaf with syrup and butter, baked ham hock congee pie, and bacon, egg, cheese spring onion pancake. As thoughts turn to lunch and dinner, there’s the Hamburger BAO, Lobster BAO and Taiwanese Fried Chicken Kiev. For something sweet, desserts include Lonely Pudding –a classic creme caramel flan, and BAOfiteroles, featuring Horlicks ice cream with chocolate sauce.
Where: 4 Pancras Square, Kings Cross, London N1C 4AG
9. For a Peruvian Favourite: Andina
What: Andina has re-launched its new Spitalfields home, just behind the iconic Spitalfields Market. The new site offers 80-covers in the main restaurant and Pisco bar space, and a further 30 seats downstairs in Bar Mistura – a late-night cocktail bar and taqueria.
Eat: The menu at Andina Spitalfields comes courtesy of head chef Bruno Moura and his team, and pays homage to the restaurant’s Andean roots, offering its much-loved collection of signature ceviches – Peru’s national dish, such as the Yana Tuna Ceviche – fresh tuna, rocoto chilli tiger’s milk, pickled pineapple, samphire radish and pickled onion, and the famous Don Ceviche – fresh sea bass ceviche with avocado, amarillo chilli tiger’s milk, sweet potato and red onion. Downstairs at Andina is Bar Mistura, a 32-cover Latin American speakeasy-style taqueria bar, serving its own cocktail menu alongside a tasty bar snacks and taco menu.
Where: 60-62 Commercial Street Spitalfields, London E1 6LT
10. For a Vegan Kitchen: Tendril
What: Award-winning chef Rishim Sachdeva (previously the Dairy, Chiltern Firehouse, the Fat Duck) has launched his first solo venture Tendril, a six-month (mostly) vegan chef residency at Soho institution the Sun & 13 Cantons.
Eat: Offering a host of veggie bar snacks and small plates, through to larger mains and a short dessert selection, dishes include grilled squash, red pepper paste, crackers and summer slaw and purple corn tostada, broad bean “guac”, piquillo pepper and artichokes’, alongside non-vegan options such as baked brie, burnt honey, preserved lemon, truffle mascarpone and cranberry bread’. Main dishes lead with chipotle grilled oyster mushroom, smoked leek and peanut sauce and a Tendril signature – ratatouille, basil puree, ras el hanout and herb crumb.
Where: The Sun & 13 Cantons, 21 Great Pulteney Street, Soho, London W1F 9NG