Restaurant openings in east and south London flourished in the last 12 months, according to the latest, 27th edition of Harden’s London Restaurants published on 9 November.

After central London, east London remains the capital’s prime area for restaurant openings, although almost as popular was south London this year (east had 39 debuts vs south’s 36). A particularly weak performance from west London made it the least interesting point on the compass: a distinction traditionally reserved for north London.

In east London the most notable newcomers were in the City and Shoreditch – Cabotte, La Dame de Pic, Luca, James Cochran, temper City, Popolo and Madame D’s – however there were also several Hackney newcomers that made the grade for this year’s guide – Laphet, Saiphin’s Thai Kitchen and The Vincent. Well-rated openings in south London in the last 12 months included Rick Stein in Barnes, Clapham’s Knife, Nutbourne in Battersea and Bar Douro and Bala Baya, both located in repurposed railway arches on Southwark’s Union Street.

Harden’s prestigious London restaurant guide reviewed 1,791 eateries in its 2018 edition, with a total of 314 restaurants listed in east London, 304 in south London, 230 in north London and 319 in west London. In terms of quality east, south and west outstripped north London this year. South of the Thames, 15 dining destinations received an outstanding 5/5 rating for food including: Adam Byatt’s Clapham landmark Trinity (which at last has a well-deserved Michelin star); Dastaan, a new Indian restaurant in the depths of the ‘burbs which has blown diners away; Wandsworth’s enduring favourite Chez Bruce; and there was much love for the “mind-bogglingly hot Sri Lankan and South Indian curries” at Jaffna House in Tooting.

East and west London both boast 14 restaurant with an outstanding rating for food in this year’s Harden’s guide. In the E postcodes top rated dining destinations range from the likes of Shoreditch’s world famous Clove Club, and Bethnal Green’s Typing Room (which amazingly still has not been recognised by Michelin) to the legendary Mark Gevaux AKA The Rib Man and his “extraordinarily good street food”, and Shoreditch’s “amazing”, “aromatic” Thai Som Saa.

Out west The Ledbury in Notting Hill once again received 5/5 for its culinary prowess, as did Marianne Lumb’s Bayswater-fringe restaurant Marianne (winner of Top Gastronomic Experience at this year’s Harden’s London Restaurant Awards). At the other end of the scale Ladbroke Grove’s Turkish kebab house Fez Mangal was also rated outstanding for its “exceptional” food, as was the “lip-smacking” Keralan cuisine at Hammersmith’s Shilpa.

In north London just six restaurants received the coveted outstanding rating for food, including: Anima e Cuore (a tiny, unassuming-looking Kentish Town Italian); Euston’s Malaysian basement dive Roti King; and Wembley’s grungy veggie canteen Sakonis. In fact within north London, none of the venues which scored 5/5 for food cost more than £53 per head, and the majority cost less than £40. Which just goes to show that quality food doesn’t automatically mean a big price tag.

Order your copy of Harden’s London Restaurants 2018 today and get £3 off the usual price, plus free postage to anywhere in the UK.

New restaurant openings by area

Humble Grape N1

James Cochran N1

Piebury Corner N1

Winemakers Deptford SE8

Aviary EC2

The Bothy E14

Aster Restaurant SW1