London Dalston Restaurant Guide

The fourth London aparthotel from Locke sees a restaurant from the Le Bab team in the co-working space downstairs, alongside a microbrewery from Elephant & Castle's German Kraft Brewery and a gin distillery from Jim and Tonic Distillery in SE1 - the three components together make Kraft Dalston.

A short stroll from Hackney Downs station, this year-old sibling to Ducksoup operates as a ‘fermenting kitchen and eatery’ (and you can buy the results by the gram or bottled as part of their The Picklery range). It also operates as a kitchen from breakfast on, serving a short menu, which varies throughout the day (you might have squid risotto, or steak in the evening); and it’s later in the day that its “great list of natural wines” comes to the fore. “It feels very relaxed, serves lots of pickled stuff and the food’s all good: it’s a bit like going around to a friend’s house, who’s a very good cook and has a lot of very nice wine”.

“A bakery in an old car park in Dalston which gives apprenticeships to troubled 16-25 year olds: delicious seeded sourdoughs and focaccia are both made into the most outrageous and amazing sandwiches”.

“Still the best Turkish BBQ in town”, say fans of the original Mangal grill that put Dalston on the carnivore’s map. “I’ve been coming here for over 20 years and it’s still one of my all-time favourite restaurants. Never fails with great food and excellent service”. BYO helps keep the costs down.

2017 Review: “Crispy and spicy Korean-style fried chicken” and “well-considered cocktails” are the deal at this Dalston joint with “all the hipster credentials – dark interior, bearded staff and mono menu”. Portions are “surprisingly big”.

2018 Review: “Authentic tasting pho” wins limited but positive feedback for these modern Vietnamese noodle cafés, in Dalston and Finsbury Park.

2017 Review: “Might they be London’s best burgers?” query fans of this new foodster-favourite: the permanent, diner-style home by Dalston’s Ridley Road Market of a pop-up that’s been spotted at various Hackney sites. (One or two other menu options too: steak, chicken parmigiana, and some funky, dude-ish bites).

Willesden burger bar branches out to Dalston with a second burger and craft beer joint.