London Hackney Restaurant Guide

The “succulent, juicy burgers” at Joe Grossman’s indie burger chain are “a sloppy-ish mess… and all the better for it” – “and the food can be washed down with a decent glass of wine or a good margarita”. Having started out with pub-based pop-ups, Grossman opened his first branch in James Street, Fitzrovia, 10 years ago, and now has a further eight in London and one in Brighton.

2019 Review: “Yummy” fresh fish and “crispy fat chips” all in “great value, generous portions” win raves – if from a small fanclub – for these “classy” chippies in Stokey, Hackney Central and Islington. October 2018 marks a first, with the launch of London’s first fully vegan chippie at the Hackney Central branch (which is itself moving down the road to 218 Graham Road).

2019 Review: “Yummy” fresh fish and “crispy fat chips” all in “great value, generous portions” win raves – if from a small fanclub – for these “classy” chippies in Stokey, Hackney Central and Islington. October 2018 marks a first, with the launch of London’s first fully vegan chippie at the Hackney Central branch (which is itself moving down the road to 218 Graham Road).

2021 Review: This “buzzy”, well-known Italian (in the Arthaus building near London Fields) continues to inspire relatively limited feedback. Pizza is the most popular option foodwise, and reports say it “ticks all the boxes” for a good time. Its sibling Lardo Bebe is no more.

“Casual and inexpensive, but no compromise on the standards” – this Japanese noodle chain has become a firm favourite in London’s “competitive” ramen market, with 14 branches (and counting). “I can’t speak highly enough of the quality of ramen here, absolutely packed full of flavour and at a really good price.” The name is taken from the pork broth used, and the noodles are made daily in-house and cooked, it is said, for precisely 32 seconds.

“A beautiful little spot in a tucked away part of Hackney” – this ‘unassuming neighbourhood restaurant’ won particular renown a couple of years after its opening in 2015 when it won a Michelin star. The tyre men removed it again the next year, but – whatever the changes of mind in Clermont-Ferrand – our reporters consistently acclaim its “fresh, thoughtful and well-executed tasting menu, which, with the pairing wines, are a real treat”. Also, it was a godsend for many during lockdown thanks to its “consistently high-quality At Home service”.

2021 Review: The “lovely Thai food” at these reliable cafés is “impressively authentic given that they are a chain” – “excellent value” and “fast”, if occasionally let down by “iffy service”. Founded in 2008 by Saiphin and Alex Moore, who inherited the name of their first East End site, the group has 18 branches in London and expanded to Liverpool, Manchester, Reading (delivery only) and Leeds following the sale of a majority stake to US investors. The couple also have two spin-offs, Lao Café in Covent Garden and the new Chinese noodle bar Hoh Sek in St Katharine Docks.

From the backers of fooderati favourites, P Franco and Bright, this hipster natural wine bar in Hackney opened in summer 2019, but then closed for an extended period, finally to open again post-pandemic in September 2021. The small space – with its cool, minimal vibe – remains, but the Japanese-influenced modern British food offering has morphed a little: now they offer a £45 set menu of four or five courses, driven by the best produce coming into the kitchen at the time. (We have reinstated its historical ratings, taking a wild guess that the fundamentals haven’t altered much.)

This intimate (just 7 tables) Hackney gem opened in 2018 and was inexplicably left out of our last edition. It certainly rates mention – chef and co-owner Johnnie Crowe (ex Harwood Arms and Anglo) delivers some delectable, small plates from a seasonal tasting menu. The endearing no-waste ethos incorporates a focus on a single meat for six weeks at a time.

From Anthony Lyon (of Lyon’s in Crouch End) – this ‘multifaceted dining experience and community hub’ (that’s what the press release says) opened in August 2021 and comprises a brasserie, wine bar, bottle shop, deli and events space. The eclectic menu is seasonally driven and with zero-waste in mind (from pork cheek and smoked ham hock terrine to stone bass tartare with truffle ponzu). The focus, though, is arguably more on the low-intervention wines, craft beers and good saké selection.

“You can see why this won a Michelin star in 20 days” – Andy Beynon’s Hackney newcomer set a new record when it opened in October 2020, a short stroll from London Fields. Previously Jason Atherton’s development chef, his stylish, industrial-ish space is focused on a chef’s table with all 18 seats overlooking the kitchen: “a great place to get up and personal with the chefs”. “Watching the chefs put together the dishes is a pleasure given their quiet, efficient and impressively clean-cut working practices”; and the main man himself comes over as being very “approachable and personable”. From your perch, you sample a 12-course tasting menu focused on sustainable seafood. “Andy is seriously knowledgeable about fish cookery and delivers brilliant fish dishes and accompanying wines over the many courses”, and all at “a reasonable price”. Next door is a wine bar and bottle shop.

What started as a residency during the 2020 pandemic – when Tomos Parry’s Shoreditch HQ was deemed unsuitable for social distancing – was confirmed as a permanent venture in January 2021. Situated in a courtyard, and covered with a marquee-type structure, cooking with fire is still central to the cuisine here: e.g. roasted game rice, whole grab with hay butter, grilled mushrooms and wood-fired breads. (Parry originally cooked here from 2013-2015, so he has history on this site.) “The food is way better than the casual surroundings would suggest: cooking almost everything on charcoal produces wonderful flavours”. But even some who applaud the “outstanding” results can still find it too pricey, given “friendly but random”, “café-style service” and humble surroundings.

In gentrifying Clapton – this ‘pizza pub’ (on the former site of The Elephant’s Head) is the creation of the founders of two pizza multiples: Santa Maria (Pasquale Chionchio & Angelo Ambrosio) and Firezza (Edin Basic). Craft beers and live music complete the offering.

2018 Review: The trio who previously ran Bethnal Green boozer The Sebright Arms together opened this airy all-day Hackney spot in May 2017. Local beers, coffee, Sunday brunches and roasts aim to make it a linchpin of the local scene.

The “vibrant dining space” is a “very cool setting” with oodles of “laid back” street cred at this remarkable 10,000 square foot market (vintage design pieces, flowers, artisan coffee…) inside a groovily transformed Hackney office block. Strike lucky and you get “great pizza and burgers” too, but some dishes are “a bit less successful than others and the service can go a little MIA at times”.

Owner Julian Denis previously ran the super-popular vegan Chinese Mao Chow just up the road; this new restaurant is twice the size (although still only 28 seats) and is "an evolution" of the food there, and incorporates flavours and techniques from Puerto Rican, Portuguese and American cuisines.