London Hackney Restaurant Guide

A new pizza, beer and cocktail joint where ABQ used to be.

The first solo restaurant from Andy Beynon, previously Jason Atherton's development chef. Behind is a chef's table restaurant - all 18 seats overlook the kitchen - and will serve an eight-course tasting menu focused on sustainable seafood. Next door there's also a wine bar and bottle shop.

Tim Brice, aka ‘Captain Chilli’, bravely launched London’s first dedicated Cincinnati-style chili restaurant in February 2021. It occupies the small (40 seats) former Shoreditch premises of Rök (RIP). Part of the vogue for Americana-driven menus, Tim has developed a chili-filled brioche ‘bombshell’ for his new venture. Each batch is three days in the making and – the coup de grâce – you inject your Chilibomb with a syringe of chili-infused oil to get the level of heat that you desire.

“Beautiful food, with elegance and full, intense flavours” from a menu of “simple, high-quality dishes”, backed up by a list of “natural wines from top importers” – all served in a “laid back”, semi-industrial space (formerly Ellory, RIP) – wins adulation for this yearling in London Fields, from the team behind fooderati fave-rave P Franco.

“A clever, Italian-Japanese fusion that actually works well, who knew!?” – this tiny and original six-seater in Dalston inspires nothing but love amongst early reporters. “If you’re bored of the endless tasting-menus trend in the food scene, the one here is top notch” – with five courses for £39 (or you can order individually at £9 per plate). “Bargain!” – “I went back the next day...”

“Lovely, rich, authentic Spanish fare (octopus to die for)” with Galician specialities, again wins praise for this “somewhat shabby-chic” tapas haunt in Newington Green: “it can get refreshingly noisy!”

“Some of the best burgers in London” – including a “sublime, fried, hot fish burger” and “a real vegetarian burger (that isn’t pretending to be anything other than a real, delicious vegetarian burger)” – make it well worth discovering this hip new Shoreditch diner. When it comes to going ‘beyond’, “some of the tapas style starters are worth trying too” (cauliflower cheese balls, fried chicken bites…)

“Top vegan food in town, courtesy of Club Mexicana” is to be found at this “cool” east Homerton hostelry: London’s first 100% vegan pub. Even those who feel it’s “hyped” and only “OK if you’re in the area” say “they must be doing something right as it’s packed”.

“Oh my! A meat-lovers’ feast awaits!” at these “carnivorous havens”, where “evidently very well-sourced produce is expertly cooked and served in great platters of meaty delight!” (“go when you are hungry!”). There are “superb-value steaks”, but it’s the “mouthwateringly scrumptious” chops that inspire more feedback. Soho and the City occupy “urban-chic” basements, whereas Shoreditch is above-ground and more “warehouse-y”. Top Menu Tip – “bargain basement prices on Butchers Block Monday, with £10 corkage if you bring your own wine!”

In oh-so-now Haggerston, this neighbourhood yearling – from chef Adam Hardiman (ex-St John and The Dartmouth Arms) – opened in November 2018, offering a seasonal, daily-changing menu. It is rated on the limited survey feedback received to date, but all of it is very upbeat, in keeping with newspaper reports and social media buzz about the place.