London West Hampstead Restaurant Guide

Perennially one of the highest-rated chippies in our survey, this family-run shop in West Hampstead serves “the most incredible, consistent fish ’n’ chips” – using “wonderful fresh fish that can be grilled” or fried in “matzo meal batter that’s just lighter than other batters and tastes so good”. It’s a friendly place, too: “been eating there for many years – clients feel like a large family and regulars often meet up there”. “The surroundings are much less notable than the food…”

“A gem in West Hampstead” – “for a simple, well-executed fish dish, there’s nowhere better to go”, say fans of this atmospheric conversion of a 1930s fishmonger (and you can still buy fresh fish to cook at home). It’s “great any time of day, but especially for a romantic dinner”, while the “live music evenings are exceptional”.

2021 Review: Understated trio of “good neighbourhood Lebanese” in Hampstead, Maida Vale and St John’s Wood; “consistently tasty food” is served “in huge portions for the hungry at reasonable prices”.

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.