West Hampstead Restaurant Guide

“Outstanding local chippy” in West Hampstead – “one of the best in London” – excelling for “lovely chunky chips” and “great fish fried in matzo meal rather than batter” (“grilled is also available”). “Extremely friendly staff” led by Yani provide great service, while “the restaurant has been refurbished and is no longer stuck in the 70s”. Top Tip – “ask for double-fried chips and the off-menu rock salmon”.

“An excellent local with an always-good selection of fish” – reports attest that this West Hampstead fixture lives up to its name and the cooking here can be “surprisingly good”. On the downside, “some tables are not the most comfortable, and very close together”. Top Tip – look out for the good lunch deals.

Chef Makoto Takagi and his wife Yuko are celebrating five years at their small Japanese venue in West Hampstead (which opened during the challenging time of the pandemic). They serve a wide range of sashimi and also a good choice of more substantial cooked options (from steaks, to grilled fish or miso-roasted chicken, to dishes served on rice), some of the latter prepared in the Kappou style: a traditional method of Japanese dining way where dishes are served straight from the pan. Reports are still not numerous but say it’s “exceptional all-round”.