The Best Restaurants In Shoreditch

The beating heart of East London, Shoreditch has become something of a food mecca in recent years. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back hipster hangout or something more along the fine dining lines, these trendy ends cater for everyone. Here’s our pick of the best restaurants in Shoreditch, from Old Street to Brick Lane.

The Best Restaurants in Shoreditch

Appalachia

Appalachian food isn’t something we’re overly familiar with on this side of the pond. Originating from the mountains of the eastern USA, this cuisine constitutes grilled meats, corn, beans, foraged greens and a touch more spice and sweetness than you might expect. Now transported from mountain heights to Shoreditch, this hip new offering provides a chef counter experience packed full of gloriously greasy, finger-leaking grub. Attracting everyone from the City’s banker crowd and a thin-framed set of hipster dads, to friends enjoying an after-work catch-up, word is very much out. And as the couple turned away at the door will tell you, spaces aren’t easy to come by. Dig into apple butter milk bread, cornbread madeleines, chicken with miso grits, beef tartare, and the best corn on the cob you’ve ever tasted, washing it all down with the oh-so American Koll-Aid Kollins or range of carefully curated wines. Though we skipped it on this occasion, their burger – limited daily with just one per booking allowed – has become a thing of fame. Isabel Dempsey

71 Nile St, London N1 7RD, appalachia.co.uk

som saa

Breathing new life into a former East London fabric warehouse, som saa is a very-Shoreditch eatery but without any pressure to be cool. In a laid back, buzzy, open space, British and Asian produce of the highest quality sing across authentic regional Thai dishes. Every mouthful and morsel is jam-packed with flavour, with dishes rotating with the seasons to make the most of those ingredients, plus a few bonus unwritten daily specials. Start with moreish tua phrik krob (deep fried cashew nuts) and peruse the menu with a cocktail in hand: the siam sling (gin, triple sec, thai basil, makrut lime, sencha rose tea, lime) is a light, herbal start to the evening, or the rak tong ham (chilli, cucumber, basil and lime leaf infused tequila, elderflower, lime) is the perfect spicy marg alternative as summer heats up. Select dishes and eat family style, scooping a bit of the pad pak (stir fried farm greens), a touch of the seriously indulgent mu parlow (five spice soy braised pork with fermented chilli sauce and a soy cured egg), and trying not to eat all of the nang gai thort (deliciously crispy chicken skin), dipped liberally in sriracha. Not to be missed are the gai yaang (a mouthwateringly juicy and tender grilled chicken skewer) and the always-there nahm dtok pla thort, an isaan style deep fried seabass curved around a pile of isaan herbs as if captured mid swim – divine. Olivia Emily

43A Commercial St, London E1 6BD, somsaa.com

Llama Inn

Peruvian restaurant Llama Inn developed a cult following after opening its doors in Brooklyn back in 2015 – and it’s causing a similar buzz upon its recent arrival in London. Perched on the rooftop of The Hoxton in Shoreditch, the eatery channels the spirit of the Williamsburg original, with a focus on South American small plates. Chef Marcin Maliczowski’s opening menu includes sharing dishes like scallops with yuzu kosho and nori; quinoa with bacon, avocado and cashew; and a pavlova dessert served with lemon verbena and muna ice cream. Guests can also try signature tipples including the ‘Chupetini (one shot martini)’, a blend of Japanese gin, dry vermouth, umami bomb and blue cheese olives.

81 Great Eastern St, Greater, London EC2A 3HU, llamainnlondon.com

Jérôme Galland

Gloria

Brightening up Great Eastern Street with its sunny yellow façade is Gloria: the decadent, over-the-top Italian trattoria from Parisian powerhouse Big Mamma Group. If you haven’t been yet you’ll most likely have seen it on your Instagram feed: the interiors – courtesy of Studio Kiki – were designed to be photographed. With its pinstripe upholstery, marble table tops and gilded light fixtures, Gloria takes diners back to 1970s Capri. This sense of fun is mirrored in the menu: the carbonara sharing dish, for instance, comes served in a wheel of parmesan, and the slow-cooked meatballs are titled Filippo’s Big Balls. Playfulness doesn’t come at the expense of taste though – all ingredients are sourced from Italy, with big flavours and even bigger portions. Go with a big group, and embrace the chaos.

54-56 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3QR, bigmammagroup.com

Brat

Brat is slang for turbot: the star dish at this endlessly cool restaurant, cooked here in an iron cage over an open wood fire grill. It’s the first solo restaurant from award-winning Welsh chef Tomos Parry (previously at Kitty Fishers), and has become a hugely popular spot since opening in 2018, securing a Michelin star within just six months of opening. Brat sits above the equally trendy Smoking Goat, with pared-back interiors, tightly packed tables and an open kitchen which fills the space with a deep charcoal aroma. Alongside the show-stopping turbot, the menu features a selection of Basque-inspired small plates and charcoal grilled mains.

4 Redchurch St, London E1 6JL, bratrestaurant.com

Gunpowder

In the past, if you wanted Indian food in London you’d be met with two choices: curry house or fancy fine dining. Yet the past few years have seen an influx in mid-range Indian restaurants, inspired in part by the opening of the legendary Dishoom. One of these is Gunpowder, which first launched off Commercial Street in 2015, followed by a second branch in Tower Bridge. Food-wise, think classic Indian dishes reimagined: bhuna aubergine and crispy kale salad with goat’s cheese, seabass steamed in banana leaf, and spicy vension doughnuts all feature. It’s a tiny restaurant, often jam-packed and noisy – though this only adds to its charm and buzz, with jolly staff, and reasonable prices keeping spirits high.

11 White’s Row, London E1 7NF, gunpowderlondon.com

Lateef Photography

Daffodil Mulligan

Richard Corrigan’s third venture is a more relaxed affair than his other London restaurants, Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill and Corrigan’s Mayfair. A collaboration with fellow Irishmen John Nugent (Green & Fortune) and Tony Gibney (Gibney’s of Malahide), Daffodil Mulligan takes over what used to be Nuala, near the Old Street roundabout. The brasserie-style restaurant serves hearty Irish fare, while the snug saloon bar downstairs plays host to a series of live music nights.

70-74 City Rd, London EC1Y 2BJ, daffodilmulligan.com

Smoking Goat

Word of warning: if you’re not a fan of spice, Smoking Goat isn’t the place for you. It’s all about the heat at Ben Champan’s buzzing Thai restaurant, which opened following the success of the now-closed smaller Soho original. Thai barbecue small plates and seafood are the focus ­– think tamarind smoked lamb ribs, stir fried pork, grilled mackerel and chilli fish sauce wings, paired with some of the best fried rice in town. Brave spice lovers should try the infamous Laab-style pork, and cool down with a glass of vino from the excellent value wine list.

64 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ, smokinggoatbar.com