Restaurant Reviews

The White Building, Unit 7 Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN

After building a cult following through pop-ups, Man Hon Luk opened his first permanent restaurant in Hackney Wick, bringing Texas barbecue together with East Asian flavours. Meat is smoked daily in a huge custom smoker, with highlights including beef short ribs, Taiwanese pork belly, duck pancakes and lamb breast, alongside sides like lap cheong mac and cheese. It's some of London's most exciting barbecue, and pre-ordering as much of the smoked meats as you can is highly recommended.

1 Geffrye Street, Hoxton E2 8JH

The team behind Farringdon bar Space Talk have given this long-changing corner site opposite Hoxton station a fresh start with Cremer. Split between a café and canteen, it serves pastries, sandwiches and coffee alongside breakfast and lunch, all from ex-Primeur and Polentina chefs.

3 Northwold Road, London N16 7HL

From Facing Heaven founder Julian Denis, Johnny Boy's is an LA-inspired neighbourhood diner celebrating the city's immigrant food culture. On the menu here, you'll find standout dishes like a milk bread patty melt, pastrami sandwich, crab tostada and ultra-crispy fried chicken, alongside all-day breakfast plates and burritos at lunch. Cocktails are on point and the retro diner setting is unlike anything else in Stoke Newington (and the booth seats are the ones to grab).

1 Thomas Tower, Dalston Square, Greater London, E8 3GU

After a successful pop-up at The Langham, the late Dom Taylor took his Caribbean restaurant to Dalston as a permanent restaurant. Here, the menu showcases modern interpretations of Caribbean cuisine, which was also inspired by the memories of his childhood. That means dishes like a plantain and aubergine fritter or a crispy banana blossom coconut curry. And as for the drinks, the rum punch is a must.