London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [95]
Hot Stuff in Vauxhall offers some of the best-loved and best-priced curries in London. Run by the Dawood family, it’s a BYO café with two tables. Home-cooked specials include rice and king prawn biryani, thick chicken bhuna curry, and chili paneer cubed white cheese. There’s wonderful rice, onion bhagi snacks, naan bread, and earthy daal (spiced lentils). Average price of dinner for two: £24. | 19 Wilcox Rd., South Bank | SW8 2XA | 020/7720–1480 | www.eathotstuff.com | BYOB | Vauxhall.
Indian Zing’s chef-owner Manoj Vasaikar woos the west London curry mafia with updated eclectic Indian cuisine. Start with Rasam mussels and tamarind broth and try Khyber Pass shoulder of lamb or duck with Chettinad spices. Average price of dinner for two: £65. | 236 King St., Hammersmith | W6 0RF | 020/8748–5959 | www.indianzing.co.uk | Hammersmith.
Rasoi’s chef-owner Vineet Bhatia prepares modern Indian cuisine at this special occasion Chelsea town house, where fans swoon over skewered scallops, tandoori salmon, confit duck samosas, South Indian crab cakes, and Keralean lamb lasagne. Average price of dinner for two: £160. | 10 Lincoln St., Knightsbridge | SW3 2TS | 020/72251–1881 | www.rasoirestaurant.co.uk | Sloane Sq.
Tayyabs attracts queues for its Pakistani curries, grilled meats, and spicy seekh kebabs at this throbbing Whitechapel mecca and all-round curry madhouse. Average price of dinner for two: £30. | 83 Fieldgate St., The City | E1 1JU | 020/7247–9543 | www.tayyabs.co.uk | BYOB | Aldgate East.
Trishna’s £34.50, five-course tasting menus are the way to enjoy this Mumbai-inspired seafood specialist in Marylebone. Shrimp with carom seed, minted bream, tiger prawns, fish curry, and spiced king crab come with basmati rice, naan bread, and a choice of Indian puddings. Average price for dinner for two: £95. | 15–17 Blandford St., Marylebone | W1U 3DG | 020/79351–5624 | www.trishnalondon.com | Bond St.
LOCAL CHAINS WORTH A TASTE
When you’re on the go or don’t have time for a leisurely meal, you might want to try a local chain restaurant or sandwich bar. The ones listed below are well priced and are the best in their category.
Busaba Eathai: It’s always jam-packed at these five Thai canteen supremos where you’ll find Thai noodles, rice dishes, and spicy all-in-one meals in a bowl in sultry dark-wood surrounds. | www.busaba.com.
Byron: Bright and child-friendly, this 10-strong line of superior hamburger joints storms the market with its delicious Aberdeen Angus Scotch hamburgers, onion rings and fries. | www.byronhamburgers.com.
Café Rouge: A classic 30-strong French bistro chain that’s been around for ages and does great prix-fixe deals—so uncool that it’s now almost fashionable. | www.caferouge.co.uk.
Carluccio’s Caffè: The Carluccio’s chain of 22 all-day Italian café/bar/food shops are freshly sourced, family-friendly, and make for brilliant pasta and salad stops on a shopping spree. | www.carluccios.com.
Ed’s Easy Diner: Overdose on milk shakes, ice-cream floats, chili dogs, and made-to-order hamburgers at this chain of shiny, retro 1950s-theme American diners. | www.edseasydiner.com.
Le Pain Quotidien: Try tartine open sandwiches, and salads at the communal wooden tables. There are 16 branches, including at the stunning St. Pancras station and Eurostar terminus. | www.lepainquotidien.co.uk.
Pizza Express: Serving classic thin-crust pizzas, old-favorite Pizza Express is everywhere (there are nearly 100 in London). The Soho branch has a famed live jazz program. | www.pizzaexpress.com.
Pret A Manger: London’s high-street take-out supremo isn’t just for store-made sandwiches: there are wraps, toasties, noodles, sushi, salads, fruit, and tea cakes, too. | www.pret.com.
Ranoush Juice: Shawarma lamb kebabs are the draw at these mirrored late-night kebab and juice bars (open 8 am to 3 am daily). They