Considered one of the world's best food hubs, London boasts a whopping 71 Michelin-starred restaurants and a stellar line-up of internationally renowned chefs including Heston Blumenthal, Clare Smyth and Nieves Barragán Mohacho. As a multicultural city, it is home to an incredibly diverse range of cuisines.
Eddie Ng of Ed.ju Omakase and Okaju in Kuala Lumpur, who honed his skills as a chef in London and remains a frequent visitor to the city, shares his favourite spots for food and drinks.
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Start your day with classic comfort food at The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is so good that one outlet just isn't enough. With 13 locations around London, The Breakfast Club is a foolproof stop for a hearty breakfast or brunch. Its extensive menu covers a wide range of breakfast staples and then some; there's even breakfast nachos. Its motto is "Today is going to be a good day". You can count on The Breakfast Club to help kick start your day on a delicious and satisfying note.
Try something new and have a meal at Lisboeta
Helmed by the celebrated Nuno Mendes, former chef of Chiltern Firehouse, Lisboeta serves the best that Portuguese cuisine has to offer. Lisboeta literally means "a person from Lisbon", and though it only opened in the spring, it is already making waves in London. National Restaurant Association awarded it "One to Watch" earlier this year.
It tells the story of Portugal's gastronomic history and heritage through small plates designed for sharing and made with ingredients sourced locally or straight from Portugal. You must try Bacalhau à Brás (confit cod, caramelised onions & potatoes), Lamb Chanfana (slow-cooked lamb shoulder with a red wine, spring greens & bread stew), and Plumas de Porco Preto (grilled acorn-fed black pork from the Alentejo with fermented red pepper paste).
The wine selection here is also exclusively Portuguese, and its cocktails are all influenced by the vibrance of Portugal.
Lisboeta | 30 Charlotte St., London W1T 2NG | +44 20 3830 9888 | Wednesday-Saturday, 12pm-11:30pm; Sunday, 12pm-5pm; Monday, 5:30pm-11pm; Tuesday, 12pm-11pm
Related: 20 Of The World’s Most Famous Food Markets
For something truly local, there's no place like Poppies
What's a trip to the UK without fish and chips? For the best, most authentic, and most quintessentially version, head to Poppies located in Spitalfields, Camden, and Soho. Led by Pat ‘Pop’ Newland, who has been at it since 1952, Poppies has an in-house fishmonger who approves every single fish that comes though its doors from Bilingate fish market.
It also serves pies, sausage and chips, and homemade tartare sauce. For a hearty meal, add homemade fish cake and hot seafood platter to your order.
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Splurge at The Araki
With just nine seats at the chef's counter and an additional six in a private room, this Japanese eatery is as intimate as it gets. Chef Marty Lau trained for years under sushi master Mitsuhiro Araki before he was deemed worthy to open his own sushi restaurant.
The £310 (about RM1,680) omakase menu is worth every cent. Guests must arrive on time as the doors are locked 30 minutes after seating has commenced. The chefs will guide you on the proper way to enjoy sushi, so you can be assured of an authentic experience.
The Araki | 12 New Burlington Street, London W1S 3BH | +44 20 7287 2481 | Tuesday-Saturday, 6pm-8pm, 8:30pm-11:30pm
Related: Inside The Mind Of Sushi Chef Mitsuhiro Araki Of The Araki
For terrific tipples, head to Untitled
Untitled, located in East London's Dalston, has perfected the art of cocktail crafting—so much so that they have some of them on tap. Its signature cocktails are a balanced burst of flavour and finesse. Take for example the Jalisco, which uses the tartness and sweetness of a grapefruit to complement rose vodka and mezcal.
It also serves a selection of plant-based dishes by Chef Kirk Haworth of Plates.
Untitled | 538 Kingsland Rd, London E8 4AH | +44 7841 022924 | Wednesday-Thursday, 6pm-12am; Friday-Saturday, 5pm-1am
See also: Vintage Tipples: 6 Classic Cocktails You Should Know
Bring a taste of London home with Ben's Cookies
When it's time to leave, don't forget to pack a box of Ben's Cookies to take home. Its bright red boxes and Sir Quentin Blake-illustrated logo (modelled after founder Helge Rubinstein's son, Ben) are very recognisable and its cookies are just as identifiable. The trademark chew and chocolate chunks are its signature traits. One bite of its cookie and you'll be hooked!
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