Eating Out

China City Colindale

Lizard Man

Traditionally, England may not be famous for its food. But in the past decade this seems to have changed quite a bit. With the opening of numerous London restaurants that rival many of the top restaurants around the world, London can now rightly consider itself one of the culinary capitals of the world. Even more impressive is the sheer number of excellent London restaurants catering to just about every taste and budget. In a recent survey of chefs for Restaurant magazine, 11 out of the 50 best restaurants in the world were in London, with another three located in other areas of the UK.

London, the quintessential world city, evidently contains cuisine drawn from every corner of the world. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, you are sure to find a venue in London that specializes in cuisine from every country.

The highest concentration of restaurants can be found around the city center, with Soho containing a sizable collection of tasty eateries. Chinatown is the best place for Chinese, of course, with similar concentrations around parts of East and West London, notably Bayswater (around Queensway) - an area also renowned, along with Edgware Road, for Middle Eastern cuisine.

For Indian/Sub-continent cusine, you need look no further than the nearest High Street, but two areas worth considering are Southall in West London (where in some shops you can pay in rupees!) or Brick Lane in East London (although this is less genuine). Italian and French restaurants are everywhere as well, not to mention the many gastropubs where you can find traditional and modern British or fusion cuisine.

London restaurants really do cater to all, from cheap jellied eels in Bow market up to Haute Cuisine at Claridges or the Ritz. One thing is for sure -- you won't go hungry here! That said, London is rather expensive, therefore it is difficult to find a higher-end restaurant, which doesn't cost the world especially, if you are on a budget. You will have browse through the restaurant section in your London travel guide a bit closer, but rest assured, there are enough places to choose from where you can truly enjoy yourself without breaking the bank.

Try, for example, the "Belgo" restaurant. This Belgian themed London restaurant has a great lunch menu and an excellent variety of beer. Belgo has several locations around Covent Garden and the Soho area. Also try the "Wagamama" Noodle House on Leicester Square or the "BarRoomBar," which serves up delicious pizza in a hip environment.  www.barroombar.com

Top Ten+ London Restaurants

Galvin Bistrot de Luxe – Bistrot, try the crab lasagna
www.galvinrestaurants.com

The Fat Duck – French Cuisine
www.fatduck.co.uk

Le Gavroche – Classic French Cuisine
www.le-gavroche.co.uk

Nobu – Fusion, Japanese blended with Peruvian and Argentinian ingredients
www.nobumatsuhisa.com

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay – Several GM restaurants to choose from
www.gordonramsay.com

Busabe Eathai- Thai Canteen, 22 Store Street, Ph: 020 7299 7900

The Woseley – Austrian, Viennese-Style Café
www.thewolseley.com

Hope & Anchor  -- Wildly popular English gastro-pub (modern)
hopeandanchordiner.com

St. John Restaurant – Contemporary British with an all-French wine list
www.stjohnrestaurant.co.uk

River Café – Italian-based cuisine, menu changes twice daily
www.rivercafe.co.uk

Yauatcha  - Chinese, best dim sum, 24 varieties, 150 teas
15-17 Broadwick Street, Soho London, Ph: 020 7494 8888. E-mail Reservations: reservations@yauatcha.com

Best London Fast Food

If you don’t time to sit down and enjoy a five-course meal at a fancy restaurant, it's ok. There are numerous chain restaurants located throughout London to satisfy your appetite. Even better is -- London's fast food restaurants are far superior to many of the chain restaurants you'll find in other cities around the globe. London restaurants (with a fast food feel), consist of cozy cafes, delicious diners, and healthy juice bars. Surprised? And yes -- the food is good, the ingredients are fresh, and the price is always right.

So, when you’re in a hurry to get to your next London activity or attraction, stop by any of the following fast foodesque restaurants for a healthy and hearty bite!

Ranoush Juice Bar - 22 Brompton Road, 338 Kings Road, 43 Edgware Road, and 86 Kensington High Street, Ph: 020 7723 5929

Ed’s Easy Diner, www.edseasydiner.co.uk
Strada, www.strada.co.uk
Tootsies Grill, www.tootsiesrestaurants.com
Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), www.gbkinfo.com
Wagamama, www.wagamama.com