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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

I can never work out where to eat in central London.

38 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/08/2013 18:40

I know its a bit bonkers, but we really struggle to find somewhere that is a)yum b)not a chain c)affordable. d)wont give us food poisoning

dd and I are meeting up with dh later this week one evening. We can go anywhere in central London. We pretty much like any food (but prefer not a curry) and as long as it meets the above criteria we would probably be happy!

Any suggestions please?

OP posts:
showtunesgirl · 05/08/2013 18:42

What kind of things do you like?

I eat in Central London all the time and very rarely spend more than £15 a person.

omaoma · 05/08/2013 18:51

It is a chain but I'd say Taro - yummy Japanese, about £7-9 a (big) meal e.g., teriyaki salmon with rice and veg from memory (sushi or a bento box is more). Never had food poisoning!
One on Glasshouse St (Piccadilly), one near Old Compton for eg. Tokyo Diner is also good, don't think it's a chain, but can be long queues (chinatown nr Leics Sq)

onelittlepiglet · 05/08/2013 18:53

Wahaca in covent garden (also other branches). Amazing Mexican food, great for kids and cheap. Honestly, really great place. linky here

Fancies40Winks · 05/08/2013 18:59

Really good vegetarian buffet in Tibits, just off Regent Street.

Blu · 05/08/2013 19:02

Tas by Borough Market or in the Cut near Waterloo. (small chain)

RSJ just behind the S Bank, v close to the BFI iMax - very good fixed price menus. here

Bocca di Lupo or maybe the pre-theatre one dish menu?

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/08/2013 19:24

oooo even though Taro is a chain that sounds good :) Don't necc fancy queueing up for long.

I'd like veggie but not sure about dh for an evening meal.

Tas looks really interesting but their website is hideous! The RSJ looks like fantastic menu and I think it is one that we will keep in reserve in case one of us suddenly feels non-adventurous.

showtunes - we arent really steak and chips people, we do like things from different countries. I like lots of spice dd not so much and it just makes dh hiccup embarrassingly. Your budget sounds good!

OP posts:
gallicgirl · 05/08/2013 19:26

I know an awesome Turkish restaurant but it's out at Highbury, near to Union Chapel.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/08/2013 19:27

Taro looks a little bit cafe-ish, maybe more of a lunchtime place?

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topsmart · 05/08/2013 19:29

Sofra is a lovely chain - Turkish (I think) mezze stuff. Reasonable price and yum. In nice places like shepherd market and st Christopher's place. Or at least it was last time I went to London. Can anyone corroborate?

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/08/2013 19:29

that's a bit far gallic which is a shame!

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Gingerandcocoa · 05/08/2013 19:32

I second Tibits for vegetarian food!!! It's delicious and I'm not even vegetarian Smile

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/08/2013 19:32

I like the look of Bocca Di lupo very much! would we need to book for about 6pm?

OP posts:
Taffeta · 05/08/2013 19:34

We like....

Dim T
Wahaca
Dishoom

Dishoom a big fave but Indian. Not necessarily curry though, they do looooads of really interesting Indian food.

Fancies40Winks · 05/08/2013 19:35

Bocca Di Lupo certainly used to be very popular, I would suggest booking unless it's gotten a lot less busy recently.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/08/2013 19:40

Tried to book but their bookings closes at 5:30. Will try tomorrow!

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Cheeseatmidnight · 05/08/2013 19:40

Momo is amazing!

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/08/2013 19:41

Back up plans are useful in case they are fully booked!

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Rowanred · 05/08/2013 19:46

I second Tas- really nice food. Or Troia on belvedere Rd behind the London eye is also excellent( same sort of food as Tas although they also weirdly do good steak and chips!)

Quodlibet · 05/08/2013 19:48

Andrew Edmonds on Lexington St is always good. Also Mildred's (vegi) on the same road.
Polpo/Polpetto if you can get a table.
Loads of good Korean places round Soho.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/08/2013 19:49

Momo looks too pricey for this time, but perhaps another.

I hve to be really careful with indian (and thai) food as coconut upsets my tummy and it seems to sneak into lots of dishes :(

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Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/08/2013 19:50

Korean! now that sounds different!
I think my head is going to explode with all of this choice. You see this is what I'm like when wandering round in London. I spend so long choosing that my blood sugar plummets, I get really grumpy and then it all goes horribly wrong!

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Jenijena · 05/08/2013 19:50

Another vote for wahaca - I wish it was a chain, then there'd be one near me. The refried beans are amazing.

Hobbes8 · 05/08/2013 19:52

There's some nice places on James Street off Oxford Street. I never know what any of them are called, but there's a couple of Turkish / middle Eastern type places and lots of others. Charlotte St near Tottenham Court Road is good too - a branch of Wahaca, an amazing but pricey tapas place and lots of others that I can't remember.

Fancies40Winks · 05/08/2013 19:55

Polpetto is lovely, but the amount of dishes they recommend isn't enough, even for my friend with a notoriously bird-like appetite.

Rewindtimeplease · 05/08/2013 19:57

Oh Charlotte street is sweet and worth going to if not a Londoner.

But much closer to Oxford street than Tottenham court road! In fact, there Is a little alleyway off Oxford street that opens up into st christophers place. Blink and you miss it kind of alleyway, on the same side as The Gap, and very close to it.