London Food
English food has often been stereotyped as bland and stodgy, yet visitors to London will realise that nothing could be further from the truth, as they sample some of most diverse and high-quality food available anywhere in the world.
Excellent food is available in almost every imaginable environment and price bracket, which can make the city a haven for food-lovers.
From Africa to Yemen, Russia to New Zealand, visitors would be hard-pressed to find a type of cuisine not represented in London, with new and imaginative restaurants springing up constantly. Recent trends include the boom of Japanese noodle bars and more formal restaurants in the late 1990s, following a rise in quality Thai food restaurants, often with very reasonable prices. Turkish, Spanish and Lebanese cuisine is also very popular, with the Anglo-Italian love affair likely to continue forever.
Soho is home to the lively Chinatown, where an array of Chinese restaurants and food stores can be found. Seasoned visitors often advice to chose a restaurant that is patronised by ethnically Chinese customers, which tends to suggest it serves authentic and high-standard meals.
No trip to London would be complete without sampling the delights of an English curry house, which can be found all across the city and although often can not be considered authentic Indian food, has nonetheless become an English tradition that should not be missed. Fashionable Brick Lane is full of reasonably priced curry houses. For something a bit more English, traditional English food can often be found in pubs, which are situated on almost every street in the centre of the city. While sampling a steak and kidney pie of sausages and mash, wash it down with an English bitter. Or for something a little stronger, whiskey is another British drink which is served in small measures, without ice.
With acclaimed chefs such as Gordon Ramsey, Marco Pierre White and Gary Rhodes all owning restaurants in London, there are plenty of top-end establishments on offer, although booking is a must. Many places will insist that men wear a jacket, while a small number of restaurants such as The Ritz, also require a tie to be worn. On the other end of the scale, cheap and yet quality food can also be found across the city. There are several cheap Vietnamese eateries on Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, while cheap chains such as Wagamama and Hamburger Union are not hard to find.
A huge number of takeaways make a quick and easy food option, with many open until the early hours, including the traditional fish and chips, Chinese, Indian and Kebab houses. While the quality of food is not always of the highest standard, prices are normally a reflection of this.
With so much diversity, it would take a lifetime to sample all the culinary delights that London has to offer. So with the number of delicious and impressive establishments continuing to grow, it is time to get started!
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Eating and drinking
