Illustration by Marcelina Jagielka
This summer, I was lucky enough to get a place on a London internship. As I call home that mysterious place otherwise known as “The Midlands”, this was a prime opportunity to try and find some of the best spots that the capital has to offer – and to see if they live up to the hype.
My previous awareness of London foodie locations has purely been through Instagram: aesthetic-friendly restaurants, quirky street food, and extravagant markets. My plan was to sample an eclectic mix. Thankfully I was living in Zone 1, so I could make the most of tourist destinations being readily accessible. I had Southbank and the London Eye pretty much on my doorstep, which made for some unashamedly cheesy photos. But this location also put me in excellent proximity to the much-touted Borough Market.
Borough Market, in my mind, was the province of wonderful stalls, these being a brilliant mix of cultures and food styles all under one roof. On Instagram, I had seen Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich of Honey & Co shopping for provisions there, and so it was a must-visit for me.
It did not disappoint. The variety of stalls was exciting, the accompanying prices a little disheartening. I didn’t end up buying any of the fantastic spices or olive oils available, as despite being beautifully presented, I could acquire the same contents for half the price at home. From the two traditional fruit and veg stalls, I was able to admire unconventionally-shaped veg, fresh British fruit, and many varieties of tomato which called out to be eaten simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Aside from the market stalls, there was also a street-food section serving hot meals: think a fancy Gloucester Green. The food is similarly excellent though – I enjoyed a samosa chaat, while my lunch companion had an enormous pulled-pork sandwich. In true street-food style, we enjoyed our meals perched on the curb of a nearby street. For a relaxed, quick meal, or the freshest produce around, Borough Market is certainly the place to go.
Another famous spot has to be London’s Chinatown. Being from a much smaller city, it always surprises me quite how busy London manages to be. A friend and I were in the centre of town to see a film, so we went for dinner in Chinatown beforehand. We picked a spot recommended on TripAdvisor, attempting to avoid the tourist traps.
This restaurant was described as “frighteningly efficient” and it certainly lived up to its reputation! I had the chef’s special: okra in a spicy sauce. I absolutely adore okra when used in stews such as bamiyeh, but I had never tried it from an Asian culinary perspective. It was new, but brilliant. Each bite was warm and intensely savoury, which rounded into a hearty kick and an aftertaste of salty goodness. Accompanied by a mound of steamed rice, my Chinatown experience was complete. By the time we had finished, there was a queue extending outside the restaurant door. TripAdvisor had guided us well.
So, I managed to tick off two big names on the London foodie scene. Both, if you choose your individual restaurants well, are excellent spots. Even if you’re not eating, they are wonderful hubs of activity that definitely demand a visit.