Recommended London restaurants

Setting the criteria for our annual list of the 100 best restaurants in London was the easy bit. Anywhere we felt compelled to revisit again and again was instantly in. The Time Out Food & Drink team spend the whole year independently visiting the newest joints in town and revisiting the greats, so our critics know which restaurants truly deserve their place in our annual top 100. Nevertheless, we fretted, we sweated, we chewed on toothpicks while dramatically shortening shortlists with a big red marker. Until, at last, we had London’s best restaurants, ranked in order of greatness.So in the list below – surely the ultimate guide to the best restaurants in London – you’ll find it all: zeitgeist-defining celebrity haunts, the best new restaurants in London, Michelin star restaurants with starched linen napkins and restaurants serving down-to-earth cheap eats. What they all have in common is that they serve some of the best dishes in London at fair prices, with service befitting the setting. In short, if you’re looking for a great meal, you’ve come to the right place.

London may have a serious claim to the accolade of ‘world’s best food city’, but with ever-ludicrous living costs putting the kibosh on the concept of spare cash, we’ll be damned if we can afford it. Our list of London’s 100 best cheap eats will help remedy that. Everything here has been budgeted at £10 a head or less, and we’ve sought out variety – so expect everything from ramshackle Kurdish restaurants and Antipodean brunch spots, to old-school brasseries and basement roti kitchens, all serving killer food at economical prices. Gather your pennies and hit the streets – filling up in London's best restaurants needn’t empty the wallet.

There’s more to London’s cafés than just great brews. The capital is brimming with top notch coffee culture, and we've rounded up the best places to check out this creative caffeinated community - it's the best cafés and coffee shops in London. Do you agree with our choices? Let us know your suggestions in the comments below or tweet us.

The burger bandwagon rolls on and on. We've seen the rise and fall of hot dogs, ribs and kebabs, but the cravings for burgers in London never seem to die. Here, in our humble opinion, are the best burgers in town. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

Chopsticks at the ready! There’s Cantonese dim sum, classic Beijing-style roast duck, spicy Sichuan cuisine and plenty more to choose from in our round-up of London's best Chinese food. Do you agree with our choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions. RECOMMENDED: Find more great restaurants for every occassion

Here it is, a countdown of the capital's most coveted plates. No more need to agonise over the menu; dive straight in as we reveal dishes to die for at London's best restaurants and street food market stalls. The 100 best dishes 2016 picks out sophisticated signature dishes, indulgent desserts and sweet treats, finger-licking street food and restorative plates of breakfast food. Our list also celebrates 2016 food trends – from fiery curries to fried chicken. Tuck in to our top 100 below.   Produced by Laura Richards List and reviews by Tania Ballantine and Nicola Arencibia

Brunch in London is bigger than ever. You can bearly set foot out your front door at the weekend without stumbling across a steaming pan of shakshuka or finding the waft of waffles in the air. So let us guide you to the best spots in town for a kick-ass weekend brunch in London, from boozy bottomless brunches to traditional Full English fry-ups and even New York-style feasts, you can start off your weekend in style. Reviews by Laura Richards, Ashleigh Arnott, Cath Clarke, Dave Calhoun, David Clack, Megan Carnegie, Matilda Egere-Cooper, Gail Tolley, Isabelle Aron, Phoebe Trimingham, Alexi Duggins, Stephen Farmer, Alex Plim, James Manning and Eddy Frankel.

Let Time Out experts guide you through the best Sunday lunches in London – from traditional roasts in London's best pubs to meat, two veg and a whole lot more in London's best restaurants. Think we've missed a great place to have Sunday lunch? Let us know in the comment box below. Reviews by Laura Richards, Nicola Arencibia, Tania Ballantine, Megan Carnegie, Phoebe Trimingham, Hayley Joyes, Ashleigh Arnott, Cath Clarke, Dave Calhoun, Alex Plim and Alexi Duggins.

If you're food-obsessed but don't have the disposable income for London's best restaurants, street food is your saviour. Fun events, food markets and even London's best night markets are now bursting with stalls serving up cheap eats of an exceptional standard in dinky disposable containers. So we've done the rounds to dig out the best street food stalls in London. If we've missed something delicious we'd love to hear about it in the comment box below. Reviews by Ashleigh Arnott, Alexi Duggins, Laura Richards and the Time Out Food & Drink team.

Searching for some enticing Spanish restaurants in London? From tapas to more traditional Spanish food, here are the best restaurants in London offering authentic Spanish cuisine. Do you agree with our choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

Just because you’re on a diet, detox or health kick – or need coeliac-friendly, dairy-free or paleo-style dishes to figure on the menu – doesn’t mean that you can’t still dine out in style. We’ve rounded up the best healthy restaurants in London, including superfood pitstops, healthy vegetarian and vegan restaurants, calorie-conscious eateries, raw food specialists and sushi restaurants. We’ve also included restaurants that offer plenty of healthy dishes so that you don’t have to ditch your less enlightened (read: fatty) friends when you say goodbye to gluttony. Clean eating just got a whole lot tastier.

A decent Mexican meal may be hard to come by in London, but with the street-food scene booming, London’s take on tacos is getting tastier by the day. If you’re into morsels of meat and veg topping soft little tortilla bases and you don’t mind making a mess, say hola to these champion stalls and restaurants making an excelente stab at our favourite Mexican street food. Here are London’s best tacos.

We all know the British invented drinking, but did you know they invented brunch as well? At least that's how the legend goes. (Or, it was the Catholics, or some other group of people). Now this inbetweeny meal – not quite breakfast, not quite lunch – has been greatly improved by the addition of free refills on daytime-appropriate bubbly and cocktails. And while this new wave of alcohol-soaked midday dining may have its roots across the pond, what could be a more natural activity for Londoners than the so-called bottomless brunch, which brings together a sociable weekend meal and excessive amounts of booze? Here’s our guide to the best bottomless brunches in London. RECOMMENDED: London's best breakfasts and brunches

When it comes to vegan-only restaurants, London has got herbivores covered (see the second tab below if you don't believe us). But what about when you're eating as a group, and only some of you are vegan? Do you all go to a vegan café, or do you all go somewhere mainstream but boring, where your vegan chum has to eat yet another 'veggie-side-as-main-course'? The answer of course is neither. For our first list, we've hand-picked mainstream restaurants, covering cuisines from Japanese and Thai, right through to Peruvian, which 'cater for all'. Because the only thing better than eating out, is eating out with all your friends.

Limp lettuce and tasteless tofu are a distant memory for London's vegetarians. From the very best restaurants in London to London's best cheap eats, check out the creme-de-la-creme of London's veggie scene. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

If you’ve got that kimchi craving, then you’ve come to the right place. Korean restaurants can be found dotted all over town these days, as well as positioned in New Malden and Tottenham Court Road hotspots. Here's where to find the best of bulgogi, bibimbap and barbecue – it's the best Korean restaurants in London.

Explore regional specialities as well as a roll-call of classics at our pick of Thai restaurants. London offers quality chain Thai restaurants alongside innovative joints putting unique spins on Thai street food. You'll find them all in the list below. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

Whether you're looking for that first date venue, bars perfect for couples, or somewhere to celebrate an anniversary or Valentine's Day in London, we've got it covered. Unfortunately, a cheap date is seldom a romantic date so do be prepared to splash some cash. Check out our guide to the best romantic restaurants in London. Do you agree with our choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

Afternoon tea is the ultimate indulgence, and it doesn’t get much better than the way it’s served in London hotels, restaurants and cafés. We’ve tucked into the post-lunch, pre-dinner treat and British institution at venues all around town to find you the very best afternoon tea in London. From classic tea, sandwiches, scones and clotted cream to quirky afternoon teas with a glass of champagne and a finger to the establishment (little finger, naturally). Pinkies at the ready! RECOMMENDED: Check out these tip-top offers on afternoon tea in London

Our team of experts have sought out the best breakfasts and brunches across London. Whether you're looking for coffee and pastries in a café, a posh Sunday brunch, or a mouthwateringly meaty fry-up, we've got plenty of options to make sure the most important meal of the day is also the tastiest. Also check out London's best breakfasts and brunches in central, south, north, west and east London, cheap breakfasts in London and our slideshow of the top ten breakfast dishes and the top ten brunches. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

Indian restaurants in London offer a Bollywood symphony of flavours and cooking styles. If you're looking for something beyond your bog standard Brick Lane curry, the list below should fire you up. From homely dhal dishes to Punjabi-grilled meats worth queuing for, discover the best Indian restaurants in London.

Whether it’s a steaming bowls of ramen noodles, super-fresh sushi or an up-market kaiseki meal you’re after, you’ll find them on our list. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

American restaurants in London bring out the best in the sought-after cuisine of the US. Think burgers, barbecue, hot dogs, ribs and other delicious forms of meaty goodness and you're on the right track. But read our list below and you'll discover there's so much more to US cuisine, especially when it's done to a tee in London restaurants. Can't find your favourite in our list? Let us know in the comment box below. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in London for...

Don’t know your tacos from your fajitas? Here’s our guide to dining Mexican in London. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

We've tried and tested the very best restaurants in London for the very best cuts of meat, and here are the results – London's top steak restaurants. We've chosen from Argentinian steakhouses and British brasseries to find you the finest fillet, sirloin, rib-eye and more. Do you agree with our choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions. RECOMMENDED: London's best burgers

This Italian staple has been elevated far beyond its humble roots. We’ve tried and tested the very best pizza to give you our top London pizzerias. Do you agree with our choices? Use the comments box below to let us know, or tweet us your suggestions.

In London, fried chicken joints are like pigeons, post boxes and discarded copies of the Evening Standard – they're bloody everywhere. But quantity doesn’t always ensure quality, and seeking out the best crispy chooks in the capital requires a little research. Whether it’s southern-fried thighs, crunchy Korean-style strips, or a mountainous fillet burger you’ve got your sights set on, we’ve put in the legwork and found the best fried chicken in London for you. Hungry? Go on, get acquainted with some of the best birds in town.

Could there be a more epic drink (if you can call it a drink) than the freakshake? Originating in Australia, these monstrous concoctions promise to fix all your sugar cravings at once with their combo of milky goodness, rich, gooey cake, cookie chunks, lashings of cream and a carnival of colourful toppings. Sure, it’s impossible to look elegant whilst tackling one, but you only have to glance at social media to realise that London has made its mind up, and it wants its shakes served freaky. Here's where to find your next fix.

From Kyushu-style tonkotsu made with long-simmered pork bone broth, to simple soy sauce based soup, you can now get your ramen fix in all sorts of forms in London. From traditional Japanese restaurants to places doing something a bit different, here's our pick of where to grab a steaming bowl of thin wheat noodles in broth. It's the best ramen joints in London. 

Don’t settle for bullet-hard nigiri on a black plastic tray – we’ve chopsticked our way through the best sushi restaurants London has to offer. So whether you're looking for a healthy restaurant option or a bit of a splurge, you'll find it here, Japanese-style. Do you agree with our list? Tell us your favourite sushi bars in the comments below, or tweet us your suggestions.

You gotta love the British weather, it could be sunny when your starter arrives but torrential rain by the time you pick up your fork. Take your hands off the umbrella, peel off the raincoat and dip into the best gardens in London restaurants. Here, you'll find giant tropical palms, trailing hibiscus, dangling vines and not a raincloud in sight.

Crispy and comforting – when done well, a plate of traditional fish and chips is simply irresistable. Our critics have rounded up their favourite British restaurants serving fish and chips in London. Do you agree with our choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

Pancakes may be avaliable all year round, but Shrove Tuesday (Tuesday February 9 2016) is 'Fat Tuesday' in Christian tradition, when rich ingredients are purposely used up before the fast of Lent. Whether you're preparing for a fast or simply after some mouthwatering stodge, brace yourself for a battering at these London pancake venues.

Sushi, burritos or even a kebab - if you're dining solo in the capital there's plenty of fine food to be enjoyed alone. Check out our guide to great restaurants in London where you won't feel awkward requesting a table for one. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

The unveiling of the Michelin Guide's Great Britain and Ireland edition is always a hotly anticipated event among culinary followers of celebrity chefs and top restaurants, and with good reason – London is one of the top-ranked cities in the world for fine-dining. We're happy to report that London’s status holds year after year, the capital decorated with Michelin stars aplenty. While Michelin’s expertise on expensive, fine dining restaurants is long-established, the Michelin Guide has also been criticised for its relevance to ordinary diners. Conspicuous by their absence are more affordable places to eat. Coverage of ethnic restaurants has also been criticised with a lean towards French and Italian food. On a plus note though, Michelin inspectors visit anonymously and pay for their meals, just as all reputable restaurant guides and websites do (including Time Out). Time Out has meticulously compiled its own list of the best restaurants in London, based on 25 years of anonymous review visits, which takes value for money into consideration as one of the main criteria. However, to find all London restaurants with a Michelin star, read on. RECOMMENDED: The 100 best restaurants in London

The classic Cockney combination of pie and mash is increasingly hard to come by in the capital. The pie and mash shops that used to feed the masses are sadly a dying breed in London these days. That's why we've rounded up the best old-fashioned, no frills caffs in London where, pie, mash and liquor – and maybe even jellied eels – are still dished up the traditional way.

Quirky and unusual restaurants – London’s full of ‘em. And it’s just as well, since sometimes the pressed white linen, classic cuisine and friendly service of London’s best restaurants can get a bit, well, dull. When you’re hankering after a meal that’s a touch strange, offbeat or downright weird, look no further than these – the quirkiest, most unusual restaurants in London. Sure, they may not be home to London’s best dishes, but for a dinner with a difference, these food freak shows won’t let you down.

What better way to absorb the sights and sounds of the capital than from one of the many London restaurants with great views? Do you agree with our choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

Fantastically fickle? Get bored easily? Yeah, we know your sort. This list is especially for you. It’s a hand-picked selection of the hottest restaurants, cafés and street-food collectives to set our tastebuds aflutter in recent months. Now all you have to do is try them out for yourself. And that’s the kind of challenge you can get behind, right?

Time Out's food and drink editors have rounded up their pick of the latest cafés, gastropubs and restaurants opening soon in London. These talked-about eateries are set to arrive in the capital in the coming weeks and months. Opening dates change frequently – often at the last minute – so always ring first to confirm. RECOMMENDED: Latest London restaurant reviews

Looking for somewhere you can sit down and enjoy a meal after 11pm – but want to avoid the late-night party venues where food is secondary to drinking? Here's our pick of the places for a late supper in the bustling West End and beyond. And if you're looking for after-hours fun that's a little less civilised, check out list of London's late-night bars and pubs.

Going to child-friendly restaurants in London doesn't have to mean sacrificing on grown-up style. These central and neighbourhood restaurants in London know how to feed the whole family, offering value for money grub for babies, children and adults, too. You can even enjoy a cocktail while the kids enjoy entertainment from accommodating staff. Thumbs up all round.

Restaurants for small groups, restaurants for large groups – we’ve got everything from cosy booths and kitchen tables to communal canteens covered. Whether you and your crew are looking for after-hours snacking, a night out with dinner and dancing, a cheap Chinese pre-theatre or a slap-up birthday meal, your group dining adventure starts right here.

Great food; check. Good service; check. Stylish interiors; check! When it comes to memorable dining experiences, stylish restaurant interiors have a surprisingly large part to play. From themed gallery cafés to upmarket, Michelin-starred gastro-temples, our selection of London’s most stylish dining rooms will help you select that next special dinner destination.

As Bob Dylan sang, the times they are a-changin’ – and on London’s restaurant scene novelty is everything. If all the innovation is exhausting you, why not go back to a simpler time at one of these retro restaurants in London? Out with the new, in with the old...