London Food Bucket List: Must-Try Dishes and Hidden Eats

When you think of a London food bucket list, a curated set of essential eating experiences that define the city’s culinary soul. Also known as must-try London eats, it’s not about fancy restaurants—it’s about the bites that stick with you long after you’ve left the city. This isn’t a list of places you’ll find on every travel blog. It’s what Londoners actually line up for at 8 p.m. on a Tuesday, what they text their friends about after a long day, and what they bring out-of-town guests to without even checking the menu.

Right here in London, you’ve got iconic London dishes, the classics that shaped the city’s food identity. Also known as traditional British fare, it includes fish and chips wrapped in newspaper, a proper Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding, and afternoon tea that actually tastes like tea—not just a photo op. Then there’s Chinatown London food, a vibrant, bustling layer of the city’s eating culture centered around authentic dim sum, Peking duck, and spicy hot pot. Also known as London’s Chinese food scene, it’s where you’ll find the best dumplings outside of Guangzhou, served in tiny rooms with steam fogging the windows. And don’t forget the hidden gem restaurants London, secret spots locals guard like treasure maps—no signs, no online menus, just great food and a whispered address. Also known as secret dining spots, these are the places that don’t advertise, but somehow always have a line out the door.

You’ll find all these on the list below—real places, real dishes, no fluff. Some are old-school institutions that have been feeding Londoners since the 1970s. Others are new-wave spots that turned a back-alley kitchen into a city-wide sensation. You’ll find American fast food chains that somehow feel more authentic here than back home, and halal spots that are so good they’re Instagram-famous without trying. There’s even free food if you know where to look. This isn’t a guide to eating in London. It’s a guide to eating like you live here.

What follows isn’t just a list of articles. It’s a collection of firsthand experiences—where to get the crispiest fry, the juiciest burger, the most satisfying bowl of ramen, and the quietest spot for a late-night kebab after the clubs close. No tourist traps. No overpriced views. Just food that matters.