Updated for 2023
London’s Soho is the West End’s most diverse and exciting zone. Emerging from its seedier days, in recent years a wave of gentrification has swept through, opening it up as a more family friendly destination. One of the things that has long made Soho an interesting place, is the amazing range of food options. In fact, you can eat your way around the world in Soho! Read on to discover some of the best restaurants in Soho. For this post, the spending money was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are my own.
If you are thinking of visiting Soho (and we really think you should) then don’t forget to check out Hotels.com for some amazing accommodation in and around Soho.
Contents
Where is Soho?
Soho is in the West End of London. To the East you will find Covent Garden, to the South is Chinatown and Leicester Square and North-West is shopping galore. Soho is bordered by four main roads:
- North – Oxford Street
- East – Charing Cross Road
- South – Shaftesbury Avenue
- West – Regent Street
If you are coming by underground train, the best options are the four stations that mark the four corners of Soho:
- Piccadilly Circus – Piccadilly Line and Bakerloo Line
- Leicester Square – Piccadilly Line and Northern Line
- Oxford Circus – Central Line and Bakerloo Line
- Tottenham Court Road – Central Line and Northern Line
Now what we are all here for, the food!
Eat Your Way Around the World in Soho, London
AMERICAN
Bodeans BBQ Soho – 10 Poland Street, Soho, London W1F 8PZ
If you are craving some meaty goodness, cooked low and slow, then this is the place for you. You can ingest disgusting amounts of tender meat, or grab one of their super stuffed sandwiches. Don’t forget all the fixin’s! Slaw, cornbread, mac & cheese and sweet potato fries. All the things that make your eyes and belly bulge.
The most surprising thing here? They actually have a vegan menu!
Dish not to miss – Baby Back Ribs, get sticky and messy!
BREAKFAST
The Breakfast Club – 33 D’Arblay Street, Soho, London W1F 8EU
You will find The Breakfast Club across London, but this is the original! Open all day, they have a fantastic selection of hot breakfast dishes from a stack of pancakes to their full English (the Full Monty). There is no reservation system here for breakfast so during the weekend, be prepared to queue. It is totally worth being your first stop when you want to eat your way around the world in Soho.
These guys aren’t just open for breakfast. Some breakfast items stay on the menu all day, but they then add-on lots of American dinner options too. Plus, their cocktails aren’t half bad!
Dish not to miss – Huevos Rancheros. Chorizo, beans, eggs and yummy sauces, this is a great big dish of bubbly, spicy deliciousness. We especially recommend this if you are hungover.
CHINESE
BaoziInn – 24 Romilly Street, Soho, London W1D 5AH
You all know what suckers we are for dim sum here at Flying Fluskey, and BaoziInn has a great selection alongside a menu packed with Northern Chinese street food. It’s a brilliant place to come with friends. You can order a few dishes each and share them. There were some vegetarian options that looked pretty good which can be a let down in some dim sum spots.
Dish not to miss – Ruby Prawn Dumpling – These have lovely juicy prawns in, just like a har gau, but they have nice earthy beetroot pastry which differentiates them.
If you fancy getting a bit more involved with you dim sum, check out Making Dim Sum at the School of Wok
The Duck and Rice – 90 Berwick Street, Soho, London W1F 0QB
This is another good spot for dim sum, but you are here for the drinks as well as the food. If you like a good glass of something strong with your dinner then head to The Duck and Rice. The little dishes here are all packed with taste, making them all excellent accomplishments to a drink.
The Duck and Rice is a beer lovers paradise. On the drinks menu, you will find a wonderful collection as well as ciders and cocktails. You can even compromise and have a beer cocktail!
Dish not to miss – Five spice fried chicken. This is the perfect fusion of bar snack and Chinese flavour. If you are here for a proper dinner, you’ve got to have the duck and rice. It is so good that they named the place after it!
Looking for the best sights in London? Check out 101 Things to Add to Your London Bucket List
ENGLISH
Poppies Fish & Chips – 55-59 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 6HW
Finding a decent plate of fish and chips in London is actually surprisingly difficult. Take it from an English girl who grew up by the seaside, many London pub fish and chips meals are rubbish!
One delightful exception is Poppie’s Fish & Chips. The fish is battered to perfection and you will find all the traditional trimmings. Jellied eels (eurgh!), mushy peas and some lovely, chunky chips all add up to your best traditional fish and chips in London. You can sit in or get a takeaway to eat in the sun. I was so happy to see that they have a Soho branch now, it saves a trek over to East London and the Brick Lane branch.
Dish not to miss – It is got to be a traditional fish supper. How could you eat your way around the world in Soho and order anything else!
FRENCH
Brasserie Zedel – 20 Sherwood Street, Soho, London W1F 7ED
Some may find Brasserie Zedel too themed, we ADORE how themey this place is. French bistro from the outside, it doesn’t look like much, but walk in and down the stairs and you will find:
- Crazy Coqs – A gorgeous cabaret theatre that hosts the cream of the west end crop, burlesque, music and comedy.
- Bar Américain – Not the cheapest cocktail bar in town but it serves up some gloriously old-fashioned beverages in a very 1930s New York setting.
- The main Brasserie Zedel restaurant.
The decor is a weird and wonderful mixture of 1920s/30 Paris and New York. It is like a Broadway theatre hosting a French show. Its extravagance and camp wins me over every time.
Brasserie Zedel serves up some serious French cuisine. On our first trip, we indulged in some frogs legs. Well, when in France! Expect buerre (butter) aplenty and the kind of rich cordon bleu that will leave you hugging yourself with joy and regret.
If you fancy some of this fun on a budget then go for one of the set menus. You can get 2 courses for around £11, and three courses for £14.
Dish not to miss – Magret du Canard. This is some beautiful tender duck with a sticky, shiny Cointreau sauce. Add on some smooth pomme puree (mash potato) and you have a killer dinner.
Pierre Victoire – 5 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 3RQ
To enjoy a more authentic French bistro, hunt out Pierre Victoire. As soon as you enter the space you will be swallowed into the atmosphere. It’s warm and friendly, with dripping wax candles and a piano player tickling the ivories while you enjoy dinner.
The food is nothing short of delicious. Everything is cooked wonderfully and the rich French flavours will take you straight across the Channel. This isn’t the cheapest place but for the quality, I think they produce excellent value for money. You could also locate the sister restaurant, called Prix Fixe Brasserie. They also have fantastic French food but I feel the atmosphere isn’t as nice.
Dish not to miss – Anything seafood! They mix sweet fish flavours with rich sauces and crisp vegetables expertly.
Let’s continue to eat your way around the world in Soho…
GREEK
Suvlaki – 21 Bateman Street, Soho, London W1D 3AL
If you have never had Greek tapas, this is the place to start. Waiters recommend ordering three to five dishes each and sharing them with your buddies. The flavours are quite simple and the menu isn’t huge but the food is delicious. The small plate set up means you get to try little bits of everything. This is especially good if you are new to Greek food.
The Souvlaki (the restaurant’s namesake) can be had as a main dish or a mini version. This is Greek’s most popular street food. The small ones aren’t as stuffed as the full-size ones but they were packed with flavour.
Dish not to miss – You couldn’t come here without trying souvlaki. We tried the lamb with tzatziki and devoured it!
Feeling thirsty? Read The Best Real Cider Pubs in London
INTERNATIONAL
Balans Soho Society – 60-62 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 4UG
Balans is a Soho institution. In terms of food, you can eat around the world just in this one restaurant. From Moroccan falafel to pork quesadillas, even the fussiest eater will find an option to suit them. We love that they have big round tables, surrounded by glittering bead curtains for larger groups, as well as the cafe tables.
The best thing about Balans Soho Society is the opening hours. It is open all night. It is not quite 24 hours, but it is only shut for 2.5 hours in the early hours. They serve alcohol until 03:00 Monday to Saturday. It is a lovely place to end a night out, chatting with friends if you don’t feel like dancing. If you really want to eat your way around the world in soho, but more internationally, there’s a Balans in Miami too!
Dish not to miss – The Infamous Balans Burger. A perfect patty topped with red Leicester cheese, maple bacon and other exciting bits and bobs.
ITALIAN
Bar Italia – 22 Frith Street, Soho, London W1D 4RF
When Bar Italia was established in 1949 it was one of London’s very first Italian spots. Not much has changed since then, just check out the amazing old till and coffee machine. Bar Italia were pioneers in serving excellent coffee in Soho and have been making the most delicious coffees for 70 years.
Forget a McDonald’s after a night out, Bar Italia is open 07:00 – 05:00 Monday to Saturday. You can get a pesto, mozzarella and chicken panini at 4 am and that is much nicer!
Dish not to miss – Get a coffee and one of their flaky cannolis.
Obica Mozzarella Bar – 19-20, Poland Street, Soho, London W1F 8QF
A totally different kind of Italian restaurant. Obica is a mozzarella specialist. Come for the stunning cheese and stay for the other world-class produce served simply and perfectly. Mr Fluskey baulked at the price of a ball of truffle mozzarella, but it was beyond any mozzarella we had ever had before. Creamy, soft and dreamy, plus it tasted of truffle! It was heaven.
Fantastic cocktails and salty cured ham make perfect bedfellows with the cheeses.
Dish not to miss – As this is a mozzarella bar, it would be a real shame to miss out on the most incredible mozzarella of your life! If you are suckers for truffle like us then go for the burrata al tartufo.
Got a bit more time in London? See the Best of London with this 4-Day London Itinerary
INDIAN
Dishoom – 22 Kingly Street, Soho, London W1B 5QB
Modern Indian cuisine is done with panache at Dishoom. They serve famously fabulous brunches, featuring naan rolls, but there are absolute gems to munch on all day. Plus, their cocktails are original and top-notch.
This is not the place to come if you want a huge, creamy plate of sauce smashed full of spice, accompanied by seven kinds of rice and twenty naan breads. That belongs on Brick Lane. Instead, each dish here is well constructed, beautifully spiced and served with perfect side dishes. Dishoom also have a huge vegan selection. Even their famous Akuri eggs have been entirely reimagined as vegan! Last time we visited, we were drooling over the Chole Puri, a chickpea curry with two perfectly puffed puri breads.
Dish not to miss – The spicy lamb chops are the most delicious, aromatic meaty lollipops. I could eat them all night.
JAPANESE
Shoryu Ramen – 3 Denman Street, Soho, London W1D 7HA & G3 Kingly Court, 5 Kingly Street, London W1B 5PJ
The secret to amazing ramen is a stunning broth, and oh boy, do Shoryu Ramen nail it! Mr Fluskey doesn’t love a soupy noodle, so it was with relief we realised that they don’t just serve ramen. On the menu, you will also find fluffy bao buns, lovely crisp tempura and a few fusion bits for the fussier eaters.
Dish not to miss – Tonkotsu is their star dish. It is salty, opaque, richly flavoured and incredibly addictive. Throw in those al dente noodles and you have a perfect savoury dish
Bellies feeling full? We’ve still more to explore as we continue to eat your way around the world in Soho.
KOREAN
Korean Dinner Party – Top floor, Kingly Court, Kingly Street, Soho, London W1B 5PW
There is one reason that we have no photos of Korean food. We have never let it sit on the table long enough to snap any! After visiting Korea in 2017 and becoming utterly addicted to Korean Food, we had been looking for a spot in London to satisfy our cravings. Inspired by LA’s Koreatown, the concept is east-meets-west dishes, with craft sake and Korean hip-hop music. There are lots of street food and small eats to nibble including KDP Corn dog, pickle dogs, kimchi pancake and KFC (Korean Fried Chicken). You will be as addicted as we are from the second bite! Get an unusual cocktail, like the Yackult Royale (Yakult and champagne) and lose yourself in music filled evening of fun.
Dish not to miss – The Korean tacos. It will ruin you…in a good way!
BiBimBap – 11 Greek Street, Soho, London W1D 4DJ
Bibimbap is of the national dishes of South Korea. Sitting on a base of rice you will find a collection of elegantly sliced vegetables, meats or seafood. Top it with a raw egg and prepare to stir like crazy. BiBim means to mix up, and that is exactly what you need to do. Every bite will be slightly different but they should all be delicious. You can add as much gochujang (chill pepper paste) as you like, meaning you can have a bowl that is delicately flavoured, or one that can blow your head off.
Dish not to miss – I have it on good authority that they serve things other than BiBimBap here, but I have never strayed from their signature dish. The seafood is the pinnacle of deliciousness with delicate little squid tentacles.
MEXICAN
Wahaca – 66 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4HG
Not technically in Soho anymore, but Covent Garden (the Wardour Street branch closed in 2020), we couldn’t pass on mentioning Wahaca. Started by Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers, Wahaca was the first Mexican restaurant in London to take itself seriously. No more giant sombrero, inflatable donkey or shot girls parading the aisles. Instead, you will find small, delicate tacos that pack a huge spice punch. The menu changes seasonally but if you can find anything containing palm, get stuck in!
There is a tapas-style menu of small dishes and so it is a good sharing restaurant, where you can try many things. The piquant pork pibil is present in lots of dishes. It is super soft and the spice is addictive. The sweet potato is also surprisingly spicy, but again, you won’t be able to put them down. If you need something a little milder, the battered fish tacos are a great bet.
Dish not to miss – Order seventy of the frijoles side dishes. You won’t be able to stop at one, especially when topped with the crumbled cheese.
PERUVIAN
Ceviche – 17 Frith Street, Soho, London W1D 4RG
Peruvian food is achingly trendy right now. Despite its steps into the mainstream, many people are still very apprehensive about trying this unfamiliar cuisine. Ceviche is a lovely introduction. It feels like a restaurant you’ve been to before, even if you are staring in confusion at the menu.
They do serve Peru’s most famous foodie export, Ceviche, and we would urge you to give it a go! As well as this, there are other dishes that are a gentler introduction. For example, did you know that potatoes were originally from Peru? Well, they serve chips! Not the most exotic food as you eat your way around the world in Soho, but honestly, you can find curries here, roast chicken dishes and yummy grilled meat and seafood.
Oh, you could also just come here for a cocktail or two. They have an interesting selection of drinks with a pisco base. Pisco is the national drink of Peru and you won’t find it in many other bars. Shame they don’t have Inca Kola though!
Dish not to miss – Ceviche! They serve traditional versions, raw fish that is partly cooked by the acid in the spicy, lime-based sauce across the top. They also have less intimidating vegan option and one with cooked prawns.
SWISS
St Moritz – 161 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 8WJ
St Moritz was established here in 1974. This was the height of the fondue fashion here in the UK, and some may wonder how a Swiss restaurant has survived here despite fondue falling out of favour. Well, those people haven’t eaten here yet! When a pot of boiling, bubbling, fragrant fondue is placed in front of you, you know you are in for a real cheesy treat! They do serve other food, of course, but I have only ever chosen fondue joy! If this is not your thing then you can opt for grilled meat, fish dishes or crispy breaded escalopes.
Whatever you pick, the atmosphere here is a magical thing. The heavy decor takes you away to a wood cabin somewhere high in the mountains. It is SO cosy.
Dish not to miss – Whether it is the cheese, the beef stock or the chocolate fondue. You simply have to do the dipping thing. We tried the version with cheese and tomato and it was like the best deep dish pizza you have ever had.
Final Thoughts
We have explored some of Soho’s most exciting international options for dinner but there is so much more to discover. Things here change rapidly and there is always somewhere new to try. Who knows, there may be 20 more options tomorrow from 20 more countries and we really have proved you can eat your way around the world in Soho!
If you are coming to eat your way around the world in Soho and find anywhere fantastic to eat, that we haven’t mentioned here, we would love to hear all about it! You can find all these places, handily pinned on Google maps.
Rosie xx
