Having spent eight weeks in the United Kingdom (London, specifically), I was fortunate enough to travel and taste all London offers. Beyond the surface of bangers & mash and Jammie Dodgers, London presents a multitude of cuisines and cultures that can have any foodie traveling through a food coma. Throughout my eight weeks of trying new foods and tasting the “best” London offers, I compiled a list of five food shops, stores, and restaurants that captured the London taste and experience into one.
The first restaurant I fell in love with within my first week of being in London was Sticks’n’Sushi. Sticks’n’Sushi is a Japanese restaurant based on a renowned Danish concept, offering sushi and grilled yakitori skewers. After a failed attempt of trying to “eat like a Brit” and have mashed potatoes and meat for almost every meal, I turned to my comfort food: sushi. While Sticks’n’Sushi has eight locations in London, the location I frequently went to was in Covent Garden, a shopping and entertainment hub in London's West End. Covent Garden is a beautiful area to shop, socialize, and eat great sushi! I typically went to Sticks’n’Sushi for dinner, and my standard order started with edamame beans as an appetizer (grilled, supreme soy & soya sesame), crispy ebi (tempura shrimp, avocado, spicy sauce & sesame) and ebi panko (tempura shrimp & spicy sauce, topped with avocado) as my two rolls for my meal, accompanied with a meat stick (hence the sticks in Sticks’n’Sushi) called tsukune (chicken meatballs and teriyaki). The average price for a meal would be 25-35 GBP (British pound sterling), which equates to 30-35 U.S. dollars. Sticks'n'Sushi consistently had freshly rolled sushi, made to order and available for any dietary restrictions!
The second restaurant that kept me returning for seconds (yes, in one sitting) was Bubblewrap Dessert Shop in Chinatown, London. Bubblewrap is a trendy, street-style snack shop turning out handheld waffle cones filled with gelato & toppings. Not only had my coworkers raved about Bubblewrap, but I had passed the storefront multiple times and been curious about these cone-shaped gelato-filled creations. My standard order at Bubblewrap was a “Deluxe Lover,” which consisted of an original base (vanilla waffle), vanilla gelato, strawberry, and Nutella (I always added on Oreos, too, because I am an Oreo-addict)! While this delicious creation is a sight for sore eyes, eating without a fork or spoon is challenging and leaves your hands sticky (but your stomach is always happy). Bubblewrap offers a soul-filling dessert that is always picture-worthy and calorie-worthy, too!
The third (and by far, the most jaw-dropping, aesthetically pleasing) restaurant that is a London staple is The Shard. The Shard is home to some of London's best offices, restaurants, hotel rooms, and breathtaking views. With seven restaurants, it took much work to choose just one; however, the ultimate foodie decision was Oblix at The Shard (West). Inspired by the New York skyline, Oblix offers sophisticated urban casual dining on the 32nd floor offering views across central London from East to West. Although East and West dining have separate menus, my choice of East or West was made based mainly on where the best sunset would be, and the sun sets in the West, so I chose Oblix West for the ultimate view. After our dining experience of exotic drinks, impeccable service, delicious meals, and astounding views, I have nothing but outstanding reviews for Oblix. A foodie recommendation is to go to Oblix if possible, particularly for a special occasion. Oblix was the most expensive restaurant I ate at in London, but also a once in a lifetime experience to dine sky-high (literally)!
The fourth restaurant is only suiting considering this post is about London, and what would be a proper trip to the United Kingdom without fish n chips! On an excursion to Borough Market, a wholesale and retail market hall in Southwark, London, England, a sign caught my attention that read: “Winner, Winner, Fish & Chip Dinner! Proud Winners at the National Fish & Chip Awards.” I had only been in London for two weeks and was eager to try this British staple of food, and I knew there was no better place than the proclaimed winner of a fish n chip award than Fish!Kitchen. Fish!Kitchen is a collection of family-owned and operated seafood restaurants around London that serve some of the freshest seafood and renowned fish n chips. When ordering fish n chips, there are five selections of choice (cod, haddock, wild halibut, plaice, and fish of the day). Per the advice of the cash register, cod was the most popular and most tasty (generally approved), so I tried the beer-battered cod (fish) and subsequently got the chips (French fries). While I usually am not an advocate for fried food, Fish!Kitchen could get me to eat its fish n chips every day if I had the opportunity! The cod was fresh, the chips were perfectly baked, and eating in Borough Market made fish n chips the complete London experience.
The fifth restaurant is Crème, any cookie-crazed foodie’s dream. Crème is a cozy bake shop specializing in “really big cookies,” soft-serve ice cream, and coffee. Critically acclaimed as “Instagram’s favorite cookies,” the “best cookie delivery in the United Kingdom,” and “warm, gooey, melty cookies – winning!”
had me eager to try the New-York inspired cookie shop. Crème has a set menu of four original cookies: milk chocolate, white chocolate miso, banana dark chocolate, and vegan double chocolate. Walking into the storefront is positively overwhelming with pops of pink, delightfully smelling cookies baking in the oven, and, of course, the choice of which cookie (or cookies) will satisfy a sweet tooth. My decision resulted in the banana dark chocolate cookie: banana cookie dough with dark chocolate chips baked to perfection. After one bite, I knew I had fallen in love. To this day, the Crème banana dark chocolate cookie is the most delicious cookie I have ever eaten. What sets Crème cookies apart is the enormous size (bigger is always better), the crunchy outside but moist inside, and the warmth of every cookie (they melt in your mouth!)
While compiling just five of my favorite foodie spots was difficult, eating around London was one of my life's most exhilarating (and filling) experiences! I encourage everyone, if given the opportunity, to travel to London and eat as many exotic and soul-filling foods as possible. Always remember that food is fuel for the body, and good food is fuel for the soul.
Love, London
Photo credits: All photos were taken by author Ashley Corso.
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