Shepherd’s Bush… Does that sound obscene? Silly? Just a name? Who knows…
What we do know is that Shepherd’s Bush occupies a curious position in West London neighbourhood hierarchy. Not as polished as neighbouring Notting Hill, as musical as Maida Vale, nor as determinedly bohemian as Ladbroke Grove, it exists in a state of perpetual transition that somehow suits it perfectly. The area’s character comes from this very refusal to be pinned down – one street offers Lebanese bakeries that have served the same families for forty years, the next harbours a Michelin-starred sushi counter floating eight floors above the former BBC Television Centre.
This slow and steady transformation arguably began in earnest when Westfield opened in 2008, bringing international chains and food courts that threatened to homogenise the area’s dining scene. Instead, something more interesting happened. The influx of new money and footfall created space for ambitious restaurants to thrive alongside the kebab shops and corner cafés that give Shepherd’s Bush its soul. Wood Lane now hosts world-class omakase, whilst family-run Persian restaurants continue serving the stews their grandmothers taught them.
Indeed, the Shepherd’s Bush dining scene reflects the neighbourhood itself – unpretentious but not unambitious, international by default rather than design, shaped more by immigration patterns than Instagram trends.
We’ve spent months eating our way through W12 (it’s a hard life, etc., etc.), from the market stalls to the mall restaurants, the hidden Syrian gems to the headline-grabbing openings to bring you these; our eight favourite restaurants in Shepherd’s Bush, the ones that capture what makes the neighbourhood one of London’s most exciting places to eat right now.
Giulia, Askew Road
Ideal for neighbourhood Italian that punches well above its weight…
Albanian-Italian chef Endris Kerbizi met Roman partner Giulia Quaglia whilst both worked at the Bvlgari Hotel, and the residents of Shepherd’s Bush must be so grateful love was in the air in the hallowed halls of that prestigious establishment…
Fast forward a few years, and their 30-cover trattoria on Askew Road is accumulating serious accolades (The Good Food Guide’s Best 100 Local Restaurants earlier this year, two AA Rosettes awarded July 2025, a Michelin Guide listing) through focused menus where morning-baked focaccia and fresh pasta emerge from a compact kitchen with a verve and vivacity that speaks of the handmade.
The seasonal monthly menu showcases Italy’s rhythms – come colder months, the traditional Ossobuco alla Milanese arrives slow-cooked to perfection alongside saffron-infused risotto. Perhaps a pumpkin risotto with veal ragu might appear, too. The fried Veal Cotoletta alla Milanese, more than 300 grams of hefty, golden, crispy joy, has become something of a signature for good reason. Spring brings artichokes aplenty, when dishes like charred artichoke with mint and baked ricotta or Carciofi alla Romana with pecorino and saffron land on nearly every table. And don’t get us started on porcini season, where mushrooms bring earthy grandeur to the restaurant. That season is just around the corner by the way.
The wine list favours Italian producers without defaulting to obvious choices, several interesting orange wines sitting alongside classics from, primarily, Tuscany. Don’t know how to play it, plonk wise? Giulia herself provides Roman warmth front-of-house, conversing in rapid Italian with regulars whilst ensuring newcomers feel equally welcomed, all the while dropping wine recommendations. Exposed brick and simple wooden tables keep focus on the food rather than décor.
Booking ahead is generally recommended, though we’ve had success rocking up and walking in before.
Website: giuliarestaurant.co.uk
Address: 77 Askew Road, W12 9AH
Shikumen, Shepherd’s Bush Green
Ideal for dim sum and duck that rivals Chinatown’s finest…
Inside the Dorsett Hotel overlooking Shepherd’s Bush Green, Shikumen was once a Michelin Bib Gourmand holder, and for good reason; there’s quality, intricate dumpling preparation at work here, the loss of that recognition inexplicable, in our eyes at least.
Indeed, the kitchen’s ability with xiao long bao, where thin skins contain scalding soup that burns the impatient, or scallop siu mai topped with bright orange tobiko that pops against sweet shellfish, continues to impress diners, even if the inspectors have gone cold on the restaurant.
Perhaps they missed out on the two-stage Peking duck service the last time they dropped in. Here, it’s all about the traditional technique – air-dried for hours, lacquered with maltose, its crispy skin wrapped in paper-thin pancakes and its meat stir-fried alongside seasonal vegetables. God it’s good, and for £88 a duck, you’d hope so. You do get a beautiful duck bone soup thrown in for good measure, too. Not ‘thrown in’, come to think of it; that would scald and scar. Perhaps ‘placed down gently’ for good measure might be more appropriate…
On the more affordable side of the spectrum, dim sum service runs until 5pm daily, and averages around £10 for a four piece tǐ, making lunch surprisingly accessible for high-end hotel dining. Hand-pleated har gau and wok-fired ho fun with house-made XO sauce demonstrate the kitchen’s commitment to traditional preparation, and are certain highlights.
Mahogany accents and red lanterns create a familiar, opulent Cantonese atmosphere and service maintains a certain hotel polish without stuffiness. Perhaps most importantly, friends from Hong Kong regularly praise the accuracy of flavours and techniques, which perhaps speaks louder than any Michelin award does.
Website: shikumen.co.uk
Address: 58 Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8QE
Chet’s, The Hoxton
Ideal for Thai-American fusion that actually makes sense…
Legendary LA chef Kris Yenbamroong’s first venture into London occupies The Hoxton’s ground floor, its pink ceilings and caramel booths channeling retro California diner aesthetics. Open from 7am to midnight, it’s pitched as an all-day, all-things-to-all-people kind of place, as long as you’re the kind of person who likes their tuna melt stuffed with larb, or your fried chicken waffles dressed with tom yum sauce.
If that all sounds like overkill, fear not; the James Beard-nominated chef behind LA’s NIGHT + MARKET maintains a kind of skewed, chaotic rock’n’roll logic here, the whole thing tied together by flavour, whether it’s avocado toast and pert nahm jim seafood in the morning, or the signature Tingling Onion (a Thai-spiced blooming onion) just before close as you see off your final Lychee Martini.
The predominantly natural wine list and playful cocktails that don’t top £15 suit the dialled-up-to-eleven menu. Fittingly, Chet’s is massively popular with pre-gig crowds heading to Shepherd’s Bush Empire. This is spicy stuff, so mano cornutas at the ready, even if you’re not in town for a show!
Website: chetsrestaurant.co.uk
Address: 65 Shepherds Bush Green, W12 8QE
Sufi, Askew Road
Ideal for Persian home cooking at neighbourhood prices…
Since 2007, this family-run Persian restaurant’s clay tandoor has produced fresh seeded naan for every table, the embers always glowing, the smoke always rising. It’s there in traditional recipes like kashk-e bademjan (smoky aubergine with fermented yogurt and fried onions) too, and mixed grills where marinated meats char over open flames.
That said, it’s the stews at Sufi that are the headliners, to our mind at least. Give us a bowl of the khoresh gheimeh (lamb and split pea stew) any day of the week and we’ll be happy, as long as there’s a pile of that naan for dredging.
The intimate space resembles dining in someone’s home, which essentially you are. The BYOB policy helps keep costs down for regulars who return weekly (count us among them). Those devoted patrons know to order the house-churned saffron ice cream regardless of season – it’s such an indulgent yet impossibly light finish.
The visible tandoor and wafts of aromatic spices set the scene, flickers of candlelit and effortless service ensures that scene is carried through to its natural conclusion. As in, paying the bill and bidding Sufi a cheery goodbye and see you next time.
Website: sufirestaurant.com
Address: 70 Askew Road, W12 9BJ
Abu Zaad, Uxbridge Road
Ideal for Syrian mezze near the Market…
This bustling Syrian restaurant near the north end of Shepherd’s Bush Market has become a neighbourhood institution through sheer consistency, quality and value. Sometimes, that’s all you want from your local restaurant. And if you don’t want that, then what exactly are you looking for?
Back inside, and tiled interiors evoke Damascus souks whilst the kitchen delivers faithfully rendered Levantine cooking that attracts a diverse, enthusiastic crowd.
The mezze selection showcases dogmatic, devoted technique – baba ganoush with deeply charred aubergine creating genuine smoky depth, fresh-fried falafel that maintains its crunch whilst revealing vivid green herbs within, and muhammara where walnuts and red peppers balance perfectly. Mixed platters encourage exploration, though the lamb kofta with spicy tomato sauce and lamb kibbeh deserve individual attention – you won’t want to share either.
Famously massive mains don’t top £15, and the comically generous mixed grill for two is just £30 – this would be good value even if the food itself was several notches less delicious. The fact it’s so fresh, so vital, so clearly made with devotion, makes the prices even more astonishingly reasonable.
The strict no-alcohol policy (no BYOB allowed) puts the focus on fresh juices that deserve it: pomegranate, tamarind, and jallab (date and rose) that complement the food better than wine might. Sahha to that!
Website: abuzaad.co.uk
Address: 29 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LH
Endo at the Rotunda, White City *currently closed*
Ideal for Michelin-starred sushi with views across West London…
*Sadly, just this week a fire in the building means Endo is closed until further notice. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties*
Eight floors above the former BBC Television Centre, third-generation Yokohama sushi master Endo Kazutoshi presides over just 16 counter seats where an 18-or-so-course omakase journey costs £290. The space earned its Michelin star within six months of opening and has maintained it through 2025, combining premium British ingredients with those that simply cannot be replicated without importing from Japan. So, that’s Cornish tuna, Orkney scallops and Irish oysters with rice from Yamagata and water flown in from Fukuoka.
The signature ‘business card’ consists of multiple varieties of tuna layered with seaweed, each piece pressed, seasoned and garnished at the 200-year-old Hinoki wood counter. West London spreads out through floor-to-ceiling windows, adding drama to what already feels like theatre. Though you’ll pay just shy of £300 for the privilege (and that’s before you consider your sake splurge), the sky high prices don’t put off the punters; securing any reservation means joining monthly online scrambles where tables disappear within 30 minutes.
Blonde wood and clean lines channel Tokyo’s high-end sushi-yas whilst maintaining those eighth-floor views. Service operates at the precision level you’d expect, each course timed for the necessary appreciation without feeling either rushed or stagnant. Fortunately, the much-feared hushed tones and reverence of the traditional high-end sushi experience are punctuated by chef Endo’s flamboyant, playful delivery, which provides a welcome juxtaposition to the intricacy on the plate.
Website: endoattherotunda.com
Address: 8th Floor, The Helios, Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, W12 7FR
Got time? It’s a cool 48 hours in Notting Hill eating and drinking for us next. Care to join us?
