If you’re wondering where to eat near Shoreditch High Street station, then you’ve come to the right place. Whether it’s smoking hot Thai food, forward thinking modern British or handmade, fresh pasta, some of the best restaurants in Shoreditch are just a short stroll away from the station.
Sitting on the Circle Line, and just a stone’s throw from both Old Street on the Northern and Liverpool Street on the Central, Shoreditch High Street Station is one of the most accessible foodie focal points in all the city. But with such an abundance of choice brings a certain paradox; just where to find the best restaurants near Shoreditch High Street that actually live up to the hype?
We’re here to help with that; here’s where to eat near Shoreditch High Street Station.
Singburi, Montacute Yards
Ideal for punchy Thai flavours with a contemporary edge and London’s most coveted reservation…
The rebirth of Singburi in Shoreditch represents one of the most exciting restaurant relocations London has seen in years. Chef Sirichai Kularbwong, along with Nick Molyviatis (formerly of Kiln) and Alexander Gkikas (Catalyst Cafe), has traded the cult chaos of Leytonstone for a sleek glass-fronted space in Montacute Yards, and while the setting has evolved, his masterful command of Thai flavours remains unchanged.
The custom-built live fire grill takes centre stage in the open kitchen, where Kularbwong works his magic on a daily-changing menu that balances tradition with just the right amount of creative flair. The aubergine pad phet has already achieved signature status – double-fried until silky, then given vast swathes of aroma with wild ginger and chilli, turning it into something that tastes far greater than the sum of its parts.
The khua kling, traditionally made with pork or chicken, arrives as an intensely spiced dry curry of minced haddock that’s riveting, revelatory, and might have you hallucinating by the end of it. Meanwhile, the monkfish cheek green curry showcases a more delicate approach, with tender morsels swimming in a coconut-forward sauce that practically vibrates with aromatic intensity.
The transformation from the BYOB, no bookings vibes of old to the current polished operation is commendable in its ambition. Natural wines complement the bold spicing in ways that Singha simply can’t (for better or for worse), and there’s an enjoyably straightforward, satisfying cocktail list. Enjoy a couple of those at the counter; the best vantage point to watch Kularbwong’s focused approach to the stove play out in real time.
Yes, it’s pricier than the Leytonstone days, but with dishes starting at £6.50 and topping out around £20, it remains good value for cooking of this calibre. Just be prepared to fight for a booking.
Address: Unit 7, Montacute Yards, 185-186 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6HU
Website: singburi.london
Smokestak, Sclater St
Ideal for fire, smoke and meat…
For sheer proximity to Shoreditch High Street Station, Smokestak can’t be beat; you’ll catch its enticing wafts of wood smoke and grilled meats the moment you hear that familiar refrain to ‘mind the doors please’.
This is a restaurant that benefits from having a group of you round the table; their sharing beef brisket is the star of the show and could feed six easily. Complete with pickles and a few buns, this is finger food elevated to giddy new heights.
Read our full review of Smokestak here.
Address: 35 Sclater St, London E1 6LB
Website: smokestak.co.uk
Laphet, Bethnal Grn Rd
Ideal for experiencing the regional flavours of Myanmar in London…
Burmese is a cuisine that feels criminally underrepresented in London, but Laphet is flying the flag for this fabulous food and the city’s residents are taking note.
The dishes at Laphet are divided into small and large plates ideal for cramming the table with complementary tastes and textures, as well as bowls of noodles and broth that can be enjoyed as a single dish, should you be in a hurry.
Salads are keenly represented and their emphasis on crunch, bite and give, as well as an intricate interplay between savoury and sharp, is characteristic of the fine balancing act of Burmese food.
The pickled tea leaf salad is a must-order, and manages to feel both indulgent and light with every bite. And the country’s national dish, Mohinga, a catfish and lemongrass broth piquant with chilli and lime and deeply herbal, is as reinvigorating a bowl as you’ll find anywhere in East London, and that’s saying something, particularly with Kingsland Road so close.
To learn more about the food, history and culture of Burma, check out the excellent book Mandalay by cook and writer MiMi Aye.
Address: 58 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6JW
Website: lahpet.co.uk
Smoking Goat, Shoreditch High St
Ideal for Thai food that reinvigorates your tastebuds and soul…
We’ve been huge fans of Smoking Goat since its raucous, ramshackle days on Brewer Street, Soho. Rest assured; since the Thai barbeque restaurant’s move to Shoreditch, the vibe remains rowdy, the chill levels still Scoville baiting, and the aroma of smoke even more pervasive, in the best possible way of course.
This is food designed to reinvigorate. Though the fish sauce chicken wings have gained deserved cult status, and their Tamworth pork chop with spicy jaew dipping sauce is a real crowd pleaser, it’s the restaurant’s work with the offal which keeps us coming back.
With liver, heart and kidney featuring heavily in various laap, you could go to the Goat and dine very well on these intoxicating Laotian/Thai salads alone. With several rounds of sticky rice, a som tam salad and a couple of cold ones, it’s the ideal lunch in the city.
Address: 64 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ
Website: smokinggoatbar.com
Brat, Redchurch St
Ideal for Basque-inspired grill cooking and the best turbot in London…
We did mention that you wouldn’t have to walk far from Shoreditch High Street Station to enjoy some truly world class cooking, right? Well, above Smoking Goat, chef Tomos Parry’s Michelin-starred ode to his native Wales and the fish-over-flames cooking of the Basque country has resulted in one of the standout London restaurant openings of the last few years.
Bring a couple of friends and order the whole turbot, which is the restaurant’s star dish (Brat is a name for the fish in colloquial old English). It’s even been reported that Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper are fans, as keen to luxuriate in the king of the sea, its gelatinous flesh and pil-pil style accompanying dressing as the rest of us.
And would it even be a visit to Brat if you didn’t finish with the burnt cheesecake and seasonal fruit? A couple of London’s already most iconic dishes, right there.
If you can’t get a table here, then Brat’s residency at Climpson’s Arch in London Fields is still going strong, too.
Address: 4 Redchurch St, London E1 6JL
Website: bratrestaurant.com
Caso Do Frango Shoreditch, King John Ct
Ideal for the most succulent Peri-Peri chicken in town…
Hey, there’s a Nandos just a five minute walk away from Shoreditch High Street Station in Spitalfields Market, but even closer (and quite possibly, better) is Caso Do Frango, whose grilled Peri-Peri chicken qualifies as truly top notch. Considering half a chicken is only a couple of quid more here than the cost of a cheeky one, Caso Do Frango feels like a fairly thrifty treat, too.
At the restaurant, chickens are grilled over wood-charcoal, ensuring a smoky finish and blistered skin, with their secret Piri-Piri blend providing a satisfying kick of chilli. It’s not all about the chicken, though; the supporting acts and side dishes are fantastic, too, particularly the rice with crispy chicken skin and chorizo, rounded off with plantain, which is an inspired touch.
Address: 2 King John Ct, London EC2A 3EZ
Website: casadofrango.co.uk
Sticks’n’Sushi, Shoreditch High St
Ideal for elevated Japanese dining that caters to both sushi lovers and skeptics…
This stylish Danish-Japanese chain may have outposts across London, but their Shoreditch location on Kingsland Road manages to feel both special and intimate. Dark leather seating and a striking central bar create an atmosphere that makes you forget you’re in one of the city’s busiest neighborhoods.
While the extensive menu might seem overwhelming at first (there’s a reason it comes with photos), the set menus here are a foolproof way to sample their greatest hits. The ‘As Good As It Gets’ option lives up to its name, featuring standouts like the Hotate Kataifi – delicate scallops wrapped in crispy strands with miso aioli and trout roe – and their Wagyu Bites, which elevate the humble idea of beef on toast to new heights.
True to their name, both the ‘sticks’ (yakitori) and sushi portions of the menu deserve equal attention. The black cod with miso (Gindara no Miso) is butter-soft and perfectly glazed, while the Hell’s Kitchen roll, loaded with tempura shrimp and spicy sauce, proves they can nail both traditional and contemporary takes on Japanese cuisine.
As for drinks, the cocktail menu is impressive, but we opted for a bottle of Picpoul de Pinet priced at a reasonable £36 per bottle, which paired perfectly with the diverse flavours of the meal.
Part of the beauty of dining here lies in the rhythm of the meal; the dishes keep coming, each one a new surprise. At £115 for the ‘As Good As It Gets’ menu (feeding two generously), it’s not everyday dining, but for a special occasion or when you want to impress out-of-towners, it’s worth every penny. Better yet, bring a group – this is food that’s meant to be shared and debated over which stick or roll – or indeed whether stick or sushi – reigns supreme.
Address: 136 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8EA
Website: sticksnsushi.com
