11 Best Restaurants in Dalston Every Foodie Should Try
Dalston is one of East London’s most exciting neighbourhoods for food, with a restaurant scene shaped by its Turkish, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, African, European and modern British influences. From charcoal grills and handmade pasta to lively late-night restaurants and neighbourhood favourites, there’s something for almost every taste.
For this list, the focus is on restaurants in and around Dalston itself, making it easy to explore several food spots in one trip.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mangal 2 | Turkish | Charcoal grill |
| Andu Café | Ethiopian | Vegan food |
| Little Duck The Picklery | Modern European | Fermentation |
| Snackbar | European | Small plates |
| Jidori | Japanese | Yakitori |
| Oren | Middle Eastern | Sharing |
| The Victoria | British | Pub dining |
| Little Duck | Modern European | Pasta |
| Cafe Route | Caribbean | Comfort food |
| Akari | Japanese | Casual dining |
| Arepa & Co | Venezuelan | Arepas |
1. Mangal 2
📍 Address: 4 Stoke Newington Road, London N16 8BH
Mangal 2 is one of Dalston’s most recognisable restaurants and a must-visit for lovers of Turkish barbecue.
The restaurant is centred around a charcoal mangal, with meat, vegetables and other ingredients cooked over intense heat. The flavours are smoky and straightforward, allowing the quality of the ingredients to stand out.
It has a relaxed, lively atmosphere that suits everything from casual dinners to meals with friends.
Best for: Turkish barbecue, grilled meat and casual dining.
2. Andu Café
📍 Address: 528 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AH
Andu Café is one of Dalston’s best-known destinations for Ethiopian food and is particularly popular with vegetarians and vegans.
The menu features richly seasoned lentils, vegetables, pulses and stews, traditionally served with injera. Rather than ordering one large dish, it’s worth trying several different preparations together.
The restaurant is casual and affordable, making it ideal for lunch or a relaxed dinner.
Best for: Vegan food, Ethiopian cuisine and budget-friendly dining.
3. Little Duck The Picklery
📍 Address: 68 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AH
Little Duck The Picklery is a distinctive restaurant where fermentation, preservation and seasonal ingredients play a major role.
The kitchen creates dishes around vegetables, grains, pasta and carefully preserved ingredients, resulting in food that is inventive without feeling unnecessarily complicated.
The intimate setting makes it particularly appealing for food lovers who enjoy discovering something different.
Best for: Experimental food, fermentation and seasonal cooking.
4. Snackbar
📍 Address: 83 Dalston Lane, London E8 3NS
Snackbar is a relaxed neighbourhood restaurant with a menu that takes inspiration from European cooking.
The dishes are designed to be shared, making it an easy choice for a casual evening with friends. The menu changes regularly, so there is often something new to try.
Its informal atmosphere is typical of Dalston’s independent restaurant scene.
Best for: Small plates, casual dinners and groups.
5. Jidori
📍 Address: 7 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2JS
Jidori brings Japanese yakitori-style cooking to Dalston, with skewers grilled over charcoal.
The menu goes beyond the usual chicken skewers, with different cuts and ingredients cooked over fire and served alongside Japanese-inspired small plates.
It’s a great restaurant for ordering several dishes and sharing them across the table.
Best for: Yakitori, Japanese food and sharing.
6. Oren
📍 Address: 1–3 Shacklewell Lane, London E8 2DA
Oren is a small and atmospheric restaurant focusing on Middle Eastern-inspired cooking, with a particular emphasis on fire and seasonal ingredients.
The menu is designed for sharing and can include grilled meat, vegetables, flatbreads, dips and other dishes influenced by the eastern Mediterranean.
It’s an excellent option for a date night or small group dinner.
Best for: Middle Eastern flavours, grilled food and sharing.
7. The Victoria
📍 Address: 451 Queensbridge Road, London E8 3AS
The Victoria is a traditional East London pub that also offers a strong food menu.
It’s a good choice when you want classic pub dishes, drinks and a relaxed atmosphere rather than a formal restaurant experience.
The pub setting makes it particularly suitable for an informal meal before heading out around Dalston.
Best for: Pub food, drinks and casual dinners.
8. Little Duck
📍 Address: Dalston, London E8
Little Duck’s cooking is particularly interesting for pasta lovers.
The kitchen makes fresh pasta and seasonal dishes, combining traditional techniques with a more experimental approach to ingredients.
The result is food that feels creative while remaining comforting and satisfying.
Best for: Handmade pasta, seasonal cooking and foodies.
9. Cafe Route
📍 Address: Dalston, London E8
Dalston’s connection to London’s Caribbean community is reflected in its food scene, and Café Route is an option for diners looking for Caribbean-inspired dishes.
Expect bold seasoning, hearty portions and comforting flavours, making this a good choice when you want something casual and satisfying.
Best for: Caribbean-inspired food and casual meals.
10. Akari
📍 Address: 264–266 Kingsland Road, London E8 4DG
Akari is a long-running Japanese restaurant on Kingsland Road.
The menu covers a broad selection of Japanese dishes, making it a useful choice if you’re dining with a group that wants plenty of options.
Its Kingsland Road location also means you’re close to many of Dalston’s bars and nightlife spots.
Best for: Japanese food, groups and casual dining.
11. Arepa & Co
📍 Address: 58A De Beauvoir Crescent, London N1 5SB
A short distance from Dalston, Arepa & Co is a great place to explore Venezuelan cuisine.
The restaurant specialises in arepas, filled cornmeal breads that can be packed with meat, cheese, beans, vegetables and other ingredients.
It’s an approachable introduction to Venezuelan food and works especially well for brunch, lunch or a relaxed evening with friends.
Best for: Venezuelan food, arepas and casual dining.
Where Should You Eat in Dalston?
For Turkish food, Mangal 2 is one of the obvious choices, while Andu Café is ideal if you’re looking for affordable Ethiopian vegan food.
Food lovers who want something more experimental should try Little Duck The Picklery, while Oren is a great choice for Middle Eastern-inspired dishes cooked over fire.
For a casual meal, Jidori and Akari are both worth considering, while Arepa & Co offers something completely different with its Venezuelan menu.
And if you’d rather keep things relaxed, The Victoria is a good neighbourhood pub option.
Final Thoughts
Dalston’s restaurant scene is a reflection of the neighbourhood itself: diverse, creative and constantly changing.
The area is particularly good for diners who want to move beyond conventional restaurant menus. You can enjoy Turkish barbecue, Ethiopian vegan food, Japanese yakitori, Venezuelan arepas, Middle Eastern cooking and modern European dishes all within a relatively small area.
For a first food trip to Dalston, start with Mangal 2, Andu Café or Oren, then explore some of the smaller independent restaurants and cafés around Kingsland Road and Dalston Lane.
