12 Best Restaurants in Kingston | A Local Food Guide
Kingston upon Thames is one of South West London’s most rewarding destinations for eating out. With the River Thames running through the town, a historic market area, independent neighbourhood restaurants and a growing selection of international cuisines, there is far more to discover here than the usual high-street dining.
You are planning a romantic dinner, looking for somewhere to eat after shopping, meeting friends for a relaxed meal or simply want to discover somewhere new, Kingston has plenty of options.
From Japanese sushi and Sardinian cooking to Thai food, Turkish grills, German specialities and riverside dining, the town caters to a wide range of tastes and budgets.
To help you decide where to eat, here are 12 of the best restaurants in Kingston upon Thames worth trying in 2026.
1. Sticks’n’Sushi Kingston
Sticks’n’Sushi Kingston is one of the standout choices in Kingston upon Thames for Japanese dining. Located in the Bentall Centre, the restaurant combines Japanese-inspired food with a contemporary Scandinavian-influenced interior, creating a stylish setting for everything from casual lunches to special occasions.
The menu is particularly varied, offering sushi, sashimi, grilled dishes and skewers. This makes it a useful choice for groups where not everyone wants the same thing. Diners who aren’t particularly keen on raw fish can also choose from a selection of cooked dishes.
With its modern surroundings, extensive menu and central location, Sticks’n’Sushi is particularly well suited to date nights, celebrations and group dinners.
2. L’assaggino Kingston
L’assaggino is a popular independent Italian restaurant on Park Road, offering a more intimate alternative to the larger Italian chains in Kingston. The restaurant focuses on Italian cooking with Sardinian influences and has developed a strong reputation among local diners.
TheFork currently lists L’assaggino among the highly rated restaurants in Kingston, with a 9.5 rating from more than 200 reviews. That makes it particularly interesting for anyone looking for a well-reviewed independent restaurant rather than a familiar chain.
The atmosphere also makes it suitable for a relaxed evening meal. If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy Italian food at a slower pace, L’assaggino is an excellent option.
3. Monty’s Nepalese Cuisine
Monty’s Nepalese Cuisine is a great option for diners who want to try something different from the usual restaurant choices in Kingston. Located on Fife Road, the restaurant brings Nepalese flavours to the town centre and offers a distinctive alternative to Indian, Italian and British cuisine.
TheFork currently gives Monty’s a very strong rating of 9.7 from 42 reviews. While that is a smaller review sample than some of Kingston’s more established restaurants, the rating makes it an interesting choice for food lovers exploring independent restaurants.
The restaurant is particularly worth considering if you enjoy aromatic dishes, spices and food that is designed to be shared. It is a good choice for a casual dinner with friends or for anyone keen to discover Nepalese cuisine.
4. Little Hunan
Little Hunan offers another interesting option for Asian food in Kingston. Located on Surbiton Road, this independent restaurant is a good alternative for diners who want something different from the larger chains in the town centre.
TheFork currently lists Little Hunan with a 9.4 rating from 28 reviews. Its smaller review base means the rating should be viewed in context, but it nevertheless makes the restaurant one to consider when exploring Kingston’s independent dining scene.
The restaurant works particularly well for diners who enjoy ordering several dishes to share. For couples or groups wanting to sample different flavours during one meal, Chinese-style sharing can make the experience especially enjoyable.
5. Trattoria del Popolo
Trattoria del Popolo on Coombe Road is another restaurant worth considering if Italian food is high on your list. The restaurant has a traditional trattoria feel, making it a good choice for diners who prefer independent restaurants with a more relaxed atmosphere.
TheFork currently includes Trattoria del Popolo among its Kingston listings, with an 8.6 rating from 15 reviews. It offers an alternative to the busier restaurants around the main shopping streets.
Its relaxed style makes it particularly suitable for a leisurely dinner with friends, family or a partner. If pasta and classic Italian flavours are what you’re looking for, this is one to put on your Kingston shortlist.
6. Rosa’s Thai Kingston
Rosa’s Thai is a convenient choice for Thai food right in the centre of Kingston. Its High Street location makes it particularly useful when you are spending the day shopping or exploring the town and want somewhere easy to reach for lunch or dinner
The menu includes a broad selection of Thai favourites, with dishes that work well for both individual meals and sharing. The combination of familiar Thai flavours and a lively restaurant atmosphere makes it a particularly practical choice for groups.
It is also a good option when you want a dependable central restaurant without travelling out towards the quieter residential areas of Kingston.
7. East Lane Restaurant
East Lane Restaurant on Kingston Hill offers a more intimate alternative for Thai food lovers. Rather than the busy feel of a large central restaurant, it has a neighbourhood atmosphere that makes it particularly appealing for a relaxed evening.
The restaurant currently has a very strong local rating of 4.9 from around 90 reviews. That level of feedback suggests it has developed a loyal following among diners in the area.
East Lane is particularly worth considering for couples or small groups who want Thai food in a quieter setting. Its Kingston Hill location also makes it a good choice if you are exploring areas beyond the main town centre.
8. Cappadocia Restaurant
Cappadocia is one of the established Turkish restaurants in Kingston and is particularly convenient for visitors arriving by train, thanks to its location on Fife Road close to Kingston station.
Turkish cuisine is naturally suited to groups, with mezze, grilled meats, salads and breads making it possible for everyone at the table to try different dishes. That makes Cappadocia a particularly useful choice for family meals and dinners with friends.
The restaurant has accumulated a substantial number of reviews, with its current local listing showing more than 2,800 reviews. Its established reputation makes it one of the more dependable options for Turkish and Mediterranean-style food in Kingston.
9. Stein’s Kingston
Stein’s brings something distinctly different to Kingston’s restaurant scene with its German-inspired food and beer-focused atmosphere. Located on the High Street, it is particularly popular with people looking for a lively place to meet friends.
The atmosphere is one of the restaurant’s biggest attractions. It is less about formal dining and more about hearty food, drinks and spending time with a group. That makes it particularly suitable for weekend evenings and social occasions.
If you enjoy German-style dishes and want somewhere with a distinctive character, Stein’s is an easy restaurant to add to your Kingston list.
10. Obon
Obon – Sushi & Udon is another Japanese restaurant worth trying in Kingston. Located on Richmond Road, it focuses on two particularly popular areas of Japanese cuisine: sushi and udon noodles.
The restaurant has a strong local rating of 4.7 from more than 500 reviews, giving it a substantial base of customer feedback. Its focused menu also makes it a good choice for people who know exactly what they want from a Japanese meal.
Sushi provides lighter options, while udon is ideal when you want something warm and filling. That combination makes Obon suitable for both quick lunches and relaxed evening meals.
11. ALACATI
ALACATI is another highly rated choice for Turkish and Mediterranean food in Kingston. Located at Jerome Place, it offers a convenient central option for diners looking for grilled meats, Mediterranean flavours and Turkish-style dishes.
The restaurant currently has a local rating of 4.7 from more than 850 reviews, giving it a substantial amount of customer feedback. Its moderate price range also makes it suitable for casual dinners as well as meals with friends and family.
As with many Turkish restaurants, the menu lends itself well to sharing. Ordering several dishes for the table can turn a meal at ALACATI into a social dining experience rather than simply choosing one main course each.
12. Umbria Taste Restaurant
Umbria Taste Restaurant is located in Hampton Wick, just across the river from central Kingston, and is worth considering if you want to explore the wider Kingston upon Thames area. Its slightly quieter location gives it a more neighbourhood-oriented atmosphere.
The restaurant currently has a strong local rating of 4.8, making it an appealing choice for diners who prefer independent restaurants away from the busiest shopping streets.
It is particularly suitable for couples, families and anyone looking for a relaxed Italian meal. If you are happy to venture a little beyond central Kingston, Umbria Taste provides another worthwhile addition to the area’s diverse restaurant scene.
Final Thoughts
Kingston upon Thames has developed into a genuinely diverse dining destination. Whether you are craving sushi, Italian pasta, Thai curries, Turkish grills, Nepalese food, Chinese cuisine or German-inspired dishes, there is plenty of choice within and around the town.
For a special occasion, Sticks’n’Sushi is a strong option, while L’assaggino and Trattoria del Popolo are worth considering for Italian food. If you want to discover something less conventional, Monty’s Nepalese Cuisine and Little Hunan offer interesting alternatives.
The best restaurant ultimately depends on your budget, occasion and preferred cuisine, but these 12 restaurants provide an excellent starting point for discovering the food scene in Kingston upon Thames.
