Best Restaurants In Dalston

Hidden in the heart of Dalston, RAO's Bar and Restaurant is your go-to spot for modern Indian flavours with a contemporary twist. From tender tandoori mixed grills to fiery chilli garlic prawns, each dish bursts with bold, aromatic spices.

The sleek, welcoming interior makes it perfect for a casual dinner with friends or a special night out, and with a curated drinks menu including premium wines and craft beers, RAO's is as much about the atmosphere as it is about the food.

Dedicated to sourcing its produce from the UK, as well as using only grass-fed beef in its classic patties, Honest Burgers is renowned up and down the country for deliciousness slapped between two buns. The British burger restaurant first opened in Brixton in 2011 and makes everything from scratch in their own butchery - meaning beef burgers can be served pink for the best flavour and texture. However, there are cooked-through smash burgers if you'd prefer.

As well as beef, expect Buffalo or pesto chicken burgers, vegetarian options like the Southern-fried fritter, and plant-based picks stacked with smoky 'cheddar' and 'bacon' dust shoestring fries.

When it comes to Dalston restaurants, Turkish eateries rule the streets and one of the best is Mangal ll, offering a classy dining experience in the east. Run by founder Ali Dirik's sons, Ferhat and Sertac, the restaurant serves traditional and modern cuisine. Inside you'll find authentic art hanging up and dark blue panelling below white-washed walls, giving it a contemporary feel. Here you'll be able to devour seasonal plates such as börek with beyaz peynir and fermented parsley (£12), grilled bream with bulgar wheat, pistachios and mulberries (£24), plus decadent desserts like tahini and apple tart, topped off by a dollop of mahlep cream (£9.50).

In the heart of Dalston, The Good Front Room has quickly become a hub for London's Caribbean community. Raised in the city by a Jamaican mother and Saint-Lucian father, head chef Dom learned to cook traditional staples from a young age.

Since then, he's headed up several prestigious kitchens and won Channel 4's Five Star Kitchen: Britain's Next Great Chef. In this super trendy spot, he puts his twist on much-loved classics like rum and raisin glazed pork belly, short rib brown stew, curry goat and jerk chicken.

The Dusty Knuckle Bakery started life in a 40ft shipping container and has now been set up permanently in a converted Dalston car park. Co-founded by Daisy Terry, Rebecca Oliver and Max Tobias, it was born to support underprivileged young people looking for work and has gone on to sling out some of the best sandwiches in the business that sell out daily. Insta-worthy fillings have included smashed cucumber with a labneh and walnut sauce, plus beef birria. Swing by this quirky spot for breakfast, lunch and even dinner if you've got a hankering for a sourdough pizza, topped with the likes of buffalo mozzarella or parma ham. 

Pidgin is a Michelin-recommended neighbourhood restaurant that makes sure you never eat the same thing twice, thanks to its weekly changing menu. It began in 2015 as a four-course tasting experience and while the Hackney venue grows in popularity, its size remains as intimate as always, making it ideal for date night. The eatery recommends setting an hour aside to devour all the courses prepared, and past inclusions have been asparagus with smoked eel and sheep yoghurt, plus lemon sole in a green chilli butter sauce.

Restaurants in Dalston Kingsland don't come more date night-ready than Brilliant Corners, a Japanese joint fitted with glowing orbs for lights, spherical tables and a sleek bar. Taking its name from Thelonious Monk's iconic jazz album, it's no wonder the music here is impressive, with an expansive record library and live performances. The menu is inspired by izakaya and takes the shape of a five-course affair, tailoring for pescatarians and vegans too. Dishes include salmon, tuna and yellowtail nigiri, chicken karaage, plus tartare with ponzu, tobiko and chives.

Oren Dalston has been bringing Mediterranean-inspired sharing plates to Shacklewell Lane in the form of a neighbourhood restaurant bar since 2019. There's also a delicatessen and a cookbook from founder Oded Oren, which you use to make some of the tantalising dishes at home. Settle down here among concrete walls, beams and intimate, industrial lighting for a menu featuring homely plates of food. Think barbequed hispi cabbage with romesco, green salsify drizzled in honey and crispy red mullet featuring tangy notes of green tahini. 

Voodoo Ray's in Dalston is slinging out some of the best American-style pizzas by the slice. It can't be missed thanks to its glowing neon signage that can be spotted a mile off as you wander up Kingsland High Street. It's open seven days a week, meaning you can tuck into doughy delights such as the Green Velvet (artichoke hearts, green olives, sunblush tomatoes) or Porky's (Cumberland sausage, stilton) anytime you like. Pair your food with cheesy garlic bread, mac 'n' cheese, and the most delicious craft lagers, or get stuck into one of their signature iced teas. 

Del74 Dalston, having made its way over after success in Clapham, has staked its claim on the area as a great place for unbelievable tacos and tequila. It's a tropical hotspot complete with bright, multi-coloured cushions and shabby-chic brickwork in contrast to the sleek, tiled bar slinging out Mexican fare. Not only is there a £3 taco happy hour between 5pm and 6.30pm (from Wednesday to Friday), which is perfect for an affordable after-work dinner, but there are different flavoured margaritas and bottomless brunches come the weekend too. Munch on tortillas topped with braised leg of pork and pickled onions, plus cauliflower crackling or chipotle chilli.

No one does BBQ food better than Acme Fire Cult, the live-fire concept from chefs Andrew Clarke and Daniel Watkins. Housed in an outdoor heated courtyard, it has a laid-back feel and there's something for everyone on the food and drinks menu. Think meaty mains like smoked lamb shoulder and a huge selection of plant-based plates coming hot off the grill, plus fresh pints from 40FT Brewery (which shares its home) and classic cocktails including negronis and margaritas. Your experience will be topped off with non-stop tunes bringing the party atmosphere.

Slick white lines and marble countertops give Angelina a chic but approachable appeal, as diners head here for a five-star experience that challenges the norms of food cultures. If you're hunting for either Japanese or Italian restaurants in Dalston, you'll find both cuisines here, fused to create an innovative selection of dishes courtesy of head chef Usman. The menu is an interpretation of a Kaiseki, referring to the Japanese multi-course meals originating in Kyoto that took place before tea ceremonies. You'll devour everything from binchotan (lamb, carrot and daikon) to antipasti like polenta with smoked eel and gari, washed down by sake.

Little Duck The Picklery is one of the top Dalston restaurants (and a gorgeous natural wine bar), sandwiched between a row of eclectic shops. It's not only a sophisticated dining spot, adorned with rich teal brick walls and dainty wooden tables topped by clay bowls and candle holders, but it's also a fermenting kitchen. The menu changes frequently and showcases the inhouse pickles which are available to purchase if you wish to top your dishes with the good stuff at home. Pull up a chair at the centrepiece kitchen counter, sip on biodynamic wines and get your chops around purple sprouting broccoli or lemon sole with pink firs and then, to finish, stuffed chocolate dates.

Got brunch on your mind? Then you'll love Hash E8, a modern greasy spoon that's one of the best places to eat in Dalston if you're looking for a hearty breakfast. The quirky, rustic venue prides itself on curing hangovers and serving up a variety of scrumptious dishes that'll have your tummy jumping for joy first thing in the morning. The menu is always changing, but one thing you can be sure of is that you'll get your helping of eggs, be them in a sweet potato and chorizo hash or whisked and stacked up to become white chocolate pancakes. Whether you've got a sweet tooth or not, this neighbourhood restaurant is only a moments walk from Hackney Downs and will do more than just the job.