Kiln

Self-taught chef Ben Chapman’s career got off to a flying start when he opened Smoking Goat in Soho to wild acclaim, but between being forced to close its small Soho site and reopen in a huge space in Shoreditch, he opened Kiln, which has become a regular on the lists of top restaurants in London.

Kiln’s food is inspired by the punchy flavours and textures of Thai cuisine, but continues Chapman’s love of nose-to-tail butchery. Alongside the clay-pot curries that give the restaurant its name, expect beautiful British meat and dishes like lardo-fried rice that’ll have your mouth watering before you tuck in.

The restaurant is small, with loud music, a down-to-earth vibe. It’s always popular, but if you haven’t booked ahead and you don’t mind the possibility of a queue, spaces for walk-ins are always kept, often at its wraparound counter.