5 Hidden Gem Restaurants in London
London is no stranger to good food, but beyond the trending hotspots and overbooked chains lies a world of under-the-radar restaurants serving up bold, soulful dishes from across East and North Africa. These spots serve more than just a good meal; they offer a culinary journey.
Not every great restaurant in London comes with a queue around the block. Some are tucked away on quiet streets, subtly serving bold, beautiful food packed with history, heart, and flavour. These are the places that don’t always make the headlines, but absolutely deserve a spot on your radar.
This list brings together a selection of under-the-radar gems celebrating the richness of African cuisine; from the slow-cooked stews of Eritrea to the fragrant spices of Sudan and the comforting dishes of the Horn. Whether it’s injera that melts into richly spiced sauces or tender meat grilled to perfection, these spots offer an experience that’s both deeply cultural and incredibly delicious.
Mosob
Mosob Bar and Restaurant, which you can find tucked away on Harrow Road in Maida Hill, is one of London’s most beloved hidden gems for East African cuisine; specifically Eritrean. It’s been a family-run spot since 2004, and offers a warm, home-style dining experience rooted in tradition.
Keeping to culture, their meals are served on injera, the signature sourdough flatbread, with richly spiced stews like doro wat, shiro, and tibs. The menu also caters beautifully to both meat lovers and vegetarians, with generous platters designed for sharing.
What makes Mosob truly special is its sense of culture and ceremony: from the handwoven baskets the food is served on (known as a "mosob") to the traditional Eritrean coffee ceremony complete with jebena pots, incense, and popcorn.
The service is consistently warm and welcoming, and it boasts authentic flavours. It’s the kind of place that feels like a well-kept secret, until you taste the food and wonder why you hadn’t been sooner.
Heritage Kitchen & Bar
Heritage Kitchen & Bar is a cosy spot in Cranford that quietly delivers some of the most satisfying Afro-Caribbean and Ghanaian dishes in West London.
The menu features everything from suya and kelewele to fufu with peanut butter soup, jollof rice, grilled chicken wings, and perfectly fried plantain. Everything feels homemade, with a real focus on taste and portion size.
There’s also a full bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and a laid-back theme that makes it easy to settle in. They occasionally host themed nights and live music, adding a bit of energy without losing that neighbourhood feel.
Heritage may not be flashy, but it’s reliable, welcoming, and full of heart. If you’re after comforting Ghanaian food, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Sabiib
Sabiib Somali Restaurant, located on bustling Acton High Street, brings a fresh, modern take to traditional Somali dining in London. Set in a beautifully converted old bank, the space is open and stylish, with high ceilings and soft lighting. But the real star is the food.
From fall-off-the-bone lamb shank and beef suqaar to perfectly spiced rice and crisp, golden sambus, every dish is rich with flavour and care. Also, portions are generous (picture sharing platters big enough to feed a small crowd) and everything is halal and made in-house, right down to the fiery basbaas sauce.
The service is warm and attentive, with a team that genuinely wants you to enjoy the full Somali hospitality experience. Sabiib has built a loyal following, and it’s not hard to see why.
Zeret Kitchen
Zeret Kitchen is one of those restaurants that doesn’t need to shout to stand out. Located just off the main road in Camberwell, it’s easy to miss at first glance, but once you step inside, you’ll understand why it has such a loyal following. The atmosphere is unpretentious and relaxed, with soft lighting, warm colours, and a sense that you’re being welcomed into someone’s home rather than a restaurant.
The real draw, of course, is the food. Zeret Kitchen serves up traditional Ethiopian dishes with care and consistency. The injera is soft, slightly tangy, and made fresh daily—the perfect base for the colourful variety of wots (stews) and sautes available.
You’ll find rich, spicy doro wat with tender chicken and boiled egg, hearty lentils in misir wat, flavourful shiro made with ground chickpeas, and expertly cooked lamb or beef tibs, all seasoned with warm spices. And if you're in the mood for a hot drink, they also serve Ethiopian qimem shai (spicy tea).
There’s a real sense of pride in every dish, and it shows. Nothing feels rushed or overdone, just balanced, soulful cooking that highlights the depth of Ethiopian cuisine.
Pitanga
For those unfamiliar with West African food, Pitanga London, nestled in West London’s Westbourne Park, is a great introduction: approachable, consistent, and proudly rooted in tradition.
The menu is a love letter to Nigerian classics, but with a few playful updates. You’ll find smoky jollof rice, suya-spiced grilled meats, hearty stews, fried plantain, and egusi soup, all cooked with finesse and plated with care. Dishes like their seafood okra or signature efo riro hit all the right notes, bursting with spice and layered flavour. There’s also a small cocktail and drinks menu, plus desserts like puff-puff and zobo sorbet to round out the experience.
Pitanga doesn’t try to replicate the typical Nigerian dining scene, it reimagines it, carefully balancing heritage and innovation.
Each of these restaurants tells its own story, rooted in tradition but brought to life in the heart of London. So if you’re looking to switch up your usual dining rotation, skip the obvious picks and try something new.
These places may be a bit off the beaten path, but they’re bursting with personality, and they just might serve one of the best meals you’ll have all year.