The Best Restaurants in Hackney, Greater London, United Kingdom (2025)

We enjoyed dining at Miga for lunch today. We ordered the fried chicken thighs (did not have too much meat though), enjoyed the mung bean cake, the short rib was delicious and the spinach side was fantastic! The ox bone broth was too bland for our liking and lacked flavour. Overall, decent experience.

Long story short, Miga is LEGENDARY. Please hear me out. This place doesn’t give you the feeling of “Oh yeah the food is nice, I want to come back soon” but more of “I am more than willing to dwell in their pot of oxbone broth day and night” mood. As a Korean who’s been living abroad for a decade and an enthusiastic home cook, I know how hard it is actually to make Korean food taste not just good but eyeopening. Our ingredients tend to taste overwhelming therefore it is always a matter of balancing out the flavours, which I assume is the trickiest part of all. And the chefs here never fail to find the sweetest spot. Every dish is a flavour bomb yet it is swinging within the range of delicateness back and forth. I tend to sigh when the food is too good, and jokes aside I was sighing throughout my meal. Needless to say the atmosphere is impeccable. The servers do not just serve you food but they cater to both your taste and mood. On my first visit one server noticed that I was opening soundhound app to catch the background music and they handed me a small piece of paper with the title and the singer. How considerate of them! Also it might be worth mentioning their music choice. Ranging from the oldies but goodies from the 70s and 80s to contemporary trots from the 00s, dining there makes me feel like I’m at a karaoke with my grandma. I would give 12 stars out of 5 if possible. Or maybe 100. Could be a million.

Went for lunch and loved EVERYTHING about this place. This place is bookable 28 days in advance, make sure you have a booking. The menu does change between lunch and dinner and I think they suggested there were more changes coming. Be open minded and just enjoy whatever may be available. I was gutted there was no tartare but ready to come back to try more dishes for a dinner setting. It’s a beautiful space, nice spaces between the tables which is rare in a London restaurant. The restaurant is currently BYOB was a great work. The experience from start to finish was incredible. Every person who served us was friendly, kind and just great at the job. All the dishes we ate were 5*. Between two we shared: prawns, cucumber kimchee, ox broth noodles, chicken, short rib rice dishes. I would recommend all of them but in particular the short rib and the noodles in broth. Couldn’t fault this place, highly recommend and can’t wait to go back to try some new dishes!

Went in to this with high anticipation. And it was fabulous. A family run business with a curated short menu. The star of the show is the beef short rib. My god it packs a serious punch. The sauce is so flavoursome and the salad with dressing is really delicious. A perfect well balanced dish. Also had the japchae, fried tofu and oxtail soup all of which was delicious. Staff are proud of their work and very helpful. An immaculate place.

Had a blast at BIG Night! 🔥🔥🔥 Their paloma cocktail!!!! Absolute winner! The menu's got a fun Yakitori vibe. From hot dishes to cold appetizers, snacks, in particular, are substantial. 🍢 Veggie friends very welcome. The staff making us feel like old buddies. The place is spacious, perfect spot to dig into some seriously good eats. Your taste buds will thank you. ✨🍴 One memorable thing was the anchovy sauce - fantastic flavor. Atmosphere:

This is an intimate and cozy spot to hang out and relax. Excellent wine, beer, liquor, and food selections crafted by amazing management/staff. Joshua and Jack are amazing, and I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a good spot to relax and eat. If you’re up for a Big Night, this is the place to stop by!

I'd like to recommend and highlight Big Night! Everything was better than I expected! This place is a discovery! I would recommend chicken, bread, and kind of greeny. Noodles! We actually tried everything, and it was an amazing experience. The cocktail based on Negroni was our favourite. The atmosphere is a very pleasant, cosy vibe, with old-school stuff, and everything around for my mood. I want to note the service - it's very customer-oriented! That's important to me. Friendly vibe, good recommendations, and delicious food. ++

I’d heard good things and Rogues didn’t disappoint. The service was warm and attentive. The food exquisite with real depth of flavour. One of my favourite meals this year. Incredible value for a tasting menu too. I WILL be back very very soon.

Amazing food with extremely friendly staff. We had the set menu and would 100% recommend. Thought through dishes with a clear attention to details, and great quantities. The staff had great wine recommendations and took time to make us try a few options as well as explain everything! 10/10 experience!

Unreal experience. The food is incredible. My partner didn’t want fish so they amended their set menu specifically for her. The atmosphere is incredible and you never felt rushed to leave. Couldn’t recommend this place much more.

We came here for our anniversary meal in September. The food was exceptional – full of flavour, with diverse ingredients that felt both nourishing and indulgent. We went for the set menu at £51 per person, which was extraordinary value for the quality of food we received. We also tried some of the English Rosé, Assyrtiko orange wine, and Côtes du Rhône with each course – all expertly recommended by the sommelier without breaking the bank (£9-£13 per glass). With the service charge added, we spent £215 in total for both of us. As you can see from the pictures, everything was spot on.The service, though relaxed, was very good, and the ambience of the place was perfect for us – other couples on dates, people appreciating the unique wine selection, and even the music made it feel like a much more special experience. If you're like us and, for special occasions, you like to get the right balance between the restaurant feeling unique whilst experiencing an array of flavours and exploring new food and wine in a cool setting, then this is for you. I’d recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a special occasion without the stuffiness of more traditional places – it’s cool, unique, and the quality of the food is some of the best in London.

incredible food, very attentive waiting staff, delicious cocktail and just the most cosy setting! love the open kitchen, low lighting atmosphere, works a treat! such wonderful dining experience

This spot offers a fantastic selection of food and wines in a chic, intimate setting—perfect for a date night. We tried the pickles, bread, mushroom pasta, and cow hearts on butternut squash purée, and everything was absolutely divine! A must-visit for a special evening out.

Can't really find a fault, perhaps that there aren't enough tables to fit more people! We had a really lovely lunch, where food, service and atmosphere were on point. Food portions are not massive and perhaps could do with a bit more, but the flavours are there and everything had been cooked really well. Nice combination of ingridients and some really interesting flavours. Service was really good, we came with a baby on a pram and they were very nice to him and accommodating, they even warmed up some milk for him. The only negative in that aspect is that they don't have a baby chair, but I guess this is not the type of place you come with babies. Atmosphere was cosy but not too romantic, it was nice to see the cooks and waiters around the main bar where everything is cooked. I would recommend going on a date or something like that, not big groups because you basically won't fit.

A properly delicious, local, neighbourhood restaurant. Relatively simple, but hugely well thought out and tasty dishes. And a super fun atmosphere. Can’t wait to come back. Highly recommend.

It was a fantastic experience, showing just how unique flavours can come from simple ingredients. Perfect for seafood lovers, though they’re more than happy to accommodate non-meat eaters as well. While we expected mostly seafood, the chef surprised us with refreshing herb sorbets and fruity shots between courses, which was a delightful touch. The atmosphere is definitely more relaxed than most fine dining spots, with soft lighting and mellow music adding to the charm. The chefs were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making it feel almost like dining at home with friends. And don’t miss out on checking the unique restrooms while you’re there.

Incredible experience here at Behind. From the moment we stepped in we felt special and truly part of an experience. Starting off with incredible drinks from the sommelier who really knew what she was doing to being served our courses by the chefs themselves. Each course was special within its own right but led beautifully to the next. If you want to truly taste something amazing in London then you must book the tasting menu here!

Amazing. Incredible. Phenomenal. What a bloody treat! Went there last night and from start to finish it was incredible. The ten courses each had their own spectacular taste and we decided to go with the wine pairing - the wine glasses were extremely generous. The restaurant was very accommodating to my allergies - they even remembered them and the dish i had as a replacement was potentially my favourite (i did mention for it to be put back on the menu!). Really thank you for such an incredible night, we really won’t forget it. Special mention to Connor, Audrey, Olivier, Giorgio and Andy (sorry if I missed anyone). Will be telling everyone about this night for many years to come.

Here’s a great example of a Michelin-experience made right. Setting is a very design-friendly chefs table with the perfect ambience and acoustics. Service is right on point with great hosting, relaxed conversations and highly knowledgeable about their food and preparation. The food follows the key. Perfectly, and thoughtfully, balanced and prepared to give you something from the whole taste palate. Went for the lunch set-menu, which was very good value-for-monetary £64pp. Highly recommend other to do the same, or entrust them for a dinner. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. - Value for money? Yes - Worth a detour? Yes - Best for (occasion)? Foodie experience - Would I go back? Absolutely

Finally! Got to chow down on the Basque menu and everything we ate and drank was delicious. Service was warm and on point. Yes it's not cheap but why should it be, you're paying for flavour and quality and it shows. Hoping to get back for the "best of" menu in September...or fingers crossed for another smash burger pop up (please!!)

The food, the atmosphere… everything was exceptional. I don’t know how to say it, but it’s almost something more than just a restaurant. Maybe it’s the intimate size of the place, or getting to sit at the bar and see everything come together. Whatever it is, the team have definitely got something special going on in that kitchen! We tried a good selection of dishes, but I can’t really pick a favourite. Each one had something special about it. It’s all genuinely really good food with fun and tasty twists. ‘Small plates’ probably doesn’t do it justice, they’re proper generous portions! I just wish I’d visited sooner, but what a treat to visit for the greatest hits menu and I can’t wait to visit again!

Absolutely fantastic meal, the menu changes monthly and this was my first visit. Even my very traditional mother enjoyed it! The plantain banoffee and croquettes and smash burger were my personal highlights Can’t wait to try and get another booking in soon!

Exceptional food. Mushrooms were my favourite, loved the garlic sauce and parmesan (?) cheese it came with - and no sparing on the sauce amounts. Proper size portions! Pork rib-eye was exceptionally tender, and the way that the apple sauce combined with the prune and pig's head croquettes was very clever - kind of tastes of mince pie with them all together, but eat the apple sauce or croquettes alone then it doesn't. Wish I could come every month...alas...too much else on my to-do list. But our paths will cross again. Note that it is a wee bit smokey inside...took a minute or two to acclimatise.

It was a truly extraordinary experience. We seated at the bar table which is in front of the open kitchen.The chefs were very professional, and the service of the waiters was very warm, professional, and attentive. We had ordered the Cured Sardines and Beef Tartat and Grilled Squid as the appetizers. They were presented beautifully and full of flavour. The main courses were Anjou Pigeon with liver toast and Veal Sweetbread. There are not so many restaurants that have these dishes. It was spectacular, showcasing the chef’s skill and high-quality ingredients. I will say that for the price, the portions were pretty small. The atmosphere and incredible food and wine. I eagerly look forward to my next visit. Highly recommended.

Incredible restaurant tucked away next to the station. Very unassuming from the outside but the interior is cozy, elegant and relaxing. Dining tables and bar seating, definitely recommend the bar opposite the kitchen to watch the dishes come together. All the dishes are put together so we'll, one of the better places I have been to for a long time, constantly changing menu and brilliant service. This place is mainly a wine enthusiast place with a restaurant so the wine list is extensive, well curated but one of the most expensive ones I've seen.

Fantastic experience. We are at the chefs table and the experience was wonderful. To see the masterpieces created with energy, attention and love. Then taste it and understand what the chef was creating and enjoy the composition. I loved everything but you have to try the smoked squash with black trompette, scallop tartlette, meringue (to die for). Try this place, you’ll love it.

Absolutely the best steak you can get in a 100 mile radius. Better quality, quantity and accuracy of cooking than any of the branded chain steakhouses in London. The steaks were MASSIVE so do come here hungry. We came during quiet late afternoon time when they were setting up tables for evening service. Service was chilly at first but quickly warmed up once we expressed our appreciation of food. Well definitely be returning and bringing friends.

The steaks are fantastic, perfectly cooked and rested especially for the sirloin steak grass fed. Amazing crew l, quality services. Super nice place for celebrations! Highly recommend.

Thank you for a great night and a delicious meal! We came as a very large group and were able to hire the private seating area downstairs. The staff were patient taking the long list of orders, attentive making sure we had our drinks and bread baskets, and very accommodating, even allowing us to pay one person at a time, at the end of the meal. The food was delicious and cooked beautifully. Even watching the meat on the grill was a delight. Would definitely recommend for the food and the service.

Came here for the 2nd time in as many months the other day. It’s fantastic. The portions are massive, the food is delicious and cooked to perfection (we had the Parrilladas). It’s not cheap but it’s certainly better value than the chain steak places you find in London. It has a great friendly atmosphere and is located in a great part of Hackney.

What an incredible experience! Stepping into DALLA feels like walking into a beloved and cozy grandmother's home, but with the finesse of a top-tier dining establishment. This little hidden gem masterfully blends the nostalgia of Italian home-cooked meals with subtle sophistication. The food is exceptional and really honours Italian regional cuisine - and it changes every week! Every dish is packed with flavour and care, from beautiful starters (personal favourite would have to be the iconic Vitello Tonnato) to silky handmade pastas. The service is impeccable, with staff who are attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about your experience. Extensive and impressive wine list too. The homely atmosphere is unmatched, making DALLA a rare gem, combining stunning food, heartfelt service, and a cozy charm that lingers long after your visit. Can't recommend it more!

Dalla is an 11/10 - food, service, atmosphere and all. My partner and I both have a severe nut allergy and the staff made us feel very comfortable dining here. Our server Allison was incredible in making us feel at home, and her passion for the food and wine completely elevated our experience. I crave the day I am back in London to dine here again!

A nice cozy Italian place. We had five antipasti, two pasta dishes and a tiramisu. While the tartare and omelette were very tasty, the other dishes were good but not exceptional. The service was friendly, but the prices seemed quite high. I'd rate this place a 4.2 out of 5!

Lovely venue and the staff were friendly from the moment we entered until we paid and left. Quality of the food was great; wasn't sure whether to get the full English or not but went with their recommendation and wasn't disappointed. Not too far from where we live so will definitely be coming back again. Bonus points for homemade beans in a tomato sauce.

Another Fantastic Meal at La Mela! Once again, I had the pleasure of dining at La Mela with my friends, and it didn’t disappoint. The food was incredibly fresh, with generous portions that left us more than satisfied. The staff, as always, were friendly, welcoming, and made us feel right at home. La Mela is consistently a favorite, and it’s clear why—it’s a place where great food meets exceptional service. Wishing everyone at La Mela a Happy Christmas!

We visited as a group of 4 for lunch and opted for the appetiser lunch menus. Every dish was absolutely fabulous—each plate was not only beautifully presented but also bursting with flavour. The attention to detail in the ingredients and preparation really stood out, making each course a delight to savour. In addition to the wonderful food, the table service was exceptional. The staff were attentive, friendly, and ensured that we had everything we needed throughout the meal, which enhanced our overall dining experience. We left thoroughly impressed and will definitely be returning.

Came for dinner; every starter and main we ordered was amazing! Full of flavour, decent servings and balanced meals. Highly recommend the pistachio cannolis as well — best I’ve had in London! Staff went above and beyond with their service. So pleased with our meal.