The Best Restaurants in Hackington, Kent, United Kingdom (2025)

I had a wonderful time at the Fordwich Arms. The food was delicious and the staff very kind! I had the Hake, The Quail, the pistachio and raspberry tart. My fiancé got the Pork instead of the Hake.

What an experience. 1st Michelin star restaurant we have been to and it did not disappoint. My daughter and son-in-law visit high end, Michelin restaurants a lot more than us and they said it was the best they have had. Well done to the team at The Fordwich Arms. Of course we had the taster menu. It was delicious. My wife wouldn't choose fish on any menu but she loved those dishes the best especially the oyster. We visited the Fordwich Arms about 20 years ago with my in-laws and it was great then. Pub hasn't changed much which is great. It has kept its old world charm. Service was lovely. Thank you. The Cooper's

An incredible experience, all round. The service, food and atmosphere were outstanding. I love the fact that this restaurant doesn't have a 'stuffy' vibe. It's top class but in a relaxed way. Will definitely be going back.

The food was exceptional as was the wine selection which included a number of English vineyards. We chose the â la carte menu and were very pleased with the choices. I suppose the only comment we would make is that it's basically a pub albeit an elevated one and the service reflects that. Which doesn't mean that anyone was rude - far from it - but there was a fair bit of shouting and loud talking in/out of the kitchen and up/down the bar. My expectation when paying £75pp is that the staff would perhaps be a little more circumspect but in no way did it detract from the absolutely amazing food.

El Sol is a fantastic find near the cathedral, offering a cozy yet vibrant atmosphere. The paella is a must-try—worth the wait and absolutely delicious. The tapas were also top-notch, showcasing a variety of traditional Spanish flavors. The service was outstanding, with friendly and attentive staff who made the experience even better. Whether you're nearby or just passing through, El Sol is well worth a visit.

This restaurant is great with lovely Tapas and a very cosy feel. Really enjoyed the octopus, the chorizo and fab padron peppers. Took 1 star off as when it's busy, it's a bit tight for space. Our table on 15th November was right next to the bar area where everyone waits for their table. Try the food though!

This place has excellent customer service and the food was great. Girlfriend starting getting a headache(not to do with food, she just gets them). I explained and they put together all the food in a bag and brought bill in minutes. So considerate. Hope to go again soon.

Located at the heart of Canterbury city centre, Bangkok House is a handy spot to grab a quick lunch break for students. Uncle and Auntie were very accommodating and food arrived so soon after our order. The interiors were highly influenced by Thai cultures and maintained an excellent level of sanitation. We had phad kaprxw crispy chicken with steamed jasmine rice (has to order separately), and phad see-ew prawns. All dishes were steaming upon arrival and were so flavourful that it took me back to Thailand in no time!! I enjoyed my overall meal experience in here, and will definitely come back to try more dishes!

They deserve 4 stars, everything is ok, good but not exceptional food, nice service, they mixed our wines but overall we were satisfied. Good for casual occasion.

Simply the best Thai restaurant I’ve been to ! Beautiful decor and ambience! Delicious and varied food very good value for money and amazing staff!!! Definitely go here if you are in Canterbury !

We had a wonderful lunch at The Cook's Tale Restaurant in Canterbury! As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by Asher, our host, who was friendly, welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the menu. He made sure our dietary requirements were carefully addressed and guided us through the options. We opted for the Meat and Vegetarian Thali, and both were absolutely delicious — full of vibrant flavors and beautifully presented. What truly stood out was the exceptional service. During our meal, Chef Alfie came over to check on us, asking if we were enjoying our food and if we had any feedback. It was a lovely personal touch that made the experience even more memorable. The restaurant itself had a cosy, festive atmosphere, with Christmas decorations adding a warm touch to the environment. Overall, a fantastic dining experience, with excellent food, great service, and a welcoming ambience. Highly recommended!

My husband and I booked for the Indian high tea. It was on an offer and we love high tea, so we figured we would try it. It was all so amazing. There was a tone of variety of both sweet and savoury and the masala chai tea we got was very nice. The service was quick and attentive. Such a fun and unique twist- our favourite was the spiced chocolate cake and the potato sandwich. We cleaned our plates!

I have been visiting The Cook’s Tale for at least eight years now and I always have a wonderful experience. The food is simply delicious! It's fine dining quality at a mid-range price. If you are able to take advantage of one of their monthly deals, it's insanely good value for money. The service has always been very attentive. As a vegetarian I love the quantity and variety of vegetarian dishes - it's clear they aren't some afterthought. Something else that I really appreciate about The Cook’s Tale is that unlike many other restaurants in a similar price range they don't automatically add gratuity to the bill, it's left to you to decide how much you want to tip. If you are considering visiting The Cook’s Tale, stop thinking and go now! You won't regret it.

Wow, what an amazing experience. Came here for our 23rd anniversary meal, and went for the 12 course tasting menus with matched wines. After the first couple of courses I was a little worried that we would not be full by the end, but by the end of the tenth course we were both struggling to take another bite. Had the food not been so good, we may have given up, but it was amazing and we persevered, and now we are both uncomfortably full but so happy with what we have eaten. The service was impeccable, you rarely get it so good in this country. The food was rich, delicious and wholesome, and varied enough to keep the most eclectic palate happy. The wines were incredibly well paired, and each one delicious in their own right, but elevated to another level with the paired food. It is a little off the beaten track, but worth going out of your way to find. No regrets at all with choosing this marvellous restaurant, we will be singing praises to our friends and family and would heartily recommend to anyone.

The food was quite tasty. The chicken was a teensy bit dry but the sauce helped with that. Coleslaw was amazing though! Our server was a kid who barely looked 14 which was a bit bizarre but hey ho, he did a good job!

Visited for the first time on 12th December, liked it so much I came back 2 days later. Home made sauce is fantastic, portions are great and really good value for money. They’ve done an amazing job with the decor from the old Chinese restaurant days too. Literally the only negative feedback I’d offer is the seating on the corners is a bit tight, the back cushions kind of pitch you at a 45 degree angle. But that’s it.

First visit to Smokey’s Nice atmosphere and decor Lots of room and leg space at tables The food was very flavoursome and present very well The toilets wasn’t the cleanest to be honest But I have to add that the lady who was front of house was bloody brilliant I actually thought she was the owner as she was so invested in making sure we had what we wanted and asked for feedback. She was great!! If I ever owned a restaurant id want her to present it She really impressed me so thanks sorry I don’t have her name

Very cute place, nice staff and excellent food. I usually don't post reviews but just had to pop on here and tell everyone how delicious the food it. Best BBQ chicken I have ever had. If you are craving Nando's but only eat halal, i beg you to come try this out, it is sensational.

Love this place. I’ve been vegan for 3 years and counting and it makes me so happy when I see a place that really does vegetables justice and serves food that makes you feel so refreshed and healthy. Definitely give this a go- I had the mushroom wellington and it was incredible! Staff were very nice as well. They also do homemade kombucha but it was sold out- will be back to try!

Amazing place with delicious food and friendly staff. I had a feast, and being vegan and gluten free it's not easy to eat out. I'll be back!

Lovely wholesome restaurant with a chilled, laid back, healthy vibe - they had lots of options to choose from. We went for soup and hot pot and was great. Very winters and warm dishes🫶

Came for some lunch with a friend and had a really nice time! The interior is nicely spaced out and designed with pretty cool colour combinations. I love that there are couches towards the back, very cosy. I ordered the hot pot, (which changes daily) and was lucky to have this amazing Sri Lankan curry! It came with rice too and some delicious veggies on the sides. To drink I had this smoothie mixed with beetroot, bananas and some other ingredients. It was pretty good! I definitely will be back.

Great food. And excellent service. Smokehouse Burger was brilliant. Tuna pannie are great also.

I rarely trust wagons for various reasons/stereotypes but... One of the best traditional little snack wagons I've been to over the years, certainly in the area, the wagon is clean and looked after, the main lady knows her regulars and is friendly and welcoming to ones offs, the other staff also friendly and efficient. There are little touches from the thick white bread which works perfectly for the hearty fillings they handle, to the quality of meats to how it's presented and packed (often wax paper) that make this place better than most other snack wagons and better than many traditional or working cafe offerings these days. Food is made with precision and care as if it was your mum or sister making it for you.

Fantastic. The food is fantastic freshly cooked and very well presented. I would recommend anybody to go and eat there you will love it. The staff of fantastic very polite and do anything to make you feel welcome

Food was excellent, reccomend the fish & chips personally but all food I've had here has been very good everytime. Downside no Guinness on tap 😱.

5 of us went today. We had a lovely roast and nice puddings. Reasonably priced and friendly staff

Good selection of food on the menu and nicely cooked. Staff are really friendly and helpful which is a bonus

LOVE this place! 10 of us came for my husband's birthday. The staff were absolutely spot on, very friendly, great service, making sure we had everything we needed, drinks were always topped up very quickly. The food was amazing, 6 of us wanted the "Meat Lover" and they brought it out on a huge board, honestly makes me drool just thinking about how good it was! Very reasonably priced too. Haven't got one bad word to say about it. We'll be back again for sure 😁

Great food quality. Nice staff. Whatever you order, do NOT forget to try their Hummus 😋

Had an amazing lamb shank here. Slow roasted for 24hrs and just melting off the bone, absolutely superb meal full of flavour too. Highly recommended for a relaxed meal. Service was great with friendly attentive staff, well done to all 👏👏👏

A friendly welcome awaits from attentive staff. We had the Mixed Grill and Hot Mezze to share. Cooked over charcoal the kofta, lamb chop, lamb shish and chicken shish was tender and beautifully seasoned. We had baklava for dessert and I had a cocktail (White Russian) which finished the meal perfectly. We will definitely return to this beautiful restaurant.

We had Sunday Roast here. The chicken was grilled to perfection. The beef was also very tasty but one piece tasted like lamb(?). Portions not that big, but in the end big enough. The Lager beer tasted like a top fermented beer but was good. Dessert then really made this meal perfect, especially the sticky toffee pudding! Coffee a bit too acidic for my taste.

Went for lunch with my Mum, excellent service and very good value set menu. I had the flat iron steak with a side of delicious chips. Unfortunately my steak was overdone, I asked for medium but it was well done-I didn't mention it at the time-i'm sure they would have made me another if I made a fuss, but it was still OK. Mum had fish pie which she enjoyed. Treacle tart for desert was very good.

Some of the best dishes I have ever tasted. A beautiful setting, attentive staff. Great wine list with plenty of affordable options by the glass, designed for experimentation. But the food is by far the brightest star. The savoury blue cheese cheesecake with beetroot jam is the most stunning dish I have tasted this year; and the flavour will be something I remember for years to come. Everything was excellent, but also deserving of special mention was the dark chocolate torte with hazelnuts blackberry sorbet. A stunning mixture of flavours, executed perfectly.