My top 5 food spots you should check out by Lilian Knowles!

I'm a foodie, and that's a great thing, especially living in London. In fact, I've been documenting my food discoveries through Google Maps; I have over 150 bookmarked spots between bakeries, cafes, and restaurants in London I need to check out, and I star all of my favourite places I've been. Luckily, I hate to gatekeep and love to rave about my favourite spots! So, if you live in Lilian Knowles House or if you happen to be in the area, here are my top 5 recommendations:

1. DanDan Restaurant - Aldgate East

I found DanDan through TikTok, and boy, it does not disappoint. This Chinese Noodle Restaurant is incredible, especially on a cold day when all you want is a good bowl of broth. I think this is genuinely one of my favourite places in London, and I recommend it to all of my friends! You definitely get your money's worth with large portions and prices ranging from £10-20 pounds. My personal recommendation: the Red-Braised Beef Noodles in Soup. 

2. Dal Fiorentino Brick Lane

If you're looking for a classic Italian sandwich, Dal Fiorentino is the place to go! They make fantastic focaccia bread sandwiches—I honestly can't get over how good the bread is. Prices range from £7-10, depending on whether you want a small or a large. I ordered the Dante (parma ham, buffalo mozzarella, beef tomatoes, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil) and would highly recommend it. 

3. Nora Cafe

I just happened to stumble upon Nora Cafe when I was looking for a brunch spot to go to with a friend, and it was so great. It's a cozy cafe with filling food, and I've been looking for an excuse to go to again. Prices range from £10-20. My order was a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and the breakfast potato hash, which was the perfect amount of food for brunch. 

4. Dishroom Shoreditch

Okay, I'm not going to lie. Dishoom was one of, if not the best, places I've gone for Indian food so far. I will say that it's not a place you can go every night, but if you're looking for a nice night out, this is a spot you need to try. I'd say prices range from £20-30, but I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't think it was worth it. I went with a few friends, and we ordered lamb samosas, vada pau, house chaat, murgh malai, and chicken tikka. We also had the mango lassi and chai to drink. It is truly one of the best meals I've had in London, and I want to go again to try some of their other foods. 

5. Marugame Udon Middlesex Street

I know this is a chain, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have good food! Since this place is a two-minute walk from Lilian Knowles House, I often head here if I'm in the mood for noodles after a long day since they have takeaway and eat-in options. Prices range from £10-20. My go-to order has been the chicken katsu noodles; however, I will also give a shout-out to the Pork Tonkotsu Noodles!

I hope you enjoy these spots as much as I do!

Written by Mira

Resident in Lilian Knowles House