Don't know what Izakaya is? Think of it as the Japanese equivalent of the pub you go to for a few bevvies after work – except with more food. Flesh & Buns, a sister restaurant to the hugely popular Bone Daddies, specialises in DYI steamed buns: it does a variety of cooked meats and fish, each with a different marinade and a different pickled veg. They arrive with as many buns as you want, so you can custom-build them exactly the way you want them.
Victoria is quietly turning itself into a genuine food destination, but Venetian bacaro Tozi was there before it was cool. You can go all-out on the sharing plates for dinner if you like, but if you just want a glass of red and a few snacks to keep you going, it's among the best in the area. Grab the zucchini fries or a plate of charcuterie depending on your mood – and a pizzette or two is essential.
You might be familiar with the name Brett Redman already – he's the man who brought us The Richmond in Hackney – in which case you'll definitely want to try his latest venture, Jidori, which opened late last year. It's a bit of a departure from his usual style, though: it's a Japanese yakitori restaurant, focusing on Tokyo-style street food, with a century-old Kama-Asa Shoten grill in the open kitchen. Veg and greens are sourced direct from Nama Yasai in East Sussex, which means they'll be squeaky-fresh, and meat will be painstakingly sourced from Redman's handpicked suppliers.
Dream of visiting San Sebastian to sample its array of Michelin-starred restaurants? Head to Pop Brixton instead, where you'll find Donostia Social Club. Donostia – which means San Sebastian in Basque – serves up the pinxtos dishes (similar to tapas ) which are typical of the region from a mobile bar, alongside a selection of wines, sherries, cavas, cider and beer.
Dive into Shoreditch's Drunken Monkey and you'll find more than just a spacious pub – it does noodles and curries, but we suggest taking your pick of dim sum from the extensive menu and grazing the night away.
