Great news for all you pop-up fans: the undisputed king of the Levantine restaurant scene, Ceru, is back again for a long-term residency at Cannon Street, in the City. There’ll be all kinds of delicious sharing plates to graze on, like lamb and pistachio kofte kebabs, crispy spiced squid, apple, pomegranate and mint salad as well as chickpea and broad bean falafel.
In terms of Mexican dining in London, Thomasina Miers is royalty. And the Wahaca founder's more boutique offering has proved so popular that another site was inevitable. The new place sits on Tottenham Court Road, and will continue the theme of Mexican staples by way of the US. Think panko-crumbed cod tacos and Cuervo Tradicional frozen margaritas.
Vietnam is another cuisine leading the way in street food, with bánh mì just one in a long line of delicious, easy-eating foods from the country. Founded by top Asian chef Jeff Tan – whose CV includes stints at Hakkasan and the Atlantis Palm – it'll be a 70-cover, two-storey, casual-dining palace in prime real estate in Soho. As well as the aforementioned bánh mì and pho, there'll be a host of authentic Vietnamese dishes on offer. Yum.
The proliferation of high-end Japanese restaurants and more accessible westernised takes on the cuisine shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Wazen leans towards the former – it's committed to authentic Japanese food, with the kitchen presided over by experienced head chef Toshimasa Tanahashi, who has created a range of classic dishes, from traditional sushi and sashimi to baby chicken with nanban sauce. There's a killer set lunch menu, too.
