Filled with squeaky fresh, raw ingredients and deliciously sticky sushi rice, poké bowls may be light, but they certainly don't compromise on flavour, which is is probably why they've been one of the trendiest dishes of 2016. They're set to stay for 2017, though, and one of the best places to try them is Tombo's Soho branch, where you can choose from ready-made combinations – which currently include warming winter options like a spicy tantan poké with miso Asian mince, topped with edamame, spring onions and nori – or build your own. There's another reason why we're such fans of Tombo: it does matcha soft-serve, matcha tarts, cheesecakes and macaroons…. They're light, right?
It takes some serious skill to create a tasting menu that leaves your guests feeling sated rather than like they're about to burst, and that's exactly what Ollie Dabbous has done at his Michelin-starred Fitzrovia restaurant. The tasting menu is eight courses long – we did mention this is lighter eating rather than light eating, right? – and jam-packed with dishes demonstrating Dabbous' trademark pared-back and elegant approach. It currently features salmon tartare with sorrel, barbecued haunch of venison and pink grapefruit with black sugar, and you can expect more of the same light, simple and seasonal style of cooking from each iteration. Or if you fancy just a little bit less, you can opt for the five-course set menu.
Middle Eastern is another cuisine that excels when it comes to food that tastes so good you don't realise it's actually pretty healthy, and Honey & Co is one of its finest exponents in London. Last year saw founders Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich open their second site, Honey & Smoke on Great Portland Street, which has more of a focus on the irresistible, er, smoky flavours you get from cooking over wood and flame. You'll find plenty of falafel with satisfyingly mouth-coating tahini sauce; chicken in saffron, yoghurt, nigella seeds and soured oranges; burnt celeriac with urfa chilli butter, sour cream and chives; and a glut of other delicious dishes that'll make you forget about healthy eating completely.
Caravan may be known first and foremost for its coffee and brunch, but the food offering certainly shouldn't be overlooked. There's a gentle Middle Eastern feel to the menu, but it takes its influence from all over the world – there's yuzu-pickled mackerel; jamon and smoked san simon croquettes; pizzas with nduja, cavolo nero and robiola; and the famed jalapeno cornbread with chipotle butter, and each dish is as delicious as the last. There are now three sites – the sleek and spacious King's Cross branch on Granary Square, the slightly cosier space in Exmouth Market, and the new Bankside restaurant, so you'll never be far away from your next fix.
There's just something about Scandinavian food that means it's light but also deeply satisfying. It's a cuisine that makes excellent use of grains like oats, quinoa, buckwheat, spelt and amaranth, which are widely touted for their health benefits, and are what pocket-sized Neal's Yard café 26 Grains specialises in. You'll find breakfasts like quince, pecan and orange yoghurt porridge; and more substantial savoury dishes along the lines of a coconut, kale and chickpea stew with brown rice, and the hygge bowl with freekeh, butternut squash, sage, beetroot and baby kale.
