London, ON Food Recommendations

Tacos & Shawarma

• Dos Tacos: best tacos in the city. Order the bang bang shrimp.
• Sultan's on Sarnia (or Alzain's, same chef): best shawarma. Ask for no pita, saj bread only, extra pomegranate sauce. Skip Osmow's and Tahini's. Shelby's is fine in a pinch, but the quality has slipped the more they've franchised.

Hakka & Indian

• Hakka & Indian Cuisine ("Turmeric") on Wharncliffe: best affordable Hakka. Get the chicken tandoori momos, honey chilli cauliflower, and manchow soup. Skip UberEats: it drops the quality.
• Indian Paramount Restaurant: best Hakka if you don't mind spending a bit more.

Burgers & Fried Chicken

• BTRMLK: best chicken burger. Original or honey popper, both good.
• Chicken Plus: best Korean fried chicken. Puts the Wingstop hype to shame.
• The Works (downtown): best beef burger. Free tomato, lettuce, and pickle toppings, fully customizable, bottomless fries. Guaranteed food coma.

Wraps, Grills & Mandi

• Val's BBQ (downtown): best tandoori chicken wrap. They make the bread fresh in front of you.
• The Shish: best Arabic BBQ.
• Mandi Guys: best Mandi.

Brunch & Breakfast

• Makkan: best Arab food brunch spot.
• Eggstatic: best general brunch spot. Fluffy pancakes and omelettes are the move: skip the Arab food here.
• Egg Cloud: best egg sandwiches. The creamy corn is a fan favourite.

Bánh Mì & Sushi

• Thy's Banh Mi: best bánh mì, plus a great $5 bubble tea.
• Nov 8 Sushi: best all-you-can-eat sushi in the city.
• Heart Sushi: more value. Also all-you-can-eat, with an expansive weekday lunch menu. Skip 168 Sushi: overpacked with rice.

Pasta & Pizza

• Mai's Cafe Bistro: best shrimp fettuccine alfredo.
• Through Thick & Thin Pizza, Zen'Za, and Pizza Madre: best pizza (three-way tie).
• Swan Pizza: best tandoori chicken pizza.

Seafood & Small-Business Favourites

• Captain's Boil: best fresh seafood.
• WOW Pierogies: best (and pretty much only) pierogies. Small, family-owned, Ukrainian-run. Everything's made fresh so there's a bit of a wait: 110% worth it.

Group Dining

• Milestone's & Thaifoon: affordable go-tos for when family visits from out of town.

Bubble Tea & Dessert

• The Alley / Gong Cha: best bubble tea.
• Real Fruit Bubble Tea: best mango/kiwi bubble tea. They cut the mangoes fresh in front of you, no artificial syrup.
• Sugar Marmalade / Cherry's: best dessert spot. Skip D Spot: expensive for a mediocre waffle.
• Crown Pastries: best Arabic dessert.
• Mingle Mr & Mrs Bao: best ice cream bao. Free board games, a great low-key hangout when you don't know where else to go after dinner.