The Best Restaurants in King’s Cross

Bubala has restaurants all over London, so you know they’ve earned their creds. The one in King’s Cross is no exception. It’s a cosy, casual spot serving all vegetarian Middle Eastern food – perfect for sharing picky bits or if you just want a little bit of everything.

We’ve always wondered why vegetarian food gets such a bad rep, especially when one of the nation’s ultimate comfort snacks is hummus and pitta. Bubala seriously knows what they’re doing.  Their hummus is nothing like the supermarket stuff; it’s proper, authentic, and made with 100% olive oil.

So, of course, we started with that. And because we’re dip fiends, we also ordered the baba ganoush, served with super fresh warm bread. For mains, we went for the halloumi dressed in chamomile and fennel honey. See? Being vegetarian definitely doesn’t mean giving up cheese.

Have to try: Hummus with mango and lime leaf oil
Perfect for: Casual catch ups
Approx price for 2: £30-£70 (+ drinks)

Barrafina is modern and elegant – think marble counters, bar stools.  We love a place that’s organised and precise.

They’re serving Spanish tapas, so it’s the ideal spot for those “just a light bite” lunches that quickly turn into being rolled out the door because everything is way too tasty and way too easy to over-order. (We speak from experience.)

We went in hard, so here are just the highlights:

The prawn and piquillo pepper tortillas? A non-negotiable. The chicken thigh with romesco was melt-in-your-mouth tender with a spicy kick you can’t quit. For a veggie moment, the crispy aubergine drizzled in honey was sensational — sweet, fresh, and the perfect contrast to the meatier bits. And obviously… patatas bravas. No notes. No explanation needed.

Have to try: Prawn and piquillo pepper tortillas
Perfect for: Lunch date
Approx price for 2: £30-£60

Dim Sum Duck is a homely, casual Chinese restaurant with simple interiors but absolutely no shortage of flavour. It’s perfect for those fuss-free lunches we all crave, without the constant Central London glitz and glamour that can be hard to escape.

We love a dim sum spot because it’s basically an excuse to order a little bit of everything. Although we always think we can eat more than we actually can. We waddle out feeling like dumplings ourselves.

We kicked things off with the salt-and-pepper squid (because who can resist?). Crispy, crunchy, and packed with flavour. The prawn and chive steamed dumplings were another highlight—the texture is unreal. A standout favourite was the xiaolongbao soup dumplings. Yes, we burned our mouths on every bite, but they were worth it for that comforting burst of broth. For a fresh touch, try the stir-fried choi sum in a rich, sticky garlic sauce. It’s so satisfying that it made us forget we were eating greens.

Have to try: Prawn and chives dumplings
Perfect for: Casual lunch
Approx price for 2: £30–£35

El Pastor Coal Drops Yard nails those fun, festive, vibrant Mexican vibes with its colourful décor and hanging branches. They even carry that energy into the outdoor seating, which is heated and perfect for all seasons. Ideal for a bit of people-watching—because let’s admit it, we all love it.

Obviously, being in a Mexican restaurant, it’s basically criminal not to order a margarita. They have all the standard cocktails, but come on—if a place has a longer list of margarita flavours than anything else, you have to dive in. Our favourite? The spiced mango margarita. We’re not into sickly-sweet cocktails, and this one was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Added bonus: it’s served frozen, so it hits the spot when it’s hot out. Plus, with live music, those drinks put us right in a boogie mood.

For mains, we went straight for their famous Al Pastor tacos: corn tortillas stuffed with 24-hour-marinated tender pork shoulder, pineapple, and a trio of salsas. Honestly, the salsas were incredible—who knew there were so many varieties, and that they could be so carefully done? We’re usually the “salt, pepper, and lime on a tomato” type, so this was a revelation.

For dessert, don’t skip the crispy tortilla strips coated in cinnamon and served with a decadent dulce de leche sauce. Yum.

Have to try: Al pastor tacos with a marg
Perfect for: Fun with friends
Approx price for 2: £40–£45

Sushi on Jones is a refined, elegant Japanese restaurant. It started in New York and now has a spot in King’s Cross—so you can imagine the high-class energy of this place. The menu doesn’t read like a novel either, which instantly told us we were about to be served top-quality sushi.

We kicked things off with a classic: spicy tuna maki. Always a favourite, but when it’s made with the freshest ingredients, wow. We could have eaten rolls and rolls of it. Another standout was the salmon crispy rice. It comes as two pieces, topped with eel sauce and truffle for that extra touch of decadence. The flavours here are so carefully curated we could just taste the care in every bite. We paired it all with a wasabi martini—classy, we know, but once we stepped inside, it just felt right.

They also offer an omakase tasting experience that lasts about 45 minutes, featuring the chef’s speciality nigiri. This would be perfect for a special occasion and sure to impress.

Have to try: Salmon crispy rice
Perfect for: Special occasions
Approx price for 2: £70–£90

Coal Office sits right in—yep—Coal Drops Yard and serves up refined Middle Eastern flavours. The space is sleek and modern, all grey-and-silver vibes. Definitely the most stylish “office” we’ve ever been to.

At any Middle Eastern spot, bread and dip are non-negotiable. But this isn’t the standard pitta-and-hummus situation. We went for a selection of three freshly baked breads with a variety of dips—tough for the indecisive. We landed on the Yemeni brioche and let our waiter choose the dip. Excellent call: he paired it with tahini and schug, a herby, spicy heaven.

We squeezed in one small starter because, honestly, we couldn’t stop with the bread. The sweetcorn croquettes are a must, mostly thanks to that addictive chilli-ferment aioli.

For mains, we shared the grilled seabream with Moroccan cucumbers, olives, labneh, and dill—fresh and light yet still satisfying. To finish, the caramelised lemon tart was a perfect finale. It was zingy, airy, and surprisingly interesting with a dusting of black pepper on top.

Have to try: Sweet Corn Croquettes with chilli fermented aioli
Perfect for: Dinner with friends
Approx price for 2: £70–£100 (with drinks)

Dishoom hardly needs an introduction—locals and tourists alike love it. It’s easy for popular restaurants to fall into the tourist-trap trap, but not here. The food stays authentic, with the classics alongside fun twists on favourites. Normally, knowing the local Indian is just a Deliveroo away keeps us at home, but here, the dishes are so exciting and full of flavour that they practically force people out of bed and into the restaurant.

We kicked things off with the okra fries. Insanely crispy and perfect with a chilled beer. The chilli cheese toast was another highlight. Yes, a toastie at a fine-dining Indian restaurant, but trust us: this is the most flavourful, decadent cheese-on-bread experience we’ve ever had. 

For mains, the Chicken Ruby is an absolute must. The chicken melts in the mouth, and the sauce is packed with rich, spicy, creamy flavour. Mopped it all up with garlic naan and a side of steamed basmati rice, and we were in heaven.

Have to try: Chicken Ruby
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £50–£60

Supawan is a homely yet refined Thai restaurant on Caledonian Road. The menu has everything one could ever want from a Thai spot—no favourites skipped.

We kicked things off with the sweetcorn fritters, spiced with Thai herbs and served with sticky, sweet tamarind and chilli sauce. Totally addictive. Another winner was the Kung Sarong—crispy fried prawns hand-wrapped in wheat noodles. They import their noodles from Phuket, so it’s as authentic as it gets. The accompanying sauce? Heaven. We left not a speck behind.

For mains, call us basic, but we had to go for the green curry. You can choose from three proteins; we went for chicken (tofu wasn’t tempting after the prawns) and it was tender, perfectly soaking up the creamy, flavour-packed sauce. The curry comes loaded with vegetables and is super filling—especially with jasmine rice on the side.

Finally, dessert was a no-brainer: mango sticky rice. It’s unbeatable—the texture of the rice, the infused coconut, and the refreshing mango all come together perfectly.

Have to try: Mango sticky rice
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £40–£50

Isla, located in the Standard Hotel, serves posh, modern cuisine in a seriously Instagrammable setting. With glass walls and greenery all around, it feels like dining in a greenhouse. And yes, phones eat first – the food is just as snap-worthy as the space.

We kicked things off with an elderflower martini. Light, floral, and perfectly refreshing, it felt right for the setting and paired beautifully with our starter: baba ganoush with corn crackers. The perfect way to line the stomach.

For mains, we went for the roasted cauliflower with herby yogurt, cherry molasses, and mint. We added chicken (there’s also the choice of halloumi or avocado) to make it a little heartier. And of course, wherever we go, fries have to happen. We went for sweet potato fries, perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

To finish, we indulged in the spongy hazelnut choux bun—a proper British favourite. 

Have to try: Hazelnut choux bun
Perfect for: Special occasions
Approx price for 2: £70–£80

With a name like this, we expected Morty & Bob’s to be as playful as it sounds—something lowkey and homely. Nope. It’s actually quite refined, more like an elevated steakhouse. And honestly? We weren’t mad about it.

They have seasonal apertivos, so of course we had to try one. The White Lotus—rum, coconut, pineapple, and soda—was the perfect summery concoction. Honestly, we need it on the menu forever.

We started with the Korean chicken bites, glazed in gochujang, sprinkled with sesame, and perfectly paired with our aperitivo.

Then came the showstopper: mains. While they have a variety of larger plates, we were here for one thing: the grilled cheese. Everyone raves about it, and for good reason. Buttery sourdough, lathered with a special cheese sauce and a mix of cheddar, topped with pulled pork and chilli jam—pure genius. That combination of savoury, sweet, and cheesy is impossible to beat.

Finally, dessert called our names. We went for the freshly baked chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream. And when we say freshly baked, we mean it—still steaming and unbelievably comforting.

Have to try: Chilli jam and pulled pork grilled cheese
Perfect for: Casual lunch
Approx price for 2: £40–£50