Just north of Central London, Kings Cross has undergone an extensive and astounding 3 billion renovation. Previously regarded as one of the city’s primary red light districts and a place associated with homelessness, drug abuse, and poverty, there has been a deliberate attempt in recent years to revitalise the area.
27 hectares of abandoned industrial wasteland were transformed by some of London’s best architects to create a new neighbourhood in the city with the postcode N1C. “Of all the remarkable transformations in super gentrified London, that of Kings Cross is the most astonishing,” the Guardian reports. Never doubt that it has firmly departed from its wholesome origins.
Whether for the better or worse, these efforts have been fruitful. King’s Cross, which was home to a thriving rave scene and was regarded as the epicentre of the “second Summer of Love,” has lost its gritty, rebellious vibe in favour of the Google, Louis Vuitton, and Universal Music headquarters as well as 145 brand-new, eye-catching canalside apartments and penthouses in gasholder flats.
As a significant hub for transport, Kings Cross serves as a link for Londoners travelling by train to the north of the United Kingdom and Europe. From St Pancras International, you may travel throughout the country and across the channel to Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
Kings Cross is becoming a destination for dining and shopping in addition to housing the new headquarters of some of the biggest names in the globe. Its focal point is the 1851-erected Granary. A charming square and upscale boutique stores housed in former coal sheds may be found nearby.
If you have a few extra hours to spend at Kings Cross and would want to grab some lunch or dinner before continuing your trip, you can be confident that the area offers a great selection of eateries that are all conveniently close to the train station. Many of these made their appearance during the most recent renovation and are located in Granary Square as well as the recently constructed Coals Drop Yard shopping and dining area.
Either way, it’s mealtime! These are the top eateries in the vicinity of King’s Cross, London.
Hoppers, 85 meters from Pancras Square
Early in 2020, just before the nationwide epidemic caused restaurant closures, the third version of the wildly popular Sri Lankan small plate eatery opened in Pancras Square, Kings Cross. Luckily, Hoppers Kings Cross had time to find its feast throughout the summer of last year, perfecting its seafood-focused, family-style menu in style.
Drawing inspiration from the popular coastline route in Sri Lanka that runs from Colombo to Galle, Hoppers Kings Cross departs from its two predecessor locations in Soho and St. Christopher’s Place by emphasising the water more than before. Therefore, the BBQ black pepper prawns and blue swimmer crab kari are a must-order.
Even while we adored the first two, we think this is our favourite Hopper to date.
Granary Square, Dishoom (100 Metres)
One of the eight locations of the popular Bombay street food restaurant, Dishoom Kings Cross, can be found all across the nation, and guess what? As expected, it could be the best breakfast available near Kings Cross station for walking. The restaurant’s renowned bacon naan roll is a must-have if you’re travelling to the continent by Eurostar and have some extra time in the morning to fuel up for your next stop.
For those who have a bit more time, the all-day menu features the restaurant group’s mainstays, black bean dahl, keema pau, and mattar paneer, all of which are accurate and present. Dishoom’s mango kulfi is so wonderful that we can’t resist finishing it on a hot day. Luckily, the restaurant has a large central clock that will alert you to the impending departure of your train should you examine these all-day dining options.
Sons and Daughters, 100-Meter Coal Drop Yard
Sons and Daughters is a restaurant on the outskirts of the food-focused Coals Drop Yard, which opened in October 2018. Some have claimed that S+D, the brainchild of James Ramsden and Sam Herlihy, owners of the wonderful Pidgin in Hackey, make the best sandwiches in London.
Served in a sleek, metal-decked room that feels almost clinical—exactly what you want from a sandwich shop, isn’t it?—you can tuck into a world-traveling selection of bite-sized morsels between the bread, such as a delicious Merguez sausage baguette that’s zesty from pickles and dry spices, or an egg salad sarnie that uses premium Burford Brown eggs and adds a fun twist with miso mayo and truffle crisps. We assure you that the latter eats as well as it reads.
As per sandwich shop tradition, you may upgrade your sarnie order for a few pounds by adding fries and a can of soda. We would be honoured to eat a dinner like that while travelling to Paris.
Starbucks (100 Meters)
Cafe BAO is a somewhat different (but no less tasty) offering than its predecessors in Soho and Fitzrovia. It is part of BAO’s constantly growing roster of approachable, visually stunning Taiwanese street food eateries. Expect to see those classic pillowy buns with imaginative versions on Chicken Kiev (XO sauce flows out of the core) and a ham hock and puff pastry pie, here packed with an especially exquisite congee. This new location mimics the look and cuisine of Taipei’s ‘Western-style’ cafes.
Appropriate for the location so close to Kings Cross Station, the decor seems to mirror a similar first-class waiting-room vibe to that of the sadly deceased XU from the same team. By the way, what a restaurant that was.
This place exudes a lavish yet laid-back atmosphere with a hint of sinister flair. The dish, which consists of aged beef over rice, is topped with a rich cheese sauce and an egg yolk that melts into the sizzling cast iron plate when pierced. unnecessary? Maybe. Tasty? Definitely. What’s the greatest eatery close to King’s Cross in London? Very likely.
The Melon Floatini is a creamy sweet drink with a vivid green color that carries a punch from Midori and Toki whisky to remind you that it’s a cocktail and not dessert. Cocktails have the same ‘go big or go home’ vibe.
And the cake’s frosting (or should I say the bun’s glaze?)Breakfast is served at Cafe BAO on Saturdays and Sundays. For those who would rather start their day sweetly, their special breakfast menu offers a set of egg custard with seasonal fruit and a sausage and hash brown bao bun. Well done!
Euston’s La Chingada (700 meters)
We have already discussed our fondness for the original La Chingada located in Surrey Quays in our compilation of the best Mexican restaurants in London.
Happily, a second location of this fantastic, low-key Taqueria has opened only a short stroll from Kings Cross Station. Owner Walter Optiz is operating this location essentially in the same manner as his first restaurant south of the river, including the Sunday free-for-all that features a number of specialities that are frequently lesser-known Mexican dishes and family favourites.
Everybody here orders the tacos el pastor, but on any other day of the week, we’re even more in love with the taco de suadero, which consists of slow-cooked beef brisket in its own fat that is melted over a homemade corn tortilla that has been doubled up and made extra thin. It’s a rich, intensely flavourful bite—or two—that will unavoidably stain your favorite T-shirt. You’re in and out of there with salsa roja and beef fat, so you might as well have another round!
Reaching the Mano (150 meters)
Makers of some of the best pizza in Brighton and Hove, Fatto a Mano has now spread throughout the Big Smoke, with locations serving up delicious pizza in Kings Cross and Covent Garden.
Without a doubt, they are excellent, true Neapolitan pizzas that are cooked for only a minute or two in the restaurant’s massive, central wood-fired pizza oven while maintaining the integrity of their tasteful, exquisite toppings. No, there won’t be any charred cheese on this dish; instead, the marinara sauce simmered gently rather than being reduced to rusty rust, and the buffalo mozzarella atop the margherita buffalo is as fresh and milky as it gets. We’ve been known to order a second pizza because it’s so delicious and easily digested. All of this results in a beautifully fresh pizza.
With the weather getting warmer, there is patio seating available for those who like to eat their pizza outside. It goes well with a crisp Fatto Amici pale ale, which is created specifically for the restaurant group in Brighton. With eight locally made beers on the menu and the unmistakable claim that “beer’s a perfect accompaniment to Neapolitan pizza,” the pizzeria’s beer selection is a big lure.
King Roti (600 meters)
Roti King, one of the most well-liked restaurants in London, is poised to enter its second decade on a new wave of popularity, as seen by the enormous wait that forms around the corner into Eversholt Street pretty much every day of the week. With two additional locations in Battersea and Waterloo, along with a sibling restaurant called Gopal’s Corner in Victoria and Canary Wharf, the best roti slapping and kari mopping can be found at the original Euston location.
The menu of Roti King is an ode to the Malaysian tradition of roti canai, which consists of serving flaky, crisp roti with a small bowl of kari (chicken, lamb, fish, or dahl) for dipping and dredging. The nasi lemak on the menu is very outstanding; it’s boosted by a snappy, funky sambal that throbs with the depth of prawn paste and the undulating heat of pounded chillies. There are several other amazing meals as well. The seafood laska is one of London’s best noodle soups, with a robust kick of chilli and prawns.
Having said that, the roti itself steals the show here, with chef and creator Sugen Gopal’s Ipoh upbringing infusing skill and heritage into each layer of the exquisitely laminated bread. You’ll have to wait in queue and find yourself with little space once inside, but the wait will be worthwhile.
Duck & Dim Sum (200 meters)
Dim Sum & Duck is another walk-in only restaurant in Kings Cross with a well-earned cult following. The name of this little powerhouse—which specialises in Cantonese food in particular, dim sum—should give you a hint. Additionally, duck
Imagine yourself sitting outside this tiny BYOB Cantonese restaurant on a Wednesday night as the sun sets over King’s Cross Road, luring you in with some of the best dim sum in town.
It’s a truly wonderful place to be, but you should exercise a little more patience since the xiao long bao, which you absolutely must have, will almost certainly burn your mucous membranes if you bite into them too quickly. The liquid inside of these well-known soup dumplings is hotter than lava unless you wait for it to cool. But those who wait will reap rewards, and these are on par with any you can find in London, including the renowned ones at Din Tai Fung.
The second course on the menu named after itself is the roast duck, which is served already shredded but still pleasantly crisp and coated in a fragrant glaze the colour of copper. Pancakes from the house are the ideal thickness for wrapping. There are many of excellent stir-fry options on the menu, so don’t stop there.
Yes, this is heart-wrenching food, and even if the queue is much longer than it is at Roti King, the best Cantonese food in town is definitely worth the wait.
Pastor’s Casa and Plaza, Coals Drop Yard (200 Meters)
Casa & Plaza Pastor, the “big sister” eatery of El Pastor in Bought Market, replicates the successful recipe of its brother by offering freshly made tortillas for a variety of tacos, quesadillas, and tostadas, along with freshly made salsas and guacamole, slow-cooked pork, and lots of mezcal.
As a part of the wildly popular restaurant group owned by Sam and Eddie Hart (there’s also a location of their renowned tapas bar Barrafina within the Coals Drop Yard complex), this place has a lively, friendly atmosphere that’s perfect for summertime get-togethers with a big group of friends. The beef short rib sharer, which includes salsa, pickled red onion, and roasted bone marrow as an optional extra, is undoubtedly the standout dish here. Fun is assured if you bring a friend and get your hands dirty.