When we chose to live in the Brixton neighbourhood for our five-week stay in London, there was one thing I was very excited about: the food!
As I learned more about the area, I kept finding more restaurants I wanted to try, snacks I wanted to sample, cafes I wanted to visit and just so many delicious looking places to eat in Brixton.
So with five weeks to explore, we set out to eat at as many Brixton restaurants as time (and our budgets) would allow. It was a daunting, but delicious, task.
In Brixton, you’ll find food from all over the world. Almost all of it is authentic, high-quality and affordable. We tried Nepalese momos, Jamaican beef patties, Italian pizza, Vietnamese clay pot fish, American burgers and craft beer from right there in Brixton!
Below I’ll introduce you to my favourite Brixton restaurants and help you decide where to dine in Brixton for each meal of the day. We concentrated on the area around Brixton Village and the Brixton tube station, so everything is close by and easy to get to.
I truly believe Brixton has some of the best food in London. And it’s easily accessible from Central London (just four tube stops from Victoria Station), so come on down south of the Thames and dig in!
My top 5 favourite places to eat in Brixton
It was very hard to narrow it down to just my top five favourite places to eat in Brixton, but here are the spots I would most recommend:
- IRENE: This quickly became our favourite cafe in Brixton. Buy a sourdough loaf to take home and don’t miss the earl grey honey buns (they go quick!).
- Banh Banh: We loved our meal at this Vietnamese restaurant. I’m still dreaming about the incredibly tender clay pot fish and super delicious garlic green beans.
- 14 Parish: This takeaway shop also became a fast favourite for us, picking up Jamaican beef patties as a late night or midday snack.
- The Joint: Perhaps the best brunch in Brixton; try their French toast, burgers and award-winning wings.
- Jefferson’s: Homemade ice cream and delicious brownie sundaes? Yes, please!
Best brunch in Brixton
We usually did breakfast/brunch at home, but a few times we treated ourselves to a morning meal in Brixton. These were a couple of our favourites!
The Joint
If you’re looking for the best brunch in Brixton, I’m going to point you towards The Joint in Brixton Village. We ate here twice and thoroughly enjoyed our meals both times! We even brought my mom here during her short stay with us in London.
For the sweet side of brunch, go for the pancakes or French toast. We ordered the French toast with fresh berries, chantilly cream and maple syrup and it was so good. The bread was eggy, fluffy and thick – and the cream was so tasty!
And for the savoury side, take advantage of their lunch meal deal. For £13.50 you get a burger or wings, fries and a drink. We chose the BJ Burger which is usually £12.50 on its own without fries or a drink.
The BJ Burger – with two beef patties, a thick slice of pork belly and nice cheese – was really tasty! The fries were also great.
But you can’t come to The Joint and not order their award-winning wings. We ate there on Wing Wednesday where the huge wings are just £1 each. We went for the Korean sweet and savoury flavour, which was saucy and delicious.
And on top of all of that delicious food, the vibe at The Joint is really great too. The decor is fun with greenery hanging and a wall of bricks you can write on.
San Marino Cafe
We went out for breakfast on our first morning in Brixton and it did not disappoint! San Marino Cafe seems like a very local joint serving a little bit of everything for everyone. And it ended up being one of our best breakfasts in Brixton.
My husband, Colin, ordered the Full English while I got the Eggs Benedict. We also ordered a cappuccino and a vanilla chai latte. Both our meals and our drinks were very tasty and very reasonably priced. I think we paid < £30 for everything!
If you’re looking for a delicious, cheap place to eat in Brixton without the frills, head to San Marino Cafe. They also serve lunch, dinner and late night drinks.
Best restaurants in Brixton for lunch
Whether you’re looking to eat in or takeaway, below are some of the best spots in Brixton for a delicious, affordable and quick lunch. My favourite part was getting to try food from all around the world, usually all under the same roof at Brixton Village.
Fish, Wings & Tings
Fish, Wings & Tings is said to be one of the best restaurants in Brixton Village and a place I was excited to try while we were living in Brixton. It totally lived up to the hype!
We tried cod fritters, fried plantain and reggae chicken wings. The cod fritters were my favourite; they were freshly fried and served with an incredible coconut ginger aioli.
The plantains were great too – the perfect texture and sweetness (Baby C was a big fan of these). The chicken wings were very flavourful, with a fun pineapple chutney on top, and just a little spicy.
I’m not sure if Fish, Wings & Tings is the best Caribbean food in Brixton, but it’s got my vote! Their sister restaurant, Veg & Tings, serving vegetarian fare is right next door and worth a try too.
Ugly Dumping
One of Baby C’s favourite foods is dumplings, so of course we had to give Ugly Dumpling in Brixton Village a try. We opted for their lunch meal deal where you get five dumplings, ugly noodles and cucumber salad for £12.
There were really unique dumpling flavours to choose from – like cheeseburger, curry goat, and halloumi & courgette. They also have gluten-free dumplings and dessert dumplings.
We went for prawn and chive, satay chicken, aromatic duck, and pork belly dumplings. I liked the pork belly best and Colin preferred the duck. The noodle and salad portions were very generous – and pretty spicy!
The walls at Ugly Dumpling are decorated with coasters that feature a cartoon dumpling drawn all over by customers. There are buckets of markers so you can decorate your own coaster while you’re dining, which we had a lot of fun with.
Honest Burger
One of our first meals in Brixton was at Honest Burger and honestly? It hit the spot! Colin and I both got burgers (Tribute Burger for him, Honest Burger for me) with a side of rosemary fries.
Everything was delicious! I particularly liked the onion relish on my burger. The rosemary on the fries was nice, but didn’t completely wow me.
I’d say Honest Burger is a good choice for a dependable burger and fries lunch. It wasn’t the best burger I’ve ever had but it was very good. There are Honest Burger locations all across the UK, so you can enjoy yours anywhere.
Hancook
If you’re looking for affordable and speedy Korean food in Brixton, head to Hancook. We discovered this tiny restaurant on a day when Colin wanted fish and chips and I wanted Korean, so we brought home takeout from two different places.
There are a couple of tables at Hancook, but it seems like mostly a takeaway spot. There’s a screen where you order and one person cooking in the back.
I went for the beef bibimbap, pork gyoza for Baby C, and an order of Korean fried chicken for Colin and I to share. All of that food was only £23, which I thought was a great deal as Korean food can be expensive.
It wasn’t the best Korean food I’ve ever had – the beef wasn’t very flavourful and the fried chicken wasn’t crispy (maybe not a good takeout order) – but the portions were large, it was cheap and ready quick.
Jimmy’s Plaice
While I ordered Korean (above), Colin opted to try our local fish and chip shop, Jimmy’s Plaice. By the way, “plaice” is the name of a type of fish, so I think the name of this shop is a play on words and not a typo!
For £14.50 Colin got a giant piece of freshly fried cod and huge portion of chips. We continued to eat the fries as leftovers (cut up and turned into breakfast hash browns!) for three days, that’s how big the portion was.
And it all came wrapped in paper, so felt very authentic!
The fish was very fresh with a nice batter on it that was crispy, but not too thick. The chips were good too. Personally, I never find cod all that flavourful but agree that overall it was a solid fish and chips!
House of Momo
This was our first time having Nepalese food and it was a very tasty introduction! House of Momo serves – you guessed it – momos, which are like Nepalese dumplings.
They offered different flavours and different ways to cook them. We went for chicken momos that were steamed and then pan fried. They were flavourful, though I’ll admit not my favourite spice profile. The sauce served with them also had quite the kick!
We only got a small box to-go, but I’d love to go back to House of Momo and try their other flavours, plus the other styles of cooking them. I think it’d be a fun thing to do with a bigger group so you can sample a bit of everything.
Three Uncles
Three Uncles in Brixton Village serves simple Cantonese food, like meats on rice, noodle soups and a small selection of dim sum dumplings and baos. We went for the char sui (bbq pork) on rice with bok choy.
The flavour on the meat was very nice and I quite liked the vegetables as well. It reminded me of lunches my mom and I would get when I was a kid growing up in Toronto’s Chinatown.
My only issue with this dish was that the pork itself was quite fatty. I should’ve remembered that my mom used to always ask the restaurants for lean pieces when she ordered, and done the same.
Cantinho Mineiro
We don’t usually eat Brazilian food but I wanted to give it a try since we were in Brixton with so many diverse cuisines all around us.
As we were just looking for a small bite, we went for the beef empanada and chicken and cheese pastel at the recommendation of the guys working behind the counter.
Both the empanada and pastel were good with very flavourful fillings. However, we did find them quite dry. I’m not sure if they’re supposed to be served that way or maybe we got a bad batch.
I preferred the empanada, which was less dry and had a thicker pastry, while Colin liked the pastel with its thinner, flakier pastry better. Though I’m not sure I’d order either from Cantinho Mineiro again.
I would, however, go back and try one of their meal plates. We saw people dining on these while we waited for our order and they looked really good!
Best food in Brixton for dinner
While many of the below places are also open for lunch, I’d say this is some of the best food in Brixton if you’re looking for a filling dinner and great spot to spend the evening with family or friends.
NOKO
NOKO in Brixton Village specializes in pan-Asian small plates, kind of like Asian tapas. When we visited the small restaurant, the staff were very kind and attentive.
We ordered the special beef, prawn dumplings, dan dan noodles, and salt and pepper chicken skewers. My favourite were the dan dan noodles; they were thick and chewy and tasted handmade.
I would’ve loved to try their chicken wings or one of their larger plates, but we were pretty full with our order. I’d recommend going with a few people so you can order lots and share. Though the restaurant is small, so don’t go with too big of a group!
The Laundry
For my mom’s first meal in London, we decided to go out to The Laundry, a more high-end restaurant that has rave reviews (particularly for their Sunday roasts).
I loved the vibe of The Laundry with the historic signs, exposed duct work and big wooden bar. The staff were also very nice to us and took time out to come by and play with our daughter.
We ordered the duck confit with squash puree, scotch fillet of pork with apple, pork ribs with apple slaw, pumpkin katsu bites and crispy brussel sprouts. We also ordered the sticky toffee pudding and rice pudding brulee for dessert.
Overall, the food was good; my favourites were the duck and the brussel sprouts. But some of the flavours didn’t work for me and some of the portions felt small for the price.
Still, I’d recommend The Laundry as a nice place to eat out in Brixton if you’re looking for a great atmosphere and elevated pub menu, and don’t mind a bit of a splurge.
OKAN
The very first meal we had in Brixton was from OKAN, which happened to be right next door to our flat. So after a big day of travelling to London and unpacking, it was a no-brainer to go next door and order some delicious Japanese food for dinner.
We ordered a fried noodle with prawn, squid and kimchi; prawn and chive dumplings; and okonomiyaki with beef and noodles. Overall, we found everything tasty, though the meat portions were a bit small.
OKAN has another location just a couple of blocks away in Brixton Village. So if you’re meeting people at OKAN, make sure you specify which one you mean!
Mama Dough
We arrived in Brixton just as Mama Dough, known for their sourdough wood-fire pizzas, was rolling out a new menu. That, and the fact that they offer 50% off pizzas on Mondays, was enough to entice us in for dinner!
I ordered a pizza with pineapple and ham, and Colin got one with double pepperoni and hot honey. We also ordered a kids’ margherita pizza for Baby C, which they offer to make in a fun shape for you. We chose a bunny (there was also a teddy bear or octopus option).
The pizzas were all really good! The dough was delicious with a nice thin crust (though I think they could’ve added a few more toppings). The food came out quickly, the service was nice, and the atmosphere was great with good music and lots of people.
Is Mama Dough the best pizza in Brixton? I think it just might be!
Banh Banh
I firmly believe that Banh Banh is one of the best restaurants in Brixton. This modern Vietnamese eatery was definitely my favourite place to eat; I’m still dreaming about some of the dishes we had there!
We ordered the BBQ pork skewers, chicken roti rice, clay pot with caramel fish and a side of green beans. Each dish was amazing! The pork skewers were very flavourful, the chicken was moist, and the fish had a great texture and delicious sauce.
Surprisingly, the green beans were my favourite! They were done in an incredible garlic and sweet soy sauce and cooked perfectly. Even our daughter, who was 10 months old at the time, pushed everything else on her plate aside in order to eat more beans!
We also ordered a Vietnamese iced coffee which was super strong and sweet – just like Vietnamese coffee is supposed to be!
Trinity Arms
We visited the Trinity Arms pub for a lovely Sunday roast with friends while living in Brixton. The pub itself is very cool; it dates back to 1850, is spread across multiple rooms and floors (all of which were busy on a Sunday), and even has a wall dedicated to dog photos.
We all ordered the Sunday roasts, either with pork belly or beef. To be honest, I found the meat quite dry and tough, but the sides (carrots, potatoes, parsnips, etc) were all delicious.
We also ordered desserts, which I’d not recommend doing. All of our desserts were disappointing: the brownie was rock hard, the apple crumble was cold and the sticky toffee pudding was dry.
But the drinks were good – they also had a long list of non-alcoholic options – and the atmosphere was awesome. So for the vibes alone, I’d still recommend Trinity Arms as one of the best pubs in Brixton.
Best cafes in Brixton
Besides eating full meals, there are also some excellent places in Brixton to grab a coffee or tea, indulge in a pastry, or even do some laptop work. Here are some of the best cafes in Brixton, London!
Carraro Coffee
I visited Carraro Coffee a few times while we lived in Brixton, as it was conveniently located on the street just behind us. This cafe felt really home-y and comfortable with a few regulars popping in – not pretentious or overpriced at all.
There was an area upstairs with a few tables that was very laptop-friendly. I did about an hour of work there on each of my visits and never felt rushed or like I was in the way.
The drinks at Carraro Coffee are nice and well-priced, which is rare in London. I paid only £3 for a vanilla chai latte, whereas other nearby cafes charge £4 or £5. I never did try the food, but I overheard one guy saying how much he loved the sandwiches.
IRENE
In my opinion, IRENE is the best cafe in Brixton if you’re looking for incredible baked goods.
We visited IRENE a lot – we filled up an entire stamp card to get a free pastry, and didn’t even remember to use the card every time – and indulged in way too many of their goodies. But they were so delicious!
We tried all sorts of loaves, danishes, cookies, buns, breads and cakes from IRENE’s but the stand out was, without a doubt, the earl grey honey bun. It was super moist, delicately flavoured and truly finger-licking good.
We even brought my mom to IRENE with us during her short visit to London and she agreed that the earl grey honey buns were incredible!
When they were sold out of the earl grey honey bun (which was often!), my second choice was the chocolate cardamom bun. The flavour was really unique and the pastry was chewy and soft.
We also started buying their sourdough loaves to have at home. Each morning, we’d cut slices to have with peanut butter and jam. And, of course, we sampled a few of their coffees which were nice too.
F Mondays Coffee Shop
I had walked past F Mondays a few times while walking Ellie, always chuckling at the name of the cafe, and finally decided to pop in one day to pick up coffees and pastries.
It’s a cute little shop right around the corner from the Brixton underground station with just one big window seat if you want to sit-in. It’s definitely more of a take-away place.
I enjoyed my vanilla latte (smooth and the right amount of sweet) and Colin liked the chocolate chip Oreo cookie I brought him. On another visit, we picked up a loaf of bread and two more cookies.
While I liked that the cookies were dense and flavourful, they were a bit too salty for my taste. I’m notoriously sensitive to salt though and don’t like it with my sweet, so your mileage may vary.
Good places to eat in Brixton if you just want a snack or a drink
So we’ve covered lots of good places to eat in Brixton if you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a coffee. But what if you just want a quick snack or a drink? Then check out my tasty list below!
14 Parish
One of my favourite places for a snack in Brixton was 14 Parish. This Jamaican take-away shop has display cases full of patties and prepared foods, plus they’re open late – perfect for a nighttime nosh.
I grew up eating Jamaican beef patties in Toronto; we always had a bag of patties in the freezer. But at 14 Parish, they have all sorts of flavours like cheesy beef, jerk chicken, oxtail, lamb, saltfish, vegetable, fish and lobster!
Each patty is only £3-5 and they’ll warm it up for you in just a few seconds, so it’s cheap and easy to get a delicious snack on the go. We sampled a few flavours and I loved them all. The pastry was thick and flaky and the fillings were really rich and generous.
The staff were also really nice. They gave me recommendations for which patties to try and one guy even chatted with me about Canada. He loved hearing that my step-grandpa is Chinese Jamaican!
Brixton Brewery Tap Room
We had seen Brixton Brewery beers on tap at many of the restaurants in Brixton and were thrilled to find out the Brixton Brewery Tap Room was just a block away from us. We headed there on a rainy afternoon for a little pick me up!
The tap room is fairly bare-bones but with a nice, cozy feel to it. Again, like most of Brixton, there was nothing pretentious or try-hard about it; it was just casually cool.
Colin tried the Coldharbour Lager (named after the street where we lived) and I got a half pint of their cider. Colin had also sampled some of their other beers while we were out at different local restaurants.
In addition to delicious beers and ciders, Brixton Brewery also had some very cool merch. After looking through all of the options, Colin left with a brand new Brixton Brewery t-shirt!
Jefferson’s
Right next door to Brixton Brewery is Jefferson’s, easily my favourite dessert place in Brixton! All of their ice cream is made fresh daily in store with organic milk and no artificial colours or flavours. They’re also independently owned by a local London family!
Jefferson’s has tons of cool flavours like Triple Berry Charcoal Chocolate and Merry Mince Pie. On our first visit, I went for Best Chocolate Ever, which very much lived up to its name.
Colin ordered one of their combos with Brookies & Cream ice cream, brownies, Nutella and nuts. It was so delicious that I had to copy him and make my own ice cream/brownie combo the next time!
Because Jefferson’s was so close to us, we did do a few late-night ice cream runs. And they hit the spot every time!
KS Sweet Cakes
On Sundays, one side of Brixton Village hosts a market with tables set up for local vendors to sell their products. One of those local vendors was KS Sweet Cakes.
We were intrigued to by her booth because she was hosting a fun little game: If you could get the timer to stop at exactly 10 seconds, you’d win a free cookie. We didn’t win (I think Colin was close at 9.7) but we did buy some cookies, and they were well worth the price!
We went for the New York cookie and Triple Chocolate cookie, warming both up in the oven when we got home. And they were so delicious! The cookies were thick, dense and oozing with chocolate.
I only wish we had gone back to her table to try other flavours!
Wrapping up where to eat in Brixton
Clearly, you won’t run out of delicious places to eat in Brixton! This is truly one of the best foodie neighbourhoods in London where you can find incredible food from all around the world at affordable price points.
And not only are the restaurants and cafes delicious, there are also so many awesome places to buy food to prepare at home. Brixton Village and Electric Avenue are full of produce stalls, specialty grocery stores, butchers, bakeries, fish mongers and more.
Bonus: Most of them are way cheaper than the chain grocery stores and their food is better!
We were so lucky to live in the Brixton area of London and get to eat our way through Brixton Village and the neighbouring streets. It was an absolutely delicious five weeks!
Because we were travelling with a baby, that meant our London exploring had to be done at a slower pace. We couldn’t spend all day out and about sight-seeing and eating all around the city.
That’s why I was thrilled to have so much great food right on our doorstep. On days when the weather was bad or naps ran long, we didn’t have to go far to have a delicious meal.
The hardest part was just choosing where to eat in Brixton, because there were so many amazing options!
I’d love to know: Which one of these Brixton restaurants is calling your name?
Tell me in the comments below! And if you’re planning your own longer-stay trip to London, read all about our five weeks living in London here.
