The best comfort food in London

To most people, comfort food is synonymous with Italian food. Whether it's a plate of homemade pasta covered in a rich sauce or a freshly baked pizza, Italian cuisine always hits the spot. Agrodolce is a particularly good choice when it comes to comfort food in London. This elegant restaurant in Fitzrovia draws its inspiration from Rome, serving classic Roman dishes like pinsas and fritti snacks in a striking setting. For the ultimate comfort, have them scoop a portion of their tiramisu onto your plate straight from the tray.

When it comes to comfort food, how does a freshly baked bread drowned in a melted blend of cheese, butter, and egg sound? Pretty good, we'd wager. This charming little restaurant specialises in authentic Georgian cooking, including the famed khachapuris, with plenty of other comforting options such as dumplings, stews, and roast pork on the menu as well. You can wash it all down with fine wines.

Regardless of whether you're from these parts or from abroad, there's something inherently comforting about classic British cuisine – doubly so when it's executed with a deft chef touch. Cora Pearl takes pride in elevating British comfort food through the use of seasonal ingredients and European influences, serving dishes like Devon lamb cutlets or charred pork chop in a stylish yet cosy setting.

Regardless of the occasion or the time of day, there's something eternally comforting about mopping up a nice curry with a piece of warm naan bread. Preem is one of the top choices for such comfort food in London, serving a varied menu of Indian classics like curries and biryanis in a pleasantly decorated setting that nonetheless won't earn you any disapproving stares if you get a bit messy with your food. It's relaxed, warm, and affordable – doesn't get more comforting than that.

Sample rich and creamy comfort food from Georgia at Aba-Ra! in Brick Lane. This place specialises in khachapuri, the traditional bread filled with a tasty mix of cheese, butter, and optional extras like spinach. The simple menu at this friendly and welcoming restaurant features a number of other Georgian favourites, and you can try out Georgian wine as the ideal accompaniment to your meal.

When only something full of flavour will do, The Great Thai Grab & Go is the place to be, just off Tottenham Court Road. This casual offshoot of the acclaimed Great Thai Restaurant serves up steaming bowls of authentic Thai curries, sizzling skewers, crispy spring rolls and a proper pad Thai, all made with fresh herbs and traditional recipes. Most dishes are under a tenner and are designed to come fast.

Nothing quite satisfies a comfort food craving better than a Patty & Bun burger; a quality burger pattie squashed between a brioche bun, topped with Neal's Yard cheese and slathered in sauce. Patty & Bun burgers are crafted using high-quality beef from traditional family butcher H.G Walter, a local London establishment that sources their meat from British farmers. How's that for comforting?

We all love a thin-crust pizza, but nothing quite hits the comfort food spot as much as a Chicago deep dish. Japes craft their pizzas in-house using natural, fresh ingredients and homemade tomato sauce. Expect all the classics, like Hawaiian and margarita, and more out-there options like mushroom and truffle and goat’s cheese, feta and ricotta.

Another one of the London OG sandwich spots is Max's Sandwich Shop, where they turn the humble sandwich into a full-blown meal. It may be the only place in the city where you can try a lasagne-stuffed sandwich. That's about as comforting as it can get.

You can't really go wrong with The Breakfast Club. They serve classic, over-the-top all-day breakfasts, like stacks of fluffy pancakes, a classic greasy spoon fry-up and even breakfast nachos. Whatever you choose to order, you're bound to come away with a full stomach and a cured hangover.

Mountains of sizzling lamb chops followed by the tastiest dry curry you’ll ever eat, all mopped up with a buttery keema naan - this is how it usually goes at Tayyabs. This Punjabi restaurant in Whitechapel is an iconic establishment on the Indian dining scene in London, and it’s easy to see why. Their menu is chock full of hearty Indian dishes, and everything is reasonably priced; you can easily walk away with change from a £20 note here.

Everything on St. John's menu passes as comfort food, but it's premium comfort food, like brown crab meat on toast, hot chocolate pudding, deep-fried tripe with chips and ketchup and roasted bone marrow. Be prepared to leave stuffed and comforted.

Enjoy a slice of Italy in London at any of Pizza Pilgrims' restaurants around the city. These guys specialise in classic Neapolitan pizzas where it's all about the fluffy crust, and all of the ingredients used here are sourced from Italy, focusing on the highest-quality produce.

The Dirty Bones menu is inspired by the restaurants and bar scene of New York City. The menu is chock full of comfort food, from fried chicken on waffles and mac 'n' cheese bites to cheeseburger dumplings and hot buffalo wings. Everything is made from scratch using the highest-quality ingredients.

This hip Hampstead hangout is the place to go for al fresco fun in North London. They serve the ultimate in comforting British pub grub, like outdoor-bred sausages with clotted cream mash, steak and ale pie, and cheeseburgers with house burger sauce and seasoned fries. The venue has a traditional pub interior but is known for its spacious beer garden.

If you're an avid meat-eater, the Hawksmoor restaurants are the place to be. They've got a reputation for being one of the best steak spots in the country, serving everything from T-bone steaks to ribs and burgers. If you prefer seafood over steaks, then you're in luck - they've recently partnered with Dartmouth's acclaimed The Seahorse to serve seafood specialities.

Nothing screams comfort food more than a 20-inch pizza, and Homeslice does them best. They come in various flavours, like mushroom and ricotta with truffle glaze, Neal's Yard four cheese with jalapeno salsa, and spicy lamb with savoy cabbage, sumac yoghurt and guindilla chillies. If 20 inches seems too much for you to chow down, they also sell their pizzas by the slice.

Is there anything more comforting than a steaming hot bowl of brothy ramen? From classic tonkotsu and chicken broths to plant-based bowls, Bone Daddies know the aim of the game when it comes to ramen. Their sides are just as comforting, with a range to choose from, like Korean fried wings and bao buns.

Two thick slices of fluffy bread crammed with an assortment of fillings and slathered in sauces = Dom's Subs. Each and every one of Dom's sandwiches is brimming with fresh ingredients, like soy and ginger marinated aubergines, spicy Thai sprout salad, mint, basil, coriander, soy-glazed cashew nuts and toasted rice powder - yes, that is all in one sandwich.

Yard Sale Pizza makes its fluffy dough on-site, hand-stretched and baked in a custom-built oven. You can order them in two sizes, either 12 inches or 18 inches, which are ideal for tearing and sharing. The marmite, cheese and garlic bread is about as comforting as it gets, best dunked in the garlic and herb sauce.

There aren't many places in the city where you can get an excellent meal for under a fiver, but G Kelly is one of them. This traditional pie and mash shop on Roman Road has been serving hungry customers since it opened its doors more than 80 years ago. They serve a menu of classic pie, mash and liquor, as well as jellied, eels and pickled eggs East End style.

There are few better places to get your carb fix than at Padella, the ultimate London pasta spot. It’s stylish, affordable and utterly delicious, and the menu comprises a selection of handmade pasta dishes, like slow-cooked beef ragu and classic cacio e pepe. Ask for a seat at the bar if you want a first-hand view of the chefs making your pasta from scratch.

Anyone who's heard about J Sheekey has likely heard about their iconic fish pie; it's one of their most famous dishes and is as comforting as it gets. Layers of creamy mash scattered with seafood, drenched in sauce and topped with crunchy breadcrumbs. Yes please.

What started in a car park in Peckham has since become a country-wide comfort food phenomenon. It's the sort of place where hot dogs are wrapped in bacon and then deep-fried, and the fries are smothered in cheese sauce and diced white onion. Even the ice cream is drenched with Jagermeister.

If there's anywhere in the world that knows how to serve up comfort food, it's the Deep South. Plaquemine Lock may look like any old pub from the outside, but it serves a menu of Louisiana-inspired classics, like gumbos, po'boy sandwiches and other hearty dishes. Alongside the banging menu, they also host various events, from jazz nights to weekend brunches.

Poppies serve some of the best hard-to-beat fish and chips in the city. The fish is fried to order, the batter is light and fluffy, and you won't see a soggy chip in sight. Make sure you order a side of tartare sauce to really relish in the quintessential fish and chip experience.

If you're a cheese-lover, then you'll want to hit up on of the Pick & Cheese restaurants for the ultimate comfort food delivered straight to you. Both restaurants are equipped with a cheese conveyor belt carrying the finest British cheeses, each paired with its own condiment. If that's not enough cheesy indulgence for you, off-belt belters like grilled cheese toasties and even cheese ice cream are available as well.

The carb Gods have answered all of our prayers yet again, this time in the form of pasta. Lina Stores plate up small portions that are ideal for sharing and mean you get to try a bit of everything, like the truffle and ricotta or pumpkin ravioli. They also have a delicatessen in Soho that sells high-quality products imported straight from Italy.

Hot, steaming bowls of pho are the perfect comfort food, guaranteed to cure any hangover and warm you up from the inside out. Sông Quê Café serves the tastiest pho, their huge bowls of broth are topped with rice noodles, herbs and meat and are best slurped up as if nobody is watching.

Humble Crumble specialises in layers of fruit topped with twice-baked, crunchy shortbread crumble; all made with ethically-sourced ingredients. If you want to make it extra comforting, get yours served with a dollop of vanilla custard, clotted vanilla ice cream or extra thick double cream.

There’s a reason that the humble shepherd’s pie served at The Ivy is the most ordered dish on the menu. Consisting of layers of browned beef and lamb mince, topped with fluffy cheddar-laced mashed potatoes and drizzled in red wine sauce. Make sure you save room for something sweet; the chocolate bombe served with vanilla ice cream, and hot salted caramel sauce goes down a treat.

What could possibly be more comforting than creamy mashed potatoes with sausages or a hearty pie? If that sounds good to you, Mother Mash is the ideal place to eat. Beneath a colourful green canopy, diners can choose from nine types of mash paired with a variety of sausages or pies, including GF and plant-based options.

Ethiopian cuisine is hearty and full of rich and warming spices, eaten by hand for an added comfort factor. Try it for yourself at Wolkite, a humble local restaurant in Holloway. This friendly and welcoming venue is decorated with Ethiopian artwork and serves an array of traditional dishes that are great for sharing or keeping all to yourself.

If a generous portion of lasagne is your ideal comfort food, you need to head to Lasagneria Italiana. This bustling and casual restaurant specialises in lasagne, including traditional recipes, less conventional options, and a number of meat-free varieties. Opt for a trio of flavours if it's too difficult to settle on one.

Fans of dumplings know that few things are as comforting as a delicious pocket of dough filled with whatever strikes your fancy, and House of Momo offers some of the best ones around. This laid-back Nepalese eatery offers a variety of dumplings, ranging from classic steamed momos with cheese to spicy chilli sauce-infused bites.