Passyunk Avenue Passyunk Avenue

Guide to the best American restaurants in London

Sometimes all you want to do is chow down on some finger-lickin' wings or indulge in classic American comfort food. But with so many restaurants to choose from, how do you know which ones are actually worth going to? There are plenty of London spots to get your American food fix, from Dirty Bones' fried chicken and waffles to Big Moe's 1950s-style diner. Here's our list of where to go to satisfy those American comfort food cravings that like to sneak up on us all.

  1. The best American restaurants in London
    1. 1
      Sunday in Brooklyn Sunday in London
    2. 2
      Bleecker Burger Winner of the best burger in the UK 2020
    3. 3
      Dirty Bones NYC-style comfort food
    4. 4
      The Colony Grill Room Steakhouse with sophistication
    5. 5
      Hawksmoor From New York to London
    6. 6
      Christopher's French toast to die for
    7. 7
      Electric Diner A classic American diner in Notting Hill
    8. 8
      Goodman Steakhouse Beef from both sides of the pond
    9. 9
      The Blues Kitchen Music and American classics
    10. 10
      Smokestak Just follow the wafts of smoke
    11. 11
      Chick 'n' Sours Asian-inspired fried chicken
    12. 12
      Feels Like June Cali-inspired bites and cocktails
    13. 13
      Big Moe's Diner A 1950s American-style diner
    14. 14
      Passyunk Avenue A taste of Philly
    15. 15
      The Maine New England seafood flavours
    16. 16
      Big Easy Buzzy place for barbecue
    17. 17
      Smith & Wollensky Timeless American steakhouse
    18. 18
      Joe Allen Classic brasserie
    19. 19
      Plaquemine Lock Full-on Cajun flavour

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The best American restaurants in London

Classic American-style restaurants with the best American food in London

Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill – American restaurants
Sunday in Brooklyn Notting Hill

Sunday in London

It may be Sunday in Brooklyn, but it's also Sunday in London since Brooklyn brought over their award-winning café and bar to the streets of the Big Mmoke. The glossy pancakes here look too good to eat and are a must-order for any Insta-foodie. As for the rest of the menu, think classic breakfast dishes and a super creative cocktail menu, including a zingy Bloody Mary that swaps the vodka for smoky mezcal.

  • 98 Westbourne Grove St Christopher's Place, Marylebone

Winner of the best burger in the UK 2020

There's a reason this burger has earned itself a spot on many 'best burger in London' lists, as well as nabbing Winner of The Best Burger in the UK 2020. The concept for this particular burger has been inspired by one that the founder tried at an East Village burger joint, Zaitzeff, while living in New York. They're crafted using rare-breed, grass-fed beef from small farms around the UK.

  • 205 Victoria St, Westminster 16 Bloomberg Arcade, The City/City of London Old Spitalfields Market, Lamb Street, Shoreditch/Tower Hamlets The Balcony Westfield, Hammersmith and Fulham 195 Baker St, Marylebone 104 Tooley St, Southwark

NYC-style comfort food

If fried chicken on fluffy waffles with glossy maple syrup sounds like your cup of tea, then you need to check out Dirty Bones, a New York City-inspired restaurant. Enjoy classic, over-the-top American fare, like deep-fried mac and cheese balls, baby back ribs and cheeseburger dumplings.

  • 8 Kingly Court, Soho 14 Denman Street, Soho Gravity Wandsworth, Wandsworth
The Colony Grill Room – American restaurants
The Colony Grill Room
The Colony Grill Room – American restaurants
The Colony Grill Room
The Colony Grill Room – American restaurants
The Colony Grill Room
The Colony Grill Room – American restaurants
The Colony Grill Room
The Colony Grill Room – American restaurants
The Colony Grill Room
The Colony Grill Room – American restaurants
The Colony Grill Room
The Colony Grill Room – American restaurants
The Colony Grill Room
The Colony Grill Room – American restaurants
The Colony Grill Room

The Colony Grill Room

Steakhouse with sophistication

Located at upmarket hotel The Beaumont, The Colony Grill Room is a smart New York-style grill restaurant that's considered one of the city's finest steakhouses. There's a transatlantic menu, with food served throughout the day. The whole place evokes a feel of old-school glamour, with cocktails, whiskeys, and cigars also available.

From New York to London

This award-winning New York steak restaurant has also hit up the streets of London to serve melt-in-your-mouth British dry-aged steaks and sustainably sourced seafood. The menus at Hawksmoor are crafted around the highest-quality ingredients keeping seasonality very much at the centre of everything they do.

  • 5A Air Street, Mayfair 16 Winchester Walk, Southwark 10 Basinghall Street, The City/City of London 3 Yeoman's Row, Chelsea 11 Langley St, Covent Garden 157A Commercial Street, Shoreditch/Tower Hamlets 1 Water St, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets 1 Water St, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets

Christopher's

French toast to die for

For fine-dining American fare in central London, head along to Christopher's in Covent Garden. Think high ceilings, tables draped in white tablecloths and a vibey martini bar on the ground floor. The warm brioche French toast served with caramelised peaches, vanilla mascarpone and maple syrup here is sensational, as is the rest of the menu.

Electric Diner

A classic American diner in Notting Hill

This classic old-fashioned diner in Notting Hill serves an all-day French-American breakfast menu as well as a host of other comforting dishes for a lip-smackingly good meal. The aesthetic is also on point, think red leather booths set against exposed brick walls and bright white hanging lights.

Beef from both sides of the pond

This British version of a New York grill is one of the best American steakhouses in the city. The beef served here comes from the US as well as the UK and the menu is chock full of incredible starters, like Irish smoked salmon, as well as a hefty list of mains and decadent desserts.

  • 3 S Quay Square, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets 24-26 Maddox St, Mayfair 11 Old Jewry, The City/City of London

Music and American classics

There are three Blues Kitchens scattered around the city and each promises top-notch food, excellent music and a mouthwatering drinks menu. Chow down on buffalo cauliflower or cheeseburger spring rolls and sip on spicy margaritas or blood orange negronis before dancing away well into the night to the melody of rhythm and blues.

  • 40 Acre Lane, Brixton 111-113 Camden High Street, Camden Town 134-146 Curtain Rd, Shoreditch

Smokestak

Just follow the wafts of smoke

You can't help but follow the wafts of smoke travelling down the street that'll eventually lead you to Smokestak, and then hopefully to their famous brisket bun. Most of the food here is cooked on the grill and they've nailed the barbecue aesthetic down to a T. However, if you came here just to order the Welsh rarebit-stuffed potatoes, you'd certainly leave happy.

Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston – American restaurants
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston – American restaurants
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston – American restaurants
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston – American restaurants
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston – American restaurants
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston – American restaurants
Chick 'n' Sours Haggerston

Asian-inspired fried chicken

If you consider yourself a bit of a fried chicken fiend, then you'll definitely want to try Chick 'n' Sours. You can choose from a menu of Asian-inspired delights, like Szechuan aubergine with pickled chilli and disco wings with Kung pao sauce. As for the drinks, there’s a menu of sour cocktails to choose from, such as the habanero jungle bird and the mexinese.

  • 390 Kingsland Rd, Dalston 1a Earlham St, Covent Garden

Feels Like June

Cali-inspired bites and cocktails

This Cali-inspired restaurant comes with an all-day dining menu of comfort food like an assortment of burgers, classic avocado toast and juicy shrimp tacos. Breakfast includes the must-try Cali breakfast burritos, but if you swing by for a later visit, the large outdoor terrace is ideal for evening cocktails.

A 1950s American-style diner

Big Moe’s is based on a 1950s American diner, complete with glossy red leather booths and black and white chequered floors. Be prepared to feast on classic American fare, like homemade grilled burgers and crunchy, golden hand-cut fries, as well as decadent, over-the-top milkshakes for dessert. There's even a juke box if you fancy popping a tune or two on.

  • Clements Road, Redbridge London Designer Outlet, Wembley/Brent
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo – American restaurants
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo – American restaurants
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo – American restaurants
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo – American restaurants
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo – American restaurants
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo – American restaurants
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo – American restaurants
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo – American restaurants
Passyunk Avenue Waterloo

A taste of Philly

If you’re after an authentic American experience then look no further than Passyunk Avenue, a restaurant that’s bringing the taste of Philadelphia to the streets of London. Choose from a menu of cheesesteaks and other delicious sandwiches, all served on slices of Passyunk Avenue’s iconic Italian bread.

  • Leake Street, South Bank/Lambeth/Southwark 80 Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia Embassy Gardens, Vauxhall/Battersea

The Maine

New England seafood flavours

The Maine brings Londoners cuisine from New England. The restaurant feels sophisticated, spanning three floors and with a heated terrace too. You'll see classic style throughout the space. The menu is heavy on seafood plus there's steak, fresh pasta, and lobster rolls. This restaurant is well-known for oysters too.

Buzzy place for barbecue

There are a few branches of Big Easy around town, specialising in US-style barbecue and seafood. It's a buzzy and welcoming setting with live music every night to keep the party going. Carefully-sourced meat and seafood from Nova Scotia are used for American favourites like ribs, pulled pork, and smoked brisket.

  • Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets 332-334 King's Rd, Chelsea 158 Westfield Ave, Newham 12 Maiden Ln, Covent Garden
Smith & Wollensky – American restaurants
Smith & Wollensky
Smith & Wollensky – American restaurants
Smith & Wollensky
Smith & Wollensky – American restaurants
Smith & Wollensky
Smith & Wollensky – American restaurants
Smith & Wollensky
Smith & Wollensky – American restaurants
Smith & Wollensky
Smith & Wollensky – American restaurants
Smith & Wollensky
Smith & Wollensky – American restaurants
Smith & Wollensky
Smith & Wollensky – American restaurants
Smith & Wollensky

Smith & Wollensky

Timeless American steakhouse

Smith & Wollensky started out in New York in the 1970s. The London restaurant is refined and timeless, serving USDA dry-aged steaks and prime British and Irish cuts of meat. Burgers and shellfish are available here too. With white tablecloths, wood panelling, and leather seating, this place is an instant classic.

Joe Allen

Classic brasserie

New York-style brasserie Joe Allen is a timeless dining destination in London. This classic space has been open since 1977. Enjoy drinks accompanied by live piano music in the bar or sample refined dishes like prawn cocktail, risotto, and ribs in the sophisticated dining room. Global wines and original cocktails are also available.

Plaquemine Lock

Full-on Cajun flavour

Plaquemine Lock may be a pub in Islington but the food will instantly transport you to Louisiana. This vibrant space is brought to life by murals on the walls and frequent live jazz nights. The food is packed with flavour – diners can indulge in po' boy sandwiches, gumbo, and other hearty classics.

American restaurants – About the guide

American restaurants in London - This guide to the best American restaurants in London is updated regularly. If you know of a great American restaurant in London that we haven't featured in our guide, feel free to get in touch. Please let us know if you see any mistakes in our guide to the best American restaurants in London. Have you visited any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

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At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.