Guide to the best restaurants in King's Cross

The Coal Drops Yard outpost adds a terrace bar and daily specials such as soft-shell crab and lemon sole to the proven Barrafina open-kitchen concept and selection of fine Spanish wines and sherries. Catch a glimpse of the preparation of the tapas dishes that are a staple of Spanish cuisine, such as tortillas, ham croquetas and patatas bravisimas, and find out for yourself why the chain’s original Soho location received a Michelin star.

A popular choice for high-end Mexican cuisine blended with Spanish influences from Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, Decimo boasts a plush interior with wide-reaching views of King’s Cross and the surrounding areas. The dinner menu is simple, offering meat, fish and vegetarian choices and headlined by the ‘grammable signature Decimo Tortilla, a quesadilla containing 50g of luxurious caviar.

Touted as one of the hottest restaurants in the city, The Midland Grand Dining Room serves French dishes in a space that evokes the venue's Victorian heritage. This glamorous venue is full of character and the sophisticated menu changes regularly. Signature dishes include chicken liver parfait with truffle and madeira jelly and crab and elderflower pain perdu.

The queues outside of Dishoom have been a fixture of King's Cross since it first opened in 2014. Drawing locals and out-of-towners alike with its lively vibe and tasteful setting, the extensive menu of Indian staples rooted in street food cuisine includes roti rolls, chaat, samosas and the signature black daal, slowly cooked over 24 hours. The buzzy restaurant also features a classy basement bar you can dip into for a hoppy butter punch.

The tiny but extremely popular Dim Sum Duck restaurant doesn't accept bookings, yet diners are happy to queue for entry. Inside, generously sized dim sum, freshly made by a chef with 30+ years of experience a wait. There's also a broad array of rice and noodle dishes to choose from, as well as flavoursome BBQ duck, hot pots and more. 

A modern take on the Taiwanese tea shop, Bao King’s Cross offers drinks and snacks in a bright and airy environment, with some outside seating as well. The menu includes a selection of meat, fish, and vegetarian steamed milk buns, tea snacks and rice plates with various toppings. You can drop in for a bubble tea or cocktail using Asian ingredients like plum sake and Taiwanese black tea, and there’s also a bakery counter with sweet and adorable buns.

Morty & Bob’s or Sons + Daughters? Grilled cheese toastie or egg salad s+dwich? Whichever side of the great sandwich schism you end up on, you certainly won’t go hungry. Of the two most prominent sandwich purveyors in Coal Drops Yard, Morty & Bob’s offers a more sedate location with ample seating, additional dishes on the menu and an array of cocktails and wines over which to discuss the merits of various toasties and sandwiches.

Whether you're a Morty & Bob's toastie stan or part of the Sons + Daughters fam, you won’t go hungry whichever of these Coal Drops Yard sandwich providers you go with. Of the two, Sons + Daughters expands on the classic sandwich offerings with a gourmet-informed array of intriguing flavour combinations and influences from all over the world in its stacked sandwiches – think prawns with jalapeño vinaigrette, or roast chicken with soy-cured parmesan.

Rooted in a 1944 Italian delicatessen, Lina Stores’ King’s Cross location combines a shop and a restaurant, taking full advantage of authentic Italian produce and ingredients in both. The star of the show is fresh handmade pasta, for example stracciatella ravioli, agnolotti and pappardelle, all richly doused in various sauces, parmesan cheese, truffles and more. For the full la dolce vita experience, finish your meal with classic Italian desserts such as panna cotta and cannolo pastries.

The German Gymnasium is housed in an impressive Grade II listed building. It’s popular both among the afterwork crowds of the surrounding tech hub and the commuters holding out for the last train home. If you’re after some serious Oktoberfest vibes, grab a stein and a currywurst and head to the terrace. Regardless of the weather, you can always enjoy your schnitzel in the stunning Grand Café on the ground floor or in the classy restaurant area on the first floor.

Coal Office next to Coal Drops Yard is a stylish culinary playground in a contemporary setting, the product of a collaboration between Michelin-starred Israeli chef Assaf Granit and renowned designer Tom Dixon. Taking you on a cruise of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, the menu features updated takes on classics such as manakish focaccia, chicken skewers, Yemeni pancakes, date ice cream and more. Book the chef’s table for a uniquely memorable experience.

The bright and airy dining room and bar of the King’s Cross location of the Mildreds plant-based restaurants lets you enjoy international dishes throughout the day. Menus include breakfast, weekend brunch and a kids’ menu, with choices like vegan kofte, burgers, and nachos. Shout out to the potent gunpowder toastie and the flavourful signature cocktails.

Hoppers King’s Cross differs from its older siblings in Soho and Marylebone both in culinary inspiration and size – it’s the biggest of the bunch, with woven fabric panels and light wood furnishings segmenting the single space into different areas. The dishes, meanwhile, include exclusives such as slow-roasted Beef Poriyal, juicy Black Pepper Curry Leaf Prawns and String Hopper rice noodles.

Eschewing the raw fish we’ve come to associate with Japanese cuisine, Itadakizen was the first vegan and organic Japanese eatery to open in Europe. The compact King’s Cross restaurant is cosy and intimate, relying on authentic Japanese decor for the ambiance. The menu includes small plates like gyoza and vegan calamari, plus larger meals like tofu steaks, curries and soy-based ramen. The concise drinks list offers sake, cocktails and Japanese beer.

Inspired by St Pancras' original ticket office, the impressive Booking Office 1869 found inspiration in the reliability of the famed train station it shares an address with. The dining room is suffused in old-world European charm and the travel fever conjured up by stories of the Orient Express, with palm trees, wood panelling, pendant lights and a long bar. The menu likewise pulls into station all over the world, stuffing its luggage with everything from schnitzel to gnocchi.

Arguably one of the toughest places in town to get into, waits for a table at this humble basement eatery can last up to 45 minutes! The fabled Roti King serves comforting Malaysian specialties, headlined by the eponymous warm and fluffy rotis stuffed with cheese, chicken or other fillings, or served alongside your choice of kari. You can also order various other traditional dishes. Also, if you take them to go, you’ll free up space for the rest of us. Just sayin’.

This similarly compact Caledonian Road upstart certainly has its eyes claiming the top spot from the nearby Roti King, quickly picking up hype on London’s cut-throat roti scene with its flaky layered flatbreads that melt in the mouth. You can choose a veg, fish, lamb or chicken curry to go along with the bread, or go off-script with a stuffed dosa cone. Space is limited, in your tummy as well as the restaurant, so plan accordingly.

The Granger & Co. at Pancras Square combines sunny Australian disposition and casual manner with trendy international fare and an elegant interior. The chain is known especially for its varied brekkies, though you can drop by for favourites from all over the world any time of the day. The cocktails definitely deserve a mention as well, as they’ll soon have you throwing out “g’day mates” in a terrible accent.

Previously known as Plum + Spilt Milk, Rails is a modern and warm restaurant and bar that serves British dishes with a clear French influence. Expect a comfortable atmosphere with artwork and table lamps, and a concise menu showcasing quality ingredients. Plenty of cocktails, French wines, and liqueurs are served too.

The first Sushi on Jones to be opened outside of the US is situated in the recently launched Goods Way complex at Pancras Square. As indicated by the name, the famed New York joint specialises in sushi cuisine – a to-the-point selection of expertly crafted rolls, a few other specialties utilising wagyu and a curated list of sake and Japanese whisky to go along with them. The restaurant’s omakase experience is the main event, however, with the chef guiding you through 12 or 20 courses of Japanese delicacies.

The Lighterman might sound like something out of a Nick Cave song, but it's anything but solemn, especially when the sun hits it just so. Encompassing different areas, including a canalside bar and a wraparound terrace, it aims to be the right spot whatever the occasion. Serving polished takes on classic British pub fare such as burgers, fish ‘n’ chips and crispy squid, as well as an impressive array of beers, wines and spirits, The Lighterman is a great spot for soaking up the rays with a cocktail in hand.

Kimchee in Pancras Square brings a variety of authentic Korean dishes, marinated in traditional sauces and spices, to the table. You can choose from various rice, noodle and pot dishes on the menu, many incorporating the fermented cabbage the restaurant is named after, but it’s the dark-panelled downstairs dining room that you want to head to in the evening. The tables there come with built-in smokeless grills you can use to barbecue your dishes to your liking, making for a unique social experience.

One of the original settlers of the redeveloped area, Caravan Coffee Roasters’ King’s Cross location features an industrial-style dining room in a grade II listed building with both indoor and outdoor seating. You can kickstart the day with the breakfast and brunch menus, or come later for the all-day menu that includes sourdough pizza and healthy grain bowls. Filter coffee here is bottomless for those days when a single cuppa just won’t do.

Knowing that one of the keys to happiness lies in a full belly, Happy Face Pizza helps you get there via proper Neapolitan pizzas. Their dough is fermented for 72 hours, resulting in a firm, airy sponginess that melts in your mouth, and the toppings include all the classics – pepperoni, pancetta, burrata, etc. – as well as some less common options such as potato. Dip into the Supermax bar in the basement for your post-meal drinks.

At the Beer + Burger Store in King’s Cross, the juicy burgers come in both meat and plant-based versions, against a backdrop of no fewer than 20 taps of craft beer and hundreds of cans in the fridge, all in a bright space with floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor seating. You can also order different sides such as chicken wings, mac balls, sweet chilli poppers and more.

Casa Pastor serves tasty Mexican cuisine in a laid-back taqueria with indoor and outdoor spaces. Food here centres around fresh house-made tortillas with classic taco fillings such as al pastor, chicken, or mushrooms. It's a friendly spot where dogs are welcome and large groups can be accommodated.

Head to Arabica for vibrant mezze and Mediterranean cuisine. The site is bright and on-trend, with plenty of choice on the menu. Plates here are fab for sharing in a sociable group meal. The restaurant also offers cocktails with a distinctive Mediterranean twist and wines grown throughout the Med.

At Parrillan, you grill your own food at your table in an idyllic canalside setting. Diners sit on a comfortable covered terrace to enjoy morsels like meat, fish, and vegetables, as well as a variety of sides and desserts to complete the meal. The drinks list focuses on Spanish wines, plus there's a separate gin and tonic menu.

Thenga Café is a popular spot for an affordable Indian meal that's also completely vegan-friendly. The setting here is humble and welcoming with the food having Bengali and European influences. Diners can sample the set menu that changes each day but includes a selection of dishes. Snacks, hot drinks, and juices are also served here.

Bustling Ethiopian restaurant Addis is one of the most popular places for a meal around King's Cross. This spacious restaurant is decorated with earthy colours and materials and traditional decor. The goal is to make Ethiopian cuisine accessible, blending tradition with Western style. On the menu you'll see classic recipes as well as more innovative options.