Guide to the best restaurants in Wembley

Sakonis is a Wembley institution and has been since the '80s. There's a buffet which is great if you want to load up your plate, but the menu also includes Indo-Chinese dishes like crispy chilli paneer and Szechuan noodles that are well worth ordering. There are also comfort food classics, such as paneer masala and bhajiyas. Everyone in the room has likely been coming here for years.

This little Caribbean spot is all about soul food, like the jerk chicken, which is tender and packed with authentic flavour. The rice and peas come with a hint of coconut, and the jerk gravy ties it all together with just the right hit of spice and sweetness. The atmosphere is laid-back and cosy, making it feel like you could actually be dining in your auntie's house.

If you're after a feast that looks like it was designed to feed the 5000, Taste of Peshawar is the place to be. This Pashtun spot near Stonebridge Park is famous for its huge sharing platters piled high with chapli kebabs, juicy lamb chops, and wings that come straight off the grill. It's one of those restaurants best tackled with a group and a big appetite.

This Gujarati spot is cash-only and full of character. Asher's Africana is best known for its thalis – a mix of curries, rotis, and sides that change by the hour depending on what the kitchen's cooking up. Light, fresh rotis and flaky samosas are guaranteed, though, so is the warm, busy, community feel.

This one is part biker hangout, part old-school diner, and has been fuelling Londoners since 1938. You'll find them located off the North Circular, serving fry-ups, bacon butties, and huge mugs of breakfast tea. You'll spot Harley-Davidsons parked outside and regulars catching up over a pint.

There are few snacks as satisfying—or as cheap—as the vada pav at this tiny Alperton café. For £1.50, you get a crisp-fried potato patty, soft bun, doused in chutney and better than any old soggy supermarket sandwich. The set-up is basic, with steaming kettles of chai and people chatting over plates of pani puri and samosas.