Hoppers King's Cross

The King’s Cross outpost of Hoppers has travelled a long way, and we’re not talking about the distance from the hit original location in Soho. The eatery is named after the crispy rice flour pancakes that regularly feature in Sri Lankan breakfasts, and it draws on the island’s culinary tradition and family ties in its food prep.

The third of the Hoppers restaurants to open in London is located on Pancras Square, next to one of its proprietors’ other great successes, the Bao café. 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. Outside, there’s a veranda that splashes a touch of tropicana into the urban area that houses global tech giants. The restaurant’s size means it also has room for an extended bar, where you can find the refreshing cocktails that are a big part of the chain’s appeal, as well as their homebrewed beers on tap.

The dishes, meanwhile, are apparently influenced by a much-travelled coastal journey between Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo and the historical town of Galle. This leads to King’s Cross exclusives such as slow-roasted Beef Poriyal, juicy Black Pepper Curry Leaf Prawns and String Hopper rice noodles. There’s also the classic array of hoppers, curries, rotis and more to choose from, with plenty of vegetarian options as well.