Top Dining Spots in London by Rahel Stephanie
Rahel Stephanie is one to watch on London’s food scene. Born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, she moved to the UK capital as a student and quickly discovered that the city’s Indonesian food scene was sorely lacking. Consequently, she began hosting dinner parties for friends to recreate the flavors of home, leading to the emergence of her supper club, Spoons. Here, she shares her favourite dining locations in London.
Viet Rest
“This is my favourite place for Vietnamese cuisine. It’s in Deptford and I’m a regular there. They serve unpretentious fare. I always order two dishes there: the fresh and fragrant vermicelli fish soup, and the lemongrass marinated barbecue chicken. It’s got a fun, buzzing atmosphere, with people crowding over their food, sharing it in groups over laughter and chatter. On the walls, there’s a hand-painted mural of Halong Bay, and they even have a karaoke spot in the basement, which is incredible.”
Address: Viet Rest, 113 Deptford High Street, London SE8 4NS
Website: vietrestltd.co.uk
Janda Diner
“One of my favourite recent openings in the past year. They offer contemporary interpretations of Malaysian food without compromising authenticity. The staff are extremely lovely, and its BYOB policy creates a great vibe. Their hero dish is ayam goreng susu, the classic Malaysian dish of fried chicken reduced in condensed milk sauce, which delivers a delightful savoury-sweet combination. It’s quite a small restaurant, so reservations are recommended.”
Address: Janda Diner, 18 Peckham Rye, London SE15 4JR
Website: jandalondon.uk
The Standard London
“The Standard London is a lovely, contemporary hotel that also hosts exciting cross-cultural events. They recently collaborated with Diet Paratha to host their annual barbecue series in the Double Standard Garden, featuring a curated lineup of South Asian chefs. I participated in a barbecue there last year. Engaging in culturally relevant events is what keeps them unique; otherwise, they would be just another luxury hotel.”
