The best restaurants in Brixton, from Salon to Naughty Piglets

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Lizzie Thomson12 November 2018

Brixton's food scene is incredibly multicultural, with plenty of treats from around the world on offer from the Caribbean and India, to the Middle East and beyond.

It can't be denied that gentrification has changed the face of Brixton over recent years, but it's also brought a uniqueness to the area, mixing the old with the new.

Despite rising rent prices, the area is home to a number of independent restaurants and, being such a sought-after place, many existing restaurants have opened sister branches in SW2.

Whether you're looking for a cheap eat or want to try something unusual, here's a round up of our favourite spots to dine at.

Boqueria

Exceptional tapas outside of Spain can be hard to find. The name of this place will be familiar to anyone who has travelled to Barcelona as it’s the same as the city’s bustling food market — one of the largest in Europe. Located on Acre Lane, you’ll find Spanish staples on the menu here. Great small plates include the gooey croquetas stuffed with Iberian ham and chicken and the cider-soaked chorizo. Noteworthy mains include a suckling pig with a crispy top and tender meaty layer underneath, as well as the grilled king prawns doused in garlic parsley for an authentic touch. Both food and wine is excellent value, with plates coming in below £9.

192 Acre Lane, SW2 5UL, boqueriatapas.com

Salon

This spot is a tale of two halves; downstairs lies a casual bar with snacks and sharing plates while upstairs is home to a more formal dining room without any pretentious fussiness. Seasonal European plates are on offer with either four or seven courses to choose from. Don’t miss the signature dish which is the ’nduja croquettes — bite-sized little bundles that combine substance, crispness, heat and sweetness.

18 Market Row, SW9 8LD, salonbrixton.co.uk

Elephant

Back in 2011 chef Imran Bashir set up this Pakistani café in Brixton Village Market. Seven years on and the food is everything you want Pakistani street cuisine to be. The compact menu oozes home-style touches from the thick, rich and perfectly spiced dhal to the creamy raita.

Brixton Village Market, SW9 8PS,

Naughty Piglets

The best food is made with love and there’s plenty of that at this joint. The owners of Naughty Piglets, wine enthusiast Margaux Aubry and head chef Joe Sharratt, met when they worked together at Trinity in Clapham. The pair married and used their complimentary interests to set up this restaurant. The unassuming Brixton hotspot offers small sharing plates that celebrate the best of British but also nod to other worldly cuisines, like the Korean spiced BBQ pork and the Middle Eastern inspired grilled pear with Jerusalem artichokes. On the drinks list you’ll find natural and organic wines.

28 Brixton Water Ln, SW2 1PE, naughtypiglets.co.uk

Kricket

(Hugh Johnson )
Hugh Johnson

Rik Campbell and Will Bowlby’s Kricket started in Brixton — but not at this Atlanta Road location. The site was originally located in a shipping container at Pop Brixton. Now, three years on, the restaurant family is made up of three siblings, with branches in Soho and White City. You can’t mention Kricket without samphire pakoras springing to mind — they feature on the menu here alongside old favourites like the Keralan fried chicken. The Indian-inspired roasts are also worth making the trip for, they change every week but always include beautifully spiced meat with a whole host of inventive sides — a twist on traditional roasties and gravy.

41-43 Atlantic Rd, SW9 8JL, kricket.co.uk

Okan Okonomiyaki

Cheap eats in an area undergoing gentrification can be hard to come by, but this no-thrills Japanese joint specialises in Osaka street food at affordable prices. The menu is stripped back, offering just three mains — yaki soba, udon noodles and okonomiyaki (a traditional Savoury Pancake) — but there are roughly 10 different flavours to choose from for each. The must-try dish here is the pork Okonomiyaki which is filled with tender pork belly and comes with a punchy Japanese mayonnaise and seaweed flakes.

Brixton Village, SW9 8PS, okanbrixtonvillage.com

The best dishes in Brixton for under £10 - In pictures

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Nanban

This Kyushu-style ramen bar is the brainchild of former MasterChef winner Tim Anderson and specialises in Japanese comfort food. The term “deep-fried” pops up time and time again on the menu, offering an alternative to the miso soup and raw fish that many associate with Japanese cooking. The menu certainly doesn’t hold back, boasting hearty, belt-loosening dishes like the fiery crispy chicken wings with a scotch bonnet honey ponzu butter and the ‘nose-to-tail’ pork broth ramen.

426 Coldharbour Ln, SW9 8LF, nanban.co.uk

Fish, Wings & Tings

Brixton is a hotbed of authentic Caribbean food and this restaurant located in the Granville Arcade is a great spot to lay your hands on some lesser-known treats. Trinidadian chef Brian Danclair brings his 'Nouvelle Caribbean cuisine' to the menu, merging techniques to offer regional dishes and street food. Traditional favourites like the meaty curried goat and the fiery reggae chicken wings will leave you full-bellied but also wanting to order more.

Brixton Village, SW9 8JL, fishwingsandtings.com

Agile Rabbit

Nothing quite warms the heart like pizza — a winning combination of gooey melted mozzarella, tangy tomato base and the airy dough hits the spot every time. This independent pizzaria housed within Brixton Village Market is a favourite amongst locals. Guests have two options — either pizza, which comes large, thin and crispy, or an airy calzone.

Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PR, theagilerabbit.london