London experiences,
April 03 2024
London’s dining scene is as impressive as its iconic skyline. But while there are plenty of Insta-worthy eateries and TikTok charmers creating queues around the block, sometimes the chain restaurants get overlooked. So let’s debunk the myth that all chain restaurants are created equal. Whether you crave familiar favourites or unexpected delights, we bring you our top five chain restaurants in London with the best bites across multiple locations.
Flat Iron started in 2012 as a pop-up steakhouse in a room above a pub. Today, this London steakhouse chain has locations across Central London, from Covent Garden to Shoreditch. Wherever you go, there’s a welcoming interior of exposed brick, warm woods and plants that make the most of London’s old townhouses and limited floor space.
What makes this place stand apart is the quality of the steaks from a farm in North Yorkshire. Beef is the only meat on the menu, with a choice of ways to have it and accompanying sides. This is not a place for vegetarians. The cup of free popcorn when you arrive and the free ice cream dessert add to Flat Iron’s popularity has a great steak chain in London. It’s wise to book ahead, but you could risk a walk-in if it’s midweek.
The unusual fusion of Japanese and Danish cuisine and Danish interior design gives Sticks’n’Sushi a unique vibe that doesn’t feel like a typical chain restaurant. There are Sticks’n’Sushi restaurants across London, in Canary Wharf, Covent Garden, Soho and on the Kings Road. It’s also one of the healthy food chains in London, with small plates of delicious sushi and yakitori sticks made to order and served tapas style.
So, if you fancy a Japanese chain restaurant in London that doesn’t ruin the sushi, give this place a go. There’s chicken, pork and vegetarian dishes on the menu too. Friendly, knowledgeable staff can help you work out how much to order and which dishes complement each other, and there are delicious cocktails and a yummy matcha chocolate fondant worth leaving room for.
If you’re bored with the Mexican chain restaurants in London serving you bland enchiladas and stodgy beans, you need to visit Wahaca. Founded by MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers, Wahaca brings the vibrancy of Mexican street food to London. This place succeeds where many chain restaurants fail, by delivering authentic dishes packed with flavour.
The interiors are colourful without being over-garish, and the menu splits into nibbles, street food and bigger plates so you can easily decide what and how much to order. There are over 10 Wahaca restaurants across the capital, in Southbank, Oxford Circus, Islington and more.
Designed to reflect the typical elegant Parisian restaurant with affordable meals, Côte Brasserie is a well-established French restaurant chain. London locations reach from Kensington to the West End and the Royal Festival Hall. Unlike many chain restaurants, the service here is always attentive, and there are often deals, so such as early evening two-course and three-course meals. The champagne breakfast is also a treat.
Linen napkins, good French wine and a relaxed brasserie atmosphere all add to the feeling of having been transported to Paris, but with views of classic London landmarks. Of course, the dishes are French too, with moules and beef cheek bourguignon particular favourites.
In a crowded market of Italian chain restaurants in London, Rossopomodoro stands out for all the right reasons. With essential ingredients imported from Naples, the pizzas are reliably authentic, with a sauce-rich centre brimming with toppings and a puffed crust charred to perfection. The pastas, meats and large bruschetta ensure you leave full of Neapolitan delight.
Rossopomodoro has restaurants in Camden Town, Covent Garden, Chelsea and Hoxton, each one serving a tempting bottomless pizza brunch. From 12 till 4pm every day, you can spend 90 minutes filling up on pizza with prosecco or wine. This London Italian restaurant chain also has monthly pizza masterclasses to teach you how to make the perfect pizza.
Just like these big and small restaurant chains, London’s Thistle Hotels are also reliably top notch and have rooms across the capital. Pick a Thistle hotel in your desired location and settle down for a fantastic night’s sleep after your delicious meal.
