Your favorite London chain restaurant
Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:04 PM
#1
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Your favorite London chain restaurant
Perhaps a weird question, but I'm going to London on Monday and would love to hear your favorite London/UK "chain" restaurants that I couldn't find in the US... ie. Wagamama, Basuba Eathai, Nandos, etc. Just curious what I should try and what's overrated! I like all kinds of food. I'm trying to keep the eating budget cheaper and I'm also traveling solo so won't be eating out at sit down restaurants by myself. So excited for my trip! Its my 2nd trip to London and then on to Paris for the 4th time.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:09 PM
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Not much a restaurant person but you may want to try Garfunkels, kind of an imitation of an American restaurant I believe:
http://www.garfunkels.co.uk/
https://www.pret.com/en-us/ - Check out Pret as it is called I believe - a big popular chain with quick if not fast food.
But it is a sit-down restaurant. For take-outs try the ubiquitous Chinese restaurants like in China Town, in the heart of the West End.
http://www.garfunkels.co.uk/
https://www.pret.com/en-us/ - Check out Pret as it is called I believe - a big popular chain with quick if not fast food.
But it is a sit-down restaurant. For take-outs try the ubiquitous Chinese restaurants like in China Town, in the heart of the West End.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:19 PM
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Grafunkels is awful.
Try Eat, Pret, Abokado, most burrito chains like Tortilla, Chilango, or Poncho 8. Vital Ingredients is good for salads. Leon has good choices. Pod has some nice hot and cold options. There are tonnes of great sandwich shops where locals eat lunch...just look for the queues.
Sit down - Pizza Express, Wahaca, Byron burger.
Try Eat, Pret, Abokado, most burrito chains like Tortilla, Chilango, or Poncho 8. Vital Ingredients is good for salads. Leon has good choices. Pod has some nice hot and cold options. There are tonnes of great sandwich shops where locals eat lunch...just look for the queues.
Sit down - Pizza Express, Wahaca, Byron burger.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:25 PM
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EAT. is a serve-yourself salad and sandwich place, with tables and chairs if you care to sit down and eat instead of take-away.
https://eat.co.uk
Mori, which serves bento-box type, quasi Japanese food, including soups, and the location I was in (Marylebone) had open tables in a pleasant setting
http://mori.uk.com
The international Belgian chain of le Pain Quotidien, although their prices can be annoying. Still, if you want soup or an omelette or a pastry, they can be very tasty.
http://www.lepainquotidien.co.uk
You should probably head to the markets as well to do some grazing.
https://eat.co.uk
Mori, which serves bento-box type, quasi Japanese food, including soups, and the location I was in (Marylebone) had open tables in a pleasant setting
http://mori.uk.com
The international Belgian chain of le Pain Quotidien, although their prices can be annoying. Still, if you want soup or an omelette or a pastry, they can be very tasty.
http://www.lepainquotidien.co.uk
You should probably head to the markets as well to do some grazing.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:28 PM
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Also, in a higher price range but still very favorably priced for London, is the chain of Turkish restaurants called Tas, serving very fresh and good food if you like Turkish
http://www.tasrestaurants.co.uk
http://www.tasrestaurants.co.uk
Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:38 PM
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Pret-A-Manger - now Pret - and EAT are direct competitors. The various Pizza Express outlets are decent.
There are plenty of The Slug and Lettuce restos, saw them but didn't try them.
Yo! Sushi if you need both a quick sushi fix and no need to even sit alone at a table - just grab it when it comes by on the conveyor belt at the sushi bar.
There are plenty of The Slug and Lettuce restos, saw them but didn't try them.
Yo! Sushi if you need both a quick sushi fix and no need to even sit alone at a table - just grab it when it comes by on the conveyor belt at the sushi bar.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:47 PM
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Hi SANDERSKN,
I agree with SURFERGIRL and others - PIZZA EXPRESS is decent. Really liked their fresh salad with avocado and who knows what else. Reasonable price on wine by the glass and open later in the evening.
Also agree with Pal, that MCDONALDS in London is better than over here. I often had a 'McFlurry" ice cream in mid day instead of lunch - just to keep up my strength.
I agree with SURFERGIRL and others - PIZZA EXPRESS is decent. Really liked their fresh salad with avocado and who knows what else. Reasonable price on wine by the glass and open later in the evening.
Also agree with Pal, that MCDONALDS in London is better than over here. I often had a 'McFlurry" ice cream in mid day instead of lunch - just to keep up my strength.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:49 PM
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http://westcornwallpasty.co.uk/
West Cornwall Pasty has some coffee shops in London and food wagons last I knew scattered about.
West Cornwall Pasty has some coffee shops in London and food wagons last I knew scattered about.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 01:40 PM
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Pret is usually good and dependable. I also like Cote Brassserie. Cafe Rouge can be good but quality varies as to location. ZiZi can be good too again depends on which one. All of these except Pret are sit down restaurants though very casual. I've been eating solo at a variety of " sit down" restaurants for over thirty years. Try it.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 01:49 PM
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Sometimes it seems everything in London is a chain.
If you're looking for something on the healthier side I'd say Leon and Itsu, I agree with jamikins's recommendations and the key point which is (sorry PQ) avoid Garfunkeles.
If you're looking for something on the healthier side I'd say Leon and Itsu, I agree with jamikins's recommendations and the key point which is (sorry PQ) avoid Garfunkeles.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 01:56 PM
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On our last trip to London we went to a chain called Angus Steakhouse. That cow must have done something horrible in a previous life, because we were being punished.
We did not know it was a chain and it was busy, but maybe they were mechanical people in the windows. The service was forgetful, the check was wrong, the sides were overpriced and besides that I am sure someone had a jolly time.
We did not know it was a chain and it was busy, but maybe they were mechanical people in the windows. The service was forgetful, the check was wrong, the sides were overpriced and besides that I am sure someone had a jolly time.
