WHERE TO EAT IN LONDON
Photo by Matt Glueckert
A food industry veteran, Sue S. Chan is the founder of Care of Chan, a food culture agency bringing people together over food and ideas. Care of Chan’s collaborators respect tradition, think innovatively, act purposefully and value conviviality. Named one of Observer’s “Most Powerful Restaurant PR Firms” in 2018 and 2019, Care of Chan has collaborated with clients such as A24, The Standard Hotels, Impossible Foods, Sean Brock and Wildair…to name a few.
Prior to establishing Care of Chan, Sue was the Brand Director of Momofuku, where she oversaw public relations & marketing for the entire restaurant group and their special projects like Lucky Peach - no small task! In recognition, Marie Claire magazine rightfully dubbed her a “Fresh Face in Food.”
Though she lives between Los Angeles and New York, Sue recently spent some time in London to oversee her British clientele. She swears that London has one of the most dynamic food scenes of any major metropolitan city, including offering a wide range of cuisines and having a vibrant specialty grocery scene. From classic British cuisine to trendy East London eateries, to South East Asian and Middle Eastern mainstays, Sue shares some of her favorite, and most quintessential London spots below.
"Modern British food at it's finest. RC never disappoints and the menu changes all the time. Chef/Patron Margot Henderson is always there, which is rare for most restaurant chefs these days. She's an original."
"Great people watching and consistently delicious rustic Italian food. Most of my favorite Italian restaurants in New York City (Altro Paradiso and King) are modeled off River Cafe. The restaurant is on the very far west side of town but worth the journey. If you go for lunch, take a walk along the Thames after your meal."
"The ultimate Turkish kebab house, an East London institution for 30 years and running. Open late until 1am on Friday & Saturdays, and until 12am all other days."
"London has some of the best South East Asian cuisine in the world outside of the region. Gymkhana is one of my favorite spots because the flavors of each dish are so distinct and memorable."
"Spa Terminus is the best market in London and features the best of British products, such as Natoora, Neals Yard Dairy, Monmouth Coffee Shop, The Little Bread Peddler and England Preserves. Only open on Saturdays mornings, go early and definitely before 1pm when things start running out. Perfect place to grab a few tasty British gifts for your friends & lovers back home."
"Now that you've gotten gifts for your friends, you can treat yourself to some baklava from Green Valley, a Lebanese specialty market. Their bakery section must have a hundred different varieties and flavors of baklava, Turkish delights and other Lebanese sweets. Packed with sugar, these treats last for a while so feel free to bring home some extra."
"London is made of 40% public green space, including 3,000 parks and totaling 35,000 acres. Each park has a different vibe and set of activities but all are gorgeous in their own unique ways. Hampstead Heath is a personal favorite. I also love walking the Regent's Canal Walk on the East London side, my preferred part of town because they have the most lively and exciting food scene."