The 12 Best Restaurants In Tottenham

There are a lot of delicious things to eat in Tottenham. For all the Sherlocks among us, the clue’s right there in the name. Totten-ham. Coincidence? We think not. In this part of north London you’ll find some of the best sourdough pizzas in the city, excellent Nigerian tapas, and a jerk bagel we low-key think about every 60 seconds.

THE SPOTS

Two things are certain when you visit Deluxe Manna—you won’t be rushed and you’ll leave full. The pace at this buzzy Congolese spot is relaxed, with a soundtrack of afrobeats and late opening hours encouraging a leisurely approach to meals. Which is just as well because you’ll be working on these platters for a while. The menu reads like a family tree of the wider Afro-Caribbean community in north London. You’ll find Caribbean favourites alongside Congolese specialties. Our go-to is the Manna platter. In this collab of cultures, grilled fish and meats like ntaba (smoked lamb) surround a mountain of jollof rice, kwanga (a soft cassava dumpling), and more.

Pasero is one of those one-stop wonder restaurants. It works just as well for weekend breakfasts with little ones, as it does for evening catch-ups over glasses of chilled red. During the day this warm spot is busy with people grabbing coffees and tearing into fluffy almond croissants. Come evening, nab a seat at the burnt orange-tiled bar for a cosy date that involves modern European-leaning small plates of smoked cod's roe choux bites and roasted squash with whipped gorgonzola. 

Welcome to an alternative universe where David Attenborough narrates one of our bi-weekly trips to True Craft: “A sensitive and vulnerable animal, the hungover human picks up speed in its final strides towards the ultimate reward, sourdough.” Basically, True Craft on West Green Road serves seriously tasty pizzas, with vegan and gluten-free options to boot. We’re big fans of the sweet balsamic pepper and mascarpone situation, but you can’t go wrong with the ‘nduja-loaded pizza when you’re feeling a little sensitive. 

If we set up a restaurant with our sibling it’d be largely dominated by arguments about who the favourite child is (us). Things at Chuku’s are much more harmonious. The banter’s flying, the playlist is as strong as the cocktails, and the menu of Nigerian tapas is full of big, buzzing flavours. Much like Beyoncé, Chuku’s only serves hits—a rainbow egusi bowl where chewy yam dumplings are dragged through moreish sauces, crunchy caramel kuli kuli wings, and a beef ayamase that’s worth your tears. Yes, we’re crazy in love. 

The Palm is Tottenham’s answer to Spain. Stop laughing, there are croquettes present. Trust us when we say that everything from the foliage to the garlic prawns make for a compelling case that you’ve high-tailed it out of London. Sit under one of the outdoor heat lamps while enjoying some chips and saffron aioli and you might even convince yourself you’re getting a tan. Inside is perfect for a Sunday roast while watching the game—any—on the big screen, and the intimate covered terrace is the best place in the area for a date night over tapas. Watching the locals’ dogs beg for a bite of your fried chorizo is a definite perk. 

The lamb shank from Brothers doesn’t need much help falling off the bone. Its proximity to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium means that collapsing is in its very DNA. But, the vital point of difference between these two destinations in N17, is that this Somali restaurant is actually worth travelling to. The duubi and bariis, or lamb shank and rice, are both fragrantly spiced, mixing star anise, turmeric, and cinnamon with melt-in-your-mouth fat. Throwing some basbaas—a sharp Somali chilli sauce—into the mix alongside some flatbread is a must.

Sushi Heads is a teeny, tiny Japanese shop and takeaway counter that’s hidden on Philip Lane. When you first walk in you’ll see a couple of freezers packed with frozen dumplings, an array of bottled sauces to buy, a wall of handmade cards, and a couple of Furbys whose existence we choose not to question. Yes, you probably will spend a small fortune on Japanese cards, custard dorayaki, and chilli garlic kombu oil alongside your sushi order. But that’s just the risk you have to take. There’s everything from donburi to nigiri to choose from, but it’s the katsu ebu futomaki that we’re really into.

Everyone deserves to have a bakery as good as Uncle John’s on their road. Technically, this Ghanaian bakery in South Tottenham is on everybody’s road now, thanks to the internet and its nationwide delivery. Aside from the majestic sweet bread and addictive servings of chin chin—the coconut and savoury flavour are both great—the glossy meat pie is our favourite thing here. After months of dedicated practice, our preferred method of eating them is by steadily picking off the glistening baked crust, then nibbling our way through the herby mince and carrot centre while lying horizontally. 

Do you own a Fitbit? Did you break your high school track record? Then you have an excellent chance of getting your hands on one of Perkyn’s sell-out rolls. This cool and casual bottle shop and cafe has a changing menu of delicious chunky rolls throughout the week. Although, they tend to sell out by 2pm so you need to move fast. Grab one of the rolls, stuffed with things like fennel and garlic salami and Old Winchester cheese, and a couple of beers or a cup of freshly ground coffee and head into Downhills Park. Plus, from Thursday to Saturday, the shop’s open until 10pm and you can order Yard Sale straight to your table. 

There are so many chicken shops in Tottenham but there is only one Chick King. In the shadow of the Spurs stadium, this family-run restaurant has been open for over 40 years. Three things are guaranteed here. There will be a queue, the no-nonsense owner will give you a big grin if you give him one first, and that crispy chicken skin will be second to none. Whether you opt for a classic three pieces and chips combo or the mayo-loaded chicken sandwich, it’s genuinely some of London’s best fried chicken. Minimal grease, maximum flavour. Prices are higher than your average chicken spot, and it’s worth it. 

Let’s just take a moment and look at this jerk bagel. Charred dough perfection, dark pink meat, and a glistening, generous portion of sweet-meets-heat sauce. It also smells magnificent. So magnificent that it’s pretty much impossible to get five steps away from this grab-and-go spot without tearing open the takeaway bag and getting stuck in, hungry hound-style. Jerk Munchies is a casual place where a tenner will get you far and more importantly, full. The jerk chicken rice box is our go-to if the bagel has sold out. 

With Milk is a sister act. Not the kind that involves Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith in habits, but a great little coffee shop owned by two sisters with a little assistance from their adorable pet dog Tekka. Not only do they make a mean turmeric latte, there’s a changing menu of sandwiches, stuffed pitta, and sweet treats that always hit the spot. Plus, there are plenty of gluten-free options, everything’s halal, and the huge croissants are quite frankly, flaky AF. Keep an eye on their social for details of the odd supper club too—they sell out quickly.