Quick Answer: Book a table at Brasserie Zédel, Cork & Bottle, Bancone, Panton Yokocho, or Jinli, and you’ll eat like a local, not a mug.
Leicester Square is a tourist trap. It’s on the Monopoly board, mobbed with tourists, and nine times out of ten the grub’s a rip-off. Some of the best places to eat in Leicester Square hide down staircases, and behind doors you’d stroll right past. Here are the best places to eat in Leicester Square.
- Leicester Square is located in London’s West End, a short stroll from Chinatown, Soho, and Covent Garden.
- French, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Middle Eastern — it’s all here, cheek by jowl.
- Set menus and pre-theater deals mean you don’t have to remortgage the house.
- Book ahead to be safe, though loads of these spots keep walk-in tables free.
1. Brasserie Zédel – Sherwood Street
Two little doors, a red sign, blink and you’ll miss it. But down those stairs—bam—you’re in 1930s Paris. A giant grandfather clock, marble everywhere, gold-trimmed pillars, and wooden tables in candy-pink cloths.
The set menu is scribbled in cursive Franglais, and three courses land under £20—practically robbery for the West End. Get the spinach, pumpkin, and ricotta pithivier, or go carnivore with the chopped steak Americain and enjoy a French meal; pair it with a soft drink, or try their signature desserts. There’s a lounge and cabaret room next door too.
2. Cork & Bottle – Cranbourn Street
The door sits at a popular West End theatre entrance. Wind down the staircase into the square’s underbelly, and you’ve found the most charismatic restaurant in the area—or so reckons The Sun’s travel editor.
Don Hewitson opened it more than 50 years ago, the wine legend who dragged the UK wine scene into shape back in the 1970s. There is an extensive drinks list, loads of properly reasonable options, plus a signature cheese-and-ham pie and a cracking cheese board.
Book if you can, though folk have rocked up at 9 pm Friday and still nabbed a table. If you time it right, you might get the candlelit cave at the back.
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3. Bancone – William IV Street
“Bancone” means counter, and the counter is the main event. You perch there and watch chefs whip up fresh pasta under your nose. Bag a counter seat if you can, though the normal tables are great too.
The menu tweaks each season, and pasta sits around £8 to £17, never over £20. The bucatini cacio e pepe is a year-rounder that people swear holds up against the real deal in Rome. The Signature Negronis? A measly £7.
4. Panton Yokocho – Panton Street
Right by Leicester Square, yet barely anyone’s heard of it. This ramen joint nails that old Tokyo alleyway feel—red lanterns, retro posters, daft Japanese toys everywhere. The ramen stands shoulder to shoulder with bowls you’d slurp across Japan.
The spicy miso has heat and umami in perfect harmony, and the Napoli ramen is a wild Italian-Japanese mash-up. Roll in for the Monday-to-Thursday happy hour, 4–6 pm, and grab a £7 mocktail or £7 signature drink—the dirty lychee or the shochu sou. There is also a free table if you wander in.
5. Jinli – Leicester Street
Chinatown, eh? Gorgeous, but a maze — busy, bustling, a bit much. Jinli’s your secret weapon. There’s nearly always a free table, and the service is quick even when rammed—brilliant when you’re dashing to a show.
You can expect proper Sichuan here, with that little kick you’d expect, and the portions are hearty. Prices are kind for central London too: fried noodles are about £8.20 and hotpots from £11.80.
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6. The Palomar – Rupert Street
Just off the square, The Palomar does buzzy, modern spins on Israeli, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean grub. Classics like fattoush salad and mesahane share the menu with bolder bits. The dish everyone bangs on about—and Culture Trip’s local foodies agree—is the glazed octopus with date molasses and harissa oil.
Loud, packed, brilliant fun. A total institution. On busy nights the queue spills out the door, so book ahead.
7. Heliot Steak House – Cranbourn Street
Inside the Hippodrome entertainment venue, no less. Heliot’s been crowned London’s best steakhouse, and it’s a triple winner for award-winning restaurant. Design My Night rates it among the area’s top tables, and here’s why—only USDA Prime and handpicked cuts, from ribeye to T-bone to sirloin.
Executive Chef Ioannis Grammenos runs the show. Not a red-meat type? Fish, lamb, chicken, pasta, and veggie plates too.
8. Honest Burgers – Leicester Square
Honest Burgers keeps it dead simple: cracking burgers and fair prices. The room’s casual—wooden tables, comfy vibe—and the menu’s longer than you’d guess, with proper plant-based options.
Think juicy beef with bacon, pesto chicken, or spicy veggie fritters. Ideal for a quick feed before the theater. They take bookings—grab one.
9. Market Place Food Hall – Leicester Square
Slap in the middle of the square, next door to one of the most famous cinemas on the planet. This food hall crams 16 vendors across two floors. Beloved pizza joints, big beefy burgers, international everything — plus vegan and halal options for all comers.
The vendors play along, so graze a light bite, hit a hearty main, and then finish on dessert without leaving the building. The one snag? The crowds when the red carpet rolls out next door.
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10. Limoncello – Leicester Square
It’s a wee corner of Italy, right on Leicester Square, London. They use good stuff, sourced locally and shipped straight from Italy, with a menu spanning classic Margherita to grills and pastas.
A roomy outdoor terrace—OpenTable rates it among the best spots near the square for eating alfresco. Book online, done.
FAQs
- What are the best places to eat in Leicester Square?
Ans: Brasserie Zédel, Cork & Bottle, Bancone, Panton Yokocho, and Jinli. Great food, fair prices, and most take bookings. - Are restaurants in Leicester Square pricey?
Ans: Not if you’re smart. Zédel does three courses under £20, and Jinli’s noodles start near £8. Set menus and pre-theater deals help. - Do I need to book a table?
Ans: Wise at busy spots like Bancone and The Palomar. But Cork & Bottle and Panton Yokocho often keep walk-in tables free. - Where’s good for a pre-theater meal near Leicester Square?
Ans: Honest Burgers, Brasserie Zédel, and The Palomar all do the job. Loads of places run set menus that get you out on time. - Any halal or vegan options?
Ans: Yes, Market Place Food Hall has both halal and vegan vendors. Panton Yokocho and Honest Burgers also do plant-based. - What’s Chinatown near Leicester Square famous for?
Ans: Chinese food, and it’s right on the doorstep. Jinli’s the pick for authentic Sichuan, big portions, and a gentle kick of spice.
Sources & References:
- The Sun – Cork & Bottle was founded by Don Hewitson, the restaurant founder, 50 years ago.
- Culture Trip – Glazed octopus with date molasses and harissa oil is the best dish of Palomar.
- Design My Night – Heliot’s been crowned London’s best steakhouse, and it’s a triple winner for best casino restaurant.
- Open Table – Limoncello is among the best spots near the square for eating alfresco.
