New on Resy: Darjeeling Express, Koya City, Fallow, My Neighbours The Dumplings

From homegrown supperclub to global phenomenon, Asma Khan and her all-female kitchen team at Darjeeling Express thrill and impress diners with dishes that honour Khan’s Mughlai ancestry. It goes without saying that the food you’ll eat will be superb — from lamb biryani and papri chaat to a cup of sweet masala chai — but the warm welcome guests receive lingers long in the memory. Bookings are notoriously difficult to come by — for chancers, making a Notify is essential. 

With several sold-out pop-ups under their belt — and years of experience at two-Michelin starred Dinner by Heston — the team behind zero-waste restaurant Fallow bring plenty of pedigree and momentum into their latest restaurant residency. Tucked away in a quiet mews off Regent Street, Fallow’s creative approach with off-cuts yields incredible results in dishes such as a perfectly-grilled hen kofta yakitori with house sriracha, or silky chocolate ganache with pistachio and yoghurt. Get one of everything with a shared tasting menu. 

In London, superb food and the arts have always gone hand in hand, and this elegant Modern British restaurant builds on that legacy. Nestled in the Grade II-listed Whitechapel Gallery, the menu at this all-day dining room is overseen by a former Petersham Nurseries head chef, with the kind of seasonal British cooking we’d be happy to eat every day. Plates like roast haunch of venison and curried sweetbreads are can’t-miss favourites, while a very strong pudding offering (ginger and treacle pudding, anyone?) makes dessert unmissable. Walk it off with a stroll around the gallery afterwards. 

Packed to the rafters with locals most nights, My Neighbours specialises in a range of Chinese dumplings, presented with an inimitable Clapton twist; you’ll find yum cha classics like sweet prawn har gau to crisp potstickers filled with lamb or mushrooms, as well as small plates and a lineup of stiff cocktails to wash it all down with. Expect communal seating and a loud, packed dining room crackling with the energy of the new East.  

A favourite with restaurant insiders and visiting chefs, Koya serves some of the very best Japanese food in London from a cosy space within Bloomberg Arcade. Star billing goes to the handmade udon noodles, accompanied by umami-packed dipping broths and remarkable soups that run from classic to playful (the curry udon is exceptional). Pro tip: sharing a bottle of sake is strongly advised, but splitting a few of the daily blackboard specials (like fork-tender pork belly or a stunning plate of vegetable tempura) is a must. 

A world away from the chaos of Shoreditch, Studio Kitchen’s canalside location and artsy vibe makes it a fitting bolthole for relaxed, long lunches and understated dinners alike. Chef Lorcan Spiteri’s cooking is gutsy and no-nonsense — chicken confit croquettes are a must-order if they’re on, while the house burger is deserving of its cult status — while his brother Fin heads up front of house and a pared-back drinks menu that’s perfect for whiling away an afternoon. 

Victoria Park has plenty of outstanding gastropubs, but The Empress is arguably its finest. Having variously been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand and a brace of AA Rosettes previously, the cooking here equally impresses and satisfies; exemplary pastry on a mushroom vol-au-vent, for example, or excellent skate wing with fennel and brown crab mayo. Plenty of produce comes from local producers (notably Swaledale and E5 Bakery), with the community ethos running through its popular brunches and legendary Sunday lunches.

Tucked on a side street a few steps from Victoria Park, My Neighbours’ Victoria Park location takes the standout Chinese dumplings of the original, and matches it to the area’s blissed-out vibe. Perfect for casual afternoon grazing or a celebration, expect cocktails and classic Cantonese dishes alongside favourites like crunchy wood ear mushroom salad or perfectly-grilled lamb and chicken thigh skewers. Bonus: there’s an outdoor deck decorated with lanterns and hanging foliage that’s perfect for fine weather.

This pretty Brick Lane newcomer wears its heart on its sleeve, with a strong focus on sake, stiff cocktails and  Japanese-inspired small plates to match. An intimate, coolly minimal dining room sets the scene for dishes like marinated hamachi or a fiendish miso ‘carbonara’ studded with bacon and creamy yolk; meanwhile, matcha pancakes or yuzu tiramisu present themselves as appropriate hangover cures at brunch.