The February At-Home Hit List: Singburi, Koya, Phoenix Palace, and More

The biggest news of February was, of course, that London’s most outstanding Thai restaurant had returned. Chef Sirichai Kularbwong has reopened his Leytonstone gem for outstanding dishes with plenty of flavour and nuance, like a crispy omelette with oysters, a spicy and sour mackerel soup (the soups here are truly excellent), and an egg drop stir-fried curry crab that’s perfect for sharing at home. Pro tip: Always order from the blackboard. It’s takeaway only, but if you have even half an opportunity to order from here, grab it. Follow their Instagram for daily menu updates.

One of London’s finest modern Indian restaurants (beloved for its playful approach to regional cuisines), Gunpowder has launched Empire Biryani, a delivery-only service focusing on the ever-delicious biryani. Prepared in the Hyderabadi-style with a delicate pastry crust that seals in the dish’s aromas, it needs only 30 minutes in a hot oven, emerging in a glorious plume of steam and perfectly spiced rice, mushrooms, or lamb. Don’t miss the smokey beef boti kebab and comforting egg salan, too. Delivering up to zone 4 – order via Slerp.

One of the city’s grand dames for fine Cantonese cooking and dim sum, few can claim to offer a Lunar New Year feast quite like Phoenix Palace. The restaurant’s takeaway menu is stacked with celebratory dishes to pre-order, like the lo shan “prosperity” salad that symbolises abundance, prosperity, and vigour, and a showstopping Hong Kong-style poon choi that comes in at a cool £388 for six, packed with delicacies like abalone, fish maw, sea cucumber, scallops, jumbo prawns, and more. Pre-order here.

Fans of this relaxed Borough Market restaurant will welcome the news that they’ve opened a second site by London Fields, with a takeaway café, deli, and bottle shop specialising in natural wines. A rotating cast of daily specials has started strong, with a generously-filled Porchetta sandwich (ensconced between perfectly-charred pieces of fluffy flatbread) being a good shout for lunch, while tiramisu donuts and wood-fired pizzas add genuine value. Learn more here.

For years, London’s toughest reservation hasn’t been a sleek temple to fine dining or a fêted new opening, but rather a tiny counter in Farringdon proffering truly sublime bites of Edomae-style sushi – a style rarely done well here. Thankfully, chef Toru Takahashi and his wife Hiromi are offering individual omakase menus for diners across the city, with delivery available via Big Night. Complete the experience with a bottle of sake – customarily poured by Hiromi via bites at the restaurant. Slots sell out fast, so be quick.

One of the few owned Pakistani restaurants in the UK owned and run by women, this Brockley restaurant (co-founded by the late Saima Thompson) champions the seasonal cuisine of the owners’ Punjabi heritage, while shining a light on the talents of oft-overlooked Pakistani women. They’re offering delivery via Big Night, with superior renditions of dishes like lamb keema aloo muttar, chicken murgh masala, and a plethora of nourishing vegetable dishes and chutneys that hit the spot. Desserts are excellent, too. More info here.

After a long winter, most peoples’ drinking habits have either evaporated completely, or veered into uncharted territory. Thankfully, eternally chic bar Sager + Wilde is back to offer a modicum of structure, with a monthly Wine Club offering unprecedented access to gems from the cellar of owner Michael Sager, guided video tastings, and remarkably, 24/7 access to Sager himself via a direct helpline. His early cellar raids unearthed some outstanding bottles, so if a discerning subscription-style service is what you’re after – this is the one.

Made the traditional way, Koya’s chewy, luscious udon noodles have made their Soho and City restaurants an essential stop for visiting chefs and gourmands. Chef Shuko Oda and her team have packaged up said noodles, along with vegan and non-vegan dashi (stock), for delivery across the UK – satisfying and nourishing, they’re a perfect midweek dinner, and affordable enough to stock up. Add any other toppings you want, and you’re good to go. Order here.

The only downside to Pam Yung’s outstanding Borough pizzeria (opened as an offshoot of Flor) was that unless you lived relatively locally, you had to schlep to SE1 to enjoy it. Thankfully, they’ve expanded their delivery radius to four miles, relegating pizza FOMO for many as a thing of the past. Both red and white pies are incredible, though the Hawaiian and lahmacun-inspired pizza are revelatory, with outstanding produce on top of Yung’s unparalleled bases. A quick blast in the oven is all you need to spruce it up. Learn more here.

This brand new Filipino bakery channels its owners heritage via a bright, modern cafe,  offering breads and bakes (including pan de sal, sweet ensaymada buns, and a signature loaf) as well as sandwiches of egg salad or corned beef hash, desserts, and refreshing calamansi tea. Of note: owners Omar Shah and Florence Mae Maglanoc are behind the phenomenally successful Mamason’s dessert bars, as well as restaurants Ramo Ramen, and Bintang — so expect a strong lineup of sweet pastries like purple ube tart, or a calamansi meringue pie that playfully riffs on the classic lemon version. Takeaway only — more info here.

A social initiative set up by a few friends along with Elizabeth Community Centre to battle food insecurity in North London, Curry Club has enlisted some of the city’s notable culinary talents – including Four Legs, chef Meera Sodha, Rita’s Dining, Noble Rot Soho’s Alex Jackson, and more – to cook quality, nourishing meals for local families in need. They’ve set up a crowdfunder that’s taking donations, with rewards (everything from a digital recipe card to dinner for two) available to thank donors. Learn more here.