Comfort food bites in the capital: where to head for glorious food in the capital

Yes, from fried chicken and over-spilling burgers to oh-so tasty tacos and sauce-slathered pasta, there’s no better grub to curl up with and indulge in than comfort food when it the nights draw in – even if you’re away from home and indulging in a short-break in the Big Smoke. So, here are the cosiest cosy-comfort-food-serving spots to be found in London, if grabbing a carbo-fuelled breakfast around Paddington, while staying at the Grand Park London Hyde Park just isn’t enough…

Breddos Tacos

(branches in Soho and Clerkenwell)

Dreamt up by the minds behind Street Feast, Nud Dudhia and Chris Whitney, Breddos Tacos is all about giving their faithful followers genuine Mexican food in addition to a range of rare mezcals. The grub could even be said to be addictive (Galician rib-eye with buttermilk onion rings, clam and sea urchin aguachile tostadas or kung pao pork belly with jalapeño, anyone?) and, although you won’t be able to book a space at the Clerkenwell branch’s big communal table, leave them your mobile number ad you can pop out somewhere else for a cocktail while you wait for a free spot. Alternatively, the newer Soho venue’s where to head for a marvellous mix of tacos, tostadas and bounteous sharing plates.

Kricket

(12 Denman Street W1D 7HH)

Blending the very best of British seasonal elements with authentic Indian flavours, smells and spices, Kricket employs an irresistible and maturely casual approach to East-meets-West cuisine construction. Yes, its dishes are created so they can be shared; thus, they alter depending on the time of year, but as we slide towards winter and the end of the year now, expect to find the menu filled with the likes of Keralan fried chicken with curry leaf mayonnaise and pickled mouli, duck breast with sesame, tamarind and pickled cucumber and Karnatakan mussels. Yum-yum.

Dirty Bones

(branches in Soho, Shoreditch and Kensington)

It’s all about the US-style concoctions at Dirty Bones, where NYC-style drinks are joined fittingly by gourmet American food at this (seemingly) effortlessly cool Manhattan-like diner. And what of the self-labelled ‘filthy menu’? Yes, who could resist it with a name like that, right? Not least when it’s bulging with naughty treats; short rib hash served with potatoes, caramelised shallots and two fried eggs; grilled fish tacos with white cabbage slaw, pickled onions and chipotle aioli; and the mighty Mac Daddy, a crazy but genius combo of brisket and dry aged steak topped with pulled beef short rib, creamy mac and cheese and Dirty Bones’ BBQ sauce.

Meat Liquor

(various branches)

Do you love towering burgers? Who doesn’t! If so, then the joint in town you simply must head to is Meat Liquor, for here’s where you’ll come face to face with the awfully comforting snack-food-esque filler’s the jewel in the crown. Yes, here you’ll come across classics such as Filth Pie and Dead Hippie; a filthy, junk food burger and then some that’s oh-so delicious. Be sure that, along with one of these greasy, cheesy sliders, you order a side of deep-fried mac ‘n’ cheese, topped off with a devilishly good cocktail.