#1
Kaipiras
Kilburn·$$
Moqueca
£17.50
Bahian seafood stew cooked with palm oil, coconut milk, and peppers.
Tip: Ask which moqueca varieties are available that day — the prawn version is the most popular but the mixed seafood has more variety. Comes with rice but order extra farofa to soak up the broth.
#2
Cafe Cecilia
Hackney·$$$
Pork Braised in Milk
£18.00
Slow-braised pork in milk with lemon, sage and pink fir potatoes.
Tip: This is a River Cafe classic done very well. The curdled milk sauce looks unique and tastes rich and savoury. Do not leave it on the plate — use the bread to mop it up.
#3
Afghan Kitchen
Angel·$
Lamb with Potatoes and Pickles
£11.00
Lamb stew with potatoes, yogurt, and tangy pickled vegetables.
Tip: The pickles are key — they cut through the richness of the yogurt. Don't skip them or eat them separately.
#4
Casse-Croûte
Bermondsey·$$$
Ragoût de Seiche à la Tomate
£18.00
Cuttlefish braised in tomato sauce with creamy mashed potatoes.
Tip: Call ahead to see what's on the daily menu — only three starters, three mains, three desserts on the blackboard each day.
#5
Afghan Kitchen
Angel·$
Pumpkin with Yogurt and Chili Oil
£10.50
Roasted pumpkin with thick yogurt, chili oil, and mint.
Tip: The chili oil provides heat — if you're sensitive to spice, ask for it on the side so you can control the level.
#698% recommend
Blue Nile
Finsbury Park·$$
Gursha Meat and Veggie Platter
£35.00
A massive communal platter featuring a combination of chicken, beef, lamb, and vegetarian stews.
Tip: Go in a group! This platter is the best way to try a bit of everything and communal eating is part of the authentic experience.
#798% recommend
Addis
King's Cross·$$
Doro Wot
£16.50
Slow-cooked chicken in a rich berbere sauce, served with a hard-boiled egg.
Tip: The sauce is very rich and properly spiced. Mix the yolk of the boiled egg into the sauce to add extra creaminess.
#896% recommend
Addis
King's Cross·$$
Beyaynetu Veggie Mix
£14.50
A sampler of various vegetarian stews served on a bed of injera.
Tip: This is a massive amount of food and entirely vegan. It's the best value item on the menu if you want to try different flavors.
#994% recommend
Blue Nile
Finsbury Park·$$
Y'Tsome Beyeaynetu
£13.50
A vibrant combination of various vegetarian and vegan stews on injera.
Tip: Everything on this plate is vegan by default and it's incredibly filling. The misir wot is the consistent standout.
#1094% recommend
Chishuru
Fitzrovia·$$
Nsala
£16.50
Guinea fowl in unforgettable uziza leaf sauce.
Tip: Guinea fowl is gamier than chicken but more delicate than duck. This preparation shows why it's special.
#1192% recommend
Blue Nile
Finsbury Park·$$
Doro Wot
£15.50
Traditional spicy chicken drumstick stew served with a hard-boiled egg.
Tip: The hard-boiled egg absorbs all the savory juices — make sure to break it up and mix it into the stew.
#1292% recommend
Addis
King's Cross·$$
Misir Wot
£12.50
Spicy red lentil stew cooked with traditional berbere sauce.
Tip: Don't underestimate the spice level of the red lentils — they have a slow-building heat that really lingers.
#1392% recommend
Kaipiras
Kilburn·$$
Feijoada
£17.00
Brazil's national black bean and pork stew, served with rice, greens, and farofa.
Tip: This is extremely filling — do not order starters if you are getting feijoada. The orange slices on the side are traditional and help cut through the richness. Squeeze them over the beans.
#1492% recommend
Afghan Kitchen
Angel·$
Lamb with Spinach
£11.00
Slow-cooked lamb with spinach, yogurt, and warming spices.
Tip: At £11 for a generous portion, this is one of the best-value lamb dishes in Islington. Come hungry.
#1590% recommend
Jollof Mama
Seven Dials Market·$
Squash & Sweet Potato Stew
£12.00
Fragrant and savory vegan stew with seasonal vegetables and West African spices.
Tip: It captures all the classic West African flavors — warm spices and earthy vegetables — without the meat. Very satisfying with a side of white rice.
#1690% recommend
Addis
King's Cross·$$
Shiro Wot
£13.00
Roasted and powdered chickpeas simmered in a spicy, savory stew.
Tip: It's often served bubbling hot in a clay pot. Give it a minute to cool slightly before scooping with your injera.
#1790% recommend
Afghan Kitchen
Angel·$
Chicken in Yogurt
£11.00
Tender chicken simmered in thick yogurt sauce with herbs and spices.
Tip: Share one rice between two people — rice portions are large and expensive. Spend the savings on more stew dishes.
#1890% recommend
Zeret Kitchen
Camberwell·$$
Misir Wot
£8.50
Red lentil stew cooked with garlic, ginger, and Ethiopian spices.
Tip: The misir wot vibrates with garlic and ginger. Tear off pieces of injera and scoop the lentils — it's meant to be eaten with your hands.
#1990% recommend
Akoko
Fitzrovia·$$$
West African Proteins
Slow-cooked meats like goat, beef and offal prepared with West African spices and sauces.
Tip: Don't shy away from the offal courses. They're some of the most interesting on the menu.
#2088% recommend
Zeret Kitchen
Camberwell·$$
Chicken Tibs
£10.95
Tender chunks of chicken cooked with onions, peppers, and Ethiopian spices.
Tip: Order the tibs with extra injera to scoop up all the sauce. One piece isn't enough.
#2185% recommend
Abu Zaad
Edgware Road·$
Afghani Lamb
£14.00
Tender lamb served over specially cooked rice topped with sultanas, carrot strips and nuts, with yoghurt.
Tip: Mix the yoghurt into the rice rather than eating it on the side — it balances the sweetness of the sultanas and brings the whole dish together.
#2285% recommend
Brasserie Zedel
Soho·$$
Boeuf Bourguignon
£18.50
Beef stew slow-cooked in red wine with pearl onions and mushrooms.
Tip: Pair boeuf bourguignon with escargots as a starter — multiple reviewers call this combination excellent and representative of the best French classics.
#2385% recommend
Brutto
Farringdon·$$
Beef Shin and Black Peppercorn Stew
£19.50
Braised beef shin in peppercorn broth, tender and punchy.
Tip: The peposo (beef shin stew) is punchy and fall-apart tender. Served with potatoes, it's perfect comfort food — bring crusty bread to soak up the broth.
#2482% recommend
Zeret Kitchen
Camberwell·$$
Shuro
£7.95
Pea flour and spice paste served as a warming, creamy dip.
Tip: The shuro wot is a chickpea stew mixed with a wallop of berbere spicing. A must-order alongside the misir wot for vegan diners.