London is one of the few places in the world where you can eat your way across continents in a single day. From West African tasting menus and Korean comfort food to Michelin-starred Japanese dining, the capital offers a truly global culinary map. For Oxfordshire residents, just an hour away by train, it’s an invitation to explore the world’s kitchens without leaving the UK.
Here’s our pick of the best international cuisine restaurants in London right now, perfect for your next journey into the capital from Oxfordshire.
NIJŪ: Japanese fine dining in Mayfair
🚇 Nearest Tube: Green Park
For an unforgettable fine dining experience, NIJŪ is a stunning Japanese restaurant in London that brings exquisite Washoku cuisine to the heart of Mayfair. Guided by third-generation sushi master Chef Endo Kazutoshi, the menu is rooted in Katei Ryōri, home-style dining elevated to luxury. Expect expertly crafted sushi, sashimi, and Wagyu grilled to perfection.
Downstairs, the award-winning Nipperkin bar offers a more intimate setting with fine wines and cocktails. Whether celebrating or simply indulging, NIJŪ delivers an atmosphere of calm precision and understated elegance.
Tasting menus from £120pp. Booking strongly advised, and if it’s full try the Kioku by Endo in Whitehall.
Akoko: A taste of West Africa in Fitzrovia
🚇 Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Akoko is an impressive West African restaurant in London that celebrates the bold flavours with influences from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. Chef Adebayo “Ayo” Olayiwola’s set tasting menus guide diners through dishes like ox tongue suya and Gambian stew with tatashe relish.
The open kitchen adds theatre, while earthy tones and handcrafted ceramics create a calm, warm space that mirrors the generosity of West African dining culture.
Tasting menus from £95pp. Michelin Guide listed.
Miga: Korean flavours in Hackney
🚇 Nearest Overground: Hackney Central / Bethnal Green
Tucked away in Hackney, Miga is a modern Korean hidden gem known for daring, flavour-packed dishes. Standouts include yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) with crisp pear and egg yolk, and soy-braised short ribs.
The atmosphere is minimalist yet warm, with polished concrete and wood finishes, an open kitchen, and Korean indie music creating a relaxed backdrop. Ideal for date nights or small groups seeking authentic yet inventive Korean food, with service off the scale.
This quiet and unassuming restaurant has gained so many plaudits despite not having a website, with word of mouth buzz and salivating reviews from the Observer and Time Out to name but two, queues go out the door. If that’s not enough, check out their Instagram which gives such wholesome family vibes.
Mains £18–£28.
Chishuru: Award-winning West African dining
🚇 Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus
Led by Chef Adejoké Bakare, Chishuru began as a Brixton pop-up and made history when Bakare became the first Black woman in the UK to win a Michelin star.
Her cooking of contemporary West African dishes blends tradition with innovation, producing vibrant, soulful West African dishes. Earth-toned interiors, communal seating, and open kitchen design reflect the restaurant’s ethos of warmth, inclusivity, and storytelling through food.
Tasting menus £95pp. Michelin-starred.
Galvin La Chapelle: French elegance in Spitalfields
🚇 Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street
Housed in a former Victorian school with dramatic stone arches and vaulted ceilings, Galvin La Chapelle is a Michelin-starred French restaurant in London.
Highlights include the lobster bisque with Armagnac and the restaurant’s signature apple tart tatin with Calvados crème fraîche. Service is impeccable, making it ideal for anniversaries or milestone celebrations.
Mains £30–£45. Michelin-starred.
Tips for Oxfordshire visitors
- Getting there: Trains from Oxford to London Paddington take under an hour. From there, the Underground connects easily to all venues.
- Budget: Expect £80–£120pp for dinner with drinks at most venues.
- Booking: Essential for Michelin-starred restaurants and rooftops, especially on weekends.
- Weather: London’s dining scene is year-round; many venues offer covered or cosy alternatives if outdoor seating isn’t an option.
