Best Restaurants in Kingston upon Thames

Poor Boys

Best for: groups, casual dinner, weekend night out

The most buzzed-about independent restaurant in Kingston, and it lives down a side alley in the Griffin Centre — no high street signage, just a red neon glow and the smell of fried chicken. The Infatuation rates it 8.4/10. Time Out gave it 4/5 and called the po’boys “about as good a version as you can get without having to take a flight.”

The food is big, loud, and unapologetic: po’boy sandwiches on brioche, coconut shrimp in panko, brisket donuts dunked in BBQ sauce. Frozen cocktails are a signature draw. The vibe is wood-panelled dive bar meets fisherman’s shack — food arrives in cardboard boxes, the soundtrack is cranked up, and nobody’s here for a quiet evening.

The honest bit: No bookings, so expect 40-minute-plus waits on weekends. Prices have crept up — recent reports suggest £80-90 for two with drinks. Some newer reviews note inconsistency. Go with the right expectations and you’ll have a great time.

Order: po’boy sandwich, coconut shrimp, brisket donuts, frozen cocktails (The Infatuation, Time Out)

Price: ££ | Bookings: Walk-in only

Megan’s at the Griffin

Best for: groups, sharing plates, weekend catchups

One of the most consistently recommended restaurants in central Kingston, also in the Griffin Centre. The Mediterranean-influenced menu is built for sharing — plates arrive in waves and work best when everyone’s picking from the middle.

The Turkish eggs are a genuine highlight, and the avocado dishes are reliable. Weekend mornings buzz without being overwhelming. It’s the safe choice for mixed groups where everyone needs to agree, and that’s not a bad thing.

Order: Turkish eggs, smashed avocado brunch, shakshuka

Price: ££ | Bookings: Recommended for groups

Browns Kingston

Best for: special occasions, riverside dining, impressing visitors

When you want white tablecloths and a Thames view, Browns delivers. The Charter Quay terrace is hard to beat on a summer evening — boats drift past, the service is attentive without being fussy, and the room feels properly grown-up.

The Lobster Benedict is what regulars come for. The steak and eggs does the job if you’re after something more substantial. It’s pricier than the casual spots, but that’s the point — this is Kingston’s smart option.

Order: Lobster Benedict, steak and eggs

Price: £££ | Bookings: Recommended

Côte Kingston

Best for: French classics, riverside people-watching, date night

Parisian brasserie classics done well in a prime Riverside Walk location. The Croque Madame arrives golden and properly oozy. The outdoor terrace is one of Kingston’s best people-watching spots, and the prix fixe menu offers decent value for the setting.

Efficient service without being rushed. Exactly what you’d expect from Côte, and that consistency is the appeal.

Order: Croque Madame, French toast

Price: ££ | Bookings: Accepted

Bill’s Kingston

Best for: families, first-time visitors, reliable all-rounder

The easiest recommendation in Kingston. Central on Market Place, broad menu, consistent execution. Nobody’s going to be blown away, but nobody’s going to be disappointed either — and for a mixed group or family, that’s what matters.

The buttermilk pancakes are the standout. The brunch burger works if you want something more substantial. Weekend mornings get busy between 10 and noon but turnover is quick.

Order: buttermilk pancakes, brunch burger

Price: ££ | Bookings: Walk-in or book for groups

Chick-fil-A

Best for: late-night food, quick bite, fried chicken

There’s something surreal about ordering a chicken sandwich inside what used to be an HSBC bank on Eden Street. Chick-fil-A opened here in March 2026 as its first London restaurant — Kingston was chosen over all of central London, which says something about the town’s pull.

The Original Chicken Sandwich is the one: a thick, pressure-cooked breast fillet in a buttered brioche bun, simple and well-executed. The Waffle Fries are the other essential. If you’ve had Chick-fil-A in the States, it’s the same deal; if you haven’t, the chicken is genuinely a cut above the usual high street fast food.

The honest bit: Service is slow — noticeably slow. It’s a new opening still finding its rhythm under massive demand. Budget extra time. But when the pubs kick out and you want something better than a kebab, this is the move.

Source: personal visit, March 2026 opening coverage (Time Out, Surrey Live)

Price: £ | Bookings: Walk-in only

Korea Hero

Best for: Korean comfort food, riverside dining, lunch deal

Kingston’s first riverside Korean restaurant, opened April 2025 by Linda — a Korean local who lives in New Malden and also runs Sushi Hero in Surbiton. She staffs the kitchen and floor with Korean university students, and it shows: the food feels like it belongs on Burlington Road, not a high street chain conversion.

The K-Tray is the move — a main dish with banchan sides and soup for £12.90 (or £14.99 for premium mains like bulgogi). That’s a genuine bargain for the quality. The dolsot bibimbap arrives in a proper hot stone bowl, rice crackling at the edges, topped with seasonal vegetables and egg yolk. Vegetable gyoza make a good starter. Finish with ice mochi — ice cream wrapped in rice cake.

The space sits on the Thames at 64 High Street, with an outdoor terrace overlooking the river. Downstairs seating fills quickly at lunchtime. Kingston Nub News called it “authentic home-cooked flavours” and praised the value.

The honest bit: It’s a newer opening still building its rhythm. The menu is vast — stick to the K-Trays and bibimbap for the strongest showing. Upstairs private hire and karaoke rooms are coming soon.

Why support this one: Linda is building something personal here — a Korean local bringing New Malden’s food culture into Kingston town centre, hiring from the community. This is exactly the kind of independent that makes a high street worth visiting.

Order: dolsot bibimbap, K-Tray, vegetable gyoza, ice mochi (Kingston Nub News review, April 2025)

Tacos MX

Best for: authentic tacos, casual dinner, quick bite

A proper Mexican taqueria on Kingston High Street, serving handmade corn tortillas pressed and cooked fresh daily. This isn’t Tex-Mex or a burrito chain — it’s closer to what you’d find at a Mexico City street stall, with distinct chilli-forward flavour profiles and fillings like carnitas, birria beef, and fajita chicken.

The tacos are the core of the menu and the reason to come. Reviewers on TripAdvisor call them “authentic” with “distinct flavour” — high praise for Mexican food in Southwest London. The guacamole and chips are a solid starter. Burritos and nachos round out the menu if you want something bigger.

Located at 4 Town End Parade on the High Street, open daily 11am–11pm. The vibe is casual — order, sit, eat.

The honest bit: It’s a small operation, and reviews are mixed on service and presentation. Prices are higher than you’d expect for tacos. But if you care about the food being genuinely Mexican rather than a chain interpretation, this is Kingston’s best option.

Why support this one: An independent taqueria competing against the Tortillas and Las Iguanas of the world. Fresh tortillas made daily on a high street dominated by chains — that takes commitment.

Order: tacos (carnitas, birria beef, fajita chicken), guacamole and chips, ceviche (TripAdvisor reviews)