Gunpowder Spitalfields

While there are now Gunpowders in multiple London locations, it's this small, sweetly run spot that started it all. Unassuming from the outside, it's a loud, buzzing place once you're in, sporting just 10 tightly packed tables – all filled with contented diners. The restaurant's name is a reference to the chef’s daily-made spice mix and his menu is influenced by old family recipes. Among the fresh and original small plates, which take inspiration from across the Indian regions, the Chettinad pulled duck is a stand-out, while the venison and vermicelli doughnut is a must to start.