Mission Chinese @ Black Axe Mangal
Black Axe Mangal is an avant-garde kebab house drawing influences from around the world, and chargrilled meat takes center stage on Black Axe’s ever-changing menu. Run by Lee Tiernan and his wife and business partner, Kate Mullinger Tiernan, diners are greeted by an eclectic décor and atmosphere at their tiny eatery on Highbury Corner roundabout. A giant Turkish-style bread oven is decorated with a mural of the band Kiss. Heavy metal makes up most of the soundtrack, and the floor is adorned with paintings of fire-spurting cocks. As sensory stimulating as the décor, the Mission Chinese spiced mutton döner is as interesting as its name. Turkish-style pide, soft and fluffy with just a hint of char, is topped with shreds of lettuce and tender strips of lamb, then dusted with peppery, umami and tingly Chinese five spice powder. It is not to be missed.

Meat of the Day @ Zelman Meats
Zelman Meats is the latest from Moscow restaurant group Goodman, which runs steakhouses in Mayfair, the City and Canary Wharf as well as steak and king crab concept Beast in Marylebone and the Burger & Lobster chain. Named after the company’s boss, Misha Zelman, the restaurant’s menu changes regularly, with the idea being to perfect the cooking of varying cuts — but always focusing on sliced, good value slabs of meat. The “Soho sexy” dining room boasts dark red leather booths, black ceiling, industrial-style lighting, exposed ventilation, tiled floor and edgy prints on the walls. A supersized blackboard dominates one wall to list what’s on offer for the day. Meat lovers can choose from soft and smoky picanha, meaty chateaubriand with an earthy taste and ribs, tender and sweet with a tang, thanks to its marinate of homemade barbecue sauce.

Bahn Mi @ JuJu Asian Tapas Bar
This chic Pan-Asian eatery specializes in delicious small plates with an Asian mix of flavors from Thai to Korean. They offer a variety of dishes meant to be shared with bold, bright ingredients such as lemongrass, chilies and kimchi. A nod to the South is included in dishes such as pork belly steamed buns and chicken fried oysters. Consider ordering their bánh mi and Kung Pao chicken, and plan on sharing a number of dishes if you arrive with an appetite.

Tagliatelle and Blue Swimmer Crab @ Osteria Oggi
Osteria Oggi, an Italian restaurant in the heart of Adelaide, focuses on fresh pasta and delicious and simple eats. At first, the restaurant appears narrow yet open and light. But a few steps in and you’ll be impressed with the size of the restaurant and plenty of seating. It's perfect for big groups and parties. The crab pasta is a winner. Fresh tagliatelle pasta with nuggets of blue swimmer crab, sweet bursts of blackened corn, a flavorful and intense black garlic puree and a dollop of seafood foam get a kick of spice from a chopped red chilli. The chilli packs a punch of flavor and heat on the palate, as does the corn … and crab … and black garlic puree. The whole dish is a winner. It was a bit oily, which left a layer of grease on the palate. But, aside from that, the dish is definitely worth trying.

Pork Salad @ Chicken & Pig
Chicken & Pig is a city lunch haunt that has lines filtering out the door during peak hour. The menu is simple: bread roll or salad. The bread roll is the Italian version of a Vietnamese banh mi thit, with your choice of meat and shredded cabbage or lettuce with red or green sauce. The salad offers a choice of wood-oven cooked lamb, chicken or pork. The popular choice is the pork, so I ordered a salad with pork, awesome crackling included, and a choice of three salads from the 5-6 they had on offer and a squeeze of red chipotle or green herb salsa sauce. Take-away is the only option here. Salad choices include heirloom carrots with corn and black garlic dressing; Spanish lentils, sweet potato, vincotto and pepita; and kale, broccoli and smoked almonds with red chipotle sauce. These seriously tasty lunch options come in large portion sizes.

Smoking Shawarma @ M25
M25 is a meat market and restaurant in the middle of the Carmel Market. It’s a "straight-to-the-point" place that serves a variety of the finest meats cooked over a charcoal or smoking grill. Don't miss the Smoking Shawarma. In addition to serving the best meat in town, you can also find one of the best deserts. Don’t miss the Crack Pie, featuring oatmeal and butter, served with unsweetened whipped cream.

Khao Soi @ Huen Phen
Open since 1986 in a gorgeous old house loaded with knickknacks, Huen Phen is the most well-known restaurant in Chiang Mai. Located within the old city walls and just south of Wat Chedi Luang, the restaurant expanded as it became more popular and tables and chairs are spread over a variety of areas. Upon entering the open doorway, hungry customers are enveloped in the smell of spices wafting from the buffet line, where they choose from a huge selection of curries and other northern Thai food (Lanna cuisine). Huen Phen is known as having one of the best Khao Soi in Chiang Mai. The Burmese influenced dish is made with a thick sweet curry sauce, boiled and crispy egg noodles and meat.

Congee with Chicken Confit @ tbsp.
tbsp. is a new cafe opened in Bayswater, with big open windows and a mouthwatering menu. The owner has spent some time in Hong Kong, which means the food has a Pan-Asian fusion approach. Take your appetite with you and indulge in the giant sized congee, which is packed full of flavor. The confit chicken is melt-in-your-mouth tender, the crackling skin on top crunchy and salty. The use of fresh-cooked egg, fresh coriander and spring onion is a welcome addition, as are the slices of piquant pickle, which are refreshing and sharp.

Guacamole Smash on Cornbread  @ Holly Raye's
It might be a bit of a drive into the burbs, but Holly Raye's is a burst of sunshine. It's cute, kitsch and a little funky - with a dog friendly outdoor dining area in front and a massive colorful mural of Holly's dog, Angus, decorating the outside wall. The menu has all bases covered - sweet, vegetarian, healthy, traditional and inventive. A highlight is the fresh avocado smash (guacamole) on top of toasty, crumbly cornbread with black bean salsa. It's a real treat and just the thing for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Save room for a cool thick milkshake to wash down your food, it's delish.

Guanciale Carbonara @ Francoforte Spaghetti Bar
A bar dedicated to spaghetti? Yes, it's as good as it sounds! While many of the dishes change here, the house favorite is easily the Guanciale Carbonara, which has gloriously fatty and crisp cured pig cheek and slivers of spring onion. The pasta isn't made in-house which is a shame, but it is cooked al dente and makes for a truly tasty dish.