The Norfolk Explorer

One of the absolute best things about the city of Norwich is its independent scene, be that restaurants, pubs, bars or shops, its got the lot!

We are lucky to have an amazing selection of restaurants, with cuisines from all over the world. From the best Korean chicken you’ll ever taste to some authentic michelin starred pasta, there are almost too many options.

So here are my favourites for you to choose from:

1. Benolis

So something you should know about me is that my all time favourite cuisine is Italian. I love everything about it!

And luckily for me, in Norwich we have an excellent Italian restaurant called Benolis. They make fresh pasta everyday and offer up a brilliant selection of pasta, antipasti and meat and fish dishes. The menu regularly changes to align with the seasonally available food and it’s simple delicious – you can tell the care that goes into each dish.

Its through this dedication to excellent quality food that has earned them a Michelin star, so it is well worth a visit.

The cost is on the higher end of the scale, seeing as it is a Michelin star, so it’s definitely somewhere to come for a special occasion.

Menu highlight: parmesan croquettes

Price: ££££

2. XO Kitchen

XO Kitchen started out as a kitchen in a local pub, which is where I first tried it, and it proved so popular with everyone that it now has its sparkly own restaurant in the city.

XO describes itself as “Asian fusion” and it delivers exactly that, to perfection, each time.

The restaurant itself is situated in what I would unofficially call the “student quarter”, near the uni buildings and also near the Playhouse Theatre, which hosts all sorts from comedy to local plays. XO is the perfect place to eat before if you are heading to a show.

The vibe is friendly, buzzing and really cool. And the menu is designed to try a variety of things and share (if you like), but the wait staff will always ask if you’ve been before or not so they can explain the menu to you.

Menu highlight: korean fried chicken

Price: £££

3. Fuego Tacos

This is a new addition to the Norwich food scene and already proving very popular! And if you’ve read my other blog post about the best Norwich pubs, you’ll know to find Fuego Tacos at the formidable Stanley pub in NR3.

Using delicious fresh ingredients and brilliant food combinations, the tacos are so delicious. There’s a choice of six flavours (which come in pairs) and some epic sides, all very reasonably priced.

Menu highlight: garlic and coriander chicken

Price: ££

4. Yard

Norwich is blessed with lots of scrummy Italian food, and Yard is one of my favourites.

If you’ve got Benolis for fine dining, then in comes Yard for some equally delicious pasta in a casual and chill setting. You get generous portions for really good value and each one has a mixture of classic and inventive flavours.

Situated in the heart of The Lanes it makes for a great spot for lunch or dinner in between shopping or bar hopping.

Oh and it’s walk-ins only, so be prepared for a little wait if it’s busy! But, trust me it’s worth it.

Menu highlight: pappardelle with beef shin ragu

Price: ££

5. Brick Pizza

From the brains behind Yard comes another Italian specialty – pizza!

Brick pizza keeps it traditional with thin, wood-fired, stone-baked pizzas with a selection of delicious Neopolitan inspired toppings, there’s all too good it’s very hard to choose.

The restaurant itself is pretty small, with limited seating, but next door is the Garnet pub where you can sit and eat with your pizza, so long as you buy a drink. And there’s plenty of outdoor benches to enjoy the nice weather.

Menu highlight: the “cheeky”

Price: ££

6. Kim Chi

With a city full of independent shops, bars and restaurants, it will come as no surprise that the variety of food available comes from a whole host of different cuisines.

There’s a big Asian scene in Norwich with Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean all up for grabs. And Kim Chi is one of the most popular.

Their restaurant is cosy and homely, and the staff could not be more friendly. And then there’s the food, the Korean tapas is one of my favourite meals in all of Norwich, the Korean Fried Chicken is some of the best chicken I’ve ever tasted.

It’s unbelievably tasty, humble, authentic and won’t cost you a fortune = many wins!

Menu highlight: Seoul tapas

Price: ££

7. Haggle

This restaurant is a real treasure. Not only will you get some delicious middle eastern food, but you’ll be met with beautiful decor.

Haggle, situated on St Benedicts (which is a top spot for great restaurants, pubs and bars), specialises in traditional middle eastern food such as mezze plates, tagine and flatbreads.

The best way to enjoy a meal at Haggle is to share. Order a variety of plates and give a bit of everything a try! Their cocktails are also particularly brilliant!

Menu highlight: Beyti

Price: £££

8. Shiki

As previously mentioned, the Asian food scene in Norwich is rife, and Shiki is one of the best places to grab some authentic Japanese cuisine.

This restaurant is in the heart of historic Tombland and offers up traditional Japanese food, including sushi, sashimi and other plates such as katsu curry.

In the menu you’ll read a note from the head chef which details how the dining experience is meant to be a shared one, with the thought that diners will have a choice of “Otsumami” which translates to “not too substantial but sharable dishes”, where everyone can have a bit of everything.

This is what I did and it’s lovely, coupled with the great atmosphere, it’s a great place for lunch or dinner.

Menu highlight: Yakisoba

Price: £££