National Restaurant Awards 2018 crown Kiln number one of 100 UK restaurants: Full list and map

London Thai grill restaurant Kiln has been named National Restaurant of the Year at The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards. The winners were announced this evening, Monday 11^th June, at a ceremony held at The Hurlingham Club in London by Restaurant magazine.

You can see our map of Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK here and the one for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants here.

Kiln is renowned for its Thai grill style menu that focuses on the south-east Asian country’s northern borderlands. Chef-owner Ben Chapman has dedicated his time to rural northern Thai cuisine, undertaking countless research trips to Thailand to ensure authenticity in his cooking.

“Ben Chapman’s dedication – in fact, obsession – with bringing in-your-face Thai dishes to Londoners has really paid off,” says Restaurant magazine editor Stefan Chomka. “Kiln is a marvellous restaurant for so many reasons – it is affordable, democratic, fun and, if you’re lucky enough to sit at the counter and watch the chefs cook at their clay pots, a truly unique experience in the capital. And, of course, the food is incredible. There is no other place like Kiln in this country.”

Kiln’s victory sees the top spot return to London. Other restaurants in the capital in the top 10 include Sabor in second place, A Wong in third, Core by Clare Smyth in fourth, and Lyle’s in seventh, highlighting the current strength and diversity of London’s dining scene. A number of awards were given including Lifetime Achievement to the legendary French chef Raymond Blanc.

In contrast to last year’s strong presence of reasonably affordable restaurants, high-end dining seems to be making a comeback this year with Core by Clare Smyth (4), Restaurant Sat Bains (8), Nathan Outlaw (10) and Claude Bosi at Bibendum (11) all appearing high on the list.

The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards is Restaurant magazine’s annual countdown of the top 100 restaurants in the UK as voted for by the UK’s leading chefs, restaurateurs and food writers.

The editorial unit

For further information visit the National Restaurant Awards website here.

The National Restaurant Awards 2018:

1 Kiln
2 Sabor
3 A Wong
4 Core by Clare Smyth
5 L’Enclume
6 Moor Hall
7 Lyle’s
8 Restaurant Sat Bains
9 The Sportsman
10 Nathan Outlaw
11 Cluade Bosi at Bibendum
12 The Coach
13 Coombeshead Farm
14 Brat
15 Padella
16 Quality Chop House
17 The Ledbury
18 Freemasons at Wiswell
19 Wreckfish
20 The Black Swan
21 River Cafe
22 Indian Accent
23 No 6, Paul Ainsworth
24 El Pastor
25 Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons
26 Ondine
27 Casamia
28 Ynyshir Hall
29 Som Saa
30 House of Tides
31 The Clove Club
32 The Fat Duck
33 Chez Bruce
34 Elystan Street
35 The Crown at Burchetts Green
36 Trinity
37 Little Fish Market
38 The Walnut Tree
39 Quo Vadis
40 The Seahorse
41 Barrafina
42 Lorne
43 The Waterside Inn
44 Brawn
45 Raby Hunt
46 Hispi
47 Hoppers
48 Midsummer House
49 Noble Rot
50 Gymkhana
51 Nuala
52 Hedone
53 Alchemilla
54 Kricket
55 Pollen St Social
56 Tyddyn Llan
57 Root
58 St John Bread & Wine
59 The Star Inn Harome
60 Farang
61 Holborn Dining Room
62 The Hand & Flowers
63 Wilson’s
64 40 Maltby Street
65 Black Axe Mangal
66 Carter’s
67 The Palomar
68 Smoking Goat
69 The Beehive
70 The Hardwick
71 Timberyard
72 Xu
73 The Dairy
74 Le Gavroche
75 Paco Tapas
76 The Parker’s Arms
77 Rambla
78 Wine & Brine
79 The Frog by Adam Handling
80 Where The Light Gets In
81 Bonhams
82 Andrew Fairlie
83 Fraiche
84 Restaurant Story
85 Sardine
86 The Ritz
87 Kitchen Table
88 Inver
89 Lima
90 The Fordwich Arms
91 Frenchie
92 The Elephant Restaurant
93 Barbary
94 Neo Bistro
95 Mark Greenaway
96 Morston Hall
97 Northcote Manor
98 Westerns Laundry
99 Perilla
100 Ikoyi

A food feast took place before the ceremony, here’s what happened in pictures.

Photos: Filippo L’Astorina