15+ Great Places to Eat in Newcastle

Would you surprised if I said that Newcastle had a thriving food scene that attracts hungry visitors from not only across the North-East but the entire country? Well I’m here to guide you through the best places to eat in Newcastle to ensure you’re well fed!

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I’ve now lived in the North East for over six years so I’ve become well accustomed to the greatness on offer in this often-shunned area of the country. Newcastle is a city that should be on the top of every visitor to England’s list. It’s a city that somehow gets overlooked; visitors seem to stop short at York or pass by on their way up to Edinburgh. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Newcastle, you can expect to find stunning Georgian architecture, a welcoming atmosphere, cool and alternative suburbs all alongside a thriving food scene.

This is my guide to not only the top restaurants but the best places to eat in Newcastle more generally as, honestly, a lot of good food can be found in Victorian markets and shipping container lands. There are places for romantic date nights, gatherings with friends and family and casual chilled out lunches. There is literally something for everyone on this list.

If you also fancy knowing where to find great coffee and brunch, head here for the best cafes in Newcastle and, for the burger lovers out there, here’s where to find the best burgers in the North East.

Of course, there are many, many great restaurants and places to eat across Newcastle and I know I’ve missed some out in my list below. Any tips or recommendations would also be greatly appreciated as your favourite may soon become my new favourite!

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WHERE TO EAT IN NEWCASTLE

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CHILLI PADI

In an unassuming building on Leazes Park Road, you’ll find Chilli Padi; a restaurant dedicated to bringing authentic Malaysian food to Newcastle. This isn’t just a takeaway, head inside and there’s a large seating area from which you will enjoy some of the best Asian food in the entire city. One dish that has entered somewhat legendary status recently and must be ordered is the smoked (crispy) chicken from the Chef’s Special collection. Absolutely unreal! The chicken rendang is also delicious.

6-10 Leazes Park Rd, NE1 4PF
Website

THAI HOUSE CAFE

The most authentic Thai restaurant in Newcastle if not the North East. This is a low-key, BYOB, kind of place with delicious food that will transport you almost immediately to the streets of Bangkok and the mountains of Chiang Mai. If you’re looking for Thai food, don’t hesitate and head straight to Thai House Cafe; you will not be disappointed.

93 Clayton St, NE1 5PZ
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GRAINGER MARKET

Dating back to 1835, the Grainger Market’s historic alleyways feature some of my favourite places to eat in Newcastle; all within this beautiful Victorian institution. My recommendations are SnackWallah for vegan Indian street food (the samosa chaat is unreal), Dumpling & Bun (steamed dumplings and bao buns), Cubanos (cuban street food) & FED’s Fried Chicken Shop.

Grainger St, NE1 5QQ
Website

I SCREAM FOR PIZZA

Let’s head down to Newcastle’s Quayside for I Scream For Pizza and their huge NY style pizza slices. I’m actually dreaming of the Frankie’s slice with pepperoni, mozzarella, jalapenos, red onion, chilli honey and basil – if you are really hungry and there’s a few of you, you can even order pizzas as large as 20 inches! Monday to Thursday, between 11:30am and 2:30pm, you can grab a slice and a drink for just £5 making it a great place to enjoy your short reprieve from your job. Oh and it’s imperative to take a photo of your fresh slice with the Tyne Bridge in the background!

31 Quayside, NE1 3DE
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KHAI KHAI

A 2021-new addition to Newcastle’s Indian food offerings from the owners of the incredible Dabbawal. This is Newcastle’s answer to Dishoom in a beautiful building on Queen Street. The rules are said to be simple at Khai Khai with legendary dishes prepared over coals and wood fires on a josper grill or in a tandoor oven. The chef’s here pride themselves on cooking with flames. As such, the flavours here are unrivalled but I’m sorry to say I will never be able to get away with Butter Chicken (one of the most popular dishes – a Restaurant Week staple); it’s just not for me! However, the smoked chicken tikka within the curry was insane and the onion & samphire bhajis are lovely. I can’t wait to return to try the Kashmiri Lamb Roganjosh. Khai Khai’s great claim to fame is that Gordon Ramsay ate here and loved the Old Delhi Butter Chicken describing his meal as “F**king delicious”.

29 Queen St, NE1 3UG
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DABBAWAL

Dare I say it but I do prefer Dabbawal to Khai Khai perhaps more so for the casual vibes and the Indian street food offerings. You can find Dabbawal on High Bridge, in Jesmond or at HWKRLAND. We’ve been visiting Dabbawal regularly over the last couple of years, lastly for a chilled birthday lunch, and have never been disappointed. I love the Bombay Bomb (it literally explodes in your mouth), Vada Pao (Bombay burger of spiced mashed potato) and Paneer Makhani Masala. All, as far as I can imagine, very authentic but I can certainly say everything tastes amazing!

69-75 High Bridge, NE1 6BX
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LEAVE ME ALONE, LISA

The team behind our next entry, Pablo Eggs-Go-Bao, recently opened an evening venue focusing on lots of tequila (Margeritas are the house special) and informal dining. You’ll find Big Mac baos, freshly made gnocchi and spicy toasties. Many come here just for the drinks but you’d be missing out if you didn’t grab a bite to eat too!

79 Blandford Street, NE1 3PZ
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PABLO EGGS-GO-BAO

What you need after a late Summer night at Leave Me Alone, Lisa is the most incredible breakfast bao from the exact same location only earlier in the day. Sausage patty, eggs, hash brown, cheese and sriracha sauce all squeezed into the most beautiful bao bun ever. This is as good as you’ve heard and you can even treat your little doggo to a sausage patty too.

79 Blandford Street, NE1 3PZ
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MISO

A relatively recent addition to ultra-cool Ouseburn suburb, Miso is a small space in an old warehouse delivering high quality Japanese food. Expect 10-hour chicken bone ramen broths, yakitori meats cooked over charcoal and gyozas. My dishes of choice are the chashu pork ramen and pork belly skewers. If you’re staying late, Miso love a party with DJs regularly playing!

Unit 1 Ford Street, NE6 1NW
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SCRANNER’S ARMS

Two-time consecutive winners of the prestigious Battle of the Burger at Wylam Brewery, Scanner’s Arms has burst onto the scene with some of the best burgers in the North East. I was blown away by 2022’s Battle of the Burger entry – it was that good – so Scranner’s Arms had it make it onto this list. I need to visit their home at Tanner’s Arms in Ouseburn where you can find plenty of burgers, fried chicken, hot dogs, loads of vegan and vegetarian options alongside some banging looking ‘stuff on chips’; Byker Fried Chicken Fries I’m looking at you specifically.

1 Byker Bridge, NE1 2NS
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COOK HOUSE

This is a proper local gem. Cook House is a beautiful industrial-style restaurant in Ouseburn with a deli, terrace and garden owned by chef and food writer Anna Hedworth. Menus change regularly with the seasons and that day’s produce but expect brunch, featuring house granola, fruits, yoghurt and honey and bacon sandwiches with Cook House Ketchup, and dinner featuring tempura cauliflower with coconut curry sauce and braised ox cheek with beetroot and a wild garlic & walnut pesto. This is food on another level. Congratulations too are in order as Cook House has just been added to the Good Food Guide as of 2023 and now the Michelin Guide!

Foundry Lane Studios, NE6 1LH
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HWKRLAND

The street food shipping container park under the Tyne Bridge, part of By The River Brew, has reinvented itself as HWKRLAND. Whilst the Tyne Bridge undergoes what is expected to be four years (!) of repair work, HWKRLAND remains open with a roof and heating for all year round fun. Only open Friday to Sundays, this is THE place to hang out, sip cocktails and pints and grab food from so many local heroes; Acroprolis, Parm-O-Rama, Dabbawal, Meatstack, Circo and Smoke & Sear are all here! It’s an inclusive kind of venue too with kids and dogs welcome; I’ve always loved it.

Hillgate, NE8 2BN
Website

SQUARE

Detroit style pizza served in divine square slices. Cheesy, crispy with insane toppings; this might just be my favourite pizza in Newcastle and certainly one of my favourite places to eat in Newcastle. I love the collab between Square and Lola Jeans, Clancy Wiggum, with smashed burger pattie, American cheese sauce, red onion jam, smoked streaky bacon, Tennessee BBQ sauce, baconnaise & bacon frazzles as toppings. Yes, all of them. I also love the Chicky Chicky Parm Parm with slow cooked red sauce, house fried chicken, whipped ricotta flowers, oreganata breadcrumb, shaved parmesan, garlic ranch and fresh basil. Slices cost around £4.95 or you can get the whole goddamn pie for around £25!

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THE SMALL CANTEEN

The name alludes to the size of this place in a flat-roofed block in Sandyford. There’s only room for 15 at The Small Canteen which is incredibly intimate and there are only a few things on the blackboard menu which changes as often as daily. This is a down to earth kind of place with delightful gourmet dishes and definitely one of the more surprising restaurants in Newcastle.

17 Starbeck Avenue, NE2 1RH
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SMOKE & SEAR KITCHEN

Last but by no means least is Smoke & Sear Kitchen over on Heaton Road (though there are now at HWKRLAND too). This could equally have been added to my list of best cafes in Newcastle as it does cracking coffee and lovely brunches but what Smoke & Sear are practically famous for are its steak offerings. The steak and eggs remain ever popular for good reason!

182 Heaton Rd, NE6 5HP
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