This page will be dedicated to any restaurants that I have come across that offer some great options for Diabetics. I warn you now due to my vegetable aversion expect to see a lot of meat dishes on here.
In reality anywhere you go you’re looking for low carb options. Meat and low carb vegetables are your friend. Bun less options galore for burgers or just settle for a meat eaters haven.
Consider the following my list of Diabetic Friendly Restaurants.
Also worth noting I am dating a Brazilian woman. So the first two must be excused but they can be recommended for sure regardless of my bias.
Braza Brazilian BBQ
Authentic Brazilian BBQ & Unlimited Buffet – Braza London
I am a regular dining at Braza Romford, and it is always exceptional! From the moment you walk in, you will be greeted with warm smiles. This combined with a vibrant atmosphere sets the tone for a wonderful evening.
The restaurant is beautifully decorated, with a lively ambiance that perfectly captures the spirit of Brazilian culture. The staff are incredibly attentive and knowledgeable, making you feel welcome and well taken care of throughout our visit.
Food
Now, onto the star of the show – the food. The Brazilian BBQ at Braza Romford is nothing short of spectacular. Braza Romford is an excellent choice. You can feast on a variety of delicious meats without worrying about high-carb options.
The meats are cooked to perfection, with a wide variety of options to suit all tastes. Each cut was juicy, flavourful, and expertly seasoned. Making it easy to enjoy a satisfying meal that aligns with a low-carb diet.
The salad bar and side dishes are equally impressive. Offering a range of delicious and fresh options to complement the BBQ. For those managing diabetes, the selection of non-starchy vegetables and protein-rich beans is a welcome addition.
The feijoada, a traditional Brazilian black bean stew, is particularly noteworthy and adds an authentic touch to the meal. Without spiking blood sugar levels.
Service
The continuous table service is a unique and delightful experience. The servers bringing freshly grilled meats directly to your table until you are completely satisfied. This allows diners to enjoy protein-rich meals, which are essential for managing blood sugar levels effectively.
They have an excellent cocktail menu. The caipirinhas are expertly mixed and the perfect accompaniment to the hearty BBQ feed.
Though us diabetics may want to opt for a low-sugar drink or enjoy them in moderation.
Foga de Chào
Authentic Brazilian BBQ in Soho (there are other locations)
I have visited this place a few times. Most recently to catch up with an old colleague and his other half and mine.
Food
Similar to Braza, though Fogo had more options I would say. The salad bar as my other half could attest was great. However as above the star of the show here is the meat. For £55 (at the time of writing) you could help yourself to the full Rodizio grill + deserts. The Picanha was full of flavour and paired with a nice hot spicy sauce. This was to the horror of my partner. It went down a treat with as expected very low carbs which is always a win in my books.
Service
As with Braza and other Brazilian BBQ restaurants you can help yourself. Then use a paddle system to determine if servers carve you fresh cuts of meat as they walk around.
Fogo is bigger than Braza and hence had more options. But I felt it may have been a bit too busy. Whilst we were not rushed out per se it was a faster turnaround than Braza.
Keonbae Korean BBQ
Keonbae Korean BBQ & Beer restaurant in Royal Crest Avenue in the Royal Docks (near Excel centre)
Recently we visited place in order to say goodbye to my partners friend. She had been living with us for a period of time before heading back to Brazil.
Food
I don’t know if you have eaten in a Korean BBQ before. But nothing says fresh food than actually cooking it yourself on the table top. The menu has some great meat options for us Diabetics, the Wagyu steak was amazing. Being able to cook this to your liking was a great twist.
We purchased one of the meat platters; chicken, pork and beef on a tray. You can then fry this off to your liking like the Wagyu steak.
Service
The team at Keonbae were great, as we had never been before they explained how the system works. They would turn on the grill when the food arrives. You wait circa 2 minutes for it to heat up. Meat would then take 3-4 minutes depending how you like it cooked.
Service was prompt and I liked the fact you ordered from an iPad. You could order more at any time, simply add what you want to you order. Would happily go back to this place.
Flat Iron Steak
Flat Iron Steak is a franchise of restaurants within London area. Though as of writing they do have restaurants in Cambridge, Leeds and Manchester. As you can guess its a steakhouse.
Flat Iron is definitely the best value for money compared to powerhouses like Goodman’s or Hawksmoor. This cannot be overstated, price per steak I can heartily recommend Flat Iron.
Food
At less than £15 for a steak, cooked to perfection what is not to love. Now for us Diabetics. You can avoid the chips (though are amazing) and get the Creamed Spinach which is exceptionally yummy. At that price if only eating meat why not treat yourself to two and hold the fries?
Service
Service was quick and professional, its a good atmosphere with a cosy vibe. Just be aware it can get quite busy, I always see that as a good sign however.
Nando’s
Nando’s is a tried and tested favourite of mine, however I would always go for a large chips with peri peri salt, that is now off the menu. The chicken extra hot however is still well worth a visit for.
Food
I hope you like chicken as that’s pretty much it, albeit in various cuts and level of heat. For those of us watching the carbs the buns and wraps are out and you need to be careful with those sides.
Whilst not a fan myself the Spicy Mixed Olives only come in at 4.7g’s of Carbs and chicken on its own is safe. Keep an eye out on the sauces too; Saucy typically is where the carbs begin to creep in.
Service
You know what you get with Nando’s, go up and order, pay and then demolish the food, leave when ready no need to wait for a server. I recall it being a favourite for many starting out dating, no need to be pretend to be a sommelier when you can choose white, red or rose haha.
Hawksmoor (Steak Restaurant)
Hawksmoor has a few locations around London. I can highly recommend this chain of steak houses. The food is amazing along with the ambience of the place. Though expect to pay for the service and great food as its not exactly cheap.
Writing this blog post I also came to understand they have locations in Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool. This means my northern friends can partake in some great steak too.
Food
A typical steak is going to set you back £45 or you can go for Rump cut slightly cheaper at £28. However I am not going to lie the winner for me here is the Chateaubriand. Think fillet and then some for those unaware of the cut. At £15.50 per gram it can get pricey. I may have on occasion ate a 1Kg steak myself. With a side of Steamed Spinach (one has to be health somewhat haha).
Service
Hawksmoor service is usually what you would expect from an upmarket establishment. You can wait at the bar if you haven’t booked a table. They have a fine selection of wines and drinks whilst you wait.
Yummzy
Yummzy has a store located in Canary Wharf and they also deliver online. I can highly recommend the brownies. They were amazing and at only 1.6 grams of Carbs you can indulge without feeling guilty.
Food
I have not had the pleasure of visiting their branch within the Wharf. I however visit whilst they were at Greenwich.
They do full size cakes which can be a bit pricey but for a special occasion its definitely worth it. The Triple Choco Cake was very rich and full of flavour but it does cost £109. At 16 slices (9 inches) that equates to £6.80 a slice. Not too bad at all when you consider being able to indulge without the glucose spikes.
Whilst the food is more geared towards desserts, they do provide a pizza base. This allows you to create your own pizzas at home. The dough was a bit thicker than attempting to use a keto wrap as a base. I feel comfortable recommending you give this a go.
Service
I have not visited their café within the wharf but have found their service online to be impeccable. We have made a couple of orders now and the food is always wrapped up securely. Placing the food in the fridge or freezer means that they last. You can take your sweet time in indulging, assuming you have more willpower than us.
Leon
Known for their healthy food. Leon is one of the few restaurants that list out the Glycaemic Index on their menu. For me there are a lot of salads that are a no go. However for many of you this is not a turn off. The good news is that they have locations throughout the UK.
Food
There are a few options here to tickle your fancy. I have been partial to a Smoky Paprika Chicken Wrap. They also Poached Egg Pots with Sausage which were very tasty.
Now whilst they do have rice dishes this would take you out of keto. But for those looking for Glycaemic Index, its at least Wholegrain and Brown Rice which is rare.
Service
Its akin to the likes of Nando’s, McDonald’s etc. Think healthy fast food, seats are comfy but it can get busy and noisy. Whilst the food may be healthy, please note the staff may not be 100% clued up. That is not meant as a dig but my advice is do your research via their website before heading in.
Angel Café
Angel Café is a great place to eat, now being honest and up front I know the café owner here. He is a good family man called Ahmet, his food is spot on and I can highly recommend if you’re looking for good food in the Romford area. Now the typically dishes I eat work for most cafe’s to be fair as it all about avoiding those carbs.
Food
You can get a great Turkish Breakfast which is amazing, my usual dish of Ham & Cheese Omelette topped with some poached egg on top (I miss runny eggs). I get some Sucik on the side with some garlic mayonnaise and I am in heaven. Don’t worry you can get UK sausages as well if that’s more your bag.
In a nutshell cafes can be a great haven for low carb and keto and not simply eating salad. A full English sans the chips can be a great option and avoid the toast. As I am doing low carb I may treat myself sometimes to brown toast, two slices with a poached egg on each followed by 2 sausages.
Service
Ahmet and his family are very friendly, the portion sizes are big and whilst you may find cheaper elsewhere you will struggle to get portions and the quality to match the price. They may know me too well now and I don’t need to order as soon as I walk in a nice cup of tea is brewed and brought straight over.
