Undeniably, London’s energy is rooted in its diversity. According to the 2021 Census there are over 300 languages spoken in the capital, with 46.2% of the population identifying as non-white -higher than any other region in England and Wales. 

This year, Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards, crowned London the best city in the world for food. Whilst Holafly ranked London 4th most diverse food city in the world, with 74% of its restaurant serving international food. boasts a wide a range of culinary diversity with an offering of 123 different cuisines.

This eclectic array of cultures is a recipe for a simmering border-defying melting pot on which successive generations of Londoners are being raised on. In these conditions fusion cuisine, once a dirty word in the culinary space, is bound to be a recipe for success.

When working on her residency menu Cat uncovered historical ties between Jamaica and China that linked back to her own family. Chinese indentured labourers began arriving in Jamaica in the 19th century, settling and forming their own commmunities an . Whilst the fusion of Jamaican and Chinese cuisine already exists, her intention was to play around with the two flavour profiles in a different and playful manner . 

Much of what we understand today as ‘traditional’ cuisine, has been developed as a result of different cultures interacting and imprinting on each other.  

Today a scroll through your social media algorithm will present you with gastronomical mash-ups around London ranging from masala pizza to jerk kebabs, all products of different immigrant communities adapting to the ingredients and inspiration around them. 

The multicultural metropolis

In Harrow, North West London, there is a 'chippy’ like no other, where you can order a side of plantain with your Fish and Chips or jollof rice alongside a jerk sea bream. 

describes Every Fish Bar’s (@everyfishbar) owner Mohammed Gbadamosi who incorporates his West African roots  and the wider Black British identity into his menu. 

The pandemic pushed Mohammed to throw himself into his passion for food after a 15 year career in care led to him experiencing burnout. For years Mohammed would drive far  just to get a good fish and chips when he finally decided to do it himself. 

Through research Mohammed discovered the relationship between fish and chip shops and  immigrant communities. The first shop was established in London’s East End by an Eastern European Jew 1860. Today you can find many fish and chip shops run by Greek-Cypriot, Turkish or Chinese families who put their own cultural spin alongside the traditional menu.

 This inspired Mohammed to make his mark with his menu combining West African and Caribbean flavours. He deliberately considers what dishes have a sense of familiarity for his diverse audience and sit well beside the fish and chips concept. 

The social media effect

Today, food content creators have more influence over the food scene than critics. Through visual storytelling, in the form of reels and short-form content food bloggers spark curiosity in their audiences and widen their palettes.  A study by the Independent  revealed that 72% of people chose where they dine based on social media signifying the huge role it plays in how Londoner’s consume and discover food.

Before moving from South Africa, Autumn had heard all of the ‘bland food tropes’ England had to offer. She never imagined that London’s culinary scene would eventually inspire her to create a social media accounts (@autumntait) documenting all of the food she was enjoying and wanted to share with friends. What began as a personal archive became something bigger, leading to the creation of her app ‘Rec’d’ where users can map all their dream food destinations across the city. 

When asked how she felt about fusion cuisine she said: “At its best [it’s] two culinary traditions in genuine conversation with each other, not a novelty mash-up.  When chefs understand both cuisines deeply, the results can be delicious. ” 

Foodie and a proud Londoner, Lili Delicious, shares similar excitement towards fusion cuisine, she says: “Fusion food can create viral moments, either by being controversial or just really creative!”

Lili's account (@a_dishdelish) account features videos of her ranking London’s top viral spots asking ‘ Is it worth the hype?’ and sharing her food adventurers with her followers. 

Counting herself lucky to have grown up in London, surrounded by a food scene she describes as: “diverse, rich and limitless!”, Lili says:

She points to another chef residency at Jazu bar, 'Chieto' by Marta Sandini a Chinese-Italian menu as one of her favourite experiences of fusion cuisine.

Kat Gill started her TikTok and Instagram page (@thebesteatsldn) because her camera has always ‘eaten first’.  Kat’s London roots mean that her tastebuds have always been curious, she said: “ London has SO many [ restaurants and cuisines] just on your doorstep waiting to be discovered.” 

When asked separately what their favourite fusion spots in the city are, both Kat and Autumn name Osteria Angelina and its sister venue Angelina. The East London-based fusion restaurant has gained considerable traction online offering restaurant goers ‘ Italian food with Japanese Ingredients and influences’. 

A scroll through social media will convince you that fusion certainly isn’t dead in London. But in a city over-saturated with daring food venues many diners are looking for something different to experience in a city. 

Kat says: “Every cuisine has been covered by every restaurant, so what then? How do you stand out from the crowd?”