Britain’s most viral food spots with ‘unprecedented’ queues and £9 apple crumble

Going viral on TikTok can either be a blessing or a curse for food businesses and their customers.

While some foodies might rely on For You Page recommendations, others groan at internet culture turning restaurants into gimmicks.

We’ve seen this time and time again in popular foodie spots like Rome, where influencers queue around the corner for the so-called ‘best tiramisu’ in the city, while Londoners have been known to go to the ends of the earth for a strong sandwich filling.

Now, a study has listed the top 20 most coveted picks in Britain, with Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddy Squat Farm making the cut.

Interestingly, the research found that social media appears to be impacting traditional eating habits, as one in three (34%) said they’d actually rather visit a restaurant that’s gone viral than a Michelin-starred one. The figure rises to 53% among Gen Z.

Plus, nearly four in 10 (39%) admitted to visiting somewhere purely because it’d blown up on social media. The average longest distance, according to Tempcover’s research, was 43 miles.

Now, many of us might love to hate on the idea of a viral restaurant (cool, or embarassingly basic?), as there’s an argument that sometimes, the best places are the ones that are tucked away, out of sight.

Nevertheless, these viral foodie hunters are seemingly being appeased, as 91% were satisfied with their trip, while only 2% had some level of regret.

The Shed, London

Touted as a ‘farm to fork’ restaurant in the depths of Notting Hill, the mother of all trendy influencer spots, The Shed tops the list of viral spots.

Now, it’s fair to say that diners are splashing a fair amount of cash here, as their Yorkshire sirloin chop comes in at £74, while the Yorkshire T Bone (weighing 900g, to be fair) racks up to £90.

Meanwhile, a whopping 1.2kg worth of Yorkshire prime rib (again, a sharing portion) costs £120. One for a special occasion, perhaps.

Humble Crumble, London

If you live in London, you’ll likely be familiar with the mighty queues at Humble Crumble.

With a few different locations, spanning Old Spitalfields Market, Borough Market, Camden Market, Covent Garden, and Bicester Village in Oxfordshire, these guys have enjoyed a fair amount of success, so much so that they’ve been forced to issue a statement on their website advising customers to arrive early to avoid queues.

Not everyone’s been 100% satisfied, though, as over on Instagram, @bitetwicefoodreviews alleged that the sweet treat, for which they shelled out £9, was ‘ridiculously overhyped.’

Beef Smokehouse, Manchester

Described as ‘the north’s best smokehouse,’ Beef Smokehouse up in Manchester has everything from brisket to dino ribs and turkey.

Fear not, vegetarians: it’s not just their meaty offerings they’ve been praised for. The supposedly ‘irresistible’ banana pudding is worth a shot.

Max’s Sandwich Shop, London

Now, we know that Londoners love a sandwich – and Max’s Sandwich Shop has quickly become a Crouch Hill institution.

Max’s has had a remarkable amount of press, and was previously hailed by Hot Dinners for making one of the best sandwiches in London.

And, as we previously wrote as part of Metro‘s The Slice, this institution is best for doing it simple, but it’s also mind-boggingly unpretentious.

Evelyn’s Cafe Bar, Manchester

Evelyn’s is known for cooking up brunch by day, and small plates by night. Yes, East Londoners, you heard that correctly: small plates.

They also take inspiration from Middle Eastern and pan-Asian favourites, and label themselves a ‘go-to’ for the local neighbourhood and travellers alike.

Fitzbillies, Cambridge

Now, in our personal experience, Fitzbillies is absolutely worth the hype. It’s been a famous institution amid the cobbled Cambridge streets for many years – before the idea of ‘going viral’ was even a thing.

One of their most popular items is their sticky Chelsea buns, which they’ve been baking up and dishing out since 1920. They’ve become so popular over the years that they’re available individually in store, or as part of a bake-at-home kit and even a Chelsea bun cake.

Plus, they do an absolutely delicious brunch, with a top-notch hash brown. This one’s fair game, but yes, you might have to queue for a table.

Urban Tandoor, Bristol

Urban Tandoor has gone viral for a reason, describing themselves as ‘kings of the parodies’ for their staunch commitment to the memes.

However, not everyone’s had a decent experience here, as over on the r/Bristol Subreddit, @SherlockOhmsUK previously penned: ‘nice guys, but average curry at best,’ while @Economy-Fox-5559 said they’re a ‘great team but the food lets them down.’

Fat Hippo, Cardiff

With a memorable name, burger chain Fat Hippo’s motto is centred around serving up ‘the good kind of gluttony.’ They’ve also supposedly got the ‘best burgers and dirty fries,’ which they’ve been dishing out since 2010.

While some have branded their meaty offerings absolutely ‘insane,’ others reckon their burgers are a bit ‘dry.’

Hickory’s Smokehouse, Birmingham

Serving up burger stacks, steaks, and gooey mac and cheese, the first Hickory’s Smokehouse opened in 2010.

It was born out of a US road trip that saw founder Neil McDonnell travel across the likes of Texas, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and has subsequently been branded ‘unreal.’

Fat Pats, Manchester

It’s not just Londoners who are all about the sandwich hype: Fat Pat’s has made waves up in Manchester, too.

Some of their most famous dishes include the Philly Cheesesteak (which costs a handsome £16.50), as well as the Hot Honey Fried Chicken for the same price.

But it’s not without good cause: they donate 2.5% of their profits to charity.

Diddly Squat Farm, Chipping Norton

Of course, Diddy Squat Farm in Chipping Norton has made the list, and for obvious reasons: it’s owned by Jeremy Clarkson.

Last year, viewers of Clarkson’s Farm who’d made the pilgrimage to Oxfordshire were met with unprecedented queues, with people reportedly being turned away.

Plus, Clarkson has also considered banning customers with food intolerances from his pub, The Farmer’s Dog, after one woman allegedly claimed she’d been given beer instead of cider which made her ill. This, according to Clarkson, was later proven to be untrue.

Oh, and he finds people with food intolerances ‘annoying’ apparently.

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