As thousands of delegates eat their way around the city during COP26, we list 26 world foods they can enjoy.
ITALY
Opened in the summer of 2007, La Lanterna on Glasgow’s Great Western Road provides authentic Italian cuisine. Traditional dishes such as veal ravioli and calamari along with a variety of risottos and of course the ubiquitous tiramusu showcase quality Italian fare.
Most items on the menu such as popular pasta dishes sit in the range of £12 to £17. A sister restaurant located in a cosy basement with intricate ceiling and dark wood beams can be found on Hope Street in the city centre.
https://lalanternawestend.co.uk/
CHINA
Winner of the “Best Chinese Restaurant in Scotland” award, the Lychee on Mitchell Street opened in 2015. Chef Patron Jimmy Lee brings a high-quality approach to Oriental cuisine and aims to make the best tasting food in Scotland.
All stocks and sauces are made in house and all meats, veg and seafood and locally sourced. Soft shell crab, kung po chicken and a range of chilli and salt starters are popular choices. Most items on the menu range from £12 up to £21.
https://www.lycheeoriental.co.uk/menus/#alacarte-menu-title
KOREA
Bibimbap restaurant specialises in Korean comfort food and can be found on West Nile Street. Prices range from £6-£10 per item and the menu caters for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Popular dishes include spicy rice cakes called teokbokki and the rice dish bibimbap, with sides such as the salted and fermented vegetable side Kimchi also available.
The city centre restaurant was nominated for World Cuisine Takeaway of the Year at the Scottish Takeaway Awards in 2019 and has a sister restaurant on Partick Bridge Street in the west end.
FRANCE
Glasgow institution La Bonne Auberge opened in 1975. An authentic French Mediterranean brasserie it sits on the corner of West Nile Street and Renfrew Street in the city centre. Specialist dishes include beef bourguignon and a classic french onion Soup along with desserts such as vanilla crème brulee.
It is also a partner restaurant to two hotels. In December of 2019, the restaurant managed to retain its 21st consecutive AA rosette, the same day that it celebrated its 45th anniversary.
https://www.labonneauberge.co.uk/
INDIA
Located in the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City, Dakhin has been enthralling customers with its array of south Indian delicacies since its emergence onto the city’s restaurant scene in 2004.
Glasgow is a city with a long-standing history of high-calibre Indian restaurants, has always experienced a dearth in uniquely southern Indian cuisine; Dakhin’s inception was a gamechanger. Renowned for its substantial dosas, served with an assortment of side dishes, the menu is geared towards the adventurous and discerning customer.
MEXICO
Opened in 2007, Bibi’s Cantina is one of Glasgow’s best kept open secrets. Located in Partick, in the city’s west end, Bibi’s serves a variety of contemporary Mexican cuisine in an intimate, authentic setting.
Classic dishes, such as burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, can all be found on its menu, as well as an array of vegan and gluten free options. Prices range from £8.95-£15.00 for main dishes. Bibi’s is particularly renowned for its signature frozen margaritas, which can be consumed by the glass or jug.
USA
The NY American Grill can be found on the second floor of Princes Square. An American-inspired grill and cocktail bar it offers dishes such as manhattan meatballs and NY baby back ribs, along with an extensive bourbon menu.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are all available here. On Mondays to Wednesdays, there is a discount on main menu food of 50% up to £10 per person.
https://www.nyamericangrill.co.uk/
RUSSIA
Café Cossachok a traditional Russian restaurant on King Street serves popular ethnic dishes such as: borscht, a sour soup or golubtsy, an ancient dish composed of rice and mincemeat wrapped in cabbage leaves.
The interior is warm and cozy and perfectly exhibits Russian culture, with Russian furniture and artwork as well as old Russian films being silently projected on the walls. Reasonably priced its £3.50 for soup of the day and £14.95 for fried duck.
https://www.cafecossachok.com/
GREECE
Halloumi is a Greek-Cypriot restaurant that serves popular dishes such as, as the name suggests, haloumi fries which are fried sticks of haloumi cheese. They also serve popular Greek dishes such as lamb moussaka, which consists of layers of aubergine, lamb mince and courgette.
The interior takes on a traditional aesthetic with tiled flooring and wooden shelves displaying plant pots and bottles. The prices are cheap such as £5.90 for a Greek salad or £7.90 for gyros.
https://www.halloumiglasgow.co.uk/
MALAYSIA
The Banana Leaf restaurant provides a Malaysian menu and can be found on Byres Road. The specialty, buttermilk chicken and king prawn is reasonably priced at £7.84 on a 20% discount from £9.80.
There’s a stylish lounge with low sofas and a cocktail bar with an extensive list of traditional and modern cocktails. The restaurant is a former Oriental Restaurants of the Year winner priding itself on the range of Cantonese, Hokkien, Hainanese, Teochew and Hakka Styles of cooking.
https://www.bananaleafglasgow.com/
SCOTLAND
Ardnamurchan is a Scottish restaurant and bar based on Hope Street in Glasgow. The restaurant describes itself as an “easygoing eatery.” A mid-range priced menu with main courses ranging from £15-£28 the most expensive dish is the Ardnamurchan Estate venison pave which comes with truffle mash, bramble cabbage, mushroom and dill jus.
An extensive choice of whisky makes this a good choice for the connoisseur. Gluten free dining options are available along with an efficient online booking service.
GERMAN
West on the Green is a German-themed beer ‘haus’ and restaurant located at Templeton Business Centre, next to Glasgow Green; a stone’s throw from the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens (currently under refurbishment).
The venue has its own brewery, which produces popular beers such as St Mungo, heidi-weisse and Munich Red. Signature dishes include the ‘currywurst’ – a smoked bockwurst sausage covered in a house curry sauce - and ‘’jager schnitzel’, a chargrilled pork escalope in a mushroom sauce.
SPAIN
Barca Tapas, in Princess Square, provides a mix of spice and comfort food to the heart of Glasgow. The Spanish tapas restaurant serves Mediterranean staples on the balcony of one of Glasgow’s oldest buildings, overlooking traditionally Glaswegian architecture.
Perfect for groups, the menu encourages sharing; from calamares frito to patatas bravas, the smell of authentic Spanish cuisine is the first thing to greet guests. An array of cocktails is presented with the offer that bartenders will provide any mix of drinks not already offered.
AFRICA
The Calabash on Union Street, just off Glasgow Central station supplies hearty, rice-based food to the heart of the city. Open seven days a week until the wee hours of the morning, this African restaurant serves all comers, but with their large portions, particularly those with empty stomachs.
Spicy beef and chicken make up the bulk of the menu, all accompanied by a wide selection of beers imported from Africa’s East to West coast: such as Namibian Tusker Lager at £4 per bottle.
https://thecalabashglasgow.com/
MOROCCO
The Finnieston Fez boasts a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes and snacks to cater for any and all visitors. Moroccan music and décor accompany Arabic snacks and tea, as the restaurant transports you from Glasgow’s West end to sunny Casablanca.
Located on Argyll Street, between the city center and the Scottish Event Campus, the restaurant is well placed and ready to offer lunch to anyone with stomach space needing filled.
JAMAICA
The Rum Shack is a charming Caribbean restaurant on Pollokshaws Road. As the name would imply, the restaurants main commodity is Caribbean rum, although they also offer traditional Caribbean meals.
The friendly staff, brightly coloured furniture, and vivid art on the walls help create a warm inviting atmosphere for the customer. Their reasonably priced ‘bam pot’ menu offers meals such as the ‘jerk chicken burger’ or ‘chicken wings’. Alternatively, their ‘dutch pot’ menu offer ‘chicken brown down’.
https://www.rumshackglasgow.com/
BRAZIL
Viva Brazil is an authentic Brazilian steakhouse that serves meals such as contra filé a brazilian sirloin steak, and linguica which is a Brazilian sausage.
Located on Bothwell Street, Glasgow, the interior is cosy with a warm aesthetic with dark wood tables and flooring and classy chandeliers. Great value prices such as £34.95 for 15 meats and unlimited sides.
https://vivabrazilrestaurants.com/
BELGIUM
Billed as Ashton Lane’s most magical venue and recently hosting the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Brel is a Belgian restaurant and beer garden that serves a variety of fondues and raclettes along with poutines and regular burgers.
The restaurant is all outdoors with beautiful lighting and flowers that creates a cosy aesthetic. The prices are mid-range at £15 for poisson frites and £9 for waffles.
AFGHANISTAN
Namak Mandi is an Afghan restaurant based in Bridge Street, Glasgow. The restaurant gives off a nice, traditional and relaxed vibe with the interior not looking glamorous but very cosy and warm.
Their main food seems to be lamb based and their specialty is dum pukht which is a slow cooked lamb shoulder. There are vegetarian options listed on the menu too. In the 2018/19 Scottish Asian Food Awards, the restaurant won the award of most Unique Restaurant.
JAPAN
Specializing in seafood, Nanakusa invites guests to enjoy an authentic Japanese dining experience. Situated at the entrance to Glasgow city center on Sauchiehall Street, and with décor that compliments the open atmosphere inside, this restaurant adds to Glasgow’s diverse culture.
A barbeque menu is offered for any shy of seafood, diners are encouraged to complement their cuisine with cocktails from a drink menu featuring a mix of traditional and modern Japanese favorites.
PERSIA
Meze Meze is a Persian restaurant based in Argyle Street, Finnieston. A predominately meat based menu it features an amazing variety of kebabs and stews. Most dishes are cooked on the ocakbasi charcoal grill (ocakbasi translates to fireside).
The restaurant offers a take-away service to people living close by. A variety of platters and sharing dishes are available prices around £74 for four.
http://www.mezemezeglasgow.co.uk/
VIETNAM
Non Viet in both Sauchiehall Street and Great Western Road specialises in Vietnamese food. Both restaurants provide a homely dining experience, with dining rooms painted with dark red colours similar to the Vietnam flag and decorated with paintings and bamboo. Specialising in Pho, the spicy Vietnemese soup, rock-band The HU are fans.
AUSTRALIA
An Australian themed sports-bar based in Glasgow’s City Centre, Walkabout offers a wide-range of street food. The menu is packed with burgers and chicken wings of all types of flavours – although filled with these two options the menu still provides plenty of different types of street food such as mozzarella sticks, nachos and sausages.
Walkout is a sports bar so hosts a lot of events, the bar is filled with TV’s showing football games from all angles. The Aussie all day breakfast and a variety of subs are popular with regulars.
https://www.walkaboutbars.co.uk/
TURKEY
Turkiye efes, a short ten-minute walk from Glasgow Central Station offers a wide range of traditional Turkish foods. The food is fairly priced for the quality with the added option of a Gourmet and A la carte menus.
The speciality: the signature Sunday morning dish being an ‘Authentic Turkish Breakfast experience’ as it is tradition to eat with family every Sunday morning. Breakfasts include with anything from black and green olives, eggs, cured meat, cheese, pastries and jams along with dips and sauces.
https://turkiyeglasgow.co.uk/gourmet-menu.php
POLAND
U Jarka is a Polish restaurant located near Charring Cross in Glasgow that serves a variety of delicacies including potato pancakes, veal schnitzel, beef stew, lamb kebabs and more, that are all very reasonably priced.
The restaurant also caters for a variety of events including, banquets, weddings, communions, birthdays and business events. Those who review the restaurant tend to credit the staff who are all very accommodating and help to create a pleasant dining experience.
https://www.facebook.com/ujarkarestaurant/?ref=page_internal
THAILAND
Located in the heart of Glasgow, Chaophraya is a popular Thai restaurant that serves a variety of food from Thailand. It’s funky yellow couches and crystal chandeliers create an eclectic atmosphere for those who dine. From stir-fries to currys, sharing platters to salads, this glamorous Buchannan Street eatery really showcases wonderful Thai food and fabulous Glasgow architecture.
For those who love cocktails, Chaopraya also serves a large collection from timely favourites to their own specialities – and even sharing cocktails for larger groups. Mid-price main courses are around £15.
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