More than just steak
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| Basque Tortilla |
Ibai in London has become one of those restaurants that people talk about long before they manage to secure a table, and after spending a meal there, it is easy to understand why. There is a reason it has become so popular and why it was voted among the World's Top 10 Best Steak Restaurants in 2026. The restaurant's reputation naturally revolves around its extraordinary steaks, sourced with remarkable care and cooked over open flames to achieve a perfect balance of caramelised crust and beautifully tender interior. Every bite reveals why so many steak enthusiasts rank Ibai among the finest in the world.
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| Basque Tortilla |
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| Roasted scallops |
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| Tuna curdo |
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| Grilled XL Carabinero Prawn |
Although the steaks understandably receive most of the attention, overlooking Ibai's grilled Iberico pork would be a mistake, because it is arguably the restaurant's secret masterpiece. This dish alone is worth travelling across London for, and perhaps even further. Iberico pork is already celebrated as one of Spain's finest culinary treasures, prized for its rich marbling and naturally sweet, nutty flavour, but the kitchen at Ibai elevates it into something unforgettable. Cooked over carefully controlled charcoal, the meat develops a beautifully caramelised exterior while remaining astonishingly succulent inside. The fat slowly renders into the meat rather than away from it, creating an almost buttery texture that melts across the palate without ever feeling heavy.
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| Peas and Tolosa Beans with black truffle |
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| Spiced wagyu skewer |
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| Grilled Iberico pork |
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| Wagyu rib steak |
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| 5-year-old Galician rib steak |
The restaurant celebrates Basque culinary traditions while embracing London's cosmopolitan dining culture, creating an identity that feels authentic instead of manufactured. Most importantly, the food consistently delivers moments that linger in the memory long after the meal has ended. Whether it is the exceptional steak with its perfectly rendered fat, the unforgettable grilled Iberico pork that deserves to be considered one of London's great meat dishes, or the outstanding grilled red prawns bursting with natural sweetness and subtle smoke, each plate demonstrates remarkable confidence and craftsmanship. It becomes obvious why Ibai has attracted international attention and why diners from around the world continue to make reservations months in advance. This is my 20th visit and counting...
Food 4.5/5
What I paid: £210 per person with wine
Average cost without drinks and services: £80 (dinner)
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