About
What is LondonEater?
LondonEater is a visual restaurant guide, updated weekly. As of April 2012, it receives 70,000 hits per month, and has served 1.8M views since 2008.
Unedited by Kang
This website began life as just a hobby when I was marooned in West Wales for a job assignment. While there, I picked up a book about copywriting by Lindsay Camp titled “Can I Change your Mind?” and was rather inspired by Lindsay’s near conversational style of persuasive writing, it was a such a breeze to read, that it gave me a new found appreciation of the craft altogether.
So I started to pursue more written works about the art of copywriting, this led me to Brian Clark’s Copyblogger, an excellent daily blog which takes all the principles and slickness of copywriting, and applies it to the art of blogging. It seemed the perfect marriage of mediums, since the avid internet farer had a scant attention span, sexy copy was necessary to hold the fleeting moment of exasperated inspiration. I was enthralled with the idea of blogs driven by impact writing and sought out for more.
I noticed how witty writers often hosted their ramblings on acutely designed platforms. Chris Pearson as well as the chaps over at iA added a new interest to my internet clipping board, I wanted to know more about white space, typography and grid systems and how websites can be both functional and beautiful. That’s when I realised that the web was advancing at such a quick rate, that blogs weren’t just living room surfers shouting to the wind, but in fact, creative minds freed from the shackles of adhering to column widths, who had embarked on a digital quest to redefine the rules of publishing.
At the same time, I’d always been a slobbering glutton, inheriting an appetite to seek out good food from my dad. Food flowed in our DNA afterall. My grandfather was a (pastry) chef who owned his all day restaurant in Brunei (in the 70′s), opening for breakfast at 6am and turning his diner into a lounge-bar as the sun went down. Purportedly, his signature was White French Toast. That’s french toasts without the yolk. Rather reticent, but elegant.
It started with the 2002 Annual Time Out Guide at first, I used it like a bible to guide me to places to eat. I was new to London then. While there were other critics who wrote superfluously well, or were immensely erudite with their research, I found that I mostly agreed with Guy Dimond’s (and his team of writers by extension) palate.
Lunch hour meant three things for me: Ideas in Food, Midtown Lunch and World Foodie Guide. Three food blogs which varied wildly, the first was like a chef’s journal, the second, a daily blog of lunch gems in Midtown NYC, and the last was a London restaurant guide of sorts. Though the common trait amongst the blogs was the photography, in that you could actually see what the author was writing about. As much as it was interesting to imagine what food looks and tastes like through immaculately written critic pieces, a photograph was worth more than 1000 words because it fuelled appetite.
Back in my B&B in West Wales, feeling utterly morbid, lonely and always looking forward to the 4 days off back in London – after a gruelling 10 day rotation every fortnight – I started looking more into food blogs, copywriting and expanded my knowledge of photography. What came next was the realisation that millions of people were already self-publishing their thoughts and ideas on the web, and that there were more blogs out there than I could ever read in a lifetime. And I could create my own.
That’s how I started writing LondonEater.
My Photography
My photographs have appeared across a range of National Papers including The Daily Telegraph, Metro, New York Times and Zeit ; and Magazines such as National Geographic, Delicious, Restaurant, Fire & Knives, Layer 7 and The Argus. You can hire me for your up and coming project, and you can view my portfolio at kangphoto.com.
Sponsorship and pitches
This website receives 70,000 hits a month (April 2012) and the homepage has a google pagerank of 4. It is widely read by food lovers in London and afar. My statistics are freely available on Sitemeter and Quantcast. If you think we can work together, get in touch.
Contact and connect
Email: kang.leong@londoneater.com
Follow the Twitter feed @LondonEater
Become my friend on Facebook
Grab the RSS Feed: RSS | Email
Mentions
“Sharp, irreverent reviews of new and classic London restaurants from Kang Leong.” Food blogs to follow in 2012, Waitrose Magazine, January 2012.
“As well as large archive of meticulously researched restaurants reviews, London Eater features a slick design enhanced greatedly by the author’s passion (and talent) for photography.” Esquire, UK, Page 127 “The Manual” May 2011.
“Critically astute reviews…” Nick Wyke, The Times, April 2010.
“Kang…he doesn’t do things by halves.” Charmaine Mok, Time Out London, February 2009.
康.
Hi – I’m trying to get in touch to discuss a partnership opportunity – we’re working on a really exciting online community project for a very large UK based company. I’m working on the design and content. Do you have an email address so that I can send you some more info?
Tim
Loving your work Kang!
My friend and I have just gone live on our blog too after talking about it for the last Errrr…6 months at least!
http://www.gourmetbelly.wordpress.com.
We are hoping to have half the impact LondonEater has had in inspiring foodies around the globe to be as passionate about eating as we are
Bon Appetite!
Gourmet Belly x
Gourmet Belly – Ah, thank you! Such kind words, this is but a humble little corner of the internet
Hey, and thanks for your visit! Thumbs up for you here…http://wdfavour.successacademyonline.org
Keep visiting…
[...] about me [...]
When you’re next in Selfridges, I recommend heading up to the 1st floor – to the ‘Obika’ Mozzarella Bar. They fly the white stuff in three times a week from Napoli.
hi, cant remember whether i replied last time. >_<
but we would welcome a guest blogger. Hmm we thought maybe they could write about something like authentic taiwanese food. =)
Thanks!
Hi there, great to see what is there to eat in London..
you know, the seared scallops on your blog pic are absolutely gorgeous..i used to have scallops pics too on mine but decided that they weren’t cooked nicely..so out of the window.
anyway, nice food blog you’ve here..will be checking by often
Hi Kang,
Thanks for visiting my site and dude, thanks for letting me know about yours! My mates and I rarely eat out in London but now, we may be tempted to spend whatever little cash we have on restaurants (Cheap ones!) reviewed on here. Will do a link exchange with you and look forward to reading through the posts here.
Cheers!
Excellent blog – I too like great food, good company and take photographs, maybe we can work together. I am now following you on Twitter.
Regards Stefan
[...] Kang, super restaurant blogger from LondonEater.com is sharing his most recent review with us! LondonEater is one of my favorite blogs and if ever you loose me, you’ll find me there. Kang, writes exquisitely and honestly about the culinary scene around London. Did I mention he takes mouthwatering photos as well? Check it out for yourself! [...]
[...] About [...]
I am bringing a group of LA Foodies to London next week -many dinners planned -any off the wall foodie experience not to be missed
Michael – I did a Top 10 favourite eats last month, the post is here: http://londoneater.com/2009/07/23/my-london-restaurant-guide-in-july-2009/ This should be of some help to you
Awesome blog Ang Kang! Congrats You’re doing so well over there! this site gives me so much nostalgia about London!
[...] The London Eater is perhaps slightly highbrow in terms of the types of food it reviews and the audience it attracts but the writing style is one that speaks to me being casual yet sophisticated at the same time. I identify with the blogger Kang who says, “I’m not a judge but merely a a spectator, a fan and mostly a food lover.” [...]
Oh, I feel so hungry now.
Thank you for making this blog! I live in the Ealing area and I finally know where the quality food is.. as I ashamedly don’t really go out to eat around there much. But now I will!
Bye!
Hi Kang,
I have sent you an email, please check and do let me know if you are interested.
kind regards,
Hi Kang,
Firstly I love your blog. In fact, I was inspired to start my own blog after stumbling across the London Eater a year ago.
I am currently using a Canon Ixus to take pictures but I’m thinking of purchasing an DSLR, what would you recommend as a good starter DSLR?
Thanks
Sophie @ Eat, Drink, Sleep, Shop, Love
Sophie – Thanks for your kind words
Try a Nikon D3000/5000 with a 35 f1.8DX lens 
i always visit food blogs because i always like to do some home cooked meals “*”
[...] the LondonEater.com about page, Kang writes, website began life as just a hobby when I was marooned in West Wales for a job [...]
Hello, I’m a french home baker with a stall on saturdays @ Hampstead community market.
I do classic french with flavour combination that people love, like a lemon/chocolate tart, salt butter caramel and walnut tart, savoury cakes (yes, cakes, not bread) like olive ham and gruyere, or chorizo and pepper, and savoury cheesecakes like smoked salmon lemon and dill, or red pepper and goat’s cheese, and more, like lavender truffles…
Come and visit at the market for a taste of my products – i’d be happy to provide samples!
Your food photos look great and really informative blog.
What type of camera do you use and how do you get the focus of depth like when you zoom in?
Hi. I have left a few comments on here before. My girlfriend and I are cooking in Copenhagen right now but have really been dying to come to London for a few days to eat. We work standard kitchen hours…that is to say we are always working. So we wouldn’t be in London for more than 2-3 and probably from Sunday-Tuesday.
My question really is if you were to recommend a few restaurants for us to go to that are open on Sunday and Monday what would they be? My dream has been to go to St. John’s, any other suggestions? Thanks.
Cool site! Can’t wait to use it when I go to London in a couple of weeks : )
Kang,
I’ve been following you for awhile on Twitter, and absolutely love your blog.
Your style and elegance comes across and adds a lovely dimension to food writing.
Enjoying it immensely.
Bon Appetit!
Butterfly
Hi!
I am a digital media planner in New York City and I work on the Patrón Spirits account. I am researching popular culinary sites in the London area and came across you. Can you tell me me how many uniques you have along with subscribers that would receive the newsletter? Thanks a lot!
-Scott
Love all you photos and writeup. I have a fairly small foog blog and love unique photos and cuisine!!
Great website, very detailed reviews. The following blog is slightly less detailed, but witty and at times very insightful
http://thegargantuangastronome.blogspot.com/
hi there
found your blog whilst trawling through the various review sites, looking at critic and customer reviews of our restaurant. Seems you’ve not been to SW London… We own a lovely family run Thai restaurant on Battersea Park Road, SW11, serving up probably some of the best Thai food you will get in London.
Our restaurant is on the site of one of the first Thai restaurants opened in London, over 20 years ago, and we offer excellent food at a superb price, in a lovely atmosphere, with a brialliantly priced list of wines to satisfy anyones pocket and budget!
Please do get in contact and would love you to come and visit the restaurant and try us out – you will not be disappointed!
Chris Hall
Manager/Owner
Hi,
I visited your site and would like to connect regarding nSphere syndicating your content. We are interested in syndicating your content into our network. There’s no cost for this, we ask you to place a module on your site that reads your content and syndicates it into our network of millions of users. You only need to place a simple html code on your site. I have the code, but I would like to speak or email with you first.
This module acts as search tool for your users as well. Can you email me, call me, or send me your number and a good day/time to connect please?
Thank you in advance.
Matthew Mantyla | nSphere
Director of Media Integration
T: 617 933 7530
F: 617 344 8363
mmantyla@nsphere.net
I love your blog! I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award http://www.bibleforfashion.com/?p=5304