From local independent burger joints to neighbourhood sushi restaurants and all the dishes and flavours in between, this year has seen 17 restaurants in Edinburgh shortlisted for several accolades in Scotland, including Best Japanese to Best Mexican and the coveted Independent Restaurant of the Year award.
Takeaway fans can help them take the crown home by voting via the Deliveroo website between April 14 and May 9, with the winners set to be announced in late May. And to thank customers for voting, everyone who participates is automatically entered into a draw to win £150 in-app credit.
This year the delivery app has recruited a guest judge with arguably one of the most discerning palates on the planet - Celebrity Masterchef finalist, TV personality, culinary school graduate and the daughter of multi-Michelin star restaurant royalty, Tilly Ramsay. She has been enlisted to judge the coveted Independent Restaurant of the Year Award and the Rising Star Award, a new title for 2025.
Tilly Ramsay said: “I can’t wait to take my taste buds on a tour as I rate some of the most loved local eats from around the UK and Ireland as part of the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards. The shortlist of restaurants looks epic and I'm excited to get stuck into deliberating the dishes for the top title, Independent Restaurant of the Year, with my co-judges.”
Will Shu, chief executive and founder at Deliveroo, said: “The Deliveroo Restaurant Awards is about championing the local restaurants who provide incredible selection and quality food in their communities. These restaurants are the beating heart of our towns and cities, and they obsess over making sure every food delivery is a special moment for our customers - that’s something worth celebrating.”
Check out the full picture gallery to see which Edinburgh restaurants made it to this year’s finals.
9. Snax Café
Winner of Scottish Breakfast Takeaway of the Year 2019, this independent cafe serves everything from a traditional Scottish breakfast to cheeseburgers. Snax Café is nominated for the Best Breakfast & Coffee award | Snax Café Photo: Third Party
10. Maki and Ramen
Inspired by the hundred ramen-yas or ramen shops in Japan, Maki & Ramen aims to bring people from all over together over a steamy bowl of ramen whenever and wherever. They take their very ramen seriously – all noodles are made in-house at their Edinburgh factory, with their broth going through a painstaking 8 hours to ensure the silkiest and richest broth available. Maki and Ramen is nominated for the Best Japanese award Photo: Third Party
11. Chix
Chix is a concept developed by Head Chef Ed Cresswell, whose background is in ultra fine dining establishments (previously chef de partie at Heston Blumenthal’s Michelin three-starred Fat Duck), and his business partner Ellie Gallacher. That perfectly succulent on the inside and crispy on the outside chicken was born out of a passion to create good food that didn’t come with the pressure and extreme stress of a high-end kitchen. Chix is nominated for the Best Chicken award Photo: Third Party
12. Chaakoo
Chaakoo is an authentic fusion of flavours inspired by Mumbai and Iranian cuisine, serving street food and small plates. The popular restaurant first opened in Glasgow in 2016, and after three successful years, it opened its second premises in 2019 in Glasgow’s west end. In 2023, it expanded to Edinburgh. Chaakoo is nominated for the Best Indian & Nepalese award | Chaakoo