Facing Heaven

You're walking down Bayford Street in Clapton, past the independent shops and the general buzz of the neighbourhood, and you'll spot Facing Heaven tucked away without fanfare. Inside, it's stripped back and unpretentious—no bells and whistles, just honest Sichuan cooking done right. The numbing tingle of Sichuan peppercorns is genuine here, the heat builds properly, and nothing tastes like it's been sitting under a heat lamp. It's the kind of place locals actually queue for, and it deserves it.