Uber Eats Unveils Finalists for 2025 Restaurant of the Year Awards
The UK and Ireland’s independent restaurants are stepping into the spotlight as Uber Eats announces the finalists for its 2025 Restaurant of the Year Awards. From family-run delis to TikTok-famous start-ups, twelve regional champions will soon gather in London to compete for the coveted title and a life-changing £100,000 prize.
Focusing on the small and independent eateries that keep our high streets vibrant; chosen from more than 130 nominations, the finalists represent the creativity, resilience, and sheer passion fuelling the food scene across the UK and Ireland.
Uber Eats
A Celebration of Local Food Culture
The line-up reads like a culinary map of regional flavour. London’s Sanjugo joins Yorkshire’s Silver’s Deli, while the North East is represented by Sushi Me Rollin’ and the South West by barbecue favourite Low & Slow. Ireland’s finalist, Urban Health, and Northern Ireland’s Seed highlight the growing strength of their unique dining scene, while YAYAS brings bold Scottish flair into the mix.
Here’s the full list of 2025 finalists:
London: Sanjugo
Yorkshire: Silver’s Deli
Scotland: YAYAS
North West: Burg N Ice
North East: Sushi Me Rollin’
West Midlands: Taqi’s Grill
Wales: Sharkbite Burgers
South West: Low & Slow
South East: Umami Street Food
East Midlands & Anglia: Wok & Grill
Northern Ireland: Seed
Ireland: Urban Health
Each finalist receives £5,000 and a bespoke support package from Uber Eats, designed to help them scale up and reach new audiences, with the winner winning a whopping £100,000.
Uber Eats
A Star-Studded Judging Line-Up
Finalists will be judged by a panel that includes Reggae Reggae Sauce founder Levi Roots, Irish chef and TV star Clodagh McKenna, creator Eating with Todd, and last year’s winner Natty Crutchfield. Their decision will crown one restaurant as the 2025 Restaurant of the Year, offering not only a financial boost but also industry recognition that can transform a business overnight.
For Clodagh McKenna, the competition is personal:
“Ireland’s culinary scene is one of the most dynamic and exciting in the world right now, yet despite this vibrant evolution, it's still too often overlooked. That's precisely why I am so passionate about the prospect of an Irish business taking home this year’s Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year Award. This isn't just about a single restaurant winning; it’s about shining a much-deserved spotlight on the entire Irish food industry, demonstrating why our illustrious restaurant scene deserves its place among the very best."
Uber Eats
Beyond the Main Prize: Trailblazers Driving Change
Alongside the headline award, Uber Eats is also shining a light on restaurants that are changing the industry for the better through its Trailblazer Awards. Categories include Women in Food, Climate Impact, Healthy Eats, Social Impact, and the Next Gen Award, celebrating the innovation of young entrepreneurs aged 18–27.
Nominees range from climate-conscious vegan vendors like The Hogless Roast to youth-driven start-ups like Unit and Aros, showing that the awards are as much about vision as they are about flavour.
The Next Gen Award will be judged by Seema Pankhania, the content creator and bestselling author of Craveable, known for celebrating the bold, global flavours of today’s young chefs.
More Than Just a Competition
For Matthew Price, General Manager of Uber Eats UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, the awards underline a bigger mission:
“Independent restaurants are the beating heart of the UK and Ireland’s food scene. Whether it’s your local burger joint, a climate-conscious vegan cafe, or a TikTok-famous pop-up, Uber Eats is proud to support the businesses that bring flavour, jobs, and culture to our communities. The Restaurant of the Year Awards are about more than a prize. They’re about championing those who are reshaping hospitality from the ground up and helping them accelerate their growth.”
As the countdown begins to the final, one thing is clear: this year’s competition isn’t just about crowning a single winner. It’s a celebration of the diverse, resilient, and imaginative food culture that defines the UK and Ireland today.