So you've covered all the classics - your haggis, stovies, Cullen Skink and Buckfast - now it's time to tackle the twists. Restaurants across Edinburgh are bringing you some of the quirkiest takes on traditional Scottish cuisine, from boujie bowls of porridge to Tex-Mex mash-ups and a very daring curry.
Try Some Highland Wagyu Beef @ Southside Scran
Home to the UK’s first dedicated wagyu beef shops, a number of Edinburgh’s finest diners have taken to stocking the finest Highland wagyu. For a taste of the good stuff, head to Tom Kitchin’s Southside Scran where you can feast on some posh cow in the form of a rib eye, an Isle of Mull cheddar-topped burger, or decadent beef tartare served on melba toast.
This beautiful restaurant serves up even more beautiful cuts of Highland wagyu.
Tuck Into An IrnBruna @ Kismot
If being home to the official UK’s Hottest Curry - the aggressively named Kismot Killer - St Leonard’s Street’s favourite curry spot also boasts the IrnBruna. A flavoursome dish packed full of onion, coriander and tomato, it’s also infused with Irn Bru to turn it into a modern classic. Pair it with a haggis naan for the ultimate take on those traditional Scottish eats.
Unique curries abound at this St Leonard's Street eatery.
Grab a Mug of Something @ Teuchter’s Landing
Haggis, neep and tatties? Mac ‘n’ cheese? Stovies? Cullen Skink? Get all that and more served up in a pint mug at Teuchter’s Landing. Looking out over the Water of Leith, the traditional Scottish bar and restaurant is the only place to get your fill of Scotch too, with over 100 single malts on offer.
From cullen skink to neeps and tatties, grab yourself a mug full of classic Scottish grub.
Nosh on Posh Porridge @ Brochan
Named for a nonsense poem about porridge, Brochan is all about ramping up those oats into something very special. Completely vegan to boot, the base of each dish is hand rolled organic oats cooked in coconut milk, then they’re topped with everything from banoffee flavours and chocolate raspberry brownie bits, to bee pollen and pumpkin seed butter.
A homely classic gets a thoroughly modern makeover at Brochan.
Go hard with Haggis Burritos @ Los Cardos
While you can find Haggis in all forms across the city, the Leith tex-mex mecca was the first to cover it in guac and swaddle it in a delicious tortilla. Their haggis burrito does exactly what it says on the tin, with ‘The Irvine’ smashing some MacSweens haggis into the mix alongside seasoned rice, beans and whatever other toppings you want to load on top.
One of the meatiest most moreish burritos in town lives at Leith's Los Cardos.
Finish Up With A Leith Affogato @ Leith Depot
A bar, restaurant and live music venue, Leith Depot have got it all. Leith Walk’s laid back all day eatery also offers something a little more special in the form of its Leith Affogato. Your standard coffee and ice cream combo gets an injection of stereotypical Scottishness with the addition of a beer-battered Mars Bar and a slug of Buckfast.
Battered Mars Bars and Bucky both feature in the Leith Affogato.
