5 popular restaurant chains you never knew originated in London - including Wagamama and Honest Burger

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The familiar restaurant chains that had their start in London serving city locals.

Bet you didn't realise London is the birth place of some of the country’s most well known chains.

From their start as local gems to now national giants the city's diverse restaurant scene has long welcomed ambitious foodie ventures.

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Having played host to the humble beginnings of some of the UK’s most recognisable chains, these beloved London founded restaurants have gone on to redefine tastes in the city and beyond.

Here are some of the familiar restaurant chains that were founded in London.

1. Honest Burgers

Having started in Brixton in 2011, it now has many restaurants across the capital and has even started opening locations outside of the city.

2. Flat Iron

Initially starting out as a pop up above a pub in Shoreditch in 2012, Flat Iron opened its first permanent site later that year in Beak Street in Soho and has continued to open locations across the city and beyond.

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3. Franco Manca

Another Brixton-made chain is Franco Manca which opened its first restaurant in Market Row in 2008. The pizza restaurant now has over 70 locations across the country including 40 in London.

4. Wagamama

The chain, which was inspired by fast-paced Japanese ramen bars and a celebration of Asian food, first opened a restaurant in London's Bloomsbury in 1992 just a few minutes’ stroll from Tottenham Court Road station.

5. Pizza Express

Since opening its first pizzeria in London's Soho, it has over 360 locations across the UK and Ireland.

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