Welcome to the Ox In A Box Food Awards 2025 and here is our ninth category BEST INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANT 2025. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Formerly separated into two categories – Best European and Best Global, we have combined them this year into Best International Restaurant.
The awards will be held on Monday May 12 at The Ashmolean, with a fabulous after party at Dishoom’s Permit Room in Oxford.
Sponsored by headliners Goldstar Recruitment and The Feathers, with Brandpay and Jolly Foods, as well as Oxford Fine Dining and Grape Minds on board, and Raymond Blanc of Le Manoir fame lined up to host, the voting kicks off today. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
In alphabetical order, the nominations are: VOTE HERE
Antep Kitchen, Cowley Road – One of East Oxford’s most popular restaurants, fans flocking for their wonderful Turkish hospitality. Perfect for large parties, celebrations and those who enjoy big portions. Lively, fun and vibrant, it’s a guaranteed good night out. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Beirut, Headington – such a lovely atmosphere, people perched at the window or chatting at tables sharing the brilliant Lebanese food, freshly made on site. A real neighbourhood restaurant. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Bhoomi Kitchen, Headington – Taking Indian cuisine and raising it up a level, expect elegance from both the food and the interior with all the classics and some more modern offerings thrown in for good measure. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Chiang Mai Kitchen, Oxford – a hidden gem, found down the end of a Tudor alleyway off the High Street, it’s an Oxford stalwart with 30 years under its belt. Its white table-cloths, wooden panelled dinging rooms and high end Thai food, mean it never goes out of fashion. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Cinnamon Stick, Middle Barton – Despite it’s unlikely and remote location in the former village pub, Khalid Mohammed’s Middle-Eastern cooking is both authentic and fresh, his Syrian cuisine and new Arabian lounge with its wood-fired oven, offering multiple options. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Coconut Tree, St Clements, East Oxford – The perfect introduction to Sri Lankan food, its sharing plate street food ethos enabling its diners to try multiple new and novel dishes. It’s a great space too, its funky cocktail bar and bright restaurant drawing in the crowds, and with an attractive price point, you can see why it’s a contender. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Curry Nights With Nandita, Heyford – doesn’t have a base as such, still cooking her infamous weekly takeaways out of her own kitchen, but her pop-ups are hugely popular, the innovative and authentic dishes served introducing diners to an entirely different part of India. Food from the heart. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Damascus Rose, Old Fire Station, Oxford. Nominated in numerous categories, it’s the perfect hybrid of cafe and restaurant, its community focused space is hugely enhanced by the incredible Middle-Eastern food all cooked by Syrian refugee women who delight in cooking food from their homeland. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Dishoom Permit Room, Oxford – has made such a big bang since opening this year in Oxford city centre, its Indian street food and cocktail vibe going down a treat with a mixed age group, who are delighted to have something so accessible and lively within their reach. Throw in the weekend DJs, a storming brunch and varied dining areas, and you can see why it’s a such an all-round favourite. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Dosa Darlings, Cowley Road – The clue’s in the title, but actually this colourful, sophisticated and dynamic restaurant offers so much more. Whether you pop in for a cocktail, eat in the specious garden area or dine in the flamboyant restaurant, the menus are equally as animated. And with a huge range of wallet-friendly options from the budget lunch to something more salubrious, it caters for all occasions. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Dosa Park, Botley – If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing a treat, because the South Indian food here is not only novel but excellent. It’s Sunday buffet lunch gives you the chance to try a bit of everything, but we always order the dosas and thalis which are second to none. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Elle’s Deli, East Oxford – Replacing Oli’s Thai, Ladd’s incredible Thai food is still available to take home, the menus changing on a weekly basis. If not cram onto the outdoor tables and eat on site or book in for one of their frequent pop-ups. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Gloucester Green Outdoor Market, Oxford– If it’s global food you’re after, then you’ve hit the jack pot here with every cuisine under the sun in the offing, stalls hustling for space and customers, who are spoilt for choice. From Nepalese to Austrian, Caribbean to Lebanese and everything in between, the hard part is choosing. The communal tables and bustling atmosphere only add to the experience. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Kazbar, Cowley Road – one of the greats, it never fails to delight, its infamous yellow interior immersing you as soon as you walk in. Whether you imbibe a quick Moroccan iced tea or passion fruit martini, or gather with friends for some Spanish tapas. Another firm favourite for parties and celebrations. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Kibou, Oxford – brings Japanese food centre stage here in this exciting new restaurant on Little Clarendon Street. Unashamedly ornate, its vivacious decor embraces you from the word go. The menu is just as thrilling, such an enticing variety of the familiar and the unknown, from the high tea to the sushi, bao buns, wagyu, ramen, sashimi, poke bowls and even a saki menu. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Las Chicas, Faringdon – Fun, laughter, cocktails and tapas emanate from this endlessly popular venue, where the party atmosphere continues. That’s also largely down to its food, which always delivers, helping to maintain its reputation and customer base. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Lula’s Ethiopian and Eritrean, Oxford – Such a privilege to have such a novel cuisine in the city centre, this rarely tried culinary fare given real flare thanks to the passion of Lula herself, determined to bring a part of her own heritage to Oxford. Last year’s Best Global winner continues to thrive. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Mizu Japanese Izakaya, Bicester – making quite a noise in Oxfordshire, Izakaya meaning sharing plates, enabling diners to have the full Japanese experience at the table and try a bit of everything. It’s luxurious decor only adds to the experience, the full kaleidoscope of Japanese food ready for the taking, where attention to detail is everything. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Mowgli, Oxford – Has moved location on The Westgate roof terrace to a bigger, more encompassing space lit with fairy lights, the long bar stretching the length of the interior, with swing seating for the more adventurous. Their sharing menus and convivial atmosphere ensure that while other sites come and go, Mowgli says put. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Ramen Kulture, St Giles, Oxford – It may be a small space but the queuers are happy to wait, knowing their moment in the sun will come. Nothing is left to chance here in its determination to bring you the real deal, the ramen broth made overnight. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Shiraz, Cowley Road – Transport yourself into the heart of Iran albeit from an East Oxford setting, its Persian menu bursting with exciting dishes. Think ash reshteh, a traditional soup made with herbs, beans, chickpeas and noodles and garnished with fried onions, fried mint and whey, or the zereshk polo ba morgh – chicken cooked in a tomato sauce with saffron rice, barberries, pistachios and almonds. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Spiced Roots, Cowley Road – Always exceptional, this is Caribbean food at its best. The lengths they go to to pack in maximum flavour, the meat falling off the bone, and the exceptional presentation, means this is one of East Oxford’s best restaurants. Oxford is lucky to have it. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Taste Tibet, East Oxford – Yeshi Jampa‘s authentic cooking hails straight from from the Tibetan mountains where he grew up, not only introducing Tibetan food to Oxford, but the country as a whole, thanks to his TV appearances, cookbook and equally committed other half Julie Kleeman, who is responsible for enabling Yeshi’s food to shine. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
The Standard, Jericho – When you want a good old-fashioned Indian, this is the place to head, its enduring popularity speaking for itself. Because while many of the dishes and curries are instantly recognisable, there are a few surprises thrown in, and the delivery and execution lives up to all expectations. 52 years and counting. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Tribe, Cowley Road – everyone raves about this East Oxford restaurant where the dishes hail from the Western Ghats region of Mumbai and the decor whisks you away from Cowley Road to somewhere even more exotic. Try their thalis at weekends, a great Keralan fish curry, famous lollypop chicken and even noodles. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
Za’atar Bake, Cowley Road – Come summer you can eat a glorious middle-eastern breakfast outside and watch the world go by. Others pop in to the bakery for some baklava and flatbreads, while customers recline in its Lebanese souk style interior for some all the classics from mezzes to taglnes and koftas. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/dbmmfkvh
There are 10 categories and we will be announcing one every day for the next 10 days. These include BEST NEWCOMER, BEST PUB/BAR, BEST CAFE, BEST RESTAURANT, BEST VEGGIE/VEGAN, BEST CHEF, BEST GASTROPUB, BEST INTERNATIONALL, BEST COMMUNITY FOOD HERO.
The top four nominations from each category will be invited to the glittering ceremony where the winners will be announced, so get voting and pick your favourite.
You can only vote once in each category, so keep voting every day in all 10 categories! Voting ends at the beginning of May. Vote here
