It wasn't too long ago that suggesting dinner in Kensington Market would raise more than a few eyebrows. The neighbourhood was renown for shutting down as soon as night fell. Even the most intrepid diners weren't likely to find much to graze on beyond the ice cubes in the rye and gingers at the since shuttered Planet Kensington.

How times have changed.

Since the emergence of north Augusta, Kensington has transformed itself into something of a culinary destination (and I'm not just talking about lunch). Among the early entrants on the scene were La Palette and Amadeu's, but these were later joined by hot-spots like Supermarket and Torito. Who would have thought, that in a span of less than a block, we'd now be able to indulge in three distinct types of tapas - Spanish, Asian and Indian.

The list below highlights twelve of the best spots to grab dinner in Kensington. But a note of caution: some of these places close early (8 or 9pm) making it essential to dine early. But thankfully, even for early diners there are now plenty of good options to imbibe in an after-dinner drink including The Embassy, The Boat, Bread and Circus and Ronnie's Local.

Is your favourite place missing? See also: Lunch in Kensington Market.