Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to a fire on Balham High Road in Wandsworth.
Firefighters tackled a fire at a restaurant on the ground floor of a three storey building, which has residential properties above.
A covered yard area at the rear of the restaurant, which was converted into storage, was destroyed by fire. Around 30 people left the surrounding area before firefighters arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade was called at 0347 and the fire was under control by 0610 . Fire crews from Tooting, Clapham, Battersea and other surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
The fire is believed to have been accidental, but the exact cause has been recorded as undetermined.