Eating The Street
You would have to be living under a rock not to realise that street food is a big deal. The London street food scene has exploded over the last year or so, with a range of top notch vendors serving takeaway scran to suit every palate. With excellent food markets every day of the week, I’m determined to eat my way through all that the capital has to offer. Here are a few of my highlights to date:
The Little Yolk
The clue is in the name. Starting life as a market stall, these purveyors of fried egg yumminess now have their own cafe at Dalston Farm Shop. The menu has likewise expanded to include dishes such as pancakes, and halloumi with kale and tomatoes, but I still love the original “Bacon One” – streaky bacon, bone marrow butter, fried duck egg, and tomatoes in a toasted brioche
20 Dalston Lane, London, E8 3AZ, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm
Sambal Shiok
One of Time Out’s Top 50 street food vendors, these guys offer Malaysian food with a twist. I can’t say that I had ever heard of a chicken satay burger before, but I’m sure as hell glad that it’s in my life now. Chicken, peanut sauce, pickled onions, cucumber, and spicy sambal in a brioche bun is about as delicious as it gets. Can’t wait to try their beef rendang next.
South Bank food market Fri-Sun, and Rupert Street, W1 Thurs-Fri
The Frenchie
As per the chicken satay burger, this time last year I didn’t know that such a thing as a confit duck burger existed. How empty my life was… Rich shredded duck meat stuffed into a toasted brioche along with mustard, rocket, onion chutney and (inspired!) cripsy bits of skin. All topped off with your choice of either goats cheese, smoked cheddar, or blue cheese. My brain was telling me that it should be waaaay too rich, but my palate was singing a different tune. It just tastes so damn good.
South Bank food market Fri-Sun, Camden Lock Sat-Sun, and Brick Lane Sunday only
Bill or Beak
That’s the question. Do you go for “Bill” – shredded duck and pork, coriander, spring onion, mint, and tempura shallots topped with a Vietnamese dressing? Or “Beak” – grilled chicken, garlic and rosemary croutons, and tempura capers in a Caesar dressing, finished off with a scattering of Parmesan? I chose Beak and did not regret it. I can’t remember the last time I had eaten chicken that was so moist and so tasty. It blew all those frightening memories of dry, chewy chicken sandwiches right out of the water.
Kerb (various locations), Brockley Market Saturday, and Street Feast Fri-Sat
Outsider Tart
I have a huge sweet tooth. It’s my waistline’s worst enemy. I can easily demolish an entire tub of Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup ice cream in one sitting. Yet the cakes sold by Outsider Tart are so decadent that they have very nearly managed to defeat me. But not quite… Describing themselves as “an authentic American bake shop” (which probably explains why one of their cakes can almost floor me), their market stall at the South Bank is like a psychedelic vision of candy heaven. Their Snickers brownie has great chunks of peanut wrapped with sticky caramel, and The Goober is a lethal concoction of peanut butter, chocolate and M&M’s. Plus they are so big that I can barely get my mouth around them.
83 Chiswick High Road, W4 2EF, and South Bank food market Fri-Sun
