With an increasingly diverse range culinary options at our fingertips, sushi need not be the only option for an Asian influenced lunch break. For Londoners in particular, opportunities to expand our epicurial horizons have increased tenfold with the street food revolution which has occurred in the capital in recent years. Those of us interested in experiencing something a little out of the norm might want to head to one of these street food hotspots.
Banh Mi 11 (http://www.banhmi11.com)
With a permanent shop location on Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch, as well as a stall which tours a number of the city’s major markets throughout the week, the Hanoi natives behind cult favourite Banh Mi 11 have been serving up mouth-watering Vietnamese staples to hungry Londoners for the past three years. The speciality here is the banh mi – a baguette filled with fresh salad, pickles, herbs and a choice of meat, fish, or tofu options marinated and spiced to perfection, but a range of other sandwiches and salads are all equally delicious.
Yum Bun (http://www.yumbun.co.uk/)
Serving up delicious handmade steamed buns, Yum Bun in East London’s Broadway market offers visitors a range of mouth-watering flavours inspired by Chinese cuisine. Both the slow roasted pork belly with hoisin sauce and the miso-glazed Portobello mushroom options are irresistible.
Bhangra Burger (http://www.bhangraburger.com/)
For a delicious Indian inspired twist on the humble burger, look no further than Bhangra Burger at its Brockley Market and Kings Boulevard locations. Served in soft flatbreads and drizzled with yoghurt and sweet chutneys, the deliciously spiced offerings available are cooked to perfection and are an experience quite unlike any burger you’ve tasted before. All the options are delicious, but the lamb jalfrezzi burger stands out as a particular highlight.
Kimchi Cult (http://www.kimchicult.com)
With a mobile stall travelling across London, the Korean inspired fast food available at Kimchi Cult is well worth seeking out. With a range of burgers, hotdogs and sandwiches on offer all with a spicy Korean twist the kimchi sliders are a real treat.
Brick Lane
Although best known for its wealth of curry houses, East London’s Brick Lane on a suday is a foodie’s paradise. A wealth of stalls selling hard to find delicacies from across the globe set up shop every weekend. With everything from Malaysian pancakes and Japanese Okonomiyaki, to Pad Thai and Chinese dumplings on offer, crowds can be significant but the effort of competing with them is well rewarded.
by Sam Jones
