Lunchtime just got interesting – Old Spitalfields Market has undergone a transformation to rival that of Europe’s finest food halls, and now every lunchtime, you too can get your hands on a whole host of exciting street food.
Helpfully all under one weather-proof roof, The Kitchens at Old Spitalfields is at the centre of the market. They’ve bought the ‘outside inside’ with huge trees and millennial friendly hanging plants, whilst black and gold branding spells out each traders name, many of which you’ll recognise from some of the hottest tables in town. Take the mega popular Berber & Q for example, who already have restaurants in both Haggerston and Clerkenwell – here they’re serving up a simplified menu, featuring our favourite cauliflower shawarma.
Pleasant Lady is another trader with a cult-like following. People are going crazy for their Jian Bing Trading Stall which dishes up the authentic Chinese savoury snacks. Hard to describe if you haven’t tried them for yourself, each one is made from scratch in front of the hungry customer. Dough is poured onto a hot plate until it goes crispy and golden and then veggies and meat are added. Finally the Cantonese crepes get wrapped up in a handy hybrid that’s somewhere between a burrito and a pancake.
You could easily eat at a new place each day – current traders include Flank (think nose to tail meaty menus), Thousand Knives (Japanese small plates), Dumpling Shack (more Chinese street food!), High Mood Food (healthy food for the mind and body), Yum Bum (steamed buns), JiaBa (Taiwanese), and Monty’s Deli (salt beef bagels). And SO much more besides. Drinks-wise we recommend Good Mood Matcha, a super sweet stall selling the superfood pick-me-up, as well as Yi Fang who sell THE best bubble tea in town. There’s even a fully licensed bar if you’ve got that Friday feeling.
However traders are changing all the time, so what might be there today, could be gone tomorrow – giving you plenty of reason to return regularly and support your faves.In short, this is a hub for foodie fanatics, offering grab and go dishes at accessible price points, whether you’re taking it back to the office to eat al desko or grabbing a pew with some pals.
Oh and if you feel like working some of the calories off – check out SOMA – an uber cool cool gym offering hot yoga, indoor cycling, barre and TRX classes.