Tongue n Cheek Piccante Burger
Despite it hitting the mainstream and so many different forces catching wind of it and having a go—Marks & Spencer’s “posh dogs”, Wetherspoons promotions, your overzealous uncle at family BBQs this Summer, Jon Favreau and his food truck movie—Street Food is still cool, and there’s still plenty of good stuff out there. Every so often we’re going tell you what’s worth your time and money, and where you can find it.
Busan BBQ
What’s their deal? A husband and wife duo who combined the Korean food they fell in love with on their honeymoon with accessible American diner classics to form—wait for it—Amerikorean cuisine. Think fried chicken and burgers with umami-laden marinades and sauces, pork belly buns, and sides of kim chi and mooli slaw.
What should I eat? I’m not going to judge you for being indecisive—get The Doshi-Rak, with bulgogi burger and pork belly sliders and a piece of their fried chicken.
Where can I find them? They’ll be pitched up at Street Feast in Dalston Yard every Friday and Saturday until the end of September.
Dosa Deli
Explain? Fresh cooked Dosa wraps stuffed with a variety of chaats, curries and other concoctions based on what’s good that week, and what they’ve chosen as vegetable of the month. Kristian and Amy promote ethical treatment of animals and sourcing of meat; and though not vegetarian themselves, all of their dishes are, which encourages an imaginative use of ingredients
What should I eat? With the nature of their menu it’s hard to predict what’s going to be available. Personally, I’d be confident handing over my money and trusting them to give me whatever’s good though.
Where can I find them? As well as being a regular at Kerb, they’ll be at Battersea Power Station Street Feast 21-24 August and Street Feast Dalston Yard 22-23 August.
(@DosaDeli) www.dosadeli.co.uk/
Tongue n Cheek
Break it down for me: We know you’re bored of half-hearted attempts and burgers—we are as well—so how about a burger which is literally half heart? 50% dry-aged beef and 50% ox heart make up Tongue n Cheek’s patties. Their nose-to-tail sensibilities can be seen throughout the menu, with other offerings including their No Lobster Roll, which substitutes everyone’s favourite sea-cockroach for sauteed Cod Cheeks.
What should I eat? That No Lobster roll is a legitimate award-winner from the British Streetfood Awards (they exist), but if like me you’ve got Dothraki aspirations, it has to be one of the heart-burgers—specifically the Piccante, topped with Nduja sausage, smoked provola and kewpie mayo.
Where can I find them? They’re currently in residence at Kerb in King’s Cross.
(@Tonguencheeks) www.tonguencheek.info
The Cheese Truck
What is this, some kind of cheese truck? Got it in one—this one is so beautifully simple, yet customers absolutely lose their minds over it. These guys make Mac & Cheese, posh cheesy chips, and blue cheese chocolate brownies, but the main attraction is their grilled cheese sandwiches, which pair different types of cheese with various fillings—goats cheese with honey, walnut and rosemary butter; blue cheese with crispy bacon and so on—but the real admirable thing is their commitment to removing any pretence and snobbery from cheese-admiration, and making it accessible to you and me.
What should I eat? Go for the Mexican style Queso Chihuahua grilled cheese with chorizo not least for the way the oil from the two combines absorbs into sourdough’s pores. Try a blue cheese and chocolate brownie as well, just because where else could you?
Where can I find them? Maltby Street Market, all day every Saturday and Sunday.
The Crabbie Shack
What’s this one then? Like with our nose-to-tail friends Tongue n Cheek, there’s very little going to waste here—that’s because Crabbie Shack take an entire soft shell crab, fry it in tempura batter, and serve it in a brioche roll. The accompaniments are well thought out as well, including pickled cucumber, chilli, coriander and wasabi mayo, and pomegranate and harissa.
What should I eat? If you’re conscious of looking like the destroyer of worlds by eating a whole thing in a bread roll (although imagine how badass that’ll look on Instagram), you can get your crustacean on in the form of crab cakes or Crabbie Kiev, the latter of which is crab meat, stuffed with crab meat.
Where can I find them? Another Kerb regular here.
Glazed & Confused
Glazed & Confused
Not technically street food, but even more casual than that. Glazed & Confused delivers donuts by the dozen—in assorted gourmet flavours—anywhere in Zone 1 & 2 within hours. Ideal for arranging an office delivery to buy the trust and affection of your colleagues/totally suck up to your superiors. G&C doughnuts are also available from independent cafes around the city, if you’re into that whole “getting up and going to fetch your own pastries” thing which just sounds like a lot of effort if you ask me.
(@GlazedLondon) www.glazedandconfused.co.uk
