Ixta Belfrage’s Food Guide To East London
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2 days ago
From BYO Hackney hotspots to the best pho in town
East London has always had a reputation as one of the capital’s trendiest boroughs, but in recent years it has become known as a foodie hotspot too. From Hackney to Shoreditch to Clapton, you’ll find some of London’s hottest restaurants nestled within its streets: understated Michelin-starred cuisine, cult bakeries, pioneering zero-waste eateries, cosy wine bars and much more. But where do the local chefs eat? We asked Ixta Belfrage, chef and cookbook writer, to share her top East London restaurant recommendations.
Ixta Belfrage
Ixta’s cooking style is inspired by three countries: Italy, where she lived as a child, Brazil, where her mum is from, and Mexico, where her grandad lived. Upon moving to London, she spent five years working in Ottolenghi’s Test Kitchen, and co-wrote Flavour alongside Yotam Ottolenghi, before publishing her own cookbook, MEZCLA.
Best East London Restaurants, According To Ixta Belfrage
Brawn
‘Every time I go to Brawn, it just gets better. Precise cooking, brilliant ingredients and everything is always perfectly seasoned and balanced. I love sitting in the back room, watching the chefs work.
49 Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG, brawn.co
Dalla
Dalla feels like sitting down at a friend’s table, if your friend had the most beautiful dining room and happened to be amazing at making pasta. There’s real warmth to the cooking, and the interiors are classic, elegant, and quietly stunning. Dishes are unpretentious yet perfectly executed with ingredients that really sing – this is a philosophy I use in my own cooking, and something I’ve adopted in my recent partnership with Peroni Nastro Azzurro for my ‘Journey Through Italy’ menu, where simple ingredients come together to transport you to heady Italian summer days.
120-122 Morning Ln, London E9 6LH, dallarestaurant.com
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Bake Street
Bake Street is my ultimate hangover cure. I don’t usually order burgers, but their Makhani Fried Chicken Bun is wildly good, one of my top five favourite bites in London. Their tacos are also some of the best in town.
58 Evering Rd, Lower Clapton, London N16 7SR, Instagram @bakestreetldn
Hai Café
Tiny, low-key, and packed with flavour. It’s run by a mother-and-son team who serve up deeply punchy, delicious pho. I also love their mango salad, loaded with pickles and herbs and toasted pumpkin seeds.
120b Lower Clapton Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 0QR, hai-cafe.com
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Planque
I’ve had two of my best meals in London at Planque. I don’t usually love fine dining, but for Planque I’ll make an exception for the astonishingly brilliant food and service. Seb is one of the few chefs in London whose combinations surprise and inspire me.
322-324 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA, planque.co.uk
Little Georgia
One of my favourite BYO spots in Hackney. It’s cosy and comforting – perfect for a cold winter night. I go for the borscht and roast poussin with a good bottle of red from the wine shop.
87 Goldsmiths Row, London E2 8QR, littlegeorgia.co.uk
Gallo Nero Deli II
Gallo Nero is a true gem – a deli that feels like stepping into a slice of old Italy. It’s been part of Stoke Newington for over 35 years, and you feel that history the moment you walk in. You can get everything from cured meats to salt cod and antipasti, and there’s always someone to chat to over an espresso, a panino or a drink at the counter. I adore this part of Italian culture – taking the time to sit down with friends, and enjoy tasty morsels washed down with a cold birra. This is reflected in the ‘cicchetti’ course of my ‘Journey Through Italy’ menu, inspired by the Venetian tradition, which I’ll be serving at a series of pop up dinners on 24 and 25 June.’
75 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16, Instagram @gallonero2delicatessan
Ixta is partnering with Peroni Nastro Azzurro to run two dinner events at Carousel, find out more here
