Blog

Not recommendations, just supporting independent food businesses and sharing thoughts on stuff we care about.

All 127 Discover 72 Seasonal 23 Food Industry 21 Food Trends 6 Shop Local 3 Book Club 2

Hand holding a bowl of Middle Eastern rice with spiced meat, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs at a market food stall.

Discover

Affordable Eats: Spitalfields Market Edition

"London's iconic Spitalfields Market meets budget eating — discover incredible global street food for under £10, from Turkish wraps to Ethiopian vegan bowls."

Frankie Molyneux

Three bowls of ramen with soft-boiled eggs, chashu pork, and scallions served in black bowls with red spoons.

Discover

Cheap Eats In London To Check Out In September 2024

For this month's picks, we have a tiny ramen bar, a NYC-style bagel spot, a Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall, and a vibrant Caribbean kitchen.

Frankie Molyneux

A smiling woman in jeans and a black t-shirt stands in the doorway of a bright, modern restaurant with white storefront windows.

Discover

Discover Ria's: London’s New Hot Spot for Detroit-Style Pizza and Natural Wine

Detroit-style pizza meets natural wines in this cosy, intimate Notting Hill spot.

Laura Potier

Hands holding a loaded burger with beef patty, melted cheese, caramelized onions, and purple cabbage on a sesame seed bun.

Discover

Pop Brixton: A Couple of Great Spots That Won't Break The Bank

This month, we're in the South West London hotspot of Pop Brixton!

Frankie Molyneux

Gourmet sausage sandwiches with golden hash browns and sides spread across a wooden table at Bangers breakfast bar.

Discover

Discover Bangers: A Must-Visit Shoreditch Breakfast Bar Transforming Sausage Sandwiches

Discover the story of Bangers, Shoreditch's newest breakfast sensation. Co-founder Will Rhys shares the journey from festival stalls to a thriving breakfast bar.

Eloise Wright

Two people playfully hold Botivo botanical aperitivo bottles up to their faces, smiling against a bright yellow wall.

Discover

The Rise of Botivo: A Craft Botanical Aperitivo Revolutionising Non-Alcoholic Drinks

An Exclusive Interview with Imme Ermgassen, Co-Founder of Botivo

Laura Potier

Two women in striped aprons smile while preparing food in a modern kitchen, one plating a dish and the other holding a bowl.

Discover

Discover: N5 Kitchen

One of London's best catering company brings their food to North London's streets.

Laura Potier

A bartender pours craft beer from chrome taps into a glass held by a customer at a modern brewery or pub.

Discover

A Spotlight On Brockley, South London's Lesser Known Gem

The best of Brockley's food and drinks scene.

Katie Randall

A gourmet sandwich with sliced roast beef, greens, and pickles on crusty bread, plated with olive oil drizzle.

Discover

Affordable Eats: Sandwich Edition

Sandwiches will always hold a special place in our hearts. Here are some of the best bang for your buck bites

Frankie Molyneux

A white bowl filled with Vietnamese bun thit nuong featuring grilled pork, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and rice noodles in a woven basket.

Discover

Cheap Eats: The Best of January 2024

January is notorious for being a tough month money-wise, here's a few more wallet-friendly spots for some January treats

Frankie Molyneux

A pink elephant statue wearing a white castle tower on its back stands on a platform between modern buildings in an urban setting.

Discover

The Latin Community Shaped Elephant And Castle's Food Scene – Gentrification Threatens To Destroy What They've Built

Elephant and Castle is known for being home to London’s ‘Latin Quarter’, hosting the second largest Latin population in the capital. Around 10% of the population of the Borough of Southwark claim Latin heritage

Katie Randall

A colorful illustrated market building with Latin American shops including El Parador Cafe and Seven Sisters Market, featuring outdoor seating with red umbrellas.

Discover

Tottenham's Latin Village Keepers: A Journey Through Pueblito Paisa

Inside the fight to save London’s Latin Village (Pueblito Paisa), a grassroots campaign against gentrification to protect one of the city’s most important migrant cultural spaces.

Lily Wakeley

Hands holding an overstuffed deli sandwich with thick-cut pastrami and yellow mustard dripping from a crusty roll.

Discover

Affordable Eats: Borough Market Edition

A special Borough-Market edition of our monthly cheap eats column.

Frankie Molyneux

Korean seafood pancakes and fried chicken served in golden metal bowls with chopsticks and dipping sauces on a wooden table.

Discover

Affordable Eats – Part XII

From Jamaican and Korean fusion to classic Italian, here's this month's round-up of London cheap eats!

Frankie Molyneux

A table spread of Asian dishes including pho, grilled meat skewers, stir-fried vegetables, rice, and drinks with fresh mint garnish.

Discover

Affordable Eats - Part XI

The latest entry in our ongoing series on the best, most affordable places to eat in London – where you can get your fill for £10 or less.

Frankie Molyneux

A bearded man in a gray t-shirt takes a bite of pizza with a Coca-Cola bottle on a wooden table beside sunglasses and phone.

Discover

Affordable Eats – Part X

Our tenth entry into this cheap eats series, this month with a focus on South London.

Frankie Molyneux

Colorful array of whole spices including cinnamon sticks, star anise, turmeric, paprika, peppercorns, and dried herbs arranged on wood.

Food Trends

Caribbean and Asian Cuisines: The Origins of Your Spice Rack Staples

Ever wonder how your favourite spices made it to your kitchen?

Nyasha Oliver

A gourmet burger with onion rings on top, served with french fries and a colorful salad bowl on a dark wooden platter.

Discover

Discover: Super Natural Cafe

Super Natural Café: The Vegan Restaurant That's Bringing Plant-Based Food to the Mainstream

Annie Dabb

A person holds a wooden bowl filled with colorful grains, roasted vegetables, pomegranate seeds, and fresh herbs.

Discover

Affordable Eats In London – Part IX

The end of March 2023 brings you Part 9 of our ongoing series, where we uncover the best, most affordable restaurants in London.

Frankie Molyneux

Grilled whole fish with herbs, charred lettuce salad, and glazed meat on lettuce leaves arranged on dark plates with green sauce.

Discover

Here's where to find authentic Burmese food in London

Burmese cuisine might be hard to find, but it's worth the search.

Katie Randall

A charming cobblestone street in Norwich lined with colorful historic buildings and small shops, with people walking along the pedestrian pathway.

Discover

An Unmissable Food Trail Through Norwich

Embark on a delicious journey through a historic city.

Angela Youngman

A pizza chef in black gloves places a slice into a takeaway box, with freshly baked pizzas topped with vegetables and cheese displayed on the counter.

Discover

Discover: Breadstall

From Market Stall to Pizza Institution: Breadstall and the Craft of Biga Dough

Rebecca Lillywhite

A stack of golden pancakes topped with fresh blueberries and syrup on a white polka-dot plate.

Seasonal

Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras: a secret history

Did you know Pancake Day has roots in Slavic mythology?

Laura Potier

A bowl of spicy soup with soft-boiled eggs and cilantro, served alongside a michelada cocktail and burrito bowl on branded paper.

Discover

Affordable Eats In London – Part VIII

We continue our series on cheap eats with some Ethiopian, Thai, and Mexican offerings.

Frankie Molyneux

A chef's hands grate fresh cheese over a plate of pasta with herbs in a restaurant kitchen.

Discover

Affordable Eats In London – Part VII

A series exploring the best affordable eats in London, highlighting independent cafés, street-food stalls, and hidden gems where you can eat well without spending much.

Frankie Molyneux

A plant-based burger with sesame seed bun, lettuce, tomato and cheese served with golden fries and sliced vegetables on a wooden board.

Food Trends

The Ultimate Guide To Veganuary

Whether you're already committed to the plant-based diet or just vegan-curious, we have you covered.

Frankie Molyneux

Grilled lobster tails with yellow sauce drizzle and herbs, served on a metal platter with dipping sauce.

Discover

Affordable Eats In London – Part VI

Cheap and delicious is what we search for.

Frankie Molyneux

A ceramic mug filled with frothy hot chocolate topped with small bubbles, sitting on a wooden surface.

Seasonal

A Very Short History of Chocolate: from bitter drink to sweet treat

Happy International Chocolate Day, one and all!

Laura Potier

Traditional Día de Muertos bread (pan de muerto) surrounded by marigold flowers, candles, and ceremonial offerings on a vibrant purple backdrop.

Seasonal

An introduction to Día de Muertos foods and drinks

A brief history of El Dia de Muertos, and a guide to the best foods and drinks the Day of the Dead has to offer.

Laura Potier

Colorful assortment of pumpkins and gourds with various textures, including warty orange varieties and striped specimens.

Seasonal

The spooky history of Halloween pumpkins

Everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins, Halloween, and jack-o'-lanterns.

Laura Potier

Black and white artistic illustration of a pizza slice with "VAMPIRE PIZZA BAR" text inside on a white poster.

Discover

Discover: Lost Boys Pizza

Camden's world-first vampire pizzeria serves black charcoal pizza, killer cocktails, and a warm welcome for the weird and wonderful. 🧛

Laura Potier

Everything bagels topped with mustard, bacon, and sesame seeds stacked on a wooden cutting board.

Discover

Affordable Eats In London – Part V

We're back with another instalment of our popular series, Affordable Eats!

Eloise Wright

Four colorful Middle Eastern dishes in ceramic bowls on green tiles: roasted carrots with herbs, beetroot dip with rosemary, grilled eggplant with green sauce, and charred flatbread.

Discover

Discover: Bubala

Mediterranean. Vegetable-forward. Utterly delicious. We sat down with Bubala co-founder Marc Summers on the restaurant rewriting veggie dining.

Eloise Wright

A rich orange curry with meat and cream garnish served in a traditional copper-handled pan with ornate silverware on a wooden table.

Discover

Curry, Britain's unofficial national dish

From a 1747 recipe to 12,000 curry houses — the fascinating, complicated story of how curry became Britain's unofficial national dish. 🍛

Laura Potier

Three hands holding coffee cups together - two lattes with leaf latte art and one black coffee - viewed from above.

Discover

Coffee & Britain: a brief history of Colonialism, Enlightenment, repression and resurrection

Britain is famous for tea — but coffee got there first. Here's the fascinating story of how coffee rose, fell, and conquered Britain all over again. ☕

Laura Potier

Purple book cover titled "London Feeds Itself" edited by Jonathan Nunn, displayed against a colorful watercolor background with urban sketches.

Discover

Hawkker Book Club: London Feeds Itself

25 essays. 25 writers. One city seen through its food. Our review of Jonathan Nunn's London Feeds Itself — and why every Londoner should read it. 📖

Eloise Wright

A smiling barista in a black Balance Coffee t-shirt stands behind an espresso machine holding a portafilter in a modern coffee shop.

Discover

Discover: Balance Coffee

Top 5% of farms worldwide, fully traceable beans, delivered to your door. Meet Balance Coffee — the subscription built for people who take their cup seriously. ☕

Laura Potier

A hand holds a pink soft serve ice cream in a waffle cone on a sunny street with red and white striped awning.

Discover

Summer Essentials: Your Guide To London's Food & Drinks

Beer gardens, rooftop bars, riverside spots, park picnics & more — your complete guide to eating and drinking well in London this summer. ☀️

Laura Potier

A collage of vintage family photos overlaid on a weathered wooden surface, featuring a Lucky Star Chinese takeaway restaurant sign and images of people dining and posing together.

Book Club

Hawkker Book Club: Takeaway

A memoir about growing up behind the counter of a Welsh Chinese takeaway — and the sacrifice, racism, and love that came with it. A must-read. 📖

Eloise Wright

A smiling chef in a white t-shirt holds a freshly baked pizza in a modern kitchen with hexagonal tile backsplash.

Discover

Discover: Tom's Pasta

Tom Haydon taught himself pasta from YouTube videos. Now he runs one of East London's best Italian restaurants. We went to meet him in Hackney. 🍝

Eloise Wright

A bowl of rice noodles topped with charred greens, crushed peanuts, and sliced radishes, served with chopsticks.

Discover

Affordable Eats In London – Part IV

Ethiopian set menus for £8, Michelin-worthy pasta at lunch for £6.50, and Vietnamese sharing plates — London's best eats under £10, Part IV. 🍜

Laura Potier

Moroccan tagine with meatballs and fried egg served alongside traditional bread and harissa sauce on colorful ceramic dishes.

Seasonal

Must-try Eid al-Adha dishes from around the world

Tagine, maqluba, kibbeh, bolani & more — a tour of the incredible dishes prepared and shared across the world to celebrate Eid al-Adha. Eid Mubarak! 🌙

Laura Potier

A hand-painted protest sign on a wooden stick displays "ONE WORLD" in white letters with a colorful Earth illustration on black background.

Food Industry

Private Jets & Paper Straws: why small acts of environmental kindness still matter

Small acts of environmental kindness still matter, even if Kylie Jenner 's actions make them feel hopeless.

Eloise Wright

"The Yellow Kitchen" cookbook by Margaux Vialleron sits on a turquoise surface next to a white pitcher of milk and bowl of flour.

Book Club

Hawkker Book Club: The Yellow Kitchen

We speak with one half of the Salmon Pink Kitchen, author Margaux Vialleron, about her aptly-titled debut novel The Yellow Kitchen.

Eloise Wright

People enjoying takeaway food from cardboard containers on a striped picnic blanket in a sunny park setting.

Discover

Restaurants & Takeaways Around London's Parks

Sun's out, blanket's down — but what's for lunch? Our park-by-park guide to the best indie takeaways near London's favourite green spaces. 🧺☀️

Laura Potier

A person holding a towering stack of three different burgers wrapped in paper, including what appears to be a beef burger and a fried chicken sandwich.

Discover

Affordable Eats In London – Part III

Pizza from £3.95, a £1.30 burger, South Indian dosas & vegan chick'n wings — five brilliant London independents where you eat well for under £10. 🍕

Laura Potier

A man in a light green shirt tends to grapevines at a sunny vineyard while a woman and child play in the background.

Discover

Discover: Fairmile Vineyard

90 minutes from Paddington, award-winning sparkling wine, and views across the Chilterns. Meet Fairmile Vineyard — English wine at its finest. 🍾

Laura Potier

Three women laughing and enjoying white wine at an outdoor table under grapevines at a vineyard.

Discover

Discover: Terlingham Vineyard

Natural farming, award-winning wines, a badger-approved harvest strategy, and a gin made with their own grapes. Meet Terlingham Vineyard, Kent. 🍷

Laura Potier

Various Davenport wine bottles in different colors and styles arranged on a pink and peach geometric background.

Discover

Discover: Davenport Wines

30 years. 25 acres. Organic since before it was fashionable. We spoke with Will Davenport — one of English wine's true pioneers — on craft and sustainability. 🍷

Laura Potier

Hand holding a loaded fried chicken sandwich with avocado, cheese sauce, and crispy coating on a sesame bun.

Discover

Affordable Eats In London – Part II

Himalayan dumplings, NY pizza by the slice, fresh pasta, vegan tacos & buttermilk chicken — five brilliant London independents, all under £10. Part II. 🍜

Eloise Wright

A plate of spaghetti with rich tomato sauce on a marble surface, photographed from above.

Discover

Affordable Eats In London – Part I

Fish & chips for £7.50. Fresh pasta for £9.50. Japanese donburi for £9.20. Five of London's best affordable independents — where to eat well for less

Eloise Wright

A cyclist with a cargo bike stops outside e5 Bakehouse, located in a brick archway with bicycles parked nearby.

Discover

Discover: e5 Bakehouse

Sourdough classes, a railway arch, and a big idea. Discover e5 Bakehouse — East London's beloved bakery doing extraordinary things with bread and community. 🍞

Hawkker

A golden Yorkshire pudding filled with rich gravy and topped with roasted bone marrow, served on a white plate with a spoon.

Discover

British Pie Week: a guide to London's best pies

Willy's Pies, St. John, The Ginger Pig, Quo Vadis & more — our guide to five of London's most unmissable pies for British Pie Week. 🥧

Eloise Wright

A pink cookbook titled "The Female Chef" by Clare Finney & Liz Seabrook, featuring black and white photos of women cooking.

Seasonal

International Women's Day: Celebrating the female chefs redefining Britain's food scene

Anna Jones, Erchen Chang, Ravneet Gill, Zoe Adjonyoh — celebrating the female chefs and cooks reshaping British food, this International Women's Day. 👩‍🍳

Eloise Wright

Powdered sugar-dusted pastries arranged on wooden boards alongside sliced white cake on a decorative brown plate.

Seasonal

Best Festive Bites In London For Christmas 2021

The best festive treats and dishes to seek out around London for the Christmas and holiday season this year!

Eloise Wright

Overhead view of a brunch table with waffles, eggs, bacon, shakshuka in a cast iron pan, and coffee cups shared between diners.

Seasonal

Small Business Saturday: Supporting your local restaurants

Your local restaurant supports local farms, creates local jobs, and builds community. This Small Business Saturday — go show them some love. 🙌

Laura Potier

A slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream sits on a white plate, with pinecones decorating a wooden table.

Seasonal

Deconstructing American mythology: the true origins of Thanksgiving

From a fragile 1621 harvest feast to a Civil War-era political tool — the true, complicated origins of Thanksgiving, beyond the American mythology.

Laura Potier

Colorful vegan bowls filled with guacamole, salsa, quinoa, cherry tomatoes, corn salad, kale, and zucchini noodles arranged on wood.

Food Industry

Veganism: Finding agency in a global climate crisis

Meat and dairy use 83% of farmland but provide just 18% of calories. On World Vegan Day, here's what your plate has to do with the climate crisis. 🌱

Laura Potier

Hands using a pasta machine to roll out fresh yellow linguine noodles on a floured wooden surface.

Seasonal

Seasonal World Pasta Day: Food Cultures In The North & South Of Italy

50 shapes. 1,300 names. Egg vs no egg. Fresh vs dried. The fascinating differences between Northern and Southern Italian pasta, explained. 🍝

Laura Potier

Three jars of Korean condiments by BomBom: Gochujang chilli paste, Ssamjang soybean paste, and Kimchi Mayo, arranged on a pink background.

Discover

Discover: BomBom

Gochujang, Ssamjang, and Kimchi Mayo — Korean fermented condiments made for any cuisine. Meet BomBom Kitchen, the London brand bringing Korea to your table. 🌶️

Eloise Wright

Three stacked copies of the "East London Food" cookbook in pink, white, and mint green covers on a wooden stool.

Discover

East London Food: The People, the Places, the Recipes

Bubala, Dusty Knuckle, Hacha Bar, My Neighbours The Dumplings & more — our highlights from Rosie Birkett's essential East London Food. 📖

Eloise Wright

A cup of amber tea with a biscotti on a white saucer next to an open book and green plant on a turquoise wooden surface.

Discover

Discover: Chai Blue

A family recipe, a friendship, and a shared love of tea. Meet Chai Blue — the London brand bringing traditional, loose-leaf chai back to the kitchen. 🍵

Laura Potier

An elegant three-tiered stand displays scones on the middle tier and colorful petit fours on the bottom, with teacups and flowers nearby.

Seasonal

The origin and history of Afternoon Tea

It only dates back to the 1840s — invented by a Duchess who was hungry between meals. The surprisingly simple story behind Britain's beloved afternoon tea. 🫖

Laura Potier

A lush vegetable garden with rows of kale, leafy greens, and root vegetables growing in rich soil.

Seasonal

Growing for Wellbeing Week

Seeds, soil, and a little patience. For National Growing for Wellbeing Week, here's what getting your hands in the ground can do for your mind. 🌱

Eloise Wright

Two fluffy white bao buns filled with glazed pork belly and fresh cilantro on a white plate.

Discover

Discover Discover: YouBao

From a ceviche stall that didn't work out to one of London's best steamed bun vendors — meet YouBao founder Alejandro Sepulveda. 🥟

Laura Potier

A wine shop interior with wooden shelves displaying colorful wine bottles and a green bistro table with two chairs.

Food Trends

The best places for English, organic and natural wine

Tillingham, Forest Wines, Top Cuvee, Hockley Bottle Shop & more — the best independent places to discover English, organic, and natural wine. 🍷

Eloise Wright

A colorful salad with roasted beets, orange segments, walnuts, goat cheese, and mixed greens in a ceramic bowl.

Food Trends

Nutrition and Hydration week is a chance to rethink our relationship to food

Bold Bean Co, Kim & Chi, Daily Dose, Biomel — four independent brands making it easy to eat and drink better this Nutrition & Hydration Week. 🌱

Eloise Wright

A latte with leaf-pattern foam art and chocolate walnut bread slices on a wooden board, photographed from above.

Food Industry

How to open a coffee shop: advice from the experts

Take things slowly. Don't compromise on quality. Pay your taxes on time. Three independent coffee shop owners share their hard-won advice. ☕

Eloise Wright

HTML and CSS code displayed on a dark computer screen showing div elements with class names and styling attributes.

Food Industry

How does Google see your website, and why should you care?

Page titles, meta descriptions, and URLs — three simple tweaks that can make a real difference to how Google finds and ranks your food business website. 🔍

Zeid Bsaibes

Colorful Turkish delight and lokum sweets with pistachios and nuts arranged on dark slate surface.

Seasonal

Eid al-Fitr is a time for sweetness

Baklava, lokum, kleicha, and honey cake — a guide to the beautiful sweets shared across the world to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Eid Mubarak! 🌙

Laura Potier

A gourmet dish with hard-boiled eggs, crispy bacon, and colorful garnishes artfully plated on a white dish in a black bowl.

Seasonal

Spend Eat What You Want Day in one of London's unique spots

Fallow, Flor, Brat, Ayllu & The Farrier — five of London's most exciting and unique restaurants to visit for Eat What You Want Day. 🍽️

Eloise Wright

A slice of layered carrot cake with cream cheese frosting sits on a glass plate beside a white teacup and teapot.

Seasonal

Time for a Cuppa with Dementia UK

Put the kettle on, invite some friends, and raise money for Dementia UK. Here's everything you need to know about Time for a Cuppa week. 🍵

Laura Potier

A barista pours steamed milk from a metal pitcher into a coffee cup, creating latte art with a leaf design.

Food Industry

A simple guide to opening a coffee shop

Your USP, your experience, your budget, your people — the four things you need to think through before opening an independent coffee shop. ☕

Eloise Wright

Person holding smartphone displaying a map app with location pins and business listings, including a HEMA store marker.

Food Industry

Optimise Google My Business. Get Google onside

Setting up Google My Business is the start — optimising it is where the real wins are. A practical guide for independent food businesses. 🔍

Zeid Bsaibes

Hands typing on a MacBook Air displaying Google Analytics dashboard with charts, graphs, and website traffic data, with a coffee mug nearby.

Food Industry

Google My Business is your new must-have tool

46% of Google searches are looking for local businesses. Here's why Google My Business is the free, essential tool every independent food business needs. 🔍

Zeid Bsaibes

A pizza chef in white uniform and cap works in a kitchen, preparing pizza at the counter with a Coca-Cola cooler nearby.

Discover

Discover: Vincenzo's Pizza

He walked every neighbourhood in New York eating pizza, then built a brick oven in his garden. Meet Tom Vincent, the founder of Vincenzo's Pizza in Watford. 🍕

Laura Potier

Colorful decorated Easter eggs with peeling paint in blue, red, and orange sit in a wooden bowl.

Seasonal

Easter Eggs: a hunt for the chocolatey truth

Pagan goddesses, gold-leafed eggs for Edward I, and a German rabbit delivering treats — the surprisingly rich history of the Easter egg. 🍫🐣

Laura Potier

A golden chicken and leek pie in a cast iron skillet with flaky pastry crust, served alongside fresh herbs and tomatoes on a rustic wooden table.

Food Trends

Modern British cuisine, redefined

Nose to tail, local produce, bold flavour — Modern British cuisine is the UK's top trending food movement. Here are the restaurants leading the charge. 🍽️

Eloise Wright

An Asian woman in a colorful geometric jacket sits at a restaurant table, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.

Food Industry

Service Abnormal: recording the London food scene in the throes of a pandemic

Bikes, backpacks, and a phone through a window. Meet Service Abnormal — the Instagram series that documented London's indie food scene through a pandemic. 🎬

Eloise Wright

Various artisanal sourdough loaves with decorative scoring patterns arranged on a dark wooden surface.

Seasonal

What is Real Bread Week?

Real Bread Week is a celebration of additive-free bread, independent bakeries, and the simple joy of making a great loaf. Here's how to get involved. 🍞

Laura Potier

Colorful red, pink, and orange Chinese lanterns with calligraphy hang from strings against a dark night sky above traditional temple rooftops.

Seasonal

Chinese Lunar New Year: 5 essential foods

Sticky rice cakes, pineapple tarts, sesame balls & more — the five essential foods of Lunar New Year and the beautiful stories behind each one. 新年快樂! 🧧

Laura Potier

A hand holds pita bread dipped in shakshuka with runny eggs in a cast iron skillet, surrounded by Middle Eastern mezze dishes.

Discover

Discover: Honey & Co.

Three restaurants, four cookbooks, a podcast, and a deli stocked with finds from Jordan and Morocco. We sat down with the couple behind Honey & Co. 🍯

Eloise Wright

A plate of golden fried chicken topped with sliced chilies sits beside a bottle of Kold Sauce hot pepper sauce on a bright yellow background.

Discover

Discover: Kold Sauce

A Brooklyn-born creative director, a hundred failed fermentation attempts, and a lockdown epiphany. Meet Drew Wolf, the founder behind Kold Sauce. 🌶️

Eloise Wright

Whisky being poured from a bottle into a small glass tumbler, with additional glasses visible on a wooden surface.

Seasonal

Your Burns Night essentials

Haggis. Neeps and tatties. A good dram of whisky. Everything you need to know about Burns Night and the three essentials of the supper. 🥃

Laura Potier

3D illustration of e-commerce elements including a shopping cart, target, bar chart, and shopping bag emerging from a smartphone screen.

Food Industry

What you need to know before creating your webshop

Know your brand. Start small. Keep it simple. Expert advice for independent food businesses ready to launch their online shop — without the overwhelm. 🛒

Laura Potier

Fresh jelly-filled donuts dusted with powdered sugar displayed in wooden crates at a market stall.

Seasonal

Celebrate Hanukkah with these key foods

Crispy latkes, jam-filled sufganiyot, and chocolate gelt — the three essential foods of Hanukkah and the beautiful stories behind each one. 🕎

Laura Potier

Hands typing on a laptop keyboard at an outdoor wooden table with a notebook and pen nearby.

Food Industry

Why your business needs an online shop

Deliveroo and Just Eat are over-saturated — your storefront looks identical to your competitor's. Here's why independent food businesses need their own webshop. 🛒

Zeid Bsaibes

Three corn tortillas topped with red sauce, orange dots, sesame seeds, and green herbs on a wooden cutting board.

Discover

Discover: Truman Markets

250 traders, three food markets, and one of London's most iconic streets. We spoke with Truman Markets about Brick Lane, indie food, and building community. 🍜

Laura Potier

Hands carving a golden-brown roasted turkey with a carving knife and fork on a wooden cutting board.

Seasonal

How the turkey became a Thanksgiving hero

46 million turkeys. Presidential pardons. A novel from 1827. The surprisingly convoluted story of how the turkey became the star of Thanksgiving. 🦃

Laura Potier

Four friends laughing and enjoying pizza together at a restaurant table with white subway tile walls in the background.

Discover

Discover: Gordo's Pizzeria

From LA to New York to Dalston — Jesse Elias on launching Gordo's Pizzeria in a pandemic, making the best pizza he possibly can, and trap music. 🍕

Eloise Wright

A tabby cat sits on a restaurant's wooden A-frame chalkboard menu sign outside the entrance, with framed artwork visible in the background.

Food Industry

Why your menu should be easily searchable

Customers decide where to eat based on what they can find online. For independent food businesses, a clear, searchable menu can make all the difference. 🔍

Zeid Bsaibes

Assorted Indian sweets including almond-topped mithai and coconut laddu balls arranged in colorful paper cups on a wooden plate.

Seasonal

Celebrate Diwali with these delicious mithai

Halwa, laddoo, gulab jamun, barfi & more — a guide to the incredible mithai shared, gifted, and offered to deities during the Festival of Lights. 🪔

Laura Potier

A takeout box filled with falafel balls, fresh greens, and white sauce being held by someone's hand.

Discover

Discover: Lil Watan

Named after the Lebanese national anthem, designed after vintage Beirut lorries, sourced 100% from Lebanese traders. Meet Lil Watan — London's most authentic Lebanese street food truck. 🇱🇧

Laura Potier

A hand holds a towering burger with multiple beef patties, melted cheese, pickled onions, and fresh greens on a golden bun.

Discover

Discover: Oink Farmyard

Free-range British pork, global-inspired flavours, biodegradable packaging — and a burger called the Notorious P.I.G. Meet Oink Farmyard. 🐷

Laura Potier

Two children eating packed meals with vegetables and drinks at a school cafeteria table.

Shop Local

London food vendors supply free meals to schoolchildren

As the British government continues to fail lower-income families and children, local food industries step up.

Eloise Wright

Two glowing jack-o'-lanterns with carved faces sit on fallen autumn leaves in the dark, creating an eerie Halloween atmosphere.

Seasonal

More than just candy! Halloween treats around the world

It's not just sweets put into pumpkin-shaped buckets. Halloween is celebrated around the world with many, many tasty snacks.

Eloise Wright

A speckled ceramic bowl filled with glossy, red-orange gochujang-glazed cauliflower topped with sesame seeds and chili flakes.

Food Trends

Korean Gochujang looks to dethrone Sriracha as the new ‘it’ hot sauce

Move over Sriracha, there’s a new hot sauce in town.

Eloise Wright

A vibrant farmers market display featuring fresh oranges, peaches, apricots, cherries, grapes, and leafy greens with handwritten price signs.

Food Industry

How shopping local benefits the environment

We delve into the many environmental benefits of shopping locally.

Eloise Wright

Multiple white plates displaying gourmet meal components including salad, vegetables, meat, and dessert arranged on a wooden table.

Shop Local

Home Meal Kits: the (not so) surprising saviour of independent restaurants

As independent food vendors adapted to pandemic restrictions, home meal kits became their unlikely saviour.

Eloise Wright

A chef in an apron prepares food at "The Frenchie" food stall while customers wait in line at a bustling market.

Shop Local

Support small businesses & help your local economy thrive

You can support your local community through eating delicious foods.

Laura Potier

Hands holding colorful bowls of Mexican food including guacamole, salsa, and other traditional dishes on a vibrant striped tablecloth.

Discover

Discover: WAKA

Waka offers freshly made Nikkei cuisine.

Laura Potier

A loaded sandwich with glazed meat, pickled onions, jalapeños, and sesame seeds on a brioche bun, served on a wooden cutting board.

Discover

Discover: Papa Ji Food Truck

Papa Ji Food Truck serve up delicious, Indian-inspired street food.

Laura Potier

A white bowl filled with spiced fried chicken, tomato-based stew, white rice, and fresh diced vegetables on a wooden table.

Discover

Discover: Souldeliciouz

Souldeliciouz is an authentic Jamaican-Nigerian soul food vendor and catering company run by a husband and wife duo in London.

Laura Potier

A wheel of creamy Mont d'Or cheese with melted center sits on a wooden board, garnished with fresh rosemary sprigs.

Discover

Discover: French Comté (and others)

Delicious cheeses, charcuteries, and artisanal specialities at reasonable prices? French Comté has you covered.

Laura Potier

A woman wearing a colorful headwrap and silver arm jewelry prepares food while wearing gloves in a kitchen.

Discover

Discover: Abundance Foods

Abundance Foods offers decadent sweet treats good for your body AND your soul.

Laura Potier

Two bubble tea drinks with tapioca pearls and colorful straws sit beside pink orchid flowers and fortune cookies on a white table.

Discover

Discover: Tempo Tea Bar

Tempo Tea Bar is a Scotland-based healthy drinks bar.

Laura Potier

A professional espresso machine brewing coffee with ground coffee beans visible in the portafilter basket.

Discover

Discover: Edgcumbes

Edgcumbes are the experts of all things tea and coffee.

Laura Potier

A hand holds a pita wrap filled with falafel, fresh herbs, and colorful Mediterranean vegetables.

Discover

Discover: Shuk

Shuk offers Tel Aviv-inspired soft pita sandwiches with plenty of spices and key ingredients from the middle east.

Laura Potier

Two smiling women in red traditional Chinese tops prepare dumplings in a kitchen, with rows of uncooked dumplings on dark plates.

Discover

Discover: Dinner Ladies

The Dinner Ladies create beautiful and personalised dinner events you’re sure to remember.

Laura Potier

Various marinated olives in different colors and sizes displayed in white ceramic bowls on a wooden surface.

Discover

Discover: Spanish Gastro Larder

Open your mind to the many magical uses of extra virgin olive oils.

Laura Potier

A wooden table filled with colorful Filipino dishes including grilled meats, fresh vegetables, rice, spring rolls, and various dipping sauces served on blue and white plates.

Discover

Discover: FiliGrillz

Authentic Filipino BBQ street food with old school hip-hop? That’s a match made in heaven.

Laura Potier

Two halved burritos filled with quinoa, vegetables, and meat on a red napkin, showing the colorful cross-section of ingredients.

Discover

Discover: Bonnie Burrito

Bonnie Burrito brings you Tex-Mex with an unexpected Scottish twist.

Laura Potier

A smiling woman in traditional Ethiopian white dress with colorful trim and headwrap stands in a modern kitchen.

Discover

Discover: Fikre Kitchen

Learn more about Ethiopian culture, heritage and food at Fikre Kitchen.

Laura Potier

Wedges of soft white cheese with creamy interior on a slate board alongside green grapes and a glass of white wine.

Discover

Discover: Cheezelo

We chat to French national Eleonore about her gorgeous London cheese shop.

Laura Potier

Two chefs working together in a professional kitchen, with one chef smiling while preparing food at a stainless steel counter.

Discover

Discover: Fat Macy’s

Fat Macy’s is a social enterprise offering life-changing and creative menus.

Laura Potier

A gourmet burger with sesame seed bun and bacon sits on parchment paper on a wooden cutting board alongside fresh salad.

Discover

Discover: The BBQ Project

The father and son-owned business serve delicious BBQ-style meals.

Laura Potier

A spread of Italian dishes on wooden boards including arancini balls, burgers, pasta salad, and fries arranged on a rustic table.

Discover

Discover: Arancini Brothers

Hawkker speaks with the Arancini Brothers!

Laura Potier

A black chalkboard sign advertising "Wok Fresh Vegan Noodles" sits on a street outside Ninjō Noodle Bar.

Discover

Discover: Ninjō Noodle Bar

Learn more about Ninjō Noodle Bar!

Laura Potier

Biodegradable palm leaf plates, bowls, and wooden utensils arranged on a green background showcasing eco-friendly packaging.

Food Industry

Getting greener with your packaging ?♻️

We all need to be more environmentally-conscious these days, but making the right decisions on packaging and consumables for your food business is not straightforward. With so much information available on material-types, recyclability and re-usability, it’s hard to know what the best options are for going green. We’ve reached out to Disposable Green for a […]

Zeid Bsaibes

A chef uses a kitchen torch to caramelize a gourmet burger topped with crispy fried onions on a wooden cutting board.

Food Industry

Information is the appetiser – your food is the main…

During the market research phase for developing Hawkker we surveyed 75 street food eaters to understand how technology could be applied to improve the independent food customer-purchase journey. This is what we learned…

Zeid Bsaibes

Brown takeout containers with wooden utensils and sauce cup arranged on a gray surface.

Food Industry

You’ve nailed the food, now get the packaging right! ? ?

With a million-and-one decisions to be made as an independent food entrepreneur we know that sometimes a few pointers can save a lot of time. As part of our blog series to help small vendors, we’ve teamed up with our friends at GM Packaging to help answer a few of the common questions vendors have […]

Zeid Bsaibes

Hand holding smartphone displaying food delivery app with images of burger, pasta, pizza, sushi, and tacos in a cafe setting.

Food Industry

Street Food Must Embrace Technology to Succeed in the Digital Era

Street food is at the cutting edge of culinary innovation in the UK, but it needs the power of technology to take on the high street and satisfy the appetites of the digital-first consumer Eaters are Digital Natives Millennials and Gen Z – the terms used to describe the “digital native” generations of young people […]

Zeid Bsaibes

Blurred scene of people walking through a bustling outdoor market with colorful umbrellas and sunlight streaming through.

Food Industry

Markets Matter: The Importance of Independent Markets in the UK

The existence of local markets in the UK makes a real difference to our economy, our politics and our social cohesion. A 2015 report commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council and the National Association of British Market Authorities reveals the many ways in which local markets make a vital contribution to the UK […]

Zeid Bsaibes

A red food truck parked on a sunny city street with a menu board displayed outside and pedestrians walking by.

Food Industry

Top Tips For New Street Food Vendors

Are you thinking about becoming a street food vendor or new to the industry? Check out these tips from the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) Know that the money isn’t easy Do your financial planning – will selling street food cover your living costs now and in the future? Working for yourself can be very rewarding, […]

Zeid Bsaibes

Hand holding smartphone taking photo of street tacos on wooden board with beer and salsa in background.

Food Industry

Marketing Street Food to Millennials and Gen Z

Millennials & Gen Z’s have the highest visit frequency for out of home eating and make the biggest contribution to eating out spend – this is driven by their desire to try new things Millennials & Gen Z’s eat out of the home more often You need to engage a millennial audience though social media, […]

Zeid Bsaibes

Pink piggy bank sitting on top of a black calculator on a wooden surface against a white background.

Food Industry

How Much Does it Cost to Start A Street Food Business?

It’s true – starting a street food business is cheaper than setting up a fully-fledged brick and mortar restaurant. But expenses rack up quickly, even if you’re operating a street food stand or truck, so it’s important to consider gazebo/truck, transport, equipment and compliance costs before you hit the street with your dishes. Gazebo vs […]

Zeid Bsaibes

A colorful street map of London showing the Thames river winding through vibrant neighborhoods marked in blues, greens, reds and purples.

Food Industry

The London Market Directory

Street Food Vendors – there’s never been a better time to find locations to sell your food in the capital! We’ve spent hours researching London street food markets, food halls, venues and pub residencies to bring you a list of over 100 places you can apply to sell your incredible food.

Zeid Bsaibes