Saawaros' Thai Residency above The Albert Arms, SE1

 

Saawaros, run by Thai chef-founder Ice, is popping up Wednesdays to Sundays in the upstairs room at The Albert Arms, SE1, serving superior Thai food.  

Saawaros means 'passionfruit', and this is Ice's passion project, which he started while working as a chef at Fallow, and has now been successfully running since late 2025.

The menu offers a good mix of dishes, including Thai takes on oysters and wings, salads, and the most popular dish, a slow-cooked beef short rib curry, which is a work of art.

It's my favourite from all the ones I've visited regularly.  It is serving Wednesday to Sunday evening (plus Saturday lunch) in a small, smart dining above the pub; book your table now!

When - Wednesday to Sunday evenings, and Saturday lunchtime.

Where - Above The Albert Arms, 1 Gladstone St, Elephant and Castle, London SE1 6EY

Booking - Book by DM on Saawaros' Instagram account

Map

Saawaros London on Instagram

The Albert Arms SE1 on Instagram

The Homie's Kitchen at Social, SE15

The Homie's Kitchen, led by chef Rajan, is in the kitchen at Social in Copeland Park, SE15 for the months of June to August, cooking up a a Latin and Asian-inspired menu, with a strong emphasis on fire cooking.

Typically service is Thursday to Sunday, but they are also serving on the evenings of major World Cup matches - check their Instagram for more details.

The menu is a delight, with lots to get excited about including tacos, curries, cuts of meat and more.  All with big screen sport to enjoy.

Rajan started The Homie's Kitchen a couple of years ago, and has been popping up around London since then, often just as one off nights.  This is his most ambitious project to date; go fo the delicious bites and to catch a chef following his passion.

When - Thursdays to Sundays - Plus major World Cup games (Check Instagram for more details)

Where - Social, Unit 10, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Rd, SE15 3SN

Bookings - via Social here 

Map

The Homie's Kitchen on Instagram

Social aka Copeland Social on Instagram

Tracks Pizza at The Hand of Glory, Lower Clapton, E8

Tracks Pizza - Millie & Charlie - have started a new residency at The Hand of Glory pub in Amhurst Road, E8, serving their thin & crispy pizzas Tuesdays to Saturdays.  

Tracks pizza started a couple of years ago, trading at markets, then had a big residency at a brewery in Herne Hill last summer, and a pub on the Kingsland Road most recently, perfecting their flavours and technique along the way.  

Great pizzas - join the queue! 

When - Tues-Sat - evenings + all day on Saturday

Where - The Hand of Glory, 240 Amhurst Rd, Lower Clapton, E8 2BS

Booking - via JaguarShoes

Map 

Tracks Pizza on Instagram

The Hand of Glory pub on Instagram 

Lagom at The 3 Compasses, Dalston

Lagom is chef Elliot Cunningham, who has been popping up around London for several years, and is now serving burgers, buns and more at 3 Compasses in Dalston, E8, Tuesdays to Sundays.

Elliot is a big fan of fire cooking, and his  burgers and buns are really worth the visit (I came all the way from SW4).  I had the lamb burger, with Greek spices and even a dash of yogurt, which was spectacularly good.  I need to nip back to try some more; he also does a smash burger, a chicken bun, and a fried celeriac bun.

& don't forget to order a portion of the triple-fried potatoes - these are seriously addictive.

When - Tuesdays - Sundays

Where - The 3 Compasses, 99 Dalston Lane, London E8 1NH

Bookings - via 3 Compasses' website

Map

Lagom on Instagram

3 Compasses on Instagram

Rice Paddy's Thai Residency at The White Horse in Peckham

Rice Paddy - Irish chef Paul Asher - has taken over the kitchen at The White Horse pub in Peckham, serving his Northern Thai dishes on Tuesdays to Sundays.

Paul has worked in some great restaurants both in the UK and Thailand, and has a great love and understanding of the cuisine.  

I have eaten his food many times over several residencies around South London, and I'm delighted to see him in his most ambitions residency yet.  His food is so good, especially his curries, and he is also doing both his take on Sunday Roasts and sharing platters on Sundays and a festive set menu designed for groups in the run up to Christmas.

It's always a joy to visit Paul, and see what is new on the menu.  When I first visited him at The White Horse I had his chicken wings which were so hot I had to go running back to the bar for more drinks!

When - Tuesdays to Sundays 

Where - The White Horse, 20-22 Peckham Rye, London SE15 4JR

Book via - The White Horse

Rice Paddy on Instagram

The White Horse on Instagram

Out Back at The Hawke, Victoria Park Village, E9

Out Back is a project from chef Lewis Simmons - aka Simmo - who has moved his smoker in to the back yard of the Hawke pub in Victoria Park Road, E9, and is cooking up lots of treats in the kitchen.

Simmo has been cooking around London for several years, working for other BBQ outfits, and this is his first proper solo residency.  Expect lots of slow cooked meats - the smoked pork belly rib is insanely good - and his is also doing Sunday Roasts.  Booking strongly recommended.

Out Back is serving at The Hawke on Wednesdays to Sundays, including from lunchtime at the weekends.

 When - Wednesdays to Sundays 

Where - The Hawke Pub, 235 Victoria Park Rd, E9 7HD

Booking - via The Hawke Pub

Map

Out Back on Instagram

The Hawke Pub on Instagram

Melanie Blatt's Full Fillings Food at The Londesborough, N16

Full Fillings Food is a new(ish) burger pop-up from former All Saints star Melanie Blatt, now serving at The Londesborough pub in N16, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.  

The concept is big filled buns, and there are currently 3 on the menu: Mexican-inspired beef birria,  Caribbean-inspired chicken, and a veggie mac n cheese one (a genius idea!).  I had the beef birria, which came with a really good gravy; a vital part of the experience.

The Londesborough is a big corner pub, with seating inside and out, so you should have no trouble getting served (but it's always safest to book (link - The Londesborough) and you may also get to meet Mel!

When - Tuesday and Thursday evenings (& on Uber Eats & Just Eat)

Where - The Londesborough, 36 Barbauld Rd, London N16 0SS

Bookings - via The Londesborough

Map

Full Fillings Food on Instagram

The Londesborough on Instagram

Swilipino's Swedish-Filipino Cooking at the ESEA Centre in Dalston

 

Swilipino - serving a mix of Swedish and Filipino dishes - is now serving Weds-Sat at The ESEA Community Centre in Englefield Road, N1, until December 2025.  I visited a few weeks ago and loved it; big bold flavours in a very nice setting.  I'd strongly recommend the curry goat (above), the Ginataang scallop; and the dessert - an oat lace cookie ice cream sandwich (below).  yum!

"Swilipino began as a creative identity and food project by Tintin Jonsson in 2018—a photographer turned chef in search of a new creative outlet and a deeper understanding of her dual heritage. Organically turning it into a catering and event business based in London, Tintin cooks Filipino-inspired dishes through the lens of her Swedish-Filipino background. She often draws from the southern Philippines, where her mother is from, blending traditional flavors with Swedish nostalgia to create what she playfully calls “frankenfood.”

Her cooking is a celebration of connection—an exploration of the shared threads between cultures, rather than the divides. Instead of dwelling on the confusion that dual identity can bring, she embraces it with a “full cup” mentality.

Tintin also spent years working as a development chef at the East London favorite My Neighbours the Dumplings, where she honed her skills in dumpling-making— which she has lovingly woven into the Swilipino identity.

Cartoons and animation are Tintin’s biggest sources of inspiration, and that joy and color shine through in her food. Expect big flavors, saturated colors, and definitely more chili than you’d typically find in traditional Filipino or Swedish dishes—because she likes it hot!"

When - Weds-Sat til mid December 2025

Weds-Fri evenings, and Sat all day from 12 noon

Where - ESEA Community Centre, 12-14 Englefield Rd, London N1 4LS

Bookings - tintin@swilipino.com

Map

Swilipino on Instagram

Kaunter's 4 month residency at Giacco's, N5

Kaunter - from chef Jemma Harrison - is now serving at Giacco's, 176 Blackstock Road, N5, Tuesdays to Saturdays til early December 2025.  It's a regularly changing menu - 'think Eastern Europe meets New York Deli' - which in practice means big comforting dishes like chicken schnitzel, cod roe, home-cured sardines and cherry sorbet.  

I visited for Saturday lunch a few weeks ago and loved it.  Lots of imagnination and creativity in the cooking, using great, locally sourced produce.  Plus - a really good wine list, cocktails and beers.  

It's on til early December - don't miss it!

Her journey began at Petersham Nurseries, Richmond back in 2014, before heading through kitchens like Koya, Westerns Laundry, Jolene, the Marksman Group and Camille — soaking up inspiration (and lessons) from every stop.

With a background in art and design, Jemma brings a creative eye to her plates. Her cooking is inspired by her Jewish British upbringing, her family’s love of food, and the nostalgia of childhood comfort, British classics and her love of fresh pasta — think Eastern Europe meets New York deli. Her deep respect for the land comes through in her carefully considered menus and seasonal ingredient choices.

Growing up, Jemma spent weekends at her dad’s home in Suffolk, right next to a working pig farm. She would often sneak in to see what was happening — a curiosity about food and its origins that has stayed with her ever since.

When - Tuesdays - Saturdays til early December 2025

Evenings, and all day Saturday

Where - Giacco's, 176 Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA

Booking - via Giacco's here

Map

Kaunter on Instagram

Giacco's on Instagram

Marie Mitchell's Residency at Hometipple, Walthamstow

Scottish mackerel with sorrel sauce

Marie Mitchell is currently in the kitchen at Hometipple, the wine shop and restaurant in Walthamstow, E17, cooking a Caribbean menu, including lots of great fish dishes.  She is serving Tuesdays to Sundays, including lunches on Saturdays and Sundays.

I have now been twice.  Great food, especially the fish, but also jerk chicken,vegetarian dishes like roast aubergine and chickpeas (above), salads and some very delicious desserts.

"Fresh from winning the Fortnum & Mason Debut Cookery Book Award 2025 for her celebrated cookbook Kin, Marie shares vibrant British Caribbean flavours including jerk pork with coriander and lime sauce, baked whole escovitch fish with catch of the day, and her signature corn bread with thyme cream cheese.

Perfectly paired with chilled reds, crisp whites, and refreshing rosés for those long, lazy summer evenings."

When - Tuesdays to Sundays til end of August 2025

Where - Hometipple, 34 Orford Rd, London E17 9NJ

Bookings - via Hometipple

Map

Marie Mitchell on Instagram

Hometipple on Instagram

Fontella's Summer Residency at Bottle + Rye in Brixton

Monkfish carpaccio

Fontella - aka young chefs James and George - are in the kitchen at the Bottle & Rye bar in Brixton for the summer, serving Tuesdays to Saturdays with a great menu of small plates, freshly cooked from the best produce.  They serve in the evenings, except for Saturdays when they are open from lunchtime, but with a choice of sandwiches - made to their same exacting standards - until the main menu appears in the evening.

Grilled Red Mullet

The food is great, and they create a fun vibe in the bar.  They love their music - 60s R&B singer Fontella Bass is the inspiration for their name - and you can also expect to hear lots of other great tunes.

Warm Peach & Mozzarella salad

"James and George are a duo who first crossed paths in primary school and then later joined forces again in a pub kitchen where they discovered their shared passion for food. They previously worked in restaurants including : Chez Bruce, Trullo and Lita. ​

Fontella embraces a nomadic spirit, offering a European small-plate menu that reflects a nose-to-tail ethos, celebrating the whole ingredient with bold, thoughtful cooking.

Here for the summer — swing by for delicious food, great wine, and terrace vibes that complete the Bottle + Rye experience."

When - Tuesdays to Saturdays, including from lunchtime on Saturdays

Where - Bottle + Rye, Ground Floor, 404-406 Market Row, London SW9 8LD

Booking - Via Bottle and Rye here

Map

Fontella on Instagram

Bottle + Rye on Instagram

Lawrence Barrow's Seafood Suppers at The Sea, The Sea in Hackney

Chef Lawrence Barrow has taken over the kitchen and - small - dining space at The Sea, The Sea in Hackney for a 2 month pop-up series, Wednesdays to Fridays, serving the best of British seafood to diners, six seats at a time.  I was  lucky enough to go during the preview week, and was blown away by the food and the experience.

The Sea, The Sea is a seafood depot, taking the best of the catch from Cornwall, Scotland and elsewhere, and then supplying it to some of London's best restaurants.  During the run of the pop-up, Lawrence will be speaking to the people at the harbours, finding out what catch has just come in, and getting the best sent up for his diners.

This means that the menu will change every week, if not ever day.  When I was there I had several dishes, which are likely to not still be on the menu, but as an illustration they were...

Aged Ikijime Trout

BBQ Octopus

BBQ Mackerel Teriyaki

Cornish Cacciocco - a fish stew with 5 fish

Plus - one I didn't have - Fish Currywurst on the grill - Monkfish sausages.

It's a brilliant experience, and the food is at the next level.  They are also serving well-picked wines to go with your dinner, and so you won't get thirsty.  If you have a mix of dishes between you, and wine, you should expect to pay something like £70 per head.

When - Wednesday to Friday evenings in July and August, 5pm-9.30pm 

Where - The Sea, The Sea Hackney, 337 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA

Booking - via The Sea The Sea here

Map

Lawrence Barrow on Instagram

Table at 464 in Kingsland Road, E8 - New venue looking for Pop-ups

I don't often write about venues, but I wanted to give Ernesto's new bar a plug.  He is trying to host pop-ups and guest chefs as part of his bar and restaurant's business. 

I first met Ernesto a couple of years ago, when he was running a pop-up called Embers, a fire-cooking pop-up at the Renegade Urban Winery in Lockwood Way, E17.  Then it went quite quiet, until I got a message a couple of months ago that he had opened a new wine bar and restaurant at 464 Kingsland Road, E8, called Table at 464.

Ernesto has spent the past 9 months or so completely renovating the site, from the floor to the walls and ceiling, and putting in a new kitchen and bar.  It's clearly been a labour of love, and it now looks great - to the point that it looks like it's always been there.  It serves independent natural wines - I tried two chilled reds when I was there - and is a very friendly and laid back place. 

As well as his own food offering, Ernesto is looking for other chefs to bring their cooking to the kitchen through pop-ups and residencies.  Contact him via Instagram DMs - here.

When - Open Weds-Sat evenings from 5pm

Where - 464 Kingsland Road, E8 4AE

Map

Table at 464 on Instagram

Table at 464 - including booking link

C & C Ice Cream Co's Real Fruit Ice Cream at Vinegar Yard, SE1

 

C & C Ice Cream Co are popping up for the summer at the entrance to Vinegar Yard, the street food court and outdoor space in St Thomas St, SE1, near to London Bridge Station.  C & C serve the New Zealand style Real Fruit Ice Cream, where frozen berries are blended into ice cream in a specially imported Little Jem ice cream maker to create a smooth, fruity soft serve, either in a cone or a cup.

I tried this last week, and it's honestly some of the best ice cream I've ever had!  So smooth, so fruity, and so delicious.  They are currently offering a choice of 3 - Mixed Berry, Cherry, and a weekly special, and open Thursdays to Sundays.  

You do not need to go into Vinegar Yard to have one - they are serving from their pink hut at the entrance.

When - Thursdays to Sundays for Summer 2025

Where - At the entrance to Vinegar Yard, 72-82 St Thomas St, SE1 3QX

Map

C and C Ice Cream Co on Instagram

Flock's Rotisserie Chicken at Bruno, E9

 

Flock - chefs Lucy Timm and Florrie Kickham - are popping up til the end of June 2025, Thursdays to Sundays, at Bruno, the wine bar in Victoria Park Village, E9.  Flock's menu is a delight - they do rotisserie chicken (their rotisserie is sitting outside the bar), plus steak tartare, cassoulet, and even a delicious chocolate mousse.  They even do takeaway baguettes to enjoy in the park.

Flock only started a couple of months ago, initially with a pop-ups in Camberwell, and with food this good expect to hear lots more from them.  Catch them before the end of June in E9, then look out for further announcements on their socials.

When - Thursdays - Sundays til 29th June 2025 - Thursday and Friday evenings, and Saturdays and Sundays from lunchtime.

Where - Bruno, 211a Victoria Park Rd, E9 7JN

Bookings - via Bruno

Map 

Flock on Instagram

Bruno on  Instagram

Sho Foo Doh's Japanese Residency at Filly Brook in Leytonstone

 

Prawn & squid okonomiyaki by Sho Foo Doh

Sho Foo Doh - led by Japanese chef & DJ Fumio Tanga - has taken over the kitchen at the Filly Brook bar in Leytonstone, E11, cooking Japanese '(un)classics' and his very popular okonomiyaki, Wednesdays to Sundays.

Fumio is one of the originals from the London street food and pop-up scene - I remember eating his food in a coffee shop in 2011 - and it is always good to see a new residency.  The menu is pretty extensive, with about ten of the (un)classics (including a tuna tostada, and tonkatsu, a deep fried pork cutlet), plus three okonomiyaki (pork, kimchi & cheddar, prawn and squid, and braised shiitake & mozzarella (vegetarian, can be made vegan).

I hope that this is a long-running one - great food, great bar.

When - Wednesdays to Sundays from May 2025

Where - Filly Brook, 392 Grove Green Rd, Leytonstone, London E11 4AP

Map

Book a space - on their site here

Sho Foo Doh on Instagram

Filly Brook on Instagram

Tracks Pizza at Bird House Brewery Taproom in Herne Hill

 

Tracks pizza is now serving Fridays and Saturdays at the Bird House Brewery in Herne Hill, with a choice of their own sour dough pizzas cooked to order.  

Tracks was set up by Millie and Charlie following an idea they had when they were on holiday.  When they got home they bought their first pizza oven, and started trading at weekend markets last year.  This is their first 'proper' residency.

The pizzas are great - they make their own own dough, and use a creative combination of toppings.  I had the Hot Pep, which has tomato, nduja, and hot honey among it's toppings, providing a mix of sweetness and heat.

Go and catch a rising star!

When - Fridays from 4pm and Saturdays from 1pm - until June 2025 or so

Where - Bird House Brewery, Arch 1127, Bath Factory Estate, 41 Norwood Rd, London SE24 9AJ

Map

Tracks Pizza on Instagram

Bird House Brewery Taproom on Instagram

Seouls of Mischief's Burgers at the Pretty Decent Beer Co taproom near Victoria Park

 

Seouls of Mischief is a new burger co now serving Weds-Sun at the Pretty Decent Beer Co taproom in Bow Wharf, E3, just minutes from Victoria Park.  It's a big, double patty aged-beef burger, very creatively presented (maybe this was just the day I was there, but I doubt it!).  

Seouls of Mischief is a sister company to Mexican Seoul, the restaurant next door to the taproom, which fuses Mexican and Korean cuisine in very inventive and tasty ways.

Elsewhere on the menu are other buns - chicken, fish, and vegan, plus a lot of sides including these hash browns, which are served with a dipping gravy.

It's a great addition to the taproom, which seems to be busier every time I go, and stocks a very good range of Pretty Decent's craft beers.

When - Wednesdays to Sundays

Where - Unit GF1, Bow Wharf, 221 Grove Rd., Old Ford, London E3 5SN

Map

Booking page

Seouls of Mischief on Instagram

Pretty Decent Beer Co on Instagram

Lá Lốt's 2 Week Vietnamese Pop-up at Naughty Piglets in Brixton

Lá Lốt - from Vietnamese chef Eric Wan - has been popping up around London since February 2024, spending a few days or a few weeks at different bars and restaurants across London and beyond.  This week and next (until Saturday 15th March 2025) he will be at Naughty Piglets, a restaurant and bar at 28 Brixton Water Lane, Brixton, where he his serving a modern Vietnamese menu - I particularly recommend the chicken lemongrass saté sweet basil (pic above) which I had a couple of nights ago.

Eric is classically trained, and worked at Dinner by Heston prior to launching Lá Lốt.  If you miss Eric in Brixton fear not - he is likely to be popping up somewhere else in the city before long; he was last year's most active pop-up chef and is likely to be this year's too.

"Lá Lốt is a community-driven concept that explores Saigonese cooking with a modern touch. Our approach revolves around experimenting with street food recipes, embracing both familiar classics and innovative creations, all while paying homage to the fabric of Southern Vietnamese flavours.

The inspiration for Lá Lốt is drawn from Chợ Lớn, a historic neighbourhood nestled along the Saigon River with a thriving Chinese diaspora. Its narrow streets are lined with food carts and hole-in-the-wall eateries that are as diverse as they are delicious—a true embodiment of Saigon’s street food culture.

Pulling from rich history and cultural depth, our dishes are thoughtfully crafted to taste and feel nostalgic. We preserve the underlying flavours and present them through a modern lens, delivering an experience that blends tradition and creativity—an ode to both old and new."

When - Tues-Sat evenings til 15th March 2025

Where - Naughty Piglets, 28 Brixton Water Lane, London SW2 1PE

Booking via SevenRooms

Map

Lá Lốt on Instagram

Naughty Piglets on Instagram

Jemma Harrison's Sunday Pop-up at Giacco's, N5

 

Jemma Harrison, a British chef, is doing a short pop-up series at Giacco's, a bar and restaurant in Highbury, N5.  She was there last Sunday (2nd), and will be there this Sunday (9th Feb 2025), cooking a very comforting menu with fresh produce and pasta.

I loved the two dishes I tried last weekend - the fried skate (below), and the angolotti del plin (above) - small pinched parcels of pasta with chicken and cabbage.

One trend we've seen emerging recently is the rise of these very short term events - often just a long weekend or even a day - giving the host restaurant more variety in their offering, and letting independent chefs spread their wings by trying new things.

Jemma is only doing one more date at Giacco's - this Sun 9th - but follow her to see where she will be next, and follow Giacco's to see who their next guest in the kitchen will be.

When - Sun 9th February 2025

Where - Giacco's, 176 Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA

Map

Booking page

Jemma Harrison on Instagram

Giacco's on Instagram