Last Friday, the only thing I could think about to start the weekend with was a big, fat juicy burger. Luckily I didn’t have to travel far for my grilled meat fix, as Street Feast night market is open in nearby Dalston every Friday and Saturday throughout the summer.
I went to The Long Table night market last year in the bitter cold and loved it, but Street Feast is a much slicker affair. Based in Dalston Yard, opposite Dalston Junction Station, Street Feast is the most fun night out in East London. Not only can you enjoy Negronis and Meantime Craft Beer under twinkling lights in the open air with DJ sets, but each night brings a new line-up of London’s best street food vendors.
We visited just after 6pm and luckily there were no queues to get in – just a quick bag search and we were in. When we arrived, the yard already had a buzzing, relaxed atmosphere and there were a few spots left at the large wooden communal tables and the leather sofas in the bar area.
While Dalston nightlife isn’t always for everyone, the crowd at Street Feast is a fun mix of locals, families, the after-work crowd and foodies – even dogs are allowed in.
We had planned to pick up some burgers, but after doing a few laps of the yard we saw that the most popular dish was the enormous Pulled Pork Roll from The Rib Man. We immediately joined the queue for a Pull Pork Roll (£6) drizzled with BBQ sauce (#HolyFuck sauce is another option) to share.
The pulled pork was juicy, tender and marinated in subtle herbs and spices. It was piled high atop a large, crusty white roll with the insides hollowed out to make more room for the scrumptious pulled pork. The roll is very substantial, so if you’re with someone who doesn’t mind a bit of messiness, grab one to share. There is also a super-size portion available at £10 – it’s a real beast.
Street Feast usually hosts a different burger trader each weekend and on this particular Friday is was Mother Flipper (others have already included Honest Burgers and Bleecker St Burgers).
Mother Flipper’s USP is its candy bacon (coated and grilled in maple syrup), so we ordered a Candy Bacon Flipper (£7). The lean, well-seasoned patty was cooked medium (just how I like it) and was nicely charred while oozing meat juice. It was sandwiched inside a glossy sesame-covered brioche bun and garnished with the most addictive candied bacon, gooey American cheese, lettuce, sliced raw onion, pickles, mustard and ketchup.
The burger tasted incredibly good and I would happily follow them around London’s food markets to order it again and again. The guys were also very friendly, kindly offering to cut my burger in two when I asked for a knife. If you love Lucky Chip, you will definitely love Mother Flipper.
We weren’t planning on getting dessert, but the selection of cakes, cheesecake and cupcakes at Sweet Tooth Factory are too hard to resist.
The Peanut Butter Jelly Cheesecake (£3.50) was baked with a subtle hint of peanut butter on a fine biscuit base and the strawberry jelly topping was luscious and fruity, rather than being overly sugary.
The generously sized Chocolate Guinness Cake (£3) was even tastier and very indulgent. The Guinness chocolate cake was moist, rich and dense, topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting and milk chocolate shavings. Sweet Tooth Factory’s cakes are worth leaving a little room for and could easily be paired with a craft beer (or taken home and enjoyed with a pot of tea, like us).
Street Feast is a fun place to start the weekend and make the most of the summer’s warm weather with some tasty bites. Keep an eye on the schedule for new traders and events.
For more information and weekly line-ups, visit: www.streetfeastlondon.com
All photos by Cherie City
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