Unmissable food to try in Upmarket, Brick Lane
For experience-seeking foodies, London’s food markets are one of the city’s greatest attractions. There are so many unmissable food to try in Upmarket, Brick Lane.
Their diversity, flair and culinary creativity is second to none. Plus, it gives you the perfect excuse to try LOTS of food.
And Brick Lane’s Upmarket is one of London’s best-kept food market secrets.
If you’re on TikTok or scrolling through Instagram Reels, you’ll see endless vloggers sharing their experience of Camden’s, Canary Wharf’s and Seven Dials’ finest.
While these are – absolutely – worth a visit, I was excited to be recommended one that I hadn’t heard so much about. And, unlike the ‘grammable neon signs and cheese-fest stalls that you see across other markets (again, as good as they are in their own right) the authentic Asian cuisine on show at Upmarket was a real stand out.
So, in this blog post, I’m so excited to share the highlights from my recent visit to Upmarket, including my must-visit stall recommendations.
The Upmarket experience
Located in the hustle and bustle of Brick Lane, Upmarket has been serving up authentic and creative street foods for two whole decades. It runs every weekend at Ely’s Yard, from 11-5:30 on Saturdays, and 10-5 on Sundays.
During this time, it has housed over 5,000 stallholders. As a result, it deservedly holds the reputation of one of London’s most dynamic and innovative food halls.
In the throng of 40+ stalls, you can find globe trotting street food, freshly prepared produce, and elegant sweet treats.
What makes Upmarket different to other London food markets?
Firstly, there’s its complete informality. Upmarket is brilliantly informal, with vendors in makeshift stalls, cooking their food right there in front of you. You can see for yourself just how fresh this food is. Then, immersed in this sea of incredible smells, you can explore the stalls, and enjoy lots and lots of tasters.
Secondly, there’s the breadth of the food on offer. The authentic regional cuisine spans Jamaica, Korea, China, Japan, Mexico, Latvia, Vietnam, Taiwan and many more. And, you can experience a huge variety of food and drink, including curries, fried chicken, bao buns, gyoza, dumplings, rice, poke bowls, noodles, burgers, and Korean corn dogs. Or, if you’ve got a sweet tooth, there’s mochi, bubble teas, juice made from freshly pressed sugarcane, and countless other sweet treats.
If you’re looking for more London Foodie content check out our Local’s Guide to Greenwich Market.
Then, there’s the fact that, once you’re done (or as a brief intermission between) eating, you can even go on to enjoy some well-earned retail therapy.
Within Upmarket, there’s also a corner dedicated to artisan creators, including jewellery, prints, homeware and ceramics. In true Brick Lane fashion, these stalls are full of vibrant, trendy products.
And, by this collection of stalls, you’ve even got direct access to The Brick Lane Vintage Market – the biggest vintage market in the entire UK. It’s filled with a brilliantly eclectic mix of vintage boutiques, selling everything from authentic Burberry trenches to reimagined sportswear.
So, it’s hardly surprising that Upmarket is beginning to emerge on TikTok feeds. And interestingly, one of the things that TikTokkers are commenting on the most is how closely Upmarket resembles a traditional Asian night market. Extensively, TikTok videos have commented on how it brilliantly recreates the same vibe and informal feel that characterises these historic food stalls.
As you can imagine, these descriptions made us even more excited to try Upmarket out for ourselves.
8 Unmissable foods you need to try in Upmarket, Brick Lane
Beijing Dumpling and Chinese
Because you absolutely can’t leave Upmarket without trying some authentic dumplings.
This stall is dedicated to dumplings and other classic Chinese dishes. As you’d expect, the dishes are light, fragrant and nourishing.
And, with its ‘Mix and Match’ dumpling platters, it’s the ideal stop for foodies that want to try as many different things as possible.
For more unmissable foods read our list of top TikTok famous food in Chinatown, London.
Makimayo
Although the Colonel is the undisputed biggest name in the West’s fried chicken scene, in Asia, the market has infinitely more variety.
So, in Chinatown and Upmarket alike, you can try innovations in fried chicken from a wide range of brands. Makimayo is one of my absolute favourites, thanks in no small part to its warm, oh-so-moreish popcorn chicken cones. Get yours covered in spices, seasonings and sauces, for the perfect afternoon snack.
Authentic Korean Hot Dog
This stall really does exactly what it says on the tin.
Throughout the last year, Korean hot dogs have been taking the internet by storm. This is, by and large, thanks to its ‘Gram-worthy cheese pull and inherently satisfying flavour profile.
So, if you’re new to this hot dog craze, be sure to add this stall to your hit list.
Pad Thai
Thai food has always been one of my absolute favourites. For me, it ticks all of the three big boxes – delicious, nutritious and intriguing.
At Pad Thai, you can experience Thai cuisine outside of the usual (albeit delicious) curries. Get stuck into warm spring rolls, freshly made pad thai (of course) and a more unusual omelette pad thai, which you’ll quickly realise is the fusion you never knew you needed.
Hong Kong Street Food
Even without our recommendation, this fun-filled, colourful stall is certain to catch your eye.
As its name suggests, the stall is home to all-things traditional Hong Kong street food, including crunchy potato twists, fishballs (also known as siu mai, which comes in the flavours curry, spicy and teriyaki), crunchy sushi rolls, and takoyaki (octopus balls).
If you’re heading out of London, the Chatsworth Christmas Market has some great food on offer.
chicha
If you’re interested to see what sets Argentinian street food apart, chicha is the stall for you.
Its specialty is empanadas – a baked pastry turnover, with a wide range of traditional meat or veg fillings, which is popular across Southern Europe and Latin America. At chicha, you can choose from meaty beef or chicken empanadas, or opt for veggie and vegan varieties, which include spinach & mozzarella, butternut squash & cheese, and black bean & sweetcorn.
T’s Fried Scoop
As much as we love a standard Dairy Milk bar, there’s nothing quite like trying a new, experimental sweet treat.
This stall is perfect for foodies that have tried every cake and biscuit in the book. It serves up deep fried ice cream, which has been coated in breadcrumbs and is then fried right in front of you. To finish, it’s topped with your chosen sauces.
It’s the brilliant balance of food’s best contrasts – hot and cold, sweet and salty – which make this a dessert you’ll keep thinking about throughout the following week.
City Juice
Finally, we couldn’t write up this list without including City Juice. After all, where else in the UK can you try freshly pressed sugarcane juice?
The juice is made right there at the stall – using what could well be the most satisfying machine of all time – and it can be enjoyed with added fruity flavours, or just as is.
We hope you enjoyed this round-up of unmissable food to try in Upmarket, Brick Lane! What food have I missed on this list? Are there any other stalls that you’d add to our hit list of unmissable food to try in Upmarket, Brick Lane?
Obviously, there was only so much good food I could eat in one visit! There are so many more stalls that I’ll be trying on my next visit.
So, if you’ve got any other places that you think we need to visit on our next trip to Upmarket, we’d love to hear them! Get in touch with us in the comments, or through our socials.
