LDNGuide
The Best Pop-Ups & Residencies In London Right Now
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
If you find it hard to keep track of which pop-ups in London are new, which are old, and which are just delicious hallucinations you created in your mind, good thing it’s our job to remember. We’ve separated the wheat from the chaff and put together the best pop-ups, long-term residencies, one-off specials, and whatever else that you should be checking out (and more importantly eating) before they’re gone.
THE SPOTS
Jackson Boxer At The Corner @ Selfridges / Mon-Sun / Indefinitely
Jackson Boxer—the chef behind Brunswick House—is also behind this residency on the second floor of one of London’s most popular shopping destinations, Selfridges. The menu includes things like smoked butter tagliolini, pumpkin ravioli with chilli and sage, and potato cake with cod’s roe and chives.
Delli @ Netil Market / Weds-Sun / Until January
Delli, a grocery app which champions independent producers, is hosting some exciting pop-ups in their small Netil Market shop during the winter months. There’s Filipino food courtesy of TonTons, Tunisian fricassé and other street food from Lamiri Harissa, and a collab from JinJin and Onggi where you can get your hands on vegan kimchi.
Rack City Ribs @ Zebrano / Tues-Sun / Indefinitely
Rack City Ribs is a soul food-inspired residency inside Zebrano. They’re serving their meaty menu of brisket-loaded fries, Caribbean-style BBQ, and saucy-looking ribs at the Soho cocktail bar. You can also find their food at their long-standing residency at The Duke’s Head, a pub in Highgate.
Deeney’s Café @ William Morris Gallery / Tues-Sun / Indefinitely
Known for The Macbeth—a haggis toastie—this toastie specialist has set up shop in Walthamstow’s William Morris Gallery. You can try their cakes, roasted chicken sandwiches, as well as fry-ups for breakfast.
photo credit: Seeyousoon
Seeyousoon @ Oranj / Tues-Sat / Until 23rd December
Seeyousoon—a trio of chefs from Toronto—will be combining their Filipino, Vietnamese, and Chinese backgrounds to create an exciting menu of things like miso crème fraîche girolles, tempura green beans, and XO fish sandwiches. Find them at Shoreditch wine bar Oranj until the end of the year.
Ruben’s Reubens @ Brixton Market Row / Weds-Sun / Until end of November
Ruben’s Reubens are at Brixton’s Market Row for a meaty pop-up for the whole of November. Get involved in massive platters of smoked chicken, pulled brisket, and pork and burnt onion sausage. Keep an eye on their Instagram page for weekly specials.
Poon’s Wontoneria @ No.23 Charlotte Street / Tues-Sat / Indefinitely
Poon’s Wontoneria previously ran a lunch-only pop-up at No.23 Charlotte Street—a casual 16-seater spot in Fitzrovia—and now they're back for dinner. The menu will include their signature wontons in chilli vinegar, as well as dishes like pigs ear terrine and Chinese churros. Pre or post-wonton feast, get involved in the Darjeeling whisky highballs and yuzu chilli crystal margaritas.
Original Flava @ Market House / All week / Indefinitely
Brothers Craig and Shaun have brought their Caribbean-influenced cooking to Market House in Brixton. Original Flava serves dishes like honey fried chicken, goat curry, pepper prawns, and jerk BBQ-glazed jackfruit from Market House’s airy, industrial dining room.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Crisp Pizza W6 @ The Chancellors / Weds-Sun / Indefinitely
What can we say about Crisp Pizza W6 that hasn’t already been said? Unless you are strictly off social media and carbs, you’ll have heard about this pizza pop-up at The Chancellors pub in Hammersmith. It sells out pretty much as soon as orders open. But persevere for that blistered, charred crust, bubbling cheese, and splodges of creamy buffalo mozzarella.
Fabrizio Pinelli @ Renegade Urban Winery / Weds-Sun / Indefinitely
For the latest kitchen pop-up at Walthamstow winery Renegade, expect bistro-style dishes like a fresh Dorset crab muffin from Wednesday to Saturday, and a roast dinner on Sundays. Book a seat on the cosy, covered mezzanine for interesting wines and exciting dishes.
photo credit: Korat Firat
Happy Endings @ Pavilion Victoria Park / Thurs-Sun / Indefinitely
There’s your regular Ambrosia custard, then there’s French-style hot custard and sticky toffee pudding in a takeaway box. Happy Endings, a pop-up at Victoria Park’s Pavilion Cafe, does the latter. Drop by all winter for their “pudding hatch”, where you can find hot chocolate fudge cakes, malt soft serve, and of course, lots of sprinkles.
Cue Point @ Orbit Beers Brewery / Weds-Sun / Indefinitely
British-Afghan BBQ specialists Cue Point know their way around a grill. Their latest residency is at Orbit Beers Brewery in Walworth. Depending on the day, you can expect to find their excellent brisket nacos (naan tacos), a Sunday roast, or beef barbacoa platters on their winter days.
Esti @ TT Liquor / Sat-Sun / Indefinitely
Esti has done what our travel agent couldn’t—combine a trip to Greece and Australia. The restaurant, at TT Liquor in Shoreditch, started off as a six-month residency, and has been extended until further notice. It serves a menu of Greek-inspired dishes with Australian hospitality and seasonings sprinkled in. Think twice-cooked lamb ribs, served sharing-style, and octopus in a spicy tomato sauce.
photo credit: James Moyle
Tiella @ The Compton Arms / Weds-Sun / Indefinitely
One of our favourite London pubs, this Islington spot has got a new chef in the kitchen. Dara Klein brings a little bit of Italy to The Compton Arms in the form of Tiella. There are things like sage and anchovy fritti, and tagliatelle and cuttlefish ragu.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Black Hatch Pizza @ Bird & Tie / Tues-Sun / Indefinitely
Pizza and fried chicken are a winning combination. And thanks to this Detroit-style pizza pop-up that has opened in Clapham’s Bird & Tie, you can get both in the same place. Thick crust pizzas are topped with things like caramelised onions and mushrooms, or halal pepperoni and jalapeños.
Liu Xiaomian @ The Jackalope, W1G 7EQ / Tues-Sat / Indefinitely
A long-ish term fixture that nobody should take for granted, Liu Xiaomian is Charlene Liu and Liu Qian, a duo from Chongqing who started making noodles and dishing them out at markets a few years back. The menu features numbing wontons, three xiaomian noodles—one vegan, one pork, one pork and chickpea—all packing a Sichuan peppercorn punch, plus daily specials. They’ve also set up shop in Aldgate Tap, a walk-in situation in Aldgate where you’ll find the same menu.