Foodies unite, for the time to rain down judgment has come. The best of the best that the UK’s street food scene has to offer are assembling at the British Street Food Awards, and it is up to you to crown a victor. Who is the best street food vendor in the UK? What is the best street food dish in the UK? Will an underdog come up victorious against the Goliaths of the scene? It’s up to you (and a panel of esteemed judges) to decide.
This summer, from August 18-20, The British Street Food Awards are bringing the grand finals of their deliberations to East London’s Hackney Bridge. Attendees will get the chance to try out delicious food from up-and-coming food vendors as well as those with already solidly established reps.
Now, the competition counts such institutions as MEATliquor and Bao among their previous winners, so you could well get a chance to try London’s next big thing. You’ll be able to lay claim to having tried out the next cult London spot ‘before they were cool’.
Dishes on offer will include “Cajun chicken bowls from LJ Hugs, Char siu pork and tiger prawn rolls from the Isle of Wight’s Smoking Lobster, Beef cheek hash browns from Hash Hut, and Iraqi fusion dishes from Amani Kitchen“.
The awards on offer
Thousands of entries from around the country have been whittled down, across multiple heats, to the 15 finalists vying for the grand prize. The winner will then get to represent the UK at the European Street Food Awards, taking on international heavyweights. Should they do well there, they may even get to compete against the Americans at the US Street Food Awards in 2024.
Obviously, all of the vendors are competing for the grand title of Street Food Champion. This will be judged by a panel of cookbook authors and Michelin-starred chefs from Hackney, but a number of other awards are also up for grabs. These are the People’s Choice, Entrepreneur of the Year, the Future Food Legend Award, the Spice Award, the Best Looking, and the Sustainability Award.
Said Richard Johnson, the founder of Food Mutiny, which hosts the British Street Food Awards, European Street Food Awards and USA Street Food Awards:
“Hackney was the birthplace of the street food revolution, so it feels appropriate to bring the very best of British street food talent – the winners of five regional heats – back to East London for the public, and our amazing panel, to vote on our champions”
Head to the website to find out more, and to grab tickets for the day. Early bird tickets are currently available for just £8, which nets you entry, a vote on the best street food dish, and a free Cobra beer or mocktail on arrival. General sale tickets will cost £10, with tickets also available on the door on the day for £12.
The British Street Food Award Finals will take place at Hackney Bridge, E15 2SJ, on August 18-20.