Street Food Spotlight – Issue #4

I’ve eaten in multiple Michelin-starred (#HumbleBrag) and I’ve even I’d be hard-pressed to think of a more enjoyable eating experience then getting down and dirty with a fried chicken burger and a cold beer. Eating at some of the best street food stalls across the country isn’t an easy job, but someone’s got to do it, right? Thankfully for you, that someone is me.

The last few years have been really rough for independent traders and the hospitality industry has taken the brunt of that hardship. Each iteration of this guide intends to highlight some of the most talented people across the country serving out some of the most delicious food, whether that's a pop-up that was started by furloughed chefs or a mom and pop operation that's been going for donkey's years.

You can check out Issue #1, Issue #2, and Issue #3 for a couple of other outstanding street food stalls I’ve championed but read on here if you want to find out what Brighton’s Caribbean food scene is like, why fish and chips is getting a much-needed makeover, and how you can get your hands on the world’s sexiest looking parmo. There’s all that, and more, in this edition of Street Food Spotlight.

If you ever find yourself wandering around Brighton with a deep and insatiable craving for the sticky char of jerk chicken, then ‘Dutch Pot’ is the name you should be throwing in your Google Maps. This Caribbean eatery specialises in Jamaican street food and expertly scorched crisp jerk that’s cooked in homemade jerk pans. Saltfish fritters, curry goat, rice and peas – this lot have got it all.

Rocking up in spots around Cambridge, Newmarket and beyond, Pimp My Fish is a van serving traditional fish and chips alongside some untraditional riffs on chip shop classics. The fried-to-order fish is all crispy batter and flaky fish while dishes like The Del Toro (a crispy fish finger burrito with Asian slaw, sriracha, mango chutney and Saturday night curry sauce) and The B.I.G Burger (panko cod loin with wasabi tartare, spicy roquito peppers, iceberg and candied lemon on brioche) prove Pimp My Fish’s range. Go fishing this weekend, MOB.

Timi William and Azeez Olayide are the two Nigerian boys behind 2 Nigerian Boys. With a menu that boasts various stews served with smoked jollof rice and fried plantain, this street food stall can be found at Spitalfields Market on the reg. Both the hot and mild hand-ground chilli sauces go great with everything from slow-cooked lamb to off-the-bone chicken. Even the vegetarian spinach stew is an absolute banger.

Middlesborough born and bred, Parmogeddon have got outposts in Manchester and Newcastle where you can find them throwing out hearty parmos, burgers, and loaded fries. If you don’t know what a parmo is it’s basically a fried chicken breast that’s covered in a rich, creamy béchamel, topped with a serious helping of cheese, and shoved under the grill until that cheese is all melted and gooey. It’s not one for the Joe Wicks fans out there. But it is one for the food fans out there. Get involved.

Introducing Harlem fried chicken to Birmingham, Yardbirds is a staple on the street food circuit for their stacked fried chicken burgers, crispy chicken strips and fries. They even do a gravy burger where they give their classic buttermilk fried chicken thigh company in the form of American mustard gravy, cheese, bacon, house mayo and lettuce in a brioche bun. Serve that with seasoned skin-on fries for a meal and a half.