Best Menu EVER!

After five national heats, our expert judges – and the British public – have chosen the 16 finalists to compete at the 2023 British Street Food Awards finals. And everyone’s excited. Tickets for Hackney Bridge, August 18-20, are selling out fast. See limited availability here.

Finalists are entering two dishes each in a series of categories. Our judges (Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Richard Jones PLUS the Michelin-starred chefs Tom Brown and Andy Beynon) will choose category winners, and one UK Champion. YOU will vote for the People’s Choice. Both winners will head to Germany in September to represent the UK at the grand finals of the 2023 European Street Food Awards. Let’s see what they’re cooking up at the finals!

BEST SNACK
Smoking Lobster (Isle of Wight, England)
Krabsu. Crispy sushi rice, brown Isle of Wight crab and smoked chilli sauce, masago eggs, shredded nori and sesame.

Bia (Lothian, Scotland)
Cock A Leekie Arancini

Fred’s Backyard Barbecue (Midlothian, Scotland)
Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Hash Hut (London, England)
Carmonara Hash Stick. Hash stick with Parmesan custard, frazzles, crispy onions, grated aged Parmesan and chives

Choola (Fife, Scotland)
Pork Momos. Homemade Nepalese dumplings filled with locally sourced free range pork, cabbage and onion, and topped with one of our signature sauces!

Saving Nemo (Yorkshire, England)
Cajun battered prawns with a mango hot sauce

BEST MAIN DISH
Bia (Lothian, Scotland)
Irish Boxty with slow-cooked lamb shoulder and pickled fennel.

Amani Kitchen (Hertfordshire, England)
Saffron Chicken ( boneless chicken thighs marinated overnight with Seville oranges, saffron and our in house spices, then cooked in the marinade until succulent, then served with saffron and cream sauce on top of pistachio and barberries rice ) (Gluten free)

El Cabron Tacos (Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales)
Quesabirria Tacos. Birria-style braised beef short rib and brisket, cooked low and slow in a mix of authentic Mexican dried chillies. Served in a cheesy, fresh corn tortilla, coriander garnish and a pot of consomé for dipping and drinking!!

Hash Hut (London, England)
Crispy Chilli Beef Cheek. Soy caramel and garlic braised beef cheek, crispy onions, crispy chilli oil, micro coriander and red amaranth

LJ Hugs (Somerset, England)
LJs Taster Box. Filled with all the original goodness of LJ Hugs. Perfectly marinated and grilled chicken thighs in our signature blend, mixed with our cajun beef chilli in passata and a blend of LJs herbs and spices on top of a bed of sticky jasmine rice and a side of crunchy sweet potato fries.

Wanderer’s Kneaded (Lothian, Scotland)
The Kale-tastrophe. A tomato base topped with a medley of kale, spinach, salami, mozzarella, and a heavenly aioli drizzle. Expect a harmonious blend of satisfying crunch and invigorating freshness.

Syiok Lah (Nottinghamshire, England)
Nasi Lemak. A skin-on but boneless chicken thigh, marinated with a mixture of spices, lemongrass, ginger and onion, and deep fried twice to make it crisp and juicy. Served with coconut rice, cooked with coconut milk, pandan leaves, lemongrass, ginger and shallots, and served on banana leaves with pickles, anchovies, peanuts, egg, and sambal chilli sauce.

BEST BURGER
LJ Hugs (Somerset, England)
LJs Stack Burger. Two succulent thighs in between a flame toasted brioche bun topped with melted mozzarella, Cajun mayo, LJ’s sweet mustard and jalapeños.

Cafe 77 (Hertfordshire, England)
BBQ Pulled Pork Burger. Two beef smash patties, American cheese, topped with our 10-hour slow-cooked BBQ pulled pork, finished with our house-made bbq sauce.

Cosmo’s Mexicana (Powys, Wales)
The Cosmo. Smokey black bean and beetroot burger, habanero chilli mayo, wild greens, pickled gherkins, smoked cheese, mezcal and black garlic ketchup on a glazed white bun.

SPICE AWARD sponsored by Cobra
Oi Dumplings (Yorkshire, England)
A trio of Hanoi street foods. The chả cá dumplings with nước chấm dipping sauce. Xôi xéo (yellow sticky rice with pork floss, mung bean, peanuts and onion oil) – found on every street corner of Hanoi with a street food vendor with a bamboo basket balanced on the back of a motorbike – yet also present at every wedding banquet. Bia hơi cucumbers with muối tiêu chanh (cucumbers with a salt, pepper lime and chilli dipping sauce) found at every bia hơi (a Vietnamese pub).

Syiok Lah (Nottinghamshire, England)
Beef Rendang. Six hour slow-cooked beef in a combination of more than ten herbs, spices, coconut milk and toasted coconut. Garnished with lime leaves and fresh chillies. Served with coconut rice.

Choola (Fife, Scotland)
Buffalo Curry. Tender chunks of buffalo meat in a rich sauce made using traditional Nepalese spices, with crispy beaten rice and radish pickle.

Amani Kitchen (Hertfordshire, England)
Pulled Lamb Loaded Rice. Slow-cooked lamb shoulder, served on top of baharat saffron rice, topped with feta cheese crumbs, harissa garlic sauce, fried onions and pomegranate seeds.

BEST SANDWICH
Cafe 77 (Hertfordshire, England)
Patty Melt. A 77 beef smash patty, melted American and Jack cheese, fried onions and our house burger sauce, inside locally made thick cut buttered and grilled sourdough. Served with burger sauce dip.

It’s All Gravy (London, England)
Beef Dip Sandwich. Slow-cooked beef, beef fat onions, Swiss cheese, confit garlic mayo, mustard, crispy onions and light beef gravy

Smoking Lobster (Isle of Wight, England)
Tiger prawn, pineapple and Szechuan salsa, char sui pork belly in a toasted brioche with beetroot pickles, chilli and crispy onions

Fred’s Backyard Barbecue (Midlothian, Scotland)
Brisket Bun

BEST VEGETARIAN
Oi Dumplings (Yorkshire, England)
Kimchi, peanut and tofu dumplings. House vegan kimchi with peanut butter, tofu and mushrooms. It’s one of those dishes that elevates tofu and has meat eaters coming back for more. It’s served with our homemade Vietnamese peanut sauce.

Cosmo’s Mexicana (Powys, Wales)
Burrito Favorito. Cayenne-roasted sweet potato, chipotle crema, charred peppers and onions, lemon rice, smoked cheese, mixed chilli bean, pico de gallo, soft flour tortilla

It’s All Gravy (London, England)
Mushroom Dip. Marinated mixed mushrooms, caramelised onions, confit garlic mayo, mustard, crispy onions and vegan gravy for dipping

El Cabron Tacos (Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales)
Blackbean quesa and consome. Two cheesy, toasted corn tortillas filled with Mexican spiced black beans and coriander onion garnish. Served with pot of consome and salsa roja. (GF, V/VE)

Saving Nemo (Yorkshire, England)
Tofish and chips with homemade tartare sauce

BEST DESSERT
Day’s Bakes (West Glamorgan, Wales)
Welshcakes, hot off the griddle, slathered with Welsh butter.

Wanderer’s Kneaded (Lothian, Scotland)
Kinder Baws. Imagine delectable Kinder Bueno pieces nestled within our dough, accompanied by an indulgent Nutella dip.

Day’s Bakes (West Glamorgan, Wales)
Double chocolate brownies sprinkled with Welsh sea salt.