Beside The Seaside!
The results are in! And what a perfect weekend to celebrate. Together. Properly. With a military procession, a flypast and 2,500 beacons being lit to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, it was right that we would also gather together with friends and family to eat and drink and be thankful for our freedoms, just how people marked the end of six years of war 80 years ago.
We couldn’t wait to return to the sun-drenched plaza of the South Coast’s biggest outlet shopping destination – our beloved Gunwharf Quays – for the southern heat of the the 2025 British Street Food Awards supported by Freemans Event Partners. With DJs from Unmade Radio. And the Roll N Pour Bar. And winners’ certificates from our branding gurus Majisign.
We managed to lure Andrew Du Bourg away from the kitchen of The Elderflower restaurant for his sixth year on judging duty – along with top food influencer and blogger Big Daddy B PLUS the founder of the British Street Food Awards Richard Johnson – to choose our Champions. This is how the voting went down…
Champions at the southern heats:
1. Oshpaz
2. Hakko House
3. Cut the Mustard
4. BEYroots
5. The Burger Society
People’s Choice at the southern heats:
1. ROK Kitchen
2= Waffle Wands
2= Sourdoughlicious
3. Oshpaz
The People’s Choice and Champions will now both go to the British finals in September, at Food St market in Chiswick, with a view to representing the UK at the final of the European Street Food Awards in October. After the southern heats, we’re off to The Fire Station in Sunderland for the Northern heats on 23-25 May. Keep an eye out for the list of finalists soon.
These were the finalists competing at Gunwharf:
The Old Skool Bus – East Sussex
The Old Skool Bus is unique food truck born in the pandemic to cater for charity events. But since then it’s won the ‘Most Unique Catering’ category of the UK Quirky Wedding Awards in November 2024, and – this summer – the team are getting ready to cater for the team at Glastonbury. Bella is a 2001 Bluebird International American junior school bus from IOWA, converted into a fully-fitted commercial kitchen, and for the British Street Food Awards heats she’ll be pushing out her full Tex Mex menu. All aboard!
Oh Babu – London
The best Indian street food in the UK? You decide.
Oh Babu have been BSFA finalists twice before, winning “Best Burger” in 2022. Karan Abbot, founder of Oh Babu, worked over 12 years in hospitality, managing some the top Indian restaurants in London and the UK. “But this business started during the pandemic when all the restaurants were closed and I was seeking to do something different. My obsession with Indian street food was something I had from my childhood days and was major reason why I decided to run a food truck.” Was it a good call? Come along and decide for yourself.
The Burger Society – Berkshire
There’s something primal about a juicy, two-fisted burger. But The Burger Society manage to bring a little refinement to an everyday classic. It helps that Chris Murray worked at the Michelin-starred establishments The Fat Duck and The Hand And Flowers, and has retained a lot of the high-end suppliers. “We worked with the butchers Aubrey Allen to create a burger patty that is specific to us and that no other burger place will use. The buns are made in-house to a recipe – again used at Michelin level – and the burger sauce is made by us, each element chosen to complement the burger.“ Check out their bacon double cheeseburger to see if it’s worth all the fuss.
BEYroots – London
Beyroots offer up Lebanese street food as authentic as you would find in Hamra or Raouche. Created by Tariq in 2016 – to serve authentic tasty and affordable Lebanese food to the people of London and beyond – Beyroots’ mantra has always been “no fusion rubbish, no artisan crap and no false pretences”. Finalists in the Awards back in 2019, Tariq decided to apply again for 2025. “We have gone from strength to strength since then” says Tariq, “and have taken part in countless events, markets – and roadside breakdowns too haha.” Let’s hope their AA membership is up to date for Portsmouth.
Cut The Mustard – Devon
Coming from deepest Devon is the field kitchen of Cut The Mustard – a trailer mounted barbecue that pulls a crowd wherever it goes. Expect open fire cooking, and a proper celebration of the best that the South West can offer. Whether it’s local lobster, spit roasted directly on the embers with brandy and garlic butter, or oak smoked shin of beef, rubbed with juniper and thyme, beetroot and horseradish chutney, roast potatoes and spiced honey, you won’t be disappointed.
Ro Vietnamese – London
Ro Vietnamese from London specialise in the Vietnamese Pork Baguette (Banh Mi). The pork is marinated with fresh lemongrass, shallots and garlic for 24 hours before it’s grilled till juicy, and served in a light and crispy baguette with pate, rich mayonaise, hoisin sauce, pickled carrots, cucumber and topped with a sweated down spring onion oil, fresh coriander, crispy shallots and your choice of sriracha and fresh chilli. with a sprinkle of white pepper and seasoning.
AYAL – London
AYAL from London are bringing the extraordinary food of Turkmenistan to a new audience. With a menu that includes toasted buckwheat, studded with walnuts and apricots, and plov, made with basmati rice cooked with a fragrant blend of cumin, saffron and turmeric. But the AYAL signature is Manti dumplings stuffed with butternut squash and seasoned with black pepper and coriander – come and taste the difference.
Sourdoughlicious – Cornwall
Sourdoughlicious have had many adventures in their pizza trailer – “like being stuck in fields at events and asking local farmers to get us out”. But the team’s main achievement – apart from a third place in last year’s British Street Food Awards southern heat at Gunwharf – is the distance they’ve travelled . “We have covered so many miles in and out of Cornwall and sold so many pizzas along the journey.” Not surprisingly – have you tasted their wood fired harissa chicken? “Our own 48hr sourdough base, chicken skin and garlic butter base, fior di latte mozzarella, marinated harissa chicken thighs charred in the oven, pickled red onions, pearl drop peppers, house basil pesto and crispy onions.”
Momo Ltd – East Sussex
The company website is like a travel brochure – Momo Ltd certainly want to capture their customers’ imagination. “Imagine the flavors of Kathmandu, the energy of the Himalayas, and the warmth of Nepalese hospitality, all in one unforgettable culinary experience” it reads. Pramod Poudel’s passionate team bring the heat with mouth-watering momos, curries, and other Nepalese favorites. All from the smart new Momo Ltd food truck, After the success of Choola, who were voted Champions at the 2023 British Street Food Awards and Future Food Legends at the 2023 European Street Food Awards, is it time for Nepalese cuisine to have another day in the sun?
Waffle Wands – Hertfordshire
Waffle Wands are proud of their Danish roots – “that’s what inspired us to start the waffles on a stick business” says Louie. “But we are influenced by Dutch food too, and we like to bring a touch of Amsterdam to everywhere we go.” Which explains the Poffertjes and the Stroopwafels on the menu. It’s all an education. Come see. “Our food is very interactive to watch we bake everything fresh in front of our audience and top our treats with warm sauces and luxury toppings. People are always blown away by our innovative products and the flavours we offer.”
Oshpaz – London
Come try the UK’s only Uzbek food truck. You won’t regret it. You may have already tried Oshpaz at Food St market in London or the World Halal Food Festival (where Big Zuu really, really loved it) but now chef Muzaffar Sadykov is bringing his Uzbek food to the British Street Food Awards heats at Gunwharf Quays. The signature dish in this Central Asian cuisine is plov (also known as pilaf), but also expect Lagman hand-pulled noodles – pan fried or in an aromatic broth – steamed dumplings with a carrot salad, sour cream dip and chilli oil, and shaslik kebabs.
Hakkō House – Somerset
Hakkō House has been a journey of love and learning – and countless kitchen experiments. “It started in our home kitchen during Covid, taking orders from friends and neighbours. As word spread, so did our dreams—first a market stall, then a shipping container restaurant (described by Country Living as ‘beamed straight from Kyoto’), and now, our beloved food stall.”
The family business focuses on wholesome, feel-good food that nourishes both the body and soul. Fermentation is their superpower, and every dish is packed with natural goodness, probiotics, and bold flavors. “Plus, we’re proud to offer a 100% gluten-free menu, making Japanese soul food more accessible to everyone.”
ROK – Essex
It’s under wraps. But not for much longer. After winning Best Burger at the 2021 British Street Food Awards, ROK have a special new burger to share. “Our Korean fried chicken burger with home made BBQ sauce and Gochu mayo is pretty good” says Steve. “Good enough to outsell our award-winning ROK burger on London’s second business street food market – Leather Lane. And good enough to enter it for the British Street Food Awards.” But will it win? You decide.
Sweet N Delish – Hertfordshire
Fancy hand-crafted rolled ice cream? The eye-popping Sweet N Delish food truck, with the best front-of-house in the business, have got you. But be warned – Ash and Maria will be the ones with the queue.
“It’s done on a cold plate right in front of the customer so they can see how their ice cream is made and see exactly what goes into it. It’s a magical experience to watch and loved by everyone that visits us! We always attract a crowd at festivals too!”
Events Kitchen – Hampshire
Andriana and Eleonora are sisters – and the founders of paella perfectionists Events Kitchen. “Our passion is bringing people together over tasty food — the way our family used to” says Andriana. “We offer the best paella using sustainably sourced seafood of premium class. Our rice and spices are sourced from one of the leading Spanish and American companies. The chicken breast we use is high quality and sourced in the UK. All serve-ware we use are Vegware and 100% compostable.” Come early.