Bonnie And Braw
We’re officially in a heatwave. So the whole of Scotland had to put on sunscreen and a floppy hat when they came down to the Pitt – on Edinburgh’s West Shore – to Eat, Drink, Vote in this year’s Scottish Street Food Awards. The Champion was chosen – unanimously for once – by our team of experts, with the People’s Choice chosen by the public over the course of the June 20-22 weekend. And this is how it all went down:
Champion
1. Smoked Tomago
2. Dumpling Mama
3.= The Oven Pizzeria and Firebowl
People’s Choice
1. Fireball
2. Smoked Tomago
3. Lazeez
Both winners will now go on to compete in the finals of the 2025 British Street Food Awards supported by Freeman’s Event Partners at Food St market in London on September 28. And, maybe, the finals of the 2025 European Street Food Awards at Pineapple Park in Munich on October 10-12. Go Scotland!
Our judges were well impressed. And we were well impressed with them. Working their way through two dishes from every finalist were Sam Yorke – head chef at the Michelin-starred Heron in Leith, Jo Laidlaw – The List Edinburgh Food and Drink Editor, Callum Easter – Artist and Musician, Gaby Soutar – restaurant reviewer at The Scotsman, Navida Galbraith – Head of Ops and Programme at The Pitt, and Richard Johnson – founder of the British Street Food Awards. 18 dishes. Dedication indeed!
Here are the fantastic SSFA finalists, chosen from all over Scotland:
DUMPLING MAMA
Bringing artisanal dumpling craftsmanship to the Granton shoreline, Dumpling Mama blends authentic Cantonese flavours with creative global twists. Their signature pan-fried dumplings (crispy on the outside, tender on the inside) look (almost) too beautiful to eat, made from fresh, nutritious ingredients using a cherished family recipe. From Hong Kong classic Pork and Chive to the spicy, cheesy Mexican Cowboy and sweet, decadent Banana and Nutella, there’s a dumpling to satisfy every craving. They swear that handmade tastes better than machine-made; and they’re ready to prove it to you.
EL DORADO TAQUERIA
If you’re a Leith local, you’ll have caught the tantalising aromas of El Dorado Taqueria’s authentic Mexican cuisine wafting from the iconic Police Box. Known for mouthwatering beef birria tacos, tamales and rich pan de elote, each dish is crafted from scratch following time-honoured family recipes. Blending the rich culinary traditions of the Michoacan region with fresh Scottish ingredients. From hearty meat dishes, vibrant veggie options and indulgent sweet treats, Elizabeth and Zsolst will help you fall in love with Mexico through its food, culture and warmth.
FIREBOWL
Pitt residents Firebowl bring the heat through umami-packed East Asian street food, fused with the best of Scottish produce. Born from a food-fuelled trip where founders Andie and Euan ate their way from Seoul to Osaka, Firebowl reimagines classics like donburi bowls and yakitori skewers with creative Scottish twists: think Highland beef, whisky tare, and their signature “neep” kimchi. With sizzling hibachi grills and house-made katsu, Fierbowl is fast, fiery and full of flavour.
LAZEEZ
Lazeez burst onto the scene in 2022 with a mission to bring bold, authentic Lebanese flavours to Edinburgh. Starting at St.James Quarter, their irresistible wraps and Mezze Boxes quickly earned a loyal fanbase. Since then, they’ve grown fast, hitting the road with a food truck for festivals and events, opening a second permanent spot at The Pitt, and feeding the masses at this summer’s Neighbourgood Market! No matter where in the world they are, Lazeez remains rooted in its commitment to traditional street food with a creative twist, using quality ingredients, bold spices, and simple joy of great food shared.
THE OVEN
Family-run and full of flavour, The Oven brings authentic Neapolitan tastes to the streets of Fife. From stone-baked pizzas and classic pasta dishes to dirty fries and fried mozzarella, it’s restaurant-quality Italian classics with a cheeky Scottish twist. With fresh, luxury ingredients imported directly from Italy, you can taste the regional prestige with every mouthful. Let The Oven take you on a journey through the streets of Venice, Florence and Naples, “because pizza is always a good idea!”.
SMOKE AND MAC
Serving up some serious comfort food, there’s no smoke and mirrors with Smoke and Mac’s quality smoked meats and loaded macaroni dishes that are rich, indulgent and completely irresistible. From crispy chicken wings smothered in sticky sauce, melt-in-your-mouth brisket and creamy macaroni piled high with toppings, each dish is made to satisfy. Satisfying cravings from Perthshire to Stornoway, their customers just keep coming back for more.
SMOKED TOMAGO
Smoked Tamago dishes up contemporary Japanese-Korean street food starring their signature Tamagoyaki – Japan’s iconic rolled egg. Pioneering the debut of this iconic traditional dish into Hong Kong’s street food scene back in 2016, it quickly became a local sensation and earned rave reviews from major media outlets. After relocating to Scotland, Smoked Tamago is bringing the fluffy, flavour-packed dishes to hungry Scottish mouths to pop-ups and events up and down the country, spreading the gospel of the mighty Tamagoyaki. A favourite at Errol Sunday Market and Leith Walk Police Box, you’ll find them serving up fresh, made-to-order Tamagoyaki and fusion bites, growing a new community of fans who crave something different and delicious.
THE SEITANIC VEGAN CH*KN SHOP
In its genesis in 2023, The Seitanic Vegan started as Old Fashioned Street Food, a daft wee side project from the team at Antojitos. In 2025, they went beast mode and sold their souls to the devil, becoming The Seitanic Vegan Ch*kn Shop. Their secret-recipe seitan is marinated and coated in a worship-worthy blend of herbs and spices, before being fried to crispy perfection and served with hellraising house-made sauces. No chickens harmed, just wicked flavour.
TRUCK SRI
With every dish, Truck Sri tells a story of culture, passion and the vibrant spirit of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. Cooking has always been a passion of the Truck Sri team, but their true joy comes from sharing the flavours of Sri Lanka. Their signature dish – Kottu – is a sizzling stir-fry masterpiece of chopped flatbread tossed with fresh ingredients, bold spices and aromatic flavours that make every bite rich and irresistible. The Veggie Kottu is friendly to the green thumbs out there, while the Chicken Kottu stays true to authentic flavours. Stringhoppers paired with lentil or chicken curry or coconut sambal offer a taste of Sri Lanka in every bite. Come and taste the difference of food infused with storytelling.