Welsh Equinox
What a weekend to be alive. With 8 miles of golden sandy beaches, and temperatures in the 80s – on the summer equinox weekend to boot – the 2025 Welsh Street Food Awards at Pembrey Country Park was always bound to be special. And people turned out in their thousands to Eat, Drink, Vote in the 2025 Welsh Street Food Awards. The Champion was chosen by our team of experts, with the People’s Choice chosen by the public. And this is how it all went down:
Champion
1. The Dough Thrower
2. Fire and Flank
3. Chantico
People’s Choice
1. Bone Cartel
2. Burger Bros
3. Fire and Flank
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 Wales!
Being the face of Welsh street food in Europe is a big responsibility. So we had put together an appropriately grand lineup. After 16 years working alongside the legendary Fergus Henderson as Chef Director at the St. JOHN Restaurant Group in London, Swansea native Jonathan Woolway returned to his hometown to open the Shed Restaurant in February 2024. Inclusion in the Michelin Guide, Good Food Guide and SquareMeal’s top 100 UK Restaurants (number 48) swiftly followed alongside glowing reviews.
Kacie Morgan writes @TheRareWelshBit – a multi award-winning food and travel blog, established in 2010 and featured by the likes of the BBC and National Geographic Traveller. A member of @thegfw, Kacie writes for olive, Visit Wales, Sainsbury’s Magazine, Co-op Food Mag, and others. Beth Whelan is a South Wales food and lifestyle content creator best known for her popular Instagram platform, @talesbybeth, where she shares insights into local food, travel, and everyday life.
They were joined by Felix Denton, the creative force behind the vibrant culinary experiences at CARGO events. He curates a diverse lineup of internationally inspired food vendors, bringing bold flavours from every corner of the world to each event. Keeping an eye on proceedings was Richard Johnson, award-winning food journalist and the founder of the biggest street food competition in the world.
The panel judged two entry dishes from each finalist. Tough job, but somebody had to do it. And here were the fantastic finalists, from all over Wales, who put together their street food signatures:
Burger Bros from Llanelli, who are busy elevating the two-fisted classic into something really special with smashed beef patties stacked with bold flavours like the Sweet Crunch and The New Yorker. Next level.
Dough Thrower are all about slow fermentation and premium ingredients – like their lion’s mane mushroom pizza. “We slow-braise Welsh leeks in butter to bring sweetness and richness, and build it all on a garlic velouté base. It’s fired fast and finished simply — a proud nod to what Welsh food can be today.”
Drip or drown – what you going to do? At Bone Cartel you just need to decide whether to go with Southern fried strips or those wings. The ones Wing Fest rated “quite frankly incredible.” The ones they said “could be the best chicken wings in the UK”. Choose!
Mabiko (meaning feast) are a vibrant pop up kitchen bring you flavours from all over African continent. From bunny chow with boerewors stew to kashumbari. Expect the unexpected.
Fire and Flank – masters of the grill – won Best Main Dish at the British Street Food Awards back in 2021. With juicy, butter soft steaks drizzled with a zesty chimichurri packed with fresh herbs and garlic. What are they bringing in 2025?
Chantico are only a year old. But their tacos have pedigree, coming from the Taco, Taco, Taco team that shone brightly at the 2024 Welsh Street Food Awards. Expect made-to-order corn tortillas, coriander and lime – and that little something extra.
The business plan for Three Gizas was drawn up by three friends in the shadows of the pyramids of Giza. That’s where they first tried Egypt’s national dish, Koshari. The mix of fluffy rice and lentils, layered with pasta and spicy chickpeas is still the friends’ signature.
Dough Bois brought their fried, stretched and topped doughnuts. And The Melted Cheese Co were busy all weekend with their bowl of raclette that meant no one went hungry.