East London Food: A Guide to the Best Dishes and Places to Eat.

The East End of London offers some interesting options for local cuisine not found anywhere else in the capital, or in the rest of the UK for that matter. You may have to dig around a little to find some of these once-common traditional delicacies, but, if you want to experience real East End life, this is certainly worth doing!

London’s East End Food

The area is also renowned for other cuisines introduced by immigrants over the years. So, what are the food specialities of East London?

Pie mash and liquor with jellied eels from Goddards at Greenwich. Traditional East End London meal.
Pie mash and liquor with jellied eels
Goddards Pies Limited, CC BY-SA 4.0
https://creativecommons.org
via Wikimedia Commons

Jellied Eels: A History

One of the oldest and most iconic dishes of the East End is jellied eels. The dish may not be part of the staple diet of Cockneys any longer, but it is still popular with many locals and some visitors. It is made up from chopped pieces of eel cooked in a specially spiced water-based stock.

Eels are particularly gelatinous so, as the dish cools, they turn the stock into a type of jelly. This can be eaten hot or cold, and it is one of those things that you either love or hate. Don’t be put off by the way it looks – it is hard to make pieces of eel in a jelly look really attractive – you might surprise yourself and actually like it if you dare try it!

It is thought that jellied eels date back in popularity to the 1800s – there were hundreds of shops and stalls selling the dish then. The reason for its popularity was the abundance of eels in the Thames and the Lea rivers, which were cheap and easy to catch and preserve. Jellied eels are made by boiling chopped pieces of eel in a spiced stock, which sets into jelly when cooled. Jellied eels are usually eaten cold with vinegar or hot with parsley sauce known as liquor.

There were loads of them and they were easy to catch locally. This made them readily available and they were cheaper than meat and other types of fish, so they became a staple food for working East Enders.

Traditional jellied eels.
East London Jellied Eels
By Uglix CreativeCommons

Jellied eels are generally found locally in the few remaining pie and mash shops in the East End. Each shop has its own particular recipe, which is usually kept a closely guarded secret.

It is also possible to buy jellied eels from fish stalls in the East End and around the capital and in some local supermarkets.

Jellied eels were a staple food for working-class East Enders in the 19th and early 20th centuries when they were sold by hundreds of shops and stalls across the area. One of the most famous jellied eel sellers was Tubby Isaacs, who started his business in Aldgate in 1919 and became a local legend. Jellied eels are still popular today, especially among older generations, and can be found in some of the remaining pie and mash shops in the East End.

Pie and Mash

Pie and mash is another traditional dish that has its roots in the East End. Pie and mash consists of a minced meat or eel pie served with mashed potatoes and liquor. The pies were originally made with eel, but as eels became scarcer and more expensive, they were replaced with beef or mutton. The pies were often made with suet pastry, which was cheaper and more filling than puff pastry.

The East End’s jellied eels go hand in hand with the area’s other speciality dish – pie and mash. Again, this dish originally came from the abundance of eels in the area and the need for cheap and nutritious food to feed working people with not a lot of money to spare.

East End Pie and Mash
East End Pie and Mash

Your typical pie would traditionally have been made from stewed eels with a nice dollop of filling mashed potato on the side. The piece de resistance of the meal is the liquor, or gravy, that is poured liberally on the plate around the pie and mash.

Traditional liquors are made from the water used to cook eels and this may look a little off-putting at first, as it is green, but bear in mind it is basically a parsley sauce so it does taste better than it looks!

Over time, eel pies were replaced with ones made from minced meat or mutton. Eels became less common in the local rivers and meat became easier to source and cheaper. Most pie and mash shops today will sell meat rather than eel pies now.

Some pie and mash shops also give you the option of a gravy that looks like gravy if you prefer a brown coloured sauce rather than a green one. If you want the real pie and mash experience, however, you should go green!

Pie and mash shops emerged in the Victorian era as a cheap and nutritious alternative to street food vendors. They catered to the needs of the growing urban population, especially factory workers, dockers and costermongers. Pie and mash shops were also social hubs, where people could meet, chat and enjoy a warm meal. Some of the oldest pie and mash shops in London are still operating today, such as F. Cooke in Hoxton, M. Manze in Peckham and G. Kelly in Bethnal Green.

Cockles and Winkles

A bowl of cockles and mussels.

In the past, East Enders also ate a lot of seafood and shellfish, often as snacks.

Cockles were often offered as a side dish with a plate of pie and mash and fish sellers and stalls would sell tubs of winkles, cockles and jellied eels on the streets and in local pubs on busy nights.

Again, this kind of food was easily transported into the area from local estuary and coastal towns.

Salt Beef and Curry

The East End of London has traditionally been the first stop for many immigrants looking to settle in the UK. The cultural make-up of the area over the centuries has always been rich and diverse, and many communities have introduced their own cuisines into the East Ender diet.

Jewish Bagel East End Food

Although the Jewish community is now focused around North London, the East End is still home to some traditional bagel bakeries, Jewish cafes and restaurants.

You can still buy proper chewy bagels and get an authentic salt beef sandwich here.

Today London’s East End is also the curry hub of the capital. The West End may have more posh Indian restaurants, but the curries you can try in the East End of London are likely to be more interesting and authentic. The Brick Lane area is sometimes even known as Banglatown because of its many Bangladeshi restaurants – if you are a curry lover, this really is the place to eat!

10 Places To Eat

  • M. Manze Tower Bridge: London’s oldest surviving pie and mash shop, established in 1902 by Italian-born Michele Manze. Famous for its secret liquor recipe and fresh jellied eels, cooked on site. A historic and authentic spot near the river.
  • F. Cooke Hoxton: A family-run business since 1862, with a loyal following of locals and celebrities. Known for its homemade pies, made from scratch with meat butchered on site, and its fresh jellied eels. A classic and cosy place with a Sixties decor.
  • Goddard’s at Greenwich: A modern and spacious pie and mash shop, founded in 1890. Offers a variety of pies, including vegetarian and vegan options, as well as traditional jellied eels. A great place to try some variations of the classic dish.
  • G. Kelly Bethnal Green: A charming and friendly pie and mash shop, opened in 1939 by George Kelly. Serves up generous portions of pies, mash and liquor, as well as jellied eels and stewed eels. A popular and welcoming place with a loyal clientele.
  • L. Manze Walthamstow: A Grade II listed pie and mash shop, opened in 1929 by Luigi Manze, the brother of Michele Manze. Features a stunning interior with marble counters, tiled walls and ornate mirrors. Serves up delicious pies, mash and liquor, as well as jellied eels and stewed eels.
  • Robins Pie & Mash Romford: A family-run business since 1971, with several branches across East London and Essex. Offers a range of pies, including chicken and mushroom, steak and kidney, and cheese and onion, as well as jellied eels and stewed eels. A friendly and affordable place with a modern touch.
  • Arments Walworth: A South London institution since 1914, run by the third generation of the Arment family. Famous for its pies, mash and liquor, as well as its jellied eels and stewed eels. Also offers a vegan menu with plant-based pies and liquor. A warm and inviting place with a loyal fan base.
  • Cockney’s Pie & Mash Hackney: A relatively new addition to the pie and mash scene, opened in 2013 by former boxer James Cook MBE. Offers a range of pies, including lamb curry, jerk chicken, fish pie and vegan pie, as well as jellied eels and stewed eels. A vibrant and lively place with a community spirit.
  • Maureen’s Pie & Mash Poplar: A cosy and traditional pie and mash shop, opened in 1966 by Maureen Patterson. Serves up classic pies, mash and liquor, as well as jellied eels and stewed eels. Also offers a delivery service for those who can’t make it to the shop. A friendly and nostalgic place with a loyal following.
  • Eastenders Pie & Mash Canning Town: A modern and spacious pie and mash shop, opened in 2011 by former EastEnders actor Ricky Grover. Offers a range of pies, including beef mince, chicken tikka masala, cheeseburger pie and vegan pie, as well as jellied eels and stewed eels. A fun and quirky place with a celebrity touch.

Summary: East End Cuisine

The East End of London has also been influenced by the cuisines of various immigrant groups who settled in the area over the years. One of the most prominent examples is the Jewish community, who brought their bagels, salt beef, smoked salmon and pickles to Brick Lane and Whitechapel. Another example is the Bangladeshi community, who transformed Brick Lane into a curry capital with their spicy dishes such as biryanis, bhunas and baltis.

Other cuisines that have made their mark on East London food include Turkish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Caribbean and African. These cuisines reflect the diversity and vibrancy of East London culture and offer a range of flavours and experiences for food lovers. Whether it’s a kebab from Dalston, a dim sum from Hackney, a pho from Shoreditch, a jerk chicken from Brixton or a jollof rice from Stratford, there is something for everyone in East London food.

East London food is not only about history, but also about innovation and creativity. The area has become a hotspot for new gastronomic talent, who are experimenting with new techniques, ingredients and concepts. Some examples of these include St John Bread & Wine in Spitalfields, which serves nose-to-tail British cuisine; Morito in Hackney Road, which offers tapas with a North African twist; Bao in Netil Market, which serves Taiwanese steamed buns; Dishoom in Shoreditch, which recreates the atmosphere of old Bombay cafes; and Lyle’s in Shoreditch, which showcases seasonal British produce.

East London food is a fascinating topic that deserves to be explored and celebrated. It is a reflection of the past, present and future of this dynamic and diverse area of London. It is also a source of pride and joy for its people, who have contributed to its richness and variety. East London food is more than just food – it is culture.

18 thoughts on “East London Food: A Guide to the Best Dishes and Places to Eat.”

  1. Am in NZ and devising menu for fund raiser lunch. Needs to be all east end cheap food. Can’t get eels but can include NZ variety of cockles and mixed shell fish pieces with home-made bloomer bread (me) as all continental here. Pickled onions, gherkins and a salad followed by good old fashioned bread pudding and custard – NZ bread pud is really bread & butter pud.

    Reply
  2. When I was a kid, used to wait for bus outside Cooke’s and watch the eels being chopped. Fascinating and free entertainment to watch the pieces carry on wiggling.

    Reply
  3. The pie was made from a suet pastry, never puff pastry. It was only served with ‘liquor’, which was the parsley sauce. It never came with vegetables, apart from one scoop of mash. In East Ham there were two main pie and mash shops in the 1950/60’s Cooke’s in the High Street and Mudies in the Barking road, near the town hall.

    Reply
    • Cooke’s was about half way up East Ham high street, and used to have live eels in a tank in the window.
      Great place to eat pie and mash, tiled walls in black and white with bench’s and marble tables if i remember right ?

    • It was my uncle George Mudie who had the eel and pie shop in Barking Road. I believe it was called the Three Eels. It was there in 1960 when I visited him.
      His specialty was meat or eel pie with mash and mushy peas!
      I lost track of his family, my cousins, after my mother passed away in 1984.
      Does any-one have any info re this?

    • You’re probably referring to George Mudie JNR. – my uncle George.
      There were 3 ‘Mudies’ with Pie & Mash shops. George SNR, my Nanny Mudie(with a shop in Rathbone St Market) & George JNR. My uncle has passed away & Adrian(his son) now lives in Norfolk.

    • Was the Barking Road one behind Littlewoods? I remember sitting in the car waiting for my Dad to pick up Pies and Liquor before every West Ham game. Then we would go to my Nan’s in Manor Park after the game for dinner.

    • Hello Nicholas. I’m doing my family tree. My Uncle George Stanley (my mother’s younger brother) married an Annie Mudie. They had a jellied eel stall at the bottom of Angel Lane, Stratford, East London. The had two children, Hazel and Clive. I too have lost touch with them. Any info at all would be appreciated.

    • Hello Nicholas,
      If you are still viewing this site,
      I would be interested in finding out more of the Mudie pie and jellied eel saga.
      My mother was the only sibling of the George Mudie I called Uncle. Their father, George Mudie, Snr., died accidentally by falling from the handsome cab he drove. Mother was only about 3 years old at the time. I believe that my grandmother re-wed and my mother ended up with three half-sisters. If this info seems to fit the history you have, then we are related.

    • Hi I used to play with Adrian at his house. My mum was the secretary for his dad and his mum pieced my ears.

    • Hi David. I have been trying to do my Family Tree. My uncle George Stanley married Annie Mudie and my uncle George/aunt Annie had a jellied eel stall the bottom of Angel Lane, Stratford. Would you beloeve I actually got engaged in Mudie’s Pie and mash shop in Barking Road, in 1959, the engagement ring bought in The Empire Bullion Co in East Ham Higgh Road.

    • Pat;
      There is a MyHeritage website family tree that shows a lot of people to whom you may be related.
      It was set up by my nephew Richard Smith. If you are more computer savvy than me, you can probably connect to it.
      Please keep me posted should you find the tree.

    • Hi Pat .
      Did your uncle have a pie and mash shop in Christ Street Poplar in the 60s and 70s
      I remember the shop. But people are saying it was Menzies.I think that was later.
      Regards Alan Stagg.

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