- 1️⃣ Jellied Eels - jelly eels from the days of poor England
- 2️⃣ Black Pudding - black pudding in the English style
- 3️⃣ Stargazy Pie - fish heads looking out of a pie
- 4️⃣ Haggis - Scottish classic also available in London
- 5️⃣ Pie and Mash with Liquor - a strange sauce that divides gourmets
- 6️⃣ Marmite - a paste you either love or hate
- 7️⃣ Bubble and Squeak - recycling in British cuisine
London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world - A mix of cultures, languages and. flavors. Although British cuisine does not have a particularly good reputation among tourists, those who choose to go beyond the classic fish & chips, they may come across dishes really surprising. Among the dishes served in both traditional pubs and modern restaurants, you will find offerings that balance the culinary experiment i... challenges for the stomach.
Some of these dishes have their roots in the London's poor working-class past, others are the effect of Scottish, Welsh or Irish influences. There are also dishes created out of necessity use of all parts of the animals - today seeming a bit extreme, but once a staple of daily sustenance.
In this article we will look at the strangest dishes, which you can find in London -. not necessarily to love them, but to try at least once and.... have something to tell when you return. Enjoy your meal - or at least: good luck!
1️⃣ Jellied Eels - jelly eels from the days of poor England
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What is it?
Jellied Eels is cooked eel drenched in jelly, which is served cold. Sound strange? 🤔 Even weirder it looks -. Slippery pieces of fish in a transparent mass resembling something between a fish snack and a chemistry experiment. Yet it is one of the most classic East End dishes!
Where did it come from?
👷 In the 18th century, it was the daily meal of the workers -. Eels were caught from the Thames, were cheap and readily available. Jelly was formed naturally during cooking, so the dish did not require expensive ingredients. Perfect in times of crisis!
How does it taste?
It's already a contentious topic 😅 For some it's tender, slightly vinegary meat, which with jelly makes quite an interesting composition. For others - something that is better not to try before lunch. But one thing is certain: is a taste you don't forget!
Where to try?
📍 Search in traditional pie and mash shops - For example, in:
- Bethnal Green
- Hackney
- Tower Hamlets
2️⃣ Black Pudding - black pudding in the English style
What is it?
Black Pudding is nothing more than british version of black pudding - made of pork blood, fat and oats or barley. It is usually served sliced, fried to a crisp and is part of a classic English breakfast 🍳.
Where did it come from?
This dish has a very long history - it dates back to medieval times. Back then nothing was wasted, so animal blood was a valuable ingredient. The British decided to combine it with grain and spices, creating something between a sausage and a pate.
How does it taste?
Dark, thick and intense in flavor. 👃 Well seasoned blood sausage can be really tasty - slightly salty, herbal, sometimes with a hint of pepper. But if you've never eaten anything with blood... you might be a little surprised 😅
How do you eat?
Mostly:
- 🍽️ as part of full English breakfast
- 🥪 in a roll, with egg and sauce
- 🥗 as an addition to modern dishes in restaurants like gastropub
Where to try?
You can find it practically everywhere - from pubs to hotel breakfasts:
- The Breakfast Club (various locations)
- Dishoom - version with an Indian twist
- any classic pub serving full English
3️⃣ Stargazy Pie - fish heads looking out of a pie
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What is it?
Stargazy Pie is one of the most peculiar dishes of British cuisine, which surprises by its very appearance. This Fish pie from which... fish heads stick out! Yes, literally - fish heads and tails poke through the layer of dough and sort of "look up to the sky", hence the name: stargazing 🌌.
Where did it come from?
It originated in Cornwall and is associated with the legend of fisherman Tom Bawcockey, who saved a village from starvation during a storm. Baking a fish pie "looking up" Was to be a symbol of hope and courage ⚓🐟.
What's inside?
In the cake you will find:
- anchovy or mackerel fillets,
- hard-boiled eggs,
- potatoes,
- Onions,
- herbs and butter.
The whole thing is juicy and aromatic, with a hint of the sea and a crispy crust.
How does it taste?
Not as strange as it looks 😄 If you like fish and classic British dry cakes, you might like this one. Fish heads are usually decoration and not necessarily for eating, although some versions eat whole fish.
Where to try?
This is rare even in London, but:
- some gastro pubs serving regional dishes,
- Cornish restaurants or pop-ups with English cuisine,
- culinary events with traditional menus
4️⃣ Haggis - Scottish classic also available in London
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What is it?
Haggis to traditional scotch dish made of sheep offal (heart, liver and lungs), which are chopped, mixed with onion, oatmeal, fat and spices, and then cooked in a sheep's stomach. Yes, it sounds pretty hardcore - but it's one of the most important symbols of Scottish cuisine!
Where did it come from?
Haggis is a peasant dish - it was created out of a need for the use of the whole animal, without wasting anything. It gained fame thanks to the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who dedicated a poem to him "Address to a Haggis".
How does it taste?
Surprisingly good! Although the composition sounds extreme, the taste is reminiscent of a well-seasoned sausage or meat stuffing. It is intense, spicy and slightly grainy, and on top of that it is filling.
How is it administered?
Mostly with classic accessories:
- 🥔 neeps and tatties - mashed potatoes and rutabagas,
- 🥃 whisky - a must-have in the "rich" version,
- 🍳 or as part of breakfast (for example, instead of black pudding).
Where to try in London?
Although it's a Scottish dish, it can be found in London - especially:
- In pubs with regional cuisine,
- during the celebrations Burns Night (January 25),
- In specialized stores with Scottish products (e.g. Mac & Wild or Boisdale).
5️⃣ Pie and Mash with Liquor - a strange sauce that divides gourmets
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What is it?
This is one of the most traditional London dishes: a simple meat pie (pie) with potato puree (mash) and... green sauce, which arouses the most excitement. This sauce, called liquor, has nothing to do with alcohol - it bright, slightly green parsley soup, flour and broth. Sound suspicious? You're not alone 😅
Where did it come from?
The dish originated in the working-class neighborhoods of east London and was available to almost everyone - cheap, filling and quick. Pie and mash was served en masse in special bars (pie shops), some of which are still in operation today.
How does it taste?
- 🥧 Meat pie - Crispy, with a stuffing of ground beef, sometimes with giblets.
- 🥔 Mash - A smooth, classic puree with no embellishments.
- 🟢 Liquor - Parsley sauce, delicately herbal, a bit like a rare bechamel with a hint of green.
Some say that liquor spoils the whole plate, others - that it's his heart. Opinions are divided as... the sauce itself
Where to try?
📍 Classic venues where the spirit of the East End still lives on:
- Manze's Pie and Mash (Tower Bridge)
- F. Cooke (Hoxton)
- Arments (Walworth)
6️⃣ Marmite - a paste you either love or hate
What is it?
Marmite is thick, brown paste with a very intense taste, made from yeast extract - that is, leftovers from beer production 🍺. It is usually served thinly on toast with butter. Key word: thin - Because this paste is a flavored pomegranate! 💣
Why so famous?
It is a culinary icon of the UK - with an advertising slogan:
"Love it or hate it".
And it's hard to come up with a better summary. Marmite divides people Like a pineapple on a pizza - there is no middle ground. You'll either fall in love... or regret trying it at all.
How does it taste?
- Very salty,
- bitter-yeast,
- z umami-bomb On the tip of the tongue.
For the untrained palate - it may taste like Broth cube dissolved in soy ketchup 🧂😵
How do you eat?
Mostly yes:
- 🍞 On toast with butter,
- 🧀 with cheddar cheese in a sandwich,
- 🍝 as a secret ingredient in sauces (really!).
Where to try?
Marmite buy in every supermarket, in the section with classic British products. Mini jars are even available at airports as souvenirs 🛫 .
7️⃣ Bubble and Squeak - recycling in British cuisine
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What is it?
Bubble and Squeak is a classic of British cuisine that originated with... leftovers from Sunday lunch. Most often it is a fried mixture of potatoes and brassica vegetables - usually Brussels sprouts, cabbage or kale. The name comes from the sound the dish makes in the pan: bubbling and squealing 🫧🔊
Where did it come from?
This is a dish native to the days when nothing could go to waste - and especially after a solid Sunday roast. Instead of tossing the vegetables, they were sautéed with potatoes and spices, creating something like a vegetable pie.
How does it taste?
Surprisingly homey and fun! 🏡
- Crispy on the outside,
- Soft and creamy on the inside,
- With a distinct flavor of potato and slightly caramelized cabbage.
It's something between a potato pancake and a vegetable cutlet.
How is it administered?
- 🍳 as a side dish for fried eggs,
- 🥩 next to meat - such as sausages or bacon,
- 🍽️ on its own - with a blob of sauce or chutney.
Where to try?
Bubble and Squeak can be found:
- w classic pubs With English breakfast,
- In establishments with home cooking (comfort food),
- Or... at a British man's house on Monday morning 😄
8️⃣ Deep-Fried Mars Bar - a dessert that surprises in form and taste
What is it?
This is a true legend of British street food -. Mars bar dunked in batter and deep fried. Yes, you read that right: a chocolate bar that goes straight into the fryer 🛢️🍴 The result? Hot, melted interior and crispy golden exterior.
Where did it come from?
It started in Scotland - in one of the fish bars, where someone put Mars in oil for a joke. The idea was so crazy that... it caught on! 😄 Today it's an iconic snack, served in bars like fish & chips, especially for tourists looking for an extreme culinary experience.
How does it taste?
Pure decadence 💣
- warm liquid chocolate,
- lingering caramel,
- wrapped in delicately salty pastry Pancake or tempura type.
It's something like a combination of a doughnut and a candy bar, only even cuter and even crazier 🍩🍫
How is it administered?
- most often: warm, on trays or in paper,
- Sometimes with the addition of ice cream 🍨, whipped cream or even... sprinkles.
Where to try?
It's not as popular in London as it is in Scotland, but you'll find it:
- in selected bars fish & chips,
- At street fairs (e.g. Camden Market, Southbank),
- In establishments serving "typically British follies."
9️⃣ Tripe - London-style tripe, a taste of the old days
What is it?
Tripe is nothing more than. tripe, that is, cooked and cut into strips cow's stomach membrane. Known and in Poland, but in the UK - and especially in older generations - it used to be a a full-fledged dinner classic, present in the daily menu of working families 👵👨🔧
Where did it come from?
It is a dish with a tradition dating back to Middle Ages. At a time when meat was a luxury, tripe was treated as a cheap and nutritious substitute. They were cooked slowly, often with onions, spices, vinegar or milk, and served with bread.
How does it taste?
Very specific 🫣
- soft but springy texture,
- slightly milky or sour aftertaste,
- a fragrance that... you have to like.
It is a dish of the type love or hate. For many, it is a childhood memory, for others - the limit of culinary courage.
How is it administered?
Depending on the version:
- 🥣 in a thick, milky sauce,
- 🍅 in a light tomato sauce,
- 🧂 with onions, vinegar and spices.
Where to try?
Although rare, you will find them in:
- older pubs with classic British cuisine,
- butcher stores with ready-made meals,
- premises of the type Pie & Mash, which adhere to tradition.
🔟 Sheep's Brain Sandwich - a sandwich for the brave
What is it?
As the name suggests - it sheep brain sandwich. This is one of those dishes that didn't make it to the travel guides, but they can be found in niche restaurants and markets with Middle Eastern or Pakistani cuisine present in multicultural London 🌍
Where did it come from?
This dish has its roots in Pakistani, Turkish and Afghan cuisines, where the brain (not just sheep's) is considered a delicacy - rich in fat and very tender. It came to London with immigrants who brought with them bold and authentic recipes 🕌
How does it taste?
Surprisingly... gentle
- creamy, almost butterfly consistency,
- A delicate, slightly sweet taste,
- reminds combination of pate and eggs, only more intense.
Well seasoned brains get a boost of flavor - often with curry, cilantro and chili 🌶️
How is it administered?
Mostly:
- 🥪 in a sandwich with pita or naan buns,
- 🍛 In curry as one of the dishes in the set,
- 🧂 with lots of spices and onions to break up the "fatty" taste.
Where to try?
This is not a dish for every pub, but if you want to try it:
- go to Southall, Whitechapel or Ilford - neighborhoods with Pakistani and Bangladeshi restaurants,
- ask on the menu for brain curry or maghaz masala.
🧾 Summary
London is a city of rich and varied culinary culture, which offers both traditional dishes, as well as those less typical, often associated with history and local traditions. Among them you will find both dishes from ancient times and modern gastronomic experiments.
It is worth trying at least once such specialties as eel in jelly, pudding in English, or the famous pie and mash with distinctive liquor sauce. While some of these dishes may seem unusual, they are an integral part of the London's culinary heritage.
Trying local dishes is a great way to better understanding of the culture and traditions of the place. Whether you like a particular flavor or not, it is a valuable experience, which expands culinary horizons.
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