Editor’s Picks: 5 Global Brunches You Need to Try in LondonBy Alicia Grimshaw
We have a confession to make: we’re bored of avocado on toast. We used to love the stuff. Bathe in it in fact. But the time has come to admit there’s more to brunch than our little green friend. We recently set ourselves a challenge. A challenge to discover some of London’s best global brunches. And even though we haven’t scratched the surface on London’s most unusual brunch offerings, here’s 5 places you should be visiting in the capital this weekend. All tried and tested by the AT team. Let’s get munching:
1. For a Mexican Brunch: Corazon Taqueria
Order: Huevos Rancheros – baked eggs and tortillas in ranchera sauce, served with black beans, jalapenos, queso fresco, guacamole and pickled onions (£8)
What: The London appetite seems to be focusing on one thing at the moment: taquerias. Us hungry city folk can’t seem to get enough of bite-sized tacos and frozen Margaritas. But this type of grub isn’t just restricted to dinner service only, with Corazon Taqueria in Soho throwing out the taco rulebook with the launch of their new all-day brunch menu.
Eat and Drink: The brunch menu is concise, with four dishes available (there’s plenty of tacos to share – but we’ll talk about those later). If it’s a hit of protein you’re after, the Huevos Rancheros is the one. We’re talking about a large skillet with two eggs, a generous portion of punchy ranchera sauce (could be spicier), with black beans and a wack of guacamole. It’s a beautiful combination of Mexican flavours, and our favourite dish on the menu. But hang about, because the buttermilk masa pancakes are a fantastic brunch dish – the pancakes are light and fluffy, and elevated to new tasty heights with the addition of caramelised banana, toasted pecans, and whipped cream. Breakfast tacos should be more of a thing, seriously. Order the bacon, cheese and scrambled option, and lap up the cheesy, meaty goodness.
Where: 29 Poland St, Soho, London W1F 8QR
2. For a Jamaican Brunch: Rudie’s
Order: The Full Jamaican (£9.50)
What: Rudie’s has firmly fixed themselves on the ‘best jerk chicken in London’ map. We’re telling you, if you haven’t tried their jerk chicken platter; you need to. Immediately. But it’s not just their jerk chicken and lobster they’re now peddling, as these guys are open for brunch at the weekends. Some might say a Jamaican brunch is a rogue choice, we say it’s ruddy fantastic.
Eat and Drink: Here’s the thing – put down the menu and just order the Full Jamaican. It’s basically a plate of Jamaica’s best loved ingredients. There’s ackee and saltfish, jerk sausage, homemade baked beans, some sautéed calaloo and green bananas. To heightened this brunch experience even more, we’d recommend throwing in two poached eggs to the mix. Honestly, you’ll thanks us for that menu hack. The eggs Benedict here have been given a Jamican makeover with poached eggs served on Caribbean bakes and jerk ham hock. You’ll realise that the classic English muffin is inferior to these squishy, fried, totally moreish baps. And the jerk ham hock is spicy, without overpowering the whole dish. The coffee used here is by Marley Coffee, which is ethically sourced and sustainly grown. And their lattes are pretty dreamy too.
Where: 50 Stoke Newington Road, London N16 7XB
3. For a Basque Brunch: Eneko at One Aldwych
Order: Oxtail on milk bread (£12), Basque-style prime rib of beef with a spring onion salad (£27), and salted caramel mousse cake with cookie crumble (£7)
What: Eneko is a place you can’t just pop into. This sort of brunch is ideal for a celebration with your mum, loved one, or pals. Because their food also needs to be celebrated. If there was a place to bust out your freshly pressed Zara shirt, it’s here. It’s swish. It’s over the top. And it’s not the cheapest; so plan ahead, get booking and bask in all the Spanish delights.
Eat and Drink: The guys here show a real understanding of Spanish cuisine; a sprinkle of herbs here, a touch of edible flowers there, a touch of magic everywhere, it’s just the perfect cuisine for when you want a real flavour sensation. The menu is spilt into parts, and if you’re going to order one thing off the sharing menu, make it the ox cheek sandwiched between milk bread. It’s delicate, with the ox cheek braised in a luscious gravy-like sauce, and the meat is outrageously flavoursome. Move onto the duck breast for something more substantial, or the equally delicious prime rib of beef. Both served pink. Both are incredibly tender, seasoned nicely and well, tasty. The salted caramel mousse cake has the sweet/salty combo down to a tee, and the addition of the cookie crumble adding a nice crunch to the dessert. Salted caramel just tastes so darn good.
Where: One Aldwych, 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
4. For a Middle Eastern Brunch: Baba Boom
Order: Good morning meat kebab (£9.70)
What: Baba Boom is on a meat-fuelled mission: a mission to show that kebabs aren’t just to be eaten when inebriated, but when done properly, can also be enjoyed as a hangover-busting-all-round-great-brunch-dish. This isn’t your donkey leg, and a mystery meat sold down at your Local Flame Grill, this place offers so much more. Inspired by the flavours of the Middle Eastern, Baba Boom dish up a epic brunch filled with flat breads, grilled meat and dips galore.
Eat and Drink: The barbary and tahini granola is not worth £6, so swerve that and go for the meat kebab. What you’re presented is nothing short of a brunch masterpiece – there’s thick cut, sweet date glazed bacon, eggs, other meaty delights, spice everywhere, and all of the above is sat atop a fluffy flatbread. Baba’s eggy bread will send your sugar level soaring, but it’s totally worth it. Nutella. Banana. Honeycombe. Clotted cream. All of that slathered on a slab of squishy and sweet eggy bread. It’s has a proper nostalgic kick about it, and that’s why we love it. We’re also a big fan of the veggie kebab, a statement that kebabs aren’t all about the meat.
Where: 30 Battersea Rise, London SW11 1EE
5. For an Aegean Brunch: Firedog
Order: Breakfast mezze (£18 per person)
What: ‘What is Aegean cuisine?’ I hear you cry. Well, it’s a mix of Greek and Mediterranean cooking focusing on simple and traditional techniques. Firedog is a place Tottenham Court Road needs; a slow day-to-night vibe banging out mezzes, quirky breakfasts and hearty lunches. Brace yourselves, because there’s no avocado on the menu, and actually, you don’t miss it.
Eat and Drink: The only thing you need to know about is their breakfast mezze. This platter from the gods features more sharing plates than you can shake a stick at. Dive head first into jams, curds and cheese before slathering them all on fresh bread. The spicy scrambled eggs are creamy and thick, there’s hung yogurt, meats, a punchy tomato salad, salty olives and tahini. The spread also features fresh honey and clotted cream – nothing short of a sweet miracle. It’s worth the £18. And you’ll feel full for hours. If you’re after a sweet dish, the chargrilled plums with kaymak, honey, salted pistachios on toasted brioche reminds us of a pimped up French toast. It’s too good for words.
Where: 92 Newman St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3EZ
