SmokeStak started life as a street food vendor at Street Feast Dalston Yard, Dinerama, Hawker House and Broadgate Ice Rink. During the summer months it hit the festival circuits serving brisket and spare ribs, and pulled pork sandwiches, but it was the brisket buns with pickled red chillies that galvanised the queues. Thankfully the butter-varnished, filled buns are on the menu at their first permanent site in Shoreditch. Opening it’s doors to the public in 2016, I’ve visited on a fair few occasions since and thought it was only right to share some of my favourite dishes on the menu with you today.
Starting with the snacks, make sure you order a portion (or two) of the Crispy Ox Cheek bites. They are like a meatier, fattier version of a croquette. The garlicky aioli on the side goes extremely well.
The sticky Pigtails, for the more daring meat eater, were super sweet and crispy. I was able to enjoy them when I stopped thinking about what they actually were!
A must-order for any SmokeStak-er is the Beef Brisket Bun with pickled chillies. This is literally the best, melt in your mouth meat you will ever taste. The chilis, which are tangy and not at all spicy, compliment the bun so well. You can order sliders for the table or a bun each.
Next up, a plate of beautifully barbecued pork rib, thick cut with a side of pickled cucumber. The meat falls off the bone and although you’ll become a sticky mess when eating it, you won’t be at all sorry.
The side dishes on the menu change regularly, but there will always be some kind of potatoy goodness for you to get stuck into. The jacket potato, stuffed with sour cream & chive was comforting and complimentary to the meat dishes, albeit a bit small. On another occasion we over ordered with the Rarebit baked potato, which were bigger than we expected and two between 4 of us was far too much.
If you’re feeling guilty about all the meat and carbs, order yourself some honey roasted veg with thyme. Tasty, but unnecessarily filling when there’s so many naughtier things to choose from.
Like this, Sticky toffee pudding with burnt butter ice cream. You must save room, it’s totally worth it and rivals the sticky toffee at Hawksmoor. Filled with dried fruits, swimming in a pool of toffee sauce, what more could you possible want?
What we go back? Yes, again and again and again
Just another London foodie 