Review: Old Spitalfields Market
Hello there!
I always love going to London and trying new foods that I haven't tried before, especially in places I haven't visited before. One of these places is Old Spitalfields Market* located in Central London. The market has a huge variety of food stalls from lots of different cultures, as well as other stalls perfect for gifts. I would definitely recommend the market as it's a great place to go for lunch if you're with people who all like a range of foods. I have reviewed the foods that I tried so enjoy!
I always love going to London and trying new foods that I haven't tried before, especially in places I haven't visited before. One of these places is Old Spitalfields Market* located in Central London. The market has a huge variety of food stalls from lots of different cultures, as well as other stalls perfect for gifts. I would definitely recommend the market as it's a great place to go for lunch if you're with people who all like a range of foods. I have reviewed the foods that I tried so enjoy!My Trip to Old Spitalfields Market
Dumpling Shack - Vegan Dumplings
When researching where to try at Old Spitalfields Market, Dumpling Shack kept coming up as a popular choice. It was very clear that it was going to be a hit when I arrived as I had to queue a little while before ordering. They had a few different noodle dishes but I had to try their dumplings so I went for their vegan dumplings which came in a soy garlic dressing. The flavour of them was very fresh and enhanced with soy sauce. The dumpling itself was very soft and wasn't rubbery at all which can sometimes happen. They were filled very well with various vegetables and tofu making them light.
When researching where to try at Old Spitalfields Market, Dumpling Shack kept coming up as a popular choice. It was very clear that it was going to be a hit when I arrived as I had to queue a little while before ordering. They had a few different noodle dishes but I had to try their dumplings so I went for their vegan dumplings which came in a soy garlic dressing. The flavour of them was very fresh and enhanced with soy sauce. The dumpling itself was very soft and wasn't rubbery at all which can sometimes happen. They were filled very well with various vegetables and tofu making them light.
Price per portion = £5 for 6 dumplings
Value for money - The dumplings were filled lots and large in size so for £5 it was quite good value for money, especially considering they are made to order
Mamma's Goodies - Cannoli
Italian food is one of my favourites, especially Italian desserts since they are usually very creamy and rich. This truck stall was selling cannoli in two different sizes, small and large. Since I was only sampling food from various stalls I tried two small cannoli. They offered pistachio or chocolate flavours so I tried one of each. The filling was very creamy and rich which complemented the crisp cannoli shell well and both flavours hit the spot. They were a little darker than some other cannoli I have tried but this didn't affect their flavour at all. They are a good size to have with a coffee.
Price per portion = £1.70 for one small cannoli
Value for money - they were quite small in size but they were very rich and filled a lot with the filling. They were quite good value for money when compared with other treats you buy in a coffee shop
Italian food is one of my favourites, especially Italian desserts since they are usually very creamy and rich. This truck stall was selling cannoli in two different sizes, small and large. Since I was only sampling food from various stalls I tried two small cannoli. They offered pistachio or chocolate flavours so I tried one of each. The filling was very creamy and rich which complemented the crisp cannoli shell well and both flavours hit the spot. They were a little darker than some other cannoli I have tried but this didn't affect their flavour at all. They are a good size to have with a coffee. Price per portion = £1.70 for one small cannoli
Value for money - they were quite small in size but they were very rich and filled a lot with the filling. They were quite good value for money when compared with other treats you buy in a coffee shop
Yi Fang - Taiwanese Fruit Tea
Whilst walking around the market itself I saw so many people holding cups of fruit tea from the Yi Fang stall so it made sense to give them a go. I do like iced tea but I have been crazy about bubble tea when I have visited bubble tea chain places. However, I thought I would give it another go. The menu covered lots of different types of tea like milk based drinks, fruit drinks and their traditional winter melon drinks. I wasn't really sure what to order so stuck to a traditional drink and tried the winter melon. One of the great quirks of this place is that you can have lots of choice over what goes into your drink. You get a choice of what level of sugar you would like and the amount of ice so it is tailored to your personal taste. I thought this was a very interesting way of ordering drinks but for those who were inexperienced for myself it was a little confusing to begin with. In the end, I ordered a winter melon tea with lemonade, a 30% sugar level and normal amount of ice. Plus, I asked for tapioca pearls. I was pleasantly surprised with how refreshing it was.
Price per portion = for a large drink with the addition of tapioca pearls it cost £4.85 for what I ordered
Value for money - compared with a drink you might buy in a coffee shop it was a little pricey, however, it came filled with pearls and the size of the drink was large so lasted ages. I do think it is more of a novelty or something you would try at the market as a one off rather than grab and go like you do with coffee
Bakery Stall - Sweet Pretzels
I always find bakery stalls so fascinating to look at when walking around a food market as they always have such amazing treats. One stall that I came across in Old Spitalfields Market was selling sweet pretzels with chocolate, almonds and apricot. There wasn't a name of the company on the stall as it was ran by a lady. She sold sweet and savoury pastries and bakes. The apricot jam used was very sweet and had an almost peachy flavour to it which was quite fresh. The flaked almonds added a contrasting texture to the dough which was very soft and hadn't been overworked. The only comment I would make is that the chocolate flavour in the dough didn't come through as much as it could have, mainly because the jam was so flavourful. However, the contrast in dark and light dough in the twists of the pretzel really added to its appearance.
Price per portion = £3 for a large pretzel
Value for money - the pretzels were a large size so could be shared but compared with pretzels you can buy in supermarkets it was a bit pricey. However, it was handmade, fresh and had lots of jam and almonds on it so you got lots of filling for your money
Whilst walking around the market itself I saw so many people holding cups of fruit tea from the Yi Fang stall so it made sense to give them a go. I do like iced tea but I have been crazy about bubble tea when I have visited bubble tea chain places. However, I thought I would give it another go. The menu covered lots of different types of tea like milk based drinks, fruit drinks and their traditional winter melon drinks. I wasn't really sure what to order so stuck to a traditional drink and tried the winter melon. One of the great quirks of this place is that you can have lots of choice over what goes into your drink. You get a choice of what level of sugar you would like and the amount of ice so it is tailored to your personal taste. I thought this was a very interesting way of ordering drinks but for those who were inexperienced for myself it was a little confusing to begin with. In the end, I ordered a winter melon tea with lemonade, a 30% sugar level and normal amount of ice. Plus, I asked for tapioca pearls. I was pleasantly surprised with how refreshing it was.Price per portion = for a large drink with the addition of tapioca pearls it cost £4.85 for what I ordered
Value for money - compared with a drink you might buy in a coffee shop it was a little pricey, however, it came filled with pearls and the size of the drink was large so lasted ages. I do think it is more of a novelty or something you would try at the market as a one off rather than grab and go like you do with coffee
I always find bakery stalls so fascinating to look at when walking around a food market as they always have such amazing treats. One stall that I came across in Old Spitalfields Market was selling sweet pretzels with chocolate, almonds and apricot. There wasn't a name of the company on the stall as it was ran by a lady. She sold sweet and savoury pastries and bakes. The apricot jam used was very sweet and had an almost peachy flavour to it which was quite fresh. The flaked almonds added a contrasting texture to the dough which was very soft and hadn't been overworked. The only comment I would make is that the chocolate flavour in the dough didn't come through as much as it could have, mainly because the jam was so flavourful. However, the contrast in dark and light dough in the twists of the pretzel really added to its appearance.Price per portion = £3 for a large pretzel
Value for money - the pretzels were a large size so could be shared but compared with pretzels you can buy in supermarkets it was a bit pricey. However, it was handmade, fresh and had lots of jam and almonds on it so you got lots of filling for your money
Overall, I would highly recommend Old Spitalfields Market to any foodie. They had so many amazing food stalls that I didn't get a chance to try so I will definitely be returning. It is great that there is something for everyone and there is the opportunity to try cuisines I have never had before.
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*This is not a sponsored blog post and all opinions are entirely of my own
