Cafe Mandalay

If you stick to the menu written on the wall, you’re getting a fried egg sandwich in a standard Hoxton caff. The primary operation here, however, is found on a separate, laminated menu – often kept behind the counter – which shifts the focus entirely to Myanmar. This family-run spot lives a double life, serving builders and locals their morning tea while simultaneously turning out specific, homemade Burmese dishes that are hard to find elsewhere in the city. The kitchen handles this crossover without fuss. You might see a plate of *lahpet thoke* – a salad of fermented tea leaves, cabbage, and crunchy fried beans – land on a table right next to a jacket potato. The *mohinga* is a staple here, a rich catfish and noodle chowder that serves as Myanmar’s national dish, alongside bowls of coconut chicken noodles. The space itself is small and unassuming, with simple furniture that fills up quickly during the lunch rush. It is a strictly daytime affair, with the shutters coming down by 3 p.m., so the window for lunch is relatively narrow. There are no reservations, and the cafe operates on a cash-only basis. Portions run on the smaller side, making it easy to add a slice of coconut semolina cake or cassava cake to the order before you head back out onto Murray Grove.