Now I am a hip and and trendy East Londoner, I have to go to hip and trendy East London restaurants. Dishoom in Shoreditch is one such place. The Indian restaurant has five locations around the city, a testament to its popularity. The modern restaurant serves Indian food in an informal and unique style compared to its Bricklane counterparts just around the corner. They also offer an Indian fusion breakfast which has only added to its popularity.
The bohemian restaurant is absolutely stunning, as if a 1970s cafe in Bombay has been transported to East London. The light and airy veranda greets you as you walk in, and was impossible to resist on a sunny morning. Despite it being a Monday, the place was 70% full and I have it on good authority that it has a line around the block on weekends.
It being a Monday morning we were still feeling slightly affected by the weekends revelries, so decided to skip the breakfast cocktails and instead ordered a Chocolate Chai (£3.20) and Breakfast Lassi (£4.50). The sweet and spicy chai was charmingly indulgent, my only regret is that I did not order a second, as the first was quickly devoured. If the chai was sweet and spicy, the lassi was its counterpoint. A concoction of yoghurt, banana, mango and oats; the smoothie was sour yet earthy. It was a very nourishing and made me feel as if I was starting my day right.
I can never resist anything involving bacon, so was unsurprisingly drawn to the Bacon & Egg Naan Roll (£7.50). The breakfast bap was given an exotic twist by being served in a fluffy baked naan instead of the traditional British bap. The nan is the perfect casing for the smoked streaky bacon while the free rang egg oozes its golden yolk all over the inside adding a richness. It was absolutely delicious, and it is not hard to see why this is one of the most popular items on the menu.
For our second dish we were recommended the Kejriwal (£6.90). Essentially it is comprised of two fried eggs on chilli cheese toast. However it is so much more than that. The ‘toast’ is more like a delicious savoury and spicy pancake, I have no idea what wondrous ingredients it is made with but it is downright delicious. The glorious fried eggs with their soft gooey yolks are the cherry on top of the cake. This is another dish you do not want to miss.
Overall I can see why this is such a popular spot. The veranda, if you are lucky enough to snag a seat out there, is absolutely beautiful. The menu has a wonderful mix of fusion dishes and we adored everything we tried. They also offer breakfast cocktails, an absolute must on the weekends. If you like to be seen at all the hottest spots, this is one you shouldn’t miss.
Dishoom is located at 7 Boundary St, Hackney, London E2 7JE. The nearest train station is Shoreditch High Street. For more information you can call them on 020 7420 9324 or check out their website. They are open from 8am-11pm on weekdays and 9am-11pm on weekends.