London's East End is full of fascinating markets and exciting food finds. One of the most mouthwatering streets of the East End is Brick Lane, a row of mainly South Asian shops and restaurants. The phrase "Brick Lane" is synonymous with "curry" around London, and it is such a famous spot that there's a feature film of the same name that tells the story of a Bangladeshi family living in the area. There are also spin-off streets and restaurants around the world, like the Brick Lane Curry House in New York City's East Village.
The area is not only a cuisine hot spot but also boasts its own unique stake in the city's history. Brick Lane and its surroundings were originally Huguenot settlements and later became the heart of the city's Jewish community. At one point, the area was associated with London's slum dwellers and the Jack the Ripper murders. Today, although many visitors consider Brick Lane to offer primarily Indian cuisine, most restaurants are owned by Bangladeshi families and companies. There are halal butchers and curry markets galore as well as "curry buses" with BYOB policies - as many shop owners are practicing Muslims, alcohol is not sold in some of the locales. Restaurants specialize in regional cuisines from all over South Asia, and some even specialize in specific dishes. On Brick Lane you'll find the Shalimar Halal Restaurant, Saffron Restaurant, City Spice, Brick Lane Brasserie, The Monsoon Restaurant, and Le Taj Restaurant, just to name a few. Tandoori plates are one of the most commonly ordered dishes. Many restaurants in the area have catapulted to world-wide fame in just a few years. The Aladin Restaurant, specializing in authentic dishes from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, has been recognized in a number of top publications and has even been commended by the royal family. The BBC listed the Aladin as one of the "World's Best Curry Houses." The Aladin's extensive menu includes Madras dishes, Dansak dishes, Bhuna dishes, Pathia dishes and more. Some specialties include Tandoori King Prawn Masala and Murgh Aloo Rezalla. Whichever restaurant you visit, be sure to request the level of spice you think you can handle and ask for plenty of cooling side dishes and drinks. Besides sit-down restaurants, visitors will find attractions like South Asian candy shops and sumptuous fabrics for sale. There is a burgeoning arts scene and the area attracts visits from London's hippest artists and designers. The Old Truman Brewery has a designer clothing market every Sunday.
You can reach Brick Lane from the Whitechapel Underground station and the Aldgate East and Shoreditch Stations are also close by. Be sure to take a stroll up and down the lane if you have time and check out all the tantalizing options - the most accessible places may not be the ones with the best deals. Also, pay attention to the waiters outside hawking their particular eatery - sometimes you can negotiate with them to get free appetizers or a free bottle of wine thrown in with your meal. Take in the amazing smells and flavors of London's Brick Lane.
Billie Grubb enjoys writing about fine dining as well as other sightseeing attractions in London. If you are planning a trip to London, a great hotel to stay is Cumberland Hotel London.
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