Best Street Food Venues in Kent
Where to go for the best street food in Kent this summer
City Feast, Canterbury
For a few years now, street food has been the nosh of choice for anyone wanting a chilled and diverse dining experience without having to smash the piggy bank. Therefore, we have outlined some of the pengist grub-in-hand hubs around the county.
CITY FEAST, CANTERBURY
Launched just last week, City Feast (@Cityfeast) has taken over a street in Canterbury’s historic city centre to bring a number of the nation's hottest street food venders to one locale.
Trading until the 6th September every Friday, Saturday (12pm - 9.30pm) and Sunday (12pm-8pm), City Feast has already stirred up quite a buzz in the county.
From stalwarts like the Curious Brew Defender (@CuriousBrewery) and Rad Burger (@radburgerco) to newcomers like the fresh and inclusive Silver Birch Fine Foods (@silverbirchfinefoods), there will be regular changing traders at each event.
But if the opening weekend, which featured Barney & The Pizza (@barneyandthepizza), Mikey’s Gourmet Kitchen (@mikeysgourmetkitchen) and the Harlem 2 Manila (@harlem2manila) Filipino fusion, is anything to go by, we are going to be in for a proper treat.
Follow the City Feast social media to see who is appearing each week.
STREET FOOD WAREHOUSE, CHATHAM
Welsh foodie experience experts Street Food Warehouse (@streetfoodwarehouse) have teamed up with Dockside Outlet at Chatham Maritime to launch a brand new street food market.
The market, which has both indoor and outdoor spaces, will host some of the South East’s most sought after traders.
Now open daily, those looking for a gourmet guzzle or just a relaxing tipple looking over the water, can bag up some scran from the likes of London’s Uncle Gs (@uncle_gs_gourmet_fried_chicken) for gluten-free buttermilk chicken, Blighty fish and chips from Seawise (FB: @seawisecatering) and something spicy, fresh and fiery from Kent’s Curry Cook House (@CurryCookHouse).
It also looks like they will be bringing a street food festival to Margate in 2021, so watch this space.
THE HARBOUR ARM, FOLKESTONE
The Bao Baron
The Harbour Arm in Folkestone (@fstonehbourarm) has been undergoing an epic transformation to become a hub of entertainment as well as a goldmine for street food cheek fillers.
New to the Arm is The Bao Baron (@thebaobaron), where diners can take their pick from Soy & Chilli Beef, Korean Fried Chicken, Sticky Pork or a variety of Vegan options all wrapped up in a Bao.
The Go Dutch! (@dutch_poffertjes_) hut serves specialty poffertjes - small fluffy pancakes that melt in your mouth with a warm buttery sugary syrup, as well as 'bitterballen' fried treats with a gooey herby beef filling and crispy crumb.
The Big Greek Bus (@thebiggreekbus) speaks for itself with everything from gyros to Meze Platters.
BABA JI have got the Indian-style street food nailed while the renowned Docker Bakery (@dockerbakery) rise to the occasion with bready brilliance, as always.
Bathtub & Gun (@bathtubandgun) is a perfectly formed tiny bar, while That Burger (@thatburgerkent) and Not Just Ribz provide the choicest cuts of meat to take away and scoff on the waterside.
Finally Sole Kitchen (@_solekitchen) has impeccably British seaside favourites mixed with international flavours, for example, polenta-rolled hake fish fingers and panko Po’Boy Prawns from the local Folkestone trawlers.
Harbour Coffee Co. (@Harbourcoffeeco) has got your cuppa sorted.
SUN STREET FEAST, CANTERBURY
Sun Street Feast (@sunstreetfeast) is Canterbury’s first indoor street food market hall bringing together five of the city’s best-loved food vendors - from August 6th.
Located in the former Pork & Co restaurant space the hunger-bashing hub will be open five days a week (excluding Tuesdays and Wednesdays), and aims to recreate the vibrancy and authenticity of the street food scene at a permanent base.
Offering its signature pulled pork buns, alongside changing craft beers and ciders, Pork & Co (@porkandco) took their trotters to Margate with a 2019 pop-up on the beach and have bought that concept back home.
Cafe YaYa will offer New Orleans-inspired coffee and beignet - light, pillow-like doughnuts doused in icing sugar – perfect at breakfast, lunch or in the evening as a tasty dessert.
Eskibros (@eski.bros) houses the exotic-sounding Thai ice cream rolls as well as bubble and tree waffles.
It wouldn’t be Canterbury street food without Rad Burger (@Radburgerco). Set up in 2013 the team is known for its passion and talent for creating the perfect burger, using high-quality ingredients and homemade sauces.
Another local legend is Taco Bill (@tacobillstreetfood). Owner Will Burnett is constantly researching traditional Mexican recipes to then inject his own twist. Some of their most popular tacos include Baja fish - battered haddock pickled red cabbage, guacamole and chipotle mayo; or pork belly - achiote and citrus confit pork belly, pineapple salsa, pickled shallots and coriander. Wowser.
OLD KENT MARKET, MARGATE
The unmistakable Old Kent Market (@oldkentmarketreal) is packed full of treasures to eat and drink. The Greek Kitchen (@thegreekkitchenmargate) offers banging chicken, beef or veg pittas with moussaka, yemista and all the dips, while the Mamma Mia Pizzeria (@mammamiapizzeriamargate) dishes up the three ps of authentic Italian - pizza, puccia and pasta.
Check the Old Kent Roastery (@the_old_kent_roastery) for your hot drink needs, while Gina’s Old Kent Bakery (@ginasoldkentbakerymargate_1) has your nose on alert as soon as you enter the market.
Foody Moody’s (@foodmoodys) are focused on green, clean, living food - plant based and full of taste. The smallest pub or the largest mini bar, depending on how you look at it, comes in the shape of The Little Prince (@littleprincemargate).
COACHWORKS, ASHFORD
Coachworks in Ashford (@coachworks_ash) is seamlessly meshing a creative co-working office space vibe with that of live event space and quality street food purveyor. Located by the Ashford International station those with a penchant for poppin’ nosh and ambrosial drinks can fill their swill with BBQed meats by the pound and kicking sides at Street Kings Smoke Shack (@streetkingssmokeshack).
There is pizza and tradish Italian street food from Il Pakkero (@il_pakkero_18), so, look out for the Arrosticini lamb skewers and Misto Napoli boards with stuffed olives, mozzarella balls, mini calzone and arancini. Primo.
If you’re gasping, Faversham brewers Boutilliers (@boutiliiersbrew) have set up a bottle shop in the Hot House, while Faversham Coffee Co. deal out the hot stuff (@coffeeshed18).
CENTRAL MARKET, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Having opened shortly before Covid hit, Central Market (@centralmarketUK) is something TW has been crying out for… for bloody ages.
A pergola covered courtyard, which is stunning at night, is surrounded by a gaggle of gourmet street scoff outlets.
Frankie & Fries (@frankieandfries) bangs out roti flatbread rolls crammed with chicken tikka or paneer and sweet & sour sauce paired with fries loaded with keema peas or chicken bhuna and other treats.
The Dog House (@doghouseplace) has sausages (and veggie options) dripping in bold toppings divided into smoky, fiery, traditional or sweet.
For ethical chocolate look no further than Goupie (@goupiegroupies), who have brought a bit of Willy Wonka fun from their Goudhurst chocolate factory to the market.
Burger connoisseurs Marlowes have long had their TW stronghold in Calverley Road, but now Mini Marlowes (@Marlowes_tw) is serving up 100% Sussex beef patties in brioche buns, loaded with cheese and their ‘special sauce’.
With experience of Boxpark Wembley and Croydon the Argentinian Grill (@Argentinian_grill) offers precision-cooked meats laid over fresh fries, while the Verve Kitchen (@verve.kitchen) has a whallopping healthy smoothies and bagels collection. For some sophisti-snacks, The Wine Cellar (@ThewinecellarTW) is on hand for vino and cheese treats.
THE SUN DECK, MARGATE
If there’s a more picturesque street food hub in Kent, we are yet to find it. The Sun Deck on Margate beach offers great views, great drinks, great music and, of course, great street scoff.
The Locked Inn (@lockedinnbar) serves up some wicked cocktails and local beers, while Garage Roasted Coffee (@Garageroasted) brings its caffeine commodities to the Margate masses.
Canterbury’s Pork & Co (@porkandco) has its baps at the ready while the Po’ Boy (@poboycreole) Creole Fish Hut offers the likes of samurai prawns in panko breadcrumbs with Japanese slaw and srirancha mayo, as well as a great section of tofu-based masterpieces.
Finally, the Bus Cafe (@thebuscafe) has got the breakfast and brunch street food scene on toast… literally and figuratively… as they won Best Breakfast in the UK last year!