At this summery time of year the North East’s street food scene thrives more than ever. If you’re out and about and feel like grabbing a quick bite or wish to explore what today’s vendors are offering then Newcastle and its surrounds host the perfect spots to sate your hunger in delicious fashion. From Italian & Greek to Indian cuisine there are innumerable places where you can enrich your taste buds.
Sometimes the amount of culinary variety in the North East can leave you feeling a little paralysed for choice. It’s for this reason that we’ve teamed up with the folks over at TFH Gazebos who provide bespoke gazebos and accessories for caterers throughout the UK to compile a list of the 20 best street food traders that you simply must try!
If pizza isn’t wood-fired these days then it just doesn’t cut it. This spot serves up some of the best in the region while offering a vast array of toppings and sides to boot. Their base restaurant is located in Sandyford Road, NE2 1RJ and you’ll often find them serving down the Quayside at the weekend in their signature golden camper van.
Another frequent visitor of the Quayside Market is Tokyo Kitchen. This pop-up restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine, spanning from sushi that’s perfect to eat on the go to heartier katsu curries as well as bento boxes. Be sure to check them out for the real taste of Japan whether they’re at the Quayside or any number of events and venues in the North East.
A little farther afield, you’ll find this next restaurant in the Whitley Bay area. This Lebanese joint serves authentic mezze, tasty stuffed pittas, wholesome shawarma, kofta, belly pork, and falafel. You’ll be spoilt for choice here even if you’re a vegan or vegetarian as they also offer a range of meat-free options! Sit down or take away their flavoursome items at NE26 3QX.
Chucho’s The Real Mexican Food
If you’re in the mood for Mexican (and who could blame you) then Chucho’s is the place to go, as corroborated by The Hairy Bikers nonetheless! Chucho puts only the freshest ingredients into his homemade tortillas and offers similarly authentic snacks and beers for the complete Mexican experience. You can find them at the top of Shields Road or amongst the various markets & festivals throughout Newcastle.
Given that this next eatery won Mediterranean Restaurant of the Year 2021/22 they should need little introduction. The family-run Greek street food establishment has a presence throughout Newcastle that’s hard to miss, and for good reason. You can find them in the Stack at NE1 6QG or almost any market throughout the region where they serve bonafide gyros, loaded fries, and essential sundries.
Another restaurant that saw a visit from The Hairy Bikers, this Indian spot is known for its bhel puri and other delicious dishes alongside genuine Indian chais & lassis. They use 100% fresh, healthy ingredients and everything they sell is vegan-friendly so everyone can partake! You’ll find them posted up in Grainger Market – unit 31-33, NE1 5QG.
If, like the two friends who opened up this shop, you’re on a journey to experience fresh & traditional sushi then don’t miss out on this place in Grey Street where you can enjoy Japanese food from the comfort of an indoor location. Whether it’s something with a modern twist, chicken or vegan-based, nigiri or sashimi, their expansive luxury options have you covered. See for yourself at NE1 6EE.
If you’re after quintessential British cuisine then you can’t go wrong with fish & chips. This mobile caterer is based in the North East and available for hire at any event today. It’s the least to say that they don’t skimp on quality, their fish is fresh off the boat and all of their ingredients are locally-sourced for sustainable and scrumptious results! As an added bonus their menu is also vegan and veggie-friendly.
Don’t worry, for those of you who have a sweet tooth there’s also something for you. You can’t say that your mouth has watered until you’ve sampled a traditional french crepe filled to the brim with delectables. Returning all the way from the south of France, Marc and Gary have brought authentic crepes to Newcastle accompanied by a host of drinks, sandwiches, and salads. Seek them out at Tynemouth Market every weekend!
Almost everyone gets a cheese craving, and what better way to get your fix than at the first dedicated mac ‘n’ cheese pop-up restaurant in Newcastle? Redhead’s is another must-try found in Grainger Market, NE1 5QQ, or down the Quayside every Sunday. You can also order their indulgent assortment of cheese-covered foods online – perfect for kids and adults alike!
A list of the top street food available wouldn’t be complete without authentic Chinese cuisine. Don’t let the name fool you, the flavour that this spot produces is anything but small-scale. Specialising in handmade dumplings with braised fillings and spicy additions they make the grade with ease. You’ll find them at the heart of Newcastle, 25 Ridley Place, NE1 8JN as well as on Deliveroo.
NYC-inspired with a Geordie twist is a match made in heaven, as the founders of the first US bagel shop in the North East discovered. These guys are located at 250 Chillingham Road, NE6 5LQ, an address worth making note of. An independent restaurant and takeaway, they serve both savoury and sweet bagels that marry a vast palette of flavours, as typified by their Reuban, Julius, and Parmo creations.
It’s impossible to compile a list of North East street food without mentioning the parmo, Teesside’s very own love child of chicken, cheese, and bechamel sauce. Although, the options have now taken on a life of their own and you can enjoy a parmo with extravagant toppings or in between a bun at this BBC1 featured hotspot. Find their travelling food trucks all over the North East, you won’t want to miss out!
It seems like we can’t avoid gyozas and bao buns recently, and we’ve got no complaints. Bao Bar takes Asian fusion to the next level, sit down or take away your small but mighty plates and snacks from 206 Chillingham Road, NE6 5LN today and consider yourself satisfied! This location serves the perfect combination of contemporary and traditional for the best of both worlds.
First opened in Glasgow’s West End in 2002 and now in Newcastle, this is one of the more intimate eateries on the list. Feel the vibrancy of the Andalucian decor while you tuck into authentic Spanish tapas alongside a range of paellas while enjoying your refreshing sangria. This restaurant can be found at 87-89 Grey Street, NE1 6EG and is a ray of European sunshine.
Aptly described as streetery, My Delhi brings the best street food that Delhi has to offer all the way to Newcastle, 87A Clayton Street, NE1 5PY. Dine-in, kerbside pickup, or no-contact delivery – it’s your choice how you want to enjoy the cultured foods & drinks that are handcrafted by Delhi-native chefs who comprise the nation’s best Indian Street Food Restaurant 2021, as elected at the English Curry Awards.
This joint is a trendy burger bar which specialises in homely comfort food, their base restaurant is on 2-6 Shakespeare Street, NE1 6AQ. They have, however, expanded to the street with their fleet which appears at popular events within the Newcastle area and beyond. Their burgers fresh off the grill will leave you simultaneously satisfied and wanting more, don’t skimp on their desirable sides either!
It would be amiss to only feature one pizza place on the list, and if you’re hosting a private event then you’ll definitely want this business on your radar. Pizzette is a humble Citroen HY van from 1975 that has been turned into a wood-fired pizza making machine. Keep it simple or embellish your pizza with exotic toppings such as wild boar, honeycomb, and figs for a truly original experience.
Perhaps the most self-explanatorily branded vendor on the list, On the Goa serves up fresh and succulent authentic Indian street food exclusively in the North East. You’ll find them planted around various markets, events, and outdoor catering spots where you’ll be able to try their range of curries, dahls, and pakoras while you’re on the go!
Last but certainly not least on the list we have a service that is driven to provide a comprehensive plethora of Indian cuisine. Operating for over the last 10 years from their van & gazebo which have both seen the full spectrum of festivals, celebrations, and corporate events, this joint dishes out loaded naans & fries, desi burgers, finger food, and almost any mixed curry you can think of. Their hygiene rating is an industry standard and they set an example for all street food vendors, make sure to get in touch with them today!
We hope that this article has given you an idea of the sheer wealth of culinary experience that’s waiting for you on the streets of the North East & perhaps given you the push to get out there and try what your local traders have on offer for your stomach’s benefit, thanks for reading!