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Local stapleA reliable neighbourhood regular. Solid, worth knowing, not always the headline.DinnerOpen for dinner — the usual LocalBite recommendation.

Smokestak

BBQ · Shoreditch

8 Sclater Street, E1 6HR

Budget £30 · typically ~£30 pp·24 min walk

Location

80Score
LocalBite score from taste, value, discovery, authenticity, and local confidence — not Google stars.

Taste

8.5

How good the cooking actually is.

Value

8.0

What you get for the money.

Discovery

6.5

How easy it is to stumble on, versus already famous.

Authenticity

8.0

How true it is to the cuisine — not a diluted version.

Local confidence

7.5

Whether locals who care about food actually go.
Tourist locationWell-known and easy to find. The cooking can still be excellent — just don't expect to stumble on it.

The Shoreditch smokehouse that put London BBQ on the map. Brisket and beef rib still deliver, but the room is a destination now — visitors book it the way they book a 'must-eat' list.

Why we recommend

Shoreditch smokehouse that helped define London BBQ — rich, fatty, indulgent. Not subtle; very satisfying.

  • Standout orders

    Brisket, ox cheek, and sticky toffee pudding — named again and again in recent reviews

  • Atmosphere & service

    Warm, lively atmosphere and the friendly, attentive staff who provide excellent recommendations

  • Atmosphere & service

    Reasonable prices and appreciate the quick service, making it a great spot for sharing dishes

What to order

  • Smoked brisket

    From reviews

    Reviewers single this out — especially the brisket, ox cheek, and sticky toffee pudding.

  • Beef rib

    Our pick

    A curator staple at Smokestak — the dish we'd send a first-timer toward.

  • Jalapeño hush puppies

    Our pick

    A curator staple at Smokestak — the dish we'd send a first-timer toward.

Good for

Something amazingLate night

Practical notes

Can get loud. Popular — book or off-peak.

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