We’ve all been there; the best-laid plans for a cheap night out can quickly fall apart once THAT person in the group gets hold of the wine list. We’re letting you in on the best BYOB restaurants in East London so you can enjoy a night out and keep your booze under budget.
BunBunBun, Hoxton
Vietnamese street food; think summer/spring rolls, banh-mi, noodle soups and salads, and main dishes like coconut chicken curry or spicy lemongrass beef served as mini set meals with jasmine rice, vegetable soup and pickles.
Corkage: Free
Address: 134B Kingsland Road, London E2 8DY
Hawksmoor, Spitalfields
Fancy a decent bottle of red with your steak without blowing the overdraft? Dine in on a Monday to take advantage of Hawksmoor’s happily affordable BYOB. If you’re going in a group, get the biggest bottle you can find to really get your money’s worth!
Corkage: £5.00 per bottle of wine on Mondays for any size, otherwise Tuesday-Sunday it’s £25.00 per 750ml bottle.
Address: 157A Commercial St, London E1 6BJ, Spitalfields
Little Georgia, Hackney
The larger Islington site is licensed but Hackney is BYOB. Settle down amidst the quirky decor and chow down on traditional Georgian family recipes such as chkmeruli (chicken with rich garlic, pecan & walnut sauce served with homemade bread), borscht, and khinkali – savoury pork and beef dumplings served with soured cream.
Corkage: £5.00 if your bill is under £25.00 per person, otherwise free
Address: 87 Goldsmith’s Row, London E2 8QR
Cheapo Top Tip: If you want to stay on theme with your wine (what, just me?) then you can buy Georgian wine from the corner shop opposite the restaurant. The owner is super-helpful and will give you some recommendations if you need them.
Singburi, Leytonstone
This foodie favourite no-frills Thai is cash-only and BYOB. The menu is written on a blackboard and posted on their Instagram @singburi_e11; don’t miss the Moo Krob (crispy pork with chilli & holy basil) and the clams. Be warned, it’s ridiculously popular so getting a table will be a real test.
Corkage: Free
Address: 593 High Rd Leytonstone, London E11 4PA
Mangal 1, Dalston
This legendary Turkish ocakbasi (open charcoal grill) restaurant is top of the list in an area famed for its kebab joints, with excellent food, a lively atmosphere and great value. Be prepared to queue; we recommend getting there as early as possible. Yotam Ottolenghi rates the adana kofte with yoghurt, tomato & butter sauce, but literally everything is good. There are all the usual kebabs and skewers, a banging mixed grill plus some more adventurous options – so if you’re a fan of sweetbreads or quail, you’re in for a treat.
Corkage: Free
Address: 10 Arcola Street, London E8 2DJ
Mien Tay, Hoxton
One of four family-run restaurants named after the owners’ home region in south-west Vietnam. This is a great chance to try traditional hyper-local dishes such as Vietnamese Chicken Clay-Pot Curry, Crispy Squid with Garlic, Goat with Galangal and Chargrilled Quail with Honey, Garlic and Spices.
Corkage: £4.00 per person
Address: 106-108 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8DP
Cheapo Top Tip: This is part of the ‘Pho Mile’ of Vietnamese restaurants on Kingsland Road, many of which also do BYOB.
Tayyabs, Whitechapel
Much-loved family-run restaurant serving Punjabi cuisine to Londoners since 1972; order the iconic lamb chops starter and the garlic naan, but make sure you’re hungry!
Corkage: Free
Address: 83-89 Fieldgate St, London E1 1J
Liking the BYOB vibe? Take a look at our recommendations of the Best Supper Clubs in London, most of which are BYOB.
