Top 10: Quirky Mac n’ Cheese in LondonBy Alicia Grimshaw
You just can’t beat a bowl of Mac n’ Cheese – the rich, warm, comforting treat reminds us of happy days, break ups and a hug in a bowl. We searched high and low to find London’s best unusual Mac n’ Cheese creations, here’s 10 super new ways to eat it in London:
What: The Mac Daddy – 6OZ house burger topped with pulled beef short rib, mac & cheese & Dirty Bones bbq sauce.
Why: Living up to their name, Dirty Bones serves up one hell of a filthy burger: The Mac Daddy. Creamy Mac ‘n Cheese layered onto a beef burger, all hugged together in a bun – it’s an absolute belter. Throw in a side of their double dirty skinny fries with cactus salsa and pulled pork and you’ve got a meal that would make Man vs Food proud.
Where: 20 Kensington Church Street, Kensington, London W8 4EP
Photo Credit: The Gaztronome
2. In a Toastie: Grill My Cheese
What: Baby Got Mac – Sourdough, signature cheese blend, macaroni cheese, pulled pork and Grill My Cheese BBQ sauce (£6)
Why: Inspired by the late-night snacks in Miami, friends Nisha and Nishma (confusing) decided to bring the American staple back to the UK and traded in the plastic processed cheese (I mean, I love a square of that from time to time) and created killer grilled cheese sandwiches made using quality, fresh ingredients. Having created and tested over 5 mac ‘n cheese combinations, their baby got mac sandwich is sensational. They’ve got the cheese and macaroni ratio down to a tee.
Where: Leather Lane Market, EC4 every Monday-Friday from 12pm-2pm
3. In a Tiny Dish: Joe’s Southern Kitchen
What: Mac n’ Cheese with a biscuit crust (£3.95)
Why: Joe’s Southern Kitchen brings the authentic American taste of the South to London diners. Not a place you’d take a first date, but a great place to go with friends as it’s all about getting your fingers dirty and your face sticky. We’re talking about Southern fried chicken, 8 hour slow roast short ribs and pulled pork buns. If there’s one side dish to get, order their Mac ‘n Cheese – not too heavy and a perfect accompaniment to all the meat. Probably not one for the vegetarians.
Where: Locations here
What: Diner Mac ‘n Cheese (£7.50)
Why: A popular hangout for your American burger fixes and thick milkshakes, The Diner serve up USA style dishes in various locations across London. Their Mac ‘n Cheese is a generous portion of all the good stuff and if you wish you can choose extra toppings included pulled pork, something we approve of. Fancy their Mac ‘n Cheese sat on your sofa? They now operate a delivery service. Total win. They’ve recently launched a new menu including red velvet pancakes and we can confirm that they are very good news.
Where: Locations across London. Check them out here
5. In the Street: Annie Mae’s Mac n’ Cheese
What: Kayne Western – Beef hot dog, homemade BBQ sauce and chives (£5.99)
Why: Annie Mae’s have taken Mac ‘n Cheese to the streets. Their Mac ‘n Cheese is fuss-free, no nonsense and great tasting. They cook all their Mac ‘n Cheese in giant cast iron skillets and served these little pots of joy out of their 1986 GMC Vandura. Their Mac ‘n Cheese is covered in various toppings including the Don Macaroni, a combination of pesto, bacon and basil and their spicy juan with chipotle, jalapeños, sour cream and coriander. Their Mac ‘n Cheese is anything but bland.
Where: Check out their whereabouts here
6. In the Fryer: Chicken Liquor
What: Deep fried Mac ‘n Cheese with marniara sauce
Why: A spin off from MeatLiquor, this trendy diner’s menu concentrates on chicken (obviously). Think chicken wings, burgers and boneless chicken. They have a shed load of halloumi dishes, so the veggies are catered for. Their deep fried Mac ‘n Cheese remind us of potato croquettes, bite inside and you’re greeted with a mouthful of Mac ‘n Cheese that’s as hot as molten lava. Don’t be shy and get dipping these beauties in the marinara sauce.
Where: 12 Market Row, Brixton, UK SW9 8PR
Order:
Why: Hawksmoor is a meat lovers dream. Steak sharing plates, belly ribs and grilled bone marrow all appear on the menu. They pride themselves on using British beef and they were recently shortlisted as being one of the most sustainable restaurant groups in the country at the Sustainable Restaurant Awards. If you want a Mac ‘n Cheese dish with a little pizzaz, their lobster one certainly ticks the boxes.
Where: 5A Air Street, London W1J oAD
What: Mac ‘n Cheese in cacao nib pastry, celeriac puree, leeks, mushrooms (£14)
Why: If you’re fed up of pushing through the hordes of tourists at Borough Market trying to get your hands on some sweet salami, take refuge in Rabot 1975. This colonial themed restaurant creates contempoary dishes with a cocoa theme. Dishes are influenced by the Carribean, West Indies and British cuisine, because everyone wants to eat a Yorkshire pudding filled with cacao glazed pulled pork with white chocolate mash and cacao red wine jus. It sounds kind of bonkers, which it is, but tasty all the same.
Where: 2 – 4 Bedale Street, Borough Market, London SE1 9AL
9. In a French Brasserie: Balthazar
What: Macaroni cheese with gruyère cheese (£13) / with bacon (£14)
Why: French brasserie Balthazar serves classic bistro dishes along with one of the best apple tarte tatin we’ve had this side of the river. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and perfect for a pre theatre meal. If you’ve ever wanted a Mac ‘n Cheese with a healthy portion of cheese, their’s served with gruyere cheese making this dish the ultimate comfort food dish. Order the one with bacon, it would be rude not to. Nip next door to their bakery for an almond croissants for afters.
Where: 4-6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5HZ
Order: Kale and Cauli Macaroni Cheese (£4.95)
Why: Pret needs no introduction, it’s a bold statement but their porridge is probably one of the best from a chain coffee shop, we mean it. Their macaroni cheese is so popular, they sell a whopping 50,000 portions per week. If you need to jazz up your limp salad, head to pret for their macaroni cheese. A generous portion of pasta covered in a mature Cheddar Béchamel sauce, they also have a cauliflower with Italian prosciutto version too.
Where: Locations all over London.
