Set against the buzz of Shoreditch, the latest Hoppers outpost brings together Sri Lanka and South India in a way that feels personal, proudly regional and rooted in the joy of eating – while keeping everything that fans already love firmly at its heart.
On our visit we were lucky enough to be looked after by Kerry Ann – a born-and-bred East Londoner and cousin of our very own Danny Dyer. Former West End tap dancer, she was bursting with passion and knowledge, steering us towards all the right choices with infectious enthusiasm…
First things first: order the chilli and cheese dosa. No debate. A crisp South Indian crêpe made from fermented rice and lentil batter, rolled into a giant cornet of joy. Perfect on its own, even better for scooping up all the sauces that follow.
To start, we went for the hot butter crispy squid, drenched in garlic-chilli butter with banana peppers – dangerously moreish. The chickpea and cucumber salad was excellent in its own right, fresh and punchy, while the devilled paneer (stir-fried with onions and chillies in a Sri Lankan devilled sauce) was beautifully vibrant and full of flavour.
For mains, the crab kari omelette absolutely stole the show. A Madurai-inspired crab curry omelette served with flaky thread parotta, podi-coated soft shell crab, and a rich crab gravy poured tableside. If you like crab, you’ll be very, very happy. We also ordered the chicken buriani – a comforting bowl of layered basmati rice and tender, aromatic chicken, wonderfully fragrant.
The mini cocktails are a great idea (and dangerous in the best way). We tried a few and crowned the Tollystar Martini (don’t forget to eat the passionfuit jelly that lies at the bottom!) and Lion’s Margarita as our favourites.
We finished by sharing the chocolate biscuit pudding, which rounded everything off perfectly. The food here is addictive, the service is warm and genuinely knowledgeable, and everything feels fresh, exciting, and full of flavour.
Next time, we’re definitely trying one of the egg hoppers we spotted landing on another table – bowl-shaped pancakes made from fermented rice and coconut batter with a runny egg in the middle. Looked like pure fun!
Hoppers Shoreditch, Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ
