In most cities we’ve been in, Food Tours don’t have a central location. You show up at the meeting point, and eventually someone comes to collect you. On our first evening in London, we escaped the light rain, huddled under the arched doorway of Whitechapel Gallery (a cool art space you should also check out), and waited with a group of others who were waiting for their Jack the Ripper tour to start. As the rain lets up, we see an orange umbrella approach bearing the Secret Food Tours logo, and from under that we get our first glimpse of our guide Amin’s smile. He smiled most of the night.

Amin led us around the corner from the gallery and we stepped onto Brick Lane, into the area of London known as Banglatown. The walls were alive with graffiti and murals, curry wafted through the air, and the beginnings of Christmas decorations had gone up. The area was alive with locals and tourists taking in the lights, smells and food of the area.

Our first stop with Secret Food Tours was a small takeout spot called Café Grill. We walked in and the cases were lined with all different types of food and desserts like a buffet. Amin led us to the few tables in the back and told us about his plans for the evening as we enjoyed Mango Lassi, Black chick peas cooked in spices, and Piyaju, deep fried dumplings made with ground lentils. This was just an appetizer.

We walked further down Brick Lane and walked into Eastern Eye Balti House for our “first dinner”. We enjoyed some Cobra beers as Amin regaled us with tales of his mother’s cooking, and how he came to enjoy cooking as well. He explained that although we were in Benglatown, it was called the Indian Food Tour because of the shared food culture of the entire Indian subcontinent, not just the country of India. That includes India and what is now known as Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The food arrived… a lot of food. We enjoyed fried puri wrap with spiced chickpeas and house chutney, chicken korai, saag lamb, a spiced vegetarian dish, rice and naan. Everything was delicious but the saag lamb was exquisite. The tender, perfectly cooked meat was enhanced with an amazing combination of spices.

As we ate, we got to know our fellow eaters, and Amin continued the conversation about cooking culture. He explained how he now enjoys teaching his children about cooking the same way his mother had. He explained each spice that makes up the basics of Indian cooking in such great detail as he passed a sample of the spices around for us to touch and smell. We finished the meal with a Ginger shot, not alcohol, but an immunity booster made with ginger, lemon, turmeric, honey and other spices.

We left the restaurant very full and very happy. Amin took us around the neighborhood, and stopped at Madhuborn sweet house to grab some chomchom (a traditional sweet made from sugar, flour, and milk) for later. He also led us through a local grocery shop to show us black lentils, and how cheap most spices were in the neighborhood. We took a long walk around Whitechapel to walk off our first dinner, because the next stop was going to be just as epic.

We made our way to Lahore Kebab House. You could smell the spices radiating off of the place before you even knew you were there. It was here we had our second dinner. Amin ordered paneer tikka, lamb chops, chicken kabobs and garlic naan. The food was incredible. If we thought we had good lamb before, this was its equal or better. The kabob was juicy and perfect. The food was never ending, as soon as we seemed to need more of something, our guide ordered more. We literally had to beg him to stop.

As we wrapped down, Amin pulled out the box of chomchom for our dessert. It was sweet and creamy and the perfect cap for all of the savory goodness we had just enjoyed. Amin and Secret Food Tours gave us the perfect first experience in London. England is not really known for its food culture, but it is rich in immigrants from all around the Commonwealth. I bet this tour would have been amazing in any of the minority communities that call London home. We would not only recommend this food tour, but if we ever get back to London, would probably take it again. 10/10