Norwich pub serves up UK's best street food

It’s official – the best street food dish of 2025 can be found in a Norwich pub, following the conclusion of the Street Food Championships.  

The final of the annual event brought together some of the UK’s most talented street food chefs for a live cook-off at Big Penny Social in London.  

From the16 competitors who took part, James Thacker of Bun X Norwich earned the Street Food Dish of the Year title with his dish, The Triple B burger. 

Made with two 4oz beef patties that are smashed on the grill with a house seasoning, the burgers are then topped with American cheese and served in a butter toasted Japanese milk bun with maple and black pepper mayonnaise, house made pastrami, bourbon barbecue sauce, pickled slaw and fried jalapeño's.

“We all work really hard and it was a team effort to make sure we put up the right dishes for the competition," says Thacker, pictured above with host DJ BBQ and Tamsyn Halm, editor of OOH Magazine.  

Bun X currently operates two pub pop-ups in Norwich – one at The Coach and Horses on Thorpe Road and its original pop-up at Micawbers Tavern. Following their win, the team will soon be bringing their menu to London, after winning a one-month rent-free residency at Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle. 

Gourmet Warriors and Killa Waffles winning recipes

Live cook-off 

The event featured a series of cooking rounds, including Signature, Technical, Major Wings Champion and Lee Kum Kee’s Ultimate Umami. Testing 16 street food chefs’ creativity, skill and consistency under pressure. 

Other awards on the night went to Edward Kirby from Gourmet Warriors, who was named Street Food Chef of the Year, for his Moo Hong Noodz – a dish that successfully combined Lee Kum Kee ingredients with The Tofoo Co tofu and Lucky Boat noodles.     

Alec Tomasso from The Weeping Chef claimed the Major Wings Champion title with his smoked wings, while Jamie Tack from London’s Tavern on the Hill won Lee Kum Kee’s Ultimate Umami Champion with his Mega Mushroom Mix spring rolls.  

Alex Gaffe of Killa Waffles won the Bloggers’ Choice Award, selected by Big Eats Global and The Fat Foodie, for her standout signature dish Ruffle Truffle. 

The 2025 Street Food Championships were sponsored by Conglom, Lamb Weston, Lee Kum Kee, Lucky Boat, Major, P&G Professional, Pepsi, Square and The Tofoo Co.  

The 2025 Street Food Championships finalists 

Baked Bird, London 
Mint to be Spicy 

Bill’s, National 
Bill’s Chilli Cheeseburger Loaded Fries 

BUN X NORWICH, Norwich 
TRIPLE B 

Gourmet Warriors, Bristol 
Bolognese Birria Tacos 

Killa Waffles, London 
Ruffle Truffle 

Libertine Burger, Warwickshire 
Libertine Burger #888 

One Tonne Burger Co, Portsmouth 
The USP 

Ro Vietnamese, London 
Pork Banh Mi 

Smoke Meat and Fire, Wigan 
Nashville Hot Salt and Pepper Chicken Burger 

Sushi Revolution, London 
Chicken Karaage Nanban 

Tavern on the Hill, London 
The Leslie Neilsen 

Thai Leisure Group, National 
Siam Showdown Burger 

The Otley Burger Company, Otley 
Mozzanara Burger 

The Rub BBQ, Hertfordshire 
Buffalo Dog 

The Restaurant Group, National 
Butter Paneer Toasties 

The Weeping Chef, Hertfordshire 
Texas Smoked Beef Brisket Wrap 

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