Elephant Exchange Food Hall Reveals Its 14 Kitchens

The Elephant Exchange, Blend Family’s new food hall in Elephant & Castle, opens on 12 November with 14 independent kitchens serving street food and family recipes from around the world, from Japanese and Nepalese to New Orleans Creole, Taiwanese and Peruvian.

Alongside the kitchens there will be a central bar, a coffee bar and a programme of events and cultural collaborations, aimed at local residents, workers, students and visitors. Taking centre stage at the heart of the venue is Lulu, a self-pour wine concept offering a wide selection of wines.

Several of the kitchens are opening their first permanent sites. SHOKUDŌ was founded in 2024 by Hong Kong-born Australians Christine and Joseph, after Joseph left a 13-year banking career, and built its London business through street food pop-ups, private supper clubs, office bento and cookery classes. Its name means “食堂”, an everyday eatery, and the menu includes Chicken Oyako Don, Tamagoyaki Sando, takoyaki and Japanese curry, with seasonal specials and vegetarian options.

Nepalese street food brand Filili Eats, founded by Sadish in 2021, is also moving into its first permanent home after building a following at London markets and pop-ups. Momo dumplings are at the heart of its menu, with twists including Danger Momo and Bang Bang Momo.

Khin Thai, founded by Eaint, draws on three generations of family cooking, with recipes passed down through her mother and grandmother. Its menu includes pad Thai, which takes more than four hours to perfect, and a fiery pad kra pao.

Young Nola brings the flavours of New Orleans to south London, with a menu inspired by Louisiana Creole cooking and its West African, French, Spanish and Caribbean influences. Dishes include gumbo, Creole mac ’n’ cheese, slow-cooked Louisiana short ribs and Bayou fried shrimp.

At TaiWei, founder Tina serves Taiwanese street food. Her interest began when her aunt visited from Taiwan and introduced her to traditional home cooking, and she went on to attend a professional cookery programme in Taiwan, learning techniques including hand-pulled noodles, braised beef and Taiwanese fried chicken. After experimenting with recipes at home during the pandemic, she developed a menu of handmade fresh noodles, spice bags, beef short rib and slow-braised pork.

Taste Peru, whose ethos is “A Taste of Peru, Cooked with Heart”, brings Peruvian cooking to the opening line-up.

Hakka Village combines Malaysian hawker culture with Southern Chinese cooking, Sunrise Caribbean, founded by Michelle, is inspired by family recipes from Jamaica, and Zindiya’s Indian menu draws on its founders’ heritage and family traditions.

Greek Gods’ Cuisine was born from founder Efi Vasilaki’s longing for the Greek food she missed while living in the UK, and serves gyros, souvlaki and moussaka alongside vegan options.

At +84, co-founders Gray and Linda take inspiration from Gray’s childhood in Ho Chi Minh City, with Vietnamese street food including freshly baked bánh mì with a buttery spread inside, filled with a choice of proteins, homemade pickles and sauces and topped with fresh coriander.

Fuego 1987, founded by Hamza, is known for its viral birria ramen, made with a beef birria consommé slow-cooked for more than eight hours. Its Mexican-American street food menu is fully halal, with gluten-free corn tacos and plant-based dishes.

Renata has a personal connection to the area. Founder Samson’s first home when he moved to England was in Elephant & Castle, where cooking scrambled eggs with his mother and grandmother first sparked his love of food. Named after the Italian word for “rebirth” or “renewal”, Renata marks his return to the neighbourhood where his cooking began, with a proposed menu of handmade pasta, freshly prepared pizza dough, house-made sauces and cheesy doughballs.

ANG takes a fresh look at comfort food classics, with smash burgers pressed onto a hot plate for crisp, lacy edges and juicy centres, plus crunchy fried chicken and egg sandwiches made with fluffy eggs and fresh bread. Its name captures the feeling of taking that first big bite, with a simple promise: no boring burgers.

The Elephant Exchange is the latest addition to Blend Family’s portfolio of food halls, which includes Cutlery Works and Cambridge Street Collective in Sheffield, Kargo MKT at Salford Quays, Tower Bridge Collective in London and Alfred Works in Birmingham. The operator has also announced plans for Clocktower Works at Nottingham’s Victoria Centre.

“We believe great food halls should be about much more than eating and drinking. They should be places where people connect, discover something new and feel part of their local community. Elephant & Castle is one of the most exciting and diverse areas in London, and we’re incredibly excited to create a destination that reflects that energy and creativity.”

Matt Bigland, Co-founder, Blend Family

With its opening date confirmed and launch week offers lined up, The Elephant Exchange opens in Elephant & Castle on 12 November.