Since they first opened in Soho ten years ago, Hoppers have made quite a name for themselves, even earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand in their first year. They've opened three more venues since then, the latest being in Shoreditch's iconic Tea Building - which I recently had the pleasure of trying.
Owned by the team behind Gymkhana and Trishna, led by Creative Director and Co-Founder Karan Gokani, it's pretty clear that these guys know a thing or two about great food. Their menu features Sri Lankan and South Indian flavours, inspired by the toddy shops, coastal journeys and spice gardens of these regions. Each location is slightly different, so I was eager to try out this new one and get a taste of their menu for myself.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Hoppers Shoreditch
The new Shoreditch site (left) serves cocktails alongside Sri Lankan food.
Need To Know:
- Address: Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ
- Area: Shoreditch
- Cuisine: Sri Lankan, with South Indian influences
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: visiting during a heatwave, the first thing I noticed here was the cool air, but I was swiftly taken in by the aesthetics too. The space was filled with giant lampshades, patterned ceilings and polished wooden furniture, showcasing the beauty of South India with a slightly old-school feel to it. We were given a comfy, spacious booth table, right in the middle of the bustling eatery.
- Perfect For: sharing meals.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For
Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: around £125 for three courses, sides and two drinks each
From small plates to karis, the Hoppers Shoreditch menu featured lots of Sri Lankan favourites.
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Devilled Paneer (£10.50) - these soft chunks of cheese had been stir-fried with onions and chillies, served in a chilli sauce that had just the right amount of kick to it - spicy, but not eye-wateringly so. It was a flavoursome start that wasn't too heavy, and we devoured the whole plate.
- Chilli garlic broccoli (£9.50) - crisp florets of broccoli had been fried in a light batter, creating the perfect crunch. This dish also had a medium spice level, and was very moreish thanks to the garlic and chilli sauce
- Upcountry brinjal kari (£12) - the first of two curries we tried, this aubergine-based dish originates from Sri Lanka's hill country. The aubergine was stewed and easily melted in the mouth, swimming in a mustard and coconut curry that's best served with rice to soak up all the sauce. Though I thoroughly enjoyed this one, I didn't feel it packed quite as much flavour as the other things we tried.
- Sweet potato dhal kari (£12) - ultra-creamy and delicious, this red lentil curry came with tender pieces of sweet potato in a light, fragrant sauce. It was perfect for scooping up, and definitely something I'd order again.
- Chilli cheese dosa (£8) - we ordered a few different sides to accompany the curries, including their signature hoppers, but this one needs its own shout-out. The South Indian crepe was filled with oozing, melted cheese and fresh green chillies, almost reminding me of a cheese toastie but with a South Asian twist. I'd definitely recommend this over a plain one, if you're a fan of all things cheesy.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Tollystar Martini (£12) - making the classic pornstar slightly more tropical, this fruity number combined Desi Daru vodka with coconut, passionfruit and vanilla, resulting in a bold, fresh flavour that's perfect for summer.
- Mango spritz (£12) - this was a limited-edition cocktail created for spring, inspired by Sri Lanka's mango orchards. It was floral and fruity at the same time, featuring Cocchi Americano, mango, jasmine honey, yuzu and prosecco.
Our Overall Experience At Hoppers Shoreditch
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was very impressed by this new venue, both thanks to the stylish interior and the delicious Hoppers menu. I'm fairly new to this cuisine, so it was great to sample a wide range of dishes, and I enjoyed each and every one of them - especially the sweet potato dhal kari. From the fluffy hoppers to the cheese-filled dosas, it's clear that their side dishes aren't an afterthought either, and the tropical-leaning cocktails complemented our meal nicely too. I can see that this venue will be just as successful as their others, bringing their Sri Lankan plates to a whole new neighbourhood.
