Bun X Norwich cooks 2025 Street Food Dish of the Year
The pub pop-up won the coveted award at the Street Food Championships
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.
The winning dish, The Triple B, featured two smashed beef patties, layered with American cheese, house-made pastrami, pickled slaw and fried jalapenos. It was served in a soft Japanese milk bun, finished with maple and black pepper flavoured mayonnaise and a Bourbon BBQ sauce.
Reflecting on the win, Thacker said, “We all work really hard and it was a team effort to make sure we put up the right dishes for the competition.”
Bun X currently operates two pub pop-ups in Norwich – one at The Coach and Horses on Thorpe Road and their original pop-up at Micawbers Tavern. Following their win, the team will soon be bringing their menu to London, after securing a one-month rent-free residency at Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle.
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 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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