Lahpet Larder

Burmese·
££££
·
Bronze Award
·

SquareMeal Review of Lahpet Larder

Bronze Award

Burmese cuisine might not currently have wide-spread recognition in the capital, but founders Dan Anton and Zaw Mahesh are on a mission to popularise the flavours of Myanmar amongst Londoners. Adding a third restaurant into the mix, Lahpet Larder offers a condensed version of the first two sites, whilst still retaining the same verdant, cafe-style interiors. At first glance, Lahpet Larder has a bougie coffee shop feel, but then you spot the buzzing open kitchen, and smell the pungent aromas of peanut oil and dried shrimp, and it's anything but. Like Lahpet’s other sites, this is a delightful spot to begin your education in this complex cuisine.

The ‘Larder’ moniker comes from Bermondsey’s former reputation as ‘London’s larder’, but also nods to the pantry shelves that sit at the entrance, packed with imported oils and dried produce from Myanmar. It’s a comforting and generous cuisine, served up sharing-style; whilst we’re recommended three dishes per person, it feels a tad too much for our poor table, which struggles to fit everything. A compact menu draws us in with plenty of recognisable ingredients, a safety net that allows us to test the waters with the nuances and specialties that Lahpet knows best.

We dip doughy batons into lightly spiced yellow peas, and crunch away on salty tofu and sweet potato crisps. The eponymous ‘Lahpet’ (pickled tea leaves) are sprinkled throughout the menu, and we order it in the form of its signature salad, mixed through double-fried beans, fresh tomatoes and dried shrimp; a delicate tang and moreish crunchiness that has us devouring every bite.

The Dawei Mohinga won’t be for everyone, but this mackerel chowder is a must order in our opinion. Packed full of fermented fish paste and lemongrass, there’s a lot going on, with a thick, chunky broth that houses slightly congealed noodles. It’s a minor flaw that we can happily let slide, enjoying the rounded cohesion of funky flavours.

Cocktails come with a Lahpet twist; a Margarita uses betel leaf tequila whilst a Sour unites raspberry and kaffir lime syrup with vodka, prosecco and Aperol in a fruity whirlwind that are as delicious as they are eye-catching. If this is your first endeavour into Burmese cuisine, you’re in safe hands at Lahpet Larder whose uncompromisingly authentic, and reasonably priced, dishes will leave you wanting more.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
Burmese
Ambience
Cool, Lively, Unique
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch
Special Features
Vegetarian options

About

Lahpet Larder Bermondsey is a third site for Lahpet, where the team serves speciality Burmese ingredients and food products that customers can buy and take home. The brand, which started originally with supper clubs in London Fields, is going from strength to strength with two other permanent operations in Shoreditch and the West End with the Bermondsey location being their first south of the river.

This new space opens into a central exposed kitchen adorned with plants and bamboo accents and lit up by large windows overlooking Bermondsey Street. This provides a bright and dynamic environment for diners to enjoy the tastes of Myanmar. The venue promises a large dining room, charming bar and a further dedicated snack and cocktail bar as well as capacity for private dining. As alluded to in its name which reflects Bermondsey's history as a hub for trade, Lahpet Larder Bermondsey also features a shop selling specialty Burmese ingredients, condiments and preserves encouraging diners to try cooking the restaurant’s dishes in their own home.

The menu is based on sharing plates, featuring a Rakhine salmon and papaya salad, pork with Pon yay Gyi (a type of fermented horsegram bean) and Dawei Mohinga which is a regional variation of the classic Burmese fish noodle soup. The drinks menu is designed to work in harmony with these flavours with cocktails featuring lime, lemongrass, tamarind and pickled tea. The influence of Myanmar continues with the desserts which include milk tea ice cream and a rice flan with coconut jam.

Head chef Jan Ivanov executes these dishes whilst maintaining the Lahpet owners’ Dan Anton and Zaw Mahesh’s dedication to reflecting and promoting their Burmese heritage in their food. With this interesting menu and stunning location Lahpet Larder presents the flavours of Myanmar to a new audience in an elevated and modern form.


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Yes, you can book via the website.

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Location

39-45 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London, SE1 3XF
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