Stratford💫Uzbek Gem in a Food Desert｜

£15 Xinjiang-Style Eats, a Secret Canteen for Students When you’re stuck in Stratford surviving on fish and chips, who’d expect a tiny shop around the corner to make your Xinjiang-food-craving heart sing? The storefront is so small you might miss it, but my friend and I crossed London from the west for two weeks straight—after all, in pricey London, £12-15 gets you juicy lamb kebabs, flavorful pilaf, and free sides. It’s a lifesaver for students ✨. 🥢 Shabby Exterior? Worth Crossing the City Twice First finding Grand Somsa, it huddled on The Grove, with spotless glass doors but no flashy sign. Pushing in, we were surprised: an open kitchen smelled of grilled lamb, small tables gleamed, and Uzbekistan’s landscapes hung on walls. Best of all, it’s "clean enough to trust"—you can watch chefs in white hats slicing meat, kebabs sizzling over open flames, even glass jars of sides lined up neatly. My friend laughed, "More reassuring than the uni canteen"—by the end of the meal, we’d already planned next week’s visit. 🍢 Must-Order: Dishes Worth the Journey ✅ Qazan Kebab (Lamb & Potato Kebab) — Absolute Legend Served on a hot iron plate: lamb chunks, fatty and crispy, with a smoky char; potatoes underneath, mashed soft, soaked in meat juice and spices, sweet with a hint of cumin. You could eat the potatoes alone with half a bowl of rice! My friend came back the next week just for these "better-than-Xinjiang-potatoes" 🥔. ✅ Palov (Beef Pilaf) — Every Grain Soaks Up Flavor Uzbek-style pilaf arrived, glossy rice hiding big beef chunks, carrots stewed soft and sweet, raisins tucked below. Spooning to the bottom, golden lamb fat pooled—stirring it in, every grain tasted of meat. Three bowls later, I was still full—way better than the £10 fried rice near campus 🍚. ✅ Somsa (Baked Dumplings) — Reheat for Morning Magic Freshly baked, crescent-shaped, with crispy golden crusts. Biting in, "crunch!"—lamb filling mixed with onions, juice dripping down fingers. Grab two for breakfast: 10 mins in an air fryer, and the smell would rouse hungover roommates. £1.5 each, way better than frozen ones from Chinese supermarkets 🥟. 🍒 Cherry Juice — Summer Squeezed into a Glass The house-made cherry juice is a hidden gem! Perfectly sweet-tart with pulp bits, no artificial cloyingness. Pair with kebabs to cut greasiness—my friend said "way better than Starbucks juice," we always take two bottles to go 🥤. 🍳 These Are Fine, But Not Essential Mastava (Beef Soup)：Clear broth with beef slices and potatoes, tasty but not amazing. Good for cold days, but no need to order specially Norin (Uzbek Fried Noodles)：Like thick pulled noodles stir-fried with beef, served with sour soup (supposedly for dipping?). We tried, but preferred it plain—maybe we did it wrong? 💡 Student Canteen Tips: Cheap & Satisfying Address: 184 The Grove, London E15 1NS (Search Grand Somsa on Google Maps, 10 mins walk from Stratford Station). Prices: £12-15 per dish, £1.5 per somsa. Two people: 3 dishes + drinks = under £50. Perk: Free sides include pickled cucumbers and carrots—tangy and refreshing, refillable for free. Heads-up: Some specials (like whole roasted lamb) need pre-booking—call ahead if you’re curious. Now when friends visit east London, the first question is "Shall we hit that Uzbek place?" Watching the shop fill with students, I’m both happy and nervous—afraid prices will rise, but wanting more people to find this treasure. After all, London rarely has spots that nail "cheap, tasty, and filling." Next time in Stratford, skip the chains—duck into The Grove, and let these smoky kebabs heal your student stomach. #StratfordFood#LondonHiddenGems#UzbekCuisine#StudentCanteen