Mambow

This Restaurant Has Just Been Crowned London’s Best Local

5 months ago

The Good Food Guide has revealed its 2024 winners

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Abby Lee’s Malaysian restaurant Mambow has been a hit ever since its humble beginnings as a street food stall in Peckham. And now, the Clapton eatery has been named London’s best local restaurant by the prestigious Good Food Guide.

Good Food Guide 2024: London’s Best Local Restaurants List Revealed

The guide announced its annual 100 Best Local Restaurants list yesterday (24 July 2024), with Mambow being crowned the regional winner in London. Inspectors praised the restaurant’s ‘short, balanced menu of thrilling dishes’ and its ‘friendly, confident service’, adding that the food is ‘exceptional’ and ‘insanely good value’.

Lee began her career cooking Italian food in Puglia, originally opening Mambow as a bowl food pop-up on Commercial Street in 2020. When Covid hit, however, she returned to Singapore, which inspired a change in the concept of her venture. She later opened Mambow as a Malaysian stall in Peckham, focusing on fiery dishes inspired by her Peranakan heritage. Then, in 2023, Lee relocated to Clapton, serving the same style of food but with a bigger menu.

Signature dishes include the Otak-Otak Prawn Toast, a traditional Nyonya dish; Lor Bak, a crispy five spice pork and prawn bean curd roll; Bak Kut Teh, a herbal pork rib soup; and a tangy pineapple curry topped with crispy chive dumplings.

‘To win is a wonderful surprise and a real testament to our incredible team,’ said Lee. ‘We are so lucky to work with people that are all equally passionate about showcasing Malaysian cuisine and culture, which has helped put us on the map.’

The Good Food Guide has been reviewing the country’s best restaurants, pubs and cafes since 1951. It received over 60,000 nominations for the best local restaurants awards, which were whittled down to a list of 100 by the guide’s anonymous inspectors. A winner was named in each category, as well as an overall number one: Bavette, a neighbourhood bistro in Leeds.