East London's Brick Lane is also known as 'Banglatown', and even when the iciest winds are blowing in across the Thames Estuary, the neighbourhood still feels more Bangladeshi than Cockney. This bustling street, which was a brick-making centre in medieval times, is the unofficial capital of Britain's 450,000-strong Bangladeshi community. The clothing stores sell traditional garments that meet Islamic requirements, electronics shops lend Bengali- and Urdu-language TV dramas, and supermarkets sell produce imported from the Ganges plains. Memorable culinary experiences await those who make it to East Aldgate tube station and beyond.
The Shampan
79 Brick Lane,
tel: (44 20 7) 375 0475
An airy, spacious eatery with lofty gastronomic standards. London Mayor Ken Livingstone concurs. He 'highly recommends' the restaurant in a newspaper article taped to Shampan's front window. The Bangladeshi word Shampan is derived from sampan, so it's no surprise that Shampan's seafood is among the best in Banglatown. Biran mass GBP3.25 ($45), a fish from Bangladeshi waters, marinated in a spicy sauce then fried with onions, is a treat. Lamb sylheti jalfrezi (GBP6.95), which originates in Bangladesh's Sylhet region, is another highlight.
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