Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know before visiting Lahpet, from Burmese food and our menus to opening hours, dietary requirements and private events. If your question isn’t answered here, email reservations@lahpet.co.uk and the team will help.
Food
What is Burmese food?
Burmese food is the cuisine of Myanmar. It draws on the country’s many regions and ethnic communities, with flavours and ingredients that also reflect Myanmar’s position between India, China and Thailand. Expect plenty of rice and noodles, curries, fresh and pickled vegetables, herbs, chilli, fish sauce and lots of contrasting textures. Salads are a particularly important part of Burmese cooking, including the famous tea leaf salad.
What is tea leaf salad (Lahpet Thoke) made of?
Lahpet Thoke is a Burmese salad built around fermented tea leaves, tossed with tomatoes, cabbage, garlic and chilli, then finished with crunchy elements such as fried garlic, split peas, peanuts and sesame seeds, and dressed with lime and fish sauce. The result is a dish that hits savoury, sour, salty and crunchy all at once. It’s the dish our name comes from, and the one we’d recommend to anyone trying Burmese food for the first time.
Is Burmese food spicy?
It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. Burmese food uses chilli, but many dishes are aromatic or savoury rather than particularly hot. At Lahpet there’s a good mix of mild and spicy dishes, and we serve chilli on the side so you can add as much heat as you like. Just ask the team if you’d rather avoid it altogether.
What should I order at Lahpet on a first visit?
If it’s your first time eating Burmese food, we’d definitely start with the Tea Leaf Salad. It’s the dish behind our name and one of Myanmar’s best-known dishes. For something more substantial, try the Coconut Noodles or Mohinga, Myanmar’s traditional fish noodle soup. The Braised Beef Curry, Seabass and Hake Masala are also great choices.
How is Burmese food different from Thai or Indian food?
There are similarities, which isn’t surprising given Myanmar’s location, but Burmese food has its own distinct character. You’ll find fewer coconut-heavy curries than in Thai cooking and a different style of spicing from Indian food. Fermented tea leaves, chickpea flour, pickled vegetables, dried shrimp, fish sauce, noodles and crunchy beans and nuts all feature heavily. Burmese salads are also quite unlike salads you’ll find elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Amenities
Does Lahpet offer delivery, takeaway and gift vouchers?
Yes. Takeaway and delivery are available from Lahpet, although availability and delivery areas vary by restaurant. Email reservations@lahpet.co.uk for details. We also sell Lahpet gift vouchers, which make a good option if you’d rather give someone dinner than another thing they don’t need.
How much does it cost to eat at Lahpet?
It depends on what you order, but our small plates and salads are generally around £7 to £14, with noodle bowls and larger dishes around £17 to £23. For groups, our Feasting Menu is £45 per person and gives you a good introduction to the menu. We also offer an Express Lunch at selected restaurants.
Locations
Do you need to book a table at Lahpet, or can you walk in?
Both. We take reservations but always try to keep some space available for walk-ins. We’d recommend booking for evenings, weekends or larger groups, particularly at our West End restaurant before and after theatre times.
Where is each Lahpet restaurant and what are the opening hours?
Lahpet West End
21 Slingsby Place, London WC2E 9AB, close to Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
Monday to Saturday: 12pm to 10pm
Sunday: 12pm to 9pm
Lahpet Shoreditch
58 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6JW, a short walk from Shoreditch High Street station.
Monday to Friday: 5.30pm to 10pm
Saturday: 12pm to 10pm
Sunday: 12pm to 8.30pm
Lahpet Larder, Bermondsey
39-45 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF, close to London Bridge.
Monday: 5.30pm to 10pm
Tuesday to Saturday: 12pm to 10pm
Sunday: 1pm to 8pm
Opening hours can occasionally change for holidays or special events, so it’s worth checking before visiting.
Which Lahpet is best for pre-theatre dining in the West End?
Lahpet West End is the obvious choice. We’re at 21 Slingsby Place in Covent Garden, a short walk from many of the West End’s theatres around Covent Garden, Leicester Square and the Strand. We also offer an Express Lunch & Pre-Theatre Menu Monday to Friday, making it easy to eat before a show.
Can you book Lahpet for a large group or private event?
Yes. All three restaurants can accommodate group bookings, and Lahpet Larder in Bermondsey is particularly good for private events as it has a separate private dining room for up to 25 guests. We also offer larger group and full-venue hire options depending on the restaurant and date. Our Feasting Menu is designed for groups and larger tables.
For bigger parties or private events, contact our reservations team and we’ll help find the best space and menu for the group. Email reservations@lahpet.co.uk.
Dietary Requirements
Does Lahpet have vegetarian and vegan options?
Yes. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices across the menu. Dishes include our fritters, Tofu Nway, Vegetable Curry and a number of salads, sides and small plates. Some dishes can also be adapted to make them vegan, so just ask the team when ordering.
Does Lahpet have gluten free options?
Yes. A large proportion of our menu is naturally gluten-free or can be adapted. Rice and rice noodles are widely used in Burmese cooking, and many of our curries, salads and small plates are gluten-free. Please always tell the team if you have coeliac disease or a serious allergy so they can talk you through the menu and preparation.
Does Lahpet use nuts, and can it cater for nut allergies?
Yes, nuts are used in a number of our dishes, particularly peanuts in some of our salads and noodle dishes. If you have a nut allergy, please tell us when booking and again when you arrive at the restaurant. Our team can explain which dishes are suitable and what adjustments can be made. As nuts are handled in our kitchens, we can’t guarantee a completely nut-free environment.
About Lahpet
What does “Lahpet” mean?
“Lahpet” means fermented or pickled tea leaves in Burmese. In Myanmar, tea leaves aren’t only used for drinking. They’re also eaten, most famously in Lahpet Thoke, or tea leaf salad. It’s one of Myanmar’s best-known dishes and the inspiration behind our name.
Where can you eat Burmese food in London?
Lahpet specialises in Burmese food and has three restaurants in London: Shoreditch, Covent Garden, and London Bridge. We serve regional Burmese dishes alongside some of the country’s best-known staples, from tea leaf salad and mohinga to curries and noodle dishes.
Is Lahpet an authentic Burmese restaurant?
Lahpet is rooted in Burmese cooking and we try to stay true to the flavours, ingredients and dishes of Myanmar, while adapting some recipes for a London audience. Some dishes are very traditional, while others are our own interpretation of Burmese food. The aim has always been to introduce more people to the food of Myanmar while keeping its character at the heart of what we do.
Still have a question?
For bookings, private events and larger groups email reservations@lahpet.co.uk and let us know your preferred restaurant.