top of page
BLOG
Search


Walking the House: Do Ho Suh and the Homes We Carry With Us
Stepping into Do Ho Suh’s exhibition at Tate Modern feels a bit like walking into a memory made of air and colour. Walls become sheer fabric, doors glow in soft pinks and greens, and everyday objects, door handles, light switches, radiators, hover like ghosts of all the places we’ve lived in but never quite left behind. For those of us who’ve left home and rebuilt our lives elsewhere, his work hits very close to the bone. Who is Do Ho Suh? Do Ho Suh (b. 1962) is a South Korea

NOVA ESEA
Dec 4, 20253 min read


Asian Food in London | Where to Eat ESEA Cuisine: Markets, Supperclubs & Pop-Ups
From Filipino pancit to Japanese karaage, this is your ultimate guide to Asian food in London. We spotlight ESEA-owned stalls, restaurants, supperclubs, and hidden gems with interviews, maps, and monthly updates.

NOVA ESEA
Nov 3, 20252 min read


My Kids Are Hungry: Vietnamese comfort, made for Southbank weekends
Born in lockdown and run by Vivien, a London mum-of-three, My Kids Are Hungry serves home-cooked Vietnamese comfort food with an easygoing “family kitchen” vibe. The stall grew from sharing recipes online to a full-time spot at Southbank Centre Food Market, and yes, the kids helped choose the menu. What to eat? Two signatures stand out: chicken & prawn bao — pan-fried, juicy, sesame-topped dumplings — and a crunchy, classic bánh mì. Everything at the stall is nut-free, wh

NOVA ESEA
Nov 3, 20252 min read


East and South East Asian Events in London January 2026 - What’s On Guide by NOVA ESEA
Updated 12/01/2026 Looking for East and Southeast Asian events in London this month? This is your hub for ESEA gigs, food markets, supperclubs, exhibitions and theatre across the city. We spotlight everything from underground nights to big festival moments, with new listings added throughout the month. You will also find the occasional ESEA highlight from other UK cities when something special is happening. Bookmark this page or sign up for our newsletter for updates! Featur

NOVA ESEA
Nov 3, 20254 min read


Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs at Japan House London
If you geek out over clean, clever design, this one’s for you. Japan House London’s new show, Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs , traces how simple symbols evolved into a shared visual language — from early sign systems to the game-changing sets created for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and right through to today’s signage and emojis. It’s a crisp, hands-on look at clarity, consistency, and why Japan leads the way in pictogram design. What you’ll see inside The exhibition steps

NOVA ESEA
Oct 16, 20251 min read


Sen Noods 仙麵: Best Dan Dan & Vegan Ramen in London
East Asian noodles, made for London streets. Sen Noods began as a lockdown idea between two friends, Godfrey and Johnny. They were living together, both out of work, and kept joking about “one day” running a food truck. In late 2021 they bought a van and actually did it. Their first bestseller was a soy-milk ramen inspired by an episode of Food Wars, created to give the menu a strong vegan option. Today, it is one of their most ordered bowls. From kitchen mates to a noodle

NOVA ESEA
Oct 2, 20252 min read


Meet Cantoast: Hong Kong Style French Toast
At Victoria Park Market each weekend, Cantoast keeps things simple: thick-cut milk bread, dipped and fried, topped with butter, golden syrup and condensed milk. It looks classic because that is the point. The founder wants the toast to feel familiar to people from Hong Kong and easy to try for first-timers. (updated: Cantoast no longer in Victoria Park, you can find them at Shōtengai Market at King's Cross) The key is the bread. They bake their own Shokupan (milk bread) s

NOVA ESEA
Sep 7, 20252 min read


Wheelcake Island: Taiwanese‑Japanese Pancakes Winning Londoners One Flip at a Time
When JC and Yin set up a modest griddle stall in an Oxford market back in 2017, the goal was simple: pay rent and cure homesickness with the sweet, round pancakes they grew up eating. Six years and thousands of wheel‑shaped cakes later, Wheelcake Island has become a fixture at Old Spitalfields Market, luring queues with the hiss of batter and the scent of custard and azuki bean. A “fun‑to‑watch” dessert that caught London’s eye "People were intrigued by the cooking process

NOVA ESEA
Aug 8, 20252 min read


Pho Street Eats: Mother-Daughter Duo Serving Authentic Pho in London Since 2019
Pho Street Eats is proof that comfort can flourish in unexpected seasons. The mother‑an d‑daughter stall launched in 2019 while Old Spitalfields Market was still emerging from lockdown lulls. Footfall was low, conversations were long, and every bowl of beef pho felt personal. "Those quiet months let us meet everyone properly," the daughter recalls. "Now the market is busy again, but we still recognise our regulars and check in with them." Real Broth, Local Roots Their recipe

NOVA ESEA
Jul 17, 20251 min read


Meet Pad + Sen Thai: Real Thai Street Food in London’s Markets – Issue 05
Hope you are enjoying the stretch of summer sunshine! ☀️ Pride Month may have wrapped, but the celebration rolls on: London Pride hits the streets this weekend. If you are in town, pop into Gay’s The Word in Bloomsbury, the landmark independent bookshop that has championed LGBTQ+ voices for more than forty years. Food lovers, pay Pad + Sen Thai a visit at the Southbank Centre Food Market. Founders Kitti and Pop turn Pad Thai so bright with tamarind, you will feel like you

NOVA ESEA
Jul 3, 20252 min read


Banzai Kitchen: Karaage With a Shout of Joy – Issue 04
Hi friends, How incredible has this sunshine been? ☀️ I hope you’re soaking it up, topping up on sunscreen, enjoying that sunshine and staying hydrated! While we bask in this rare UK heat, we’re also marking Refugee Week , a time to honour the journeys, stories, and contributions of people who have sought safety here. If you’re looking for a way to celebrate migration in action, put the Migration Matters Festival on your list. Sheffield’s week-long programme is packed with t

NOVA ESEA
Jun 19, 20252 min read


RAYA: Sharing Thai Ingredients, Culture, and Care in London – Issue 03
Hi friends, Happy Pride Month from NOVA ESEA! 🌈 Pride month always reminds us that equality and freedom are never given freely. They’re hard-won, hard-fought, and worth protecting. At NOVA ESEA, we stand proudly with the LGBTQ+ community and believe in creating a space where everyone feels seen, safe, and celebrated. Let’s keep showing up, not just during Pride Month, but all year round. Happy Philippine Independence Day, too! 🇵🇭 We’re excited to mark this occasion with

NOVA ESEA
Jun 5, 20253 min read


How Rice Burger Zen Is Reimagining Japanese Flavours in London – Issue 02
Hey friends, Thanks for reading the second issue of NOVA. While we’re here to celebrate community and culture, I also want to take a moment to address something heavier. Recently, the UK Prime Minister claimed that immigration is turning the UK into “an island of strangers,” suggesting that people like us — immigrants — are the reason this country feels divided. As someone who lives, works, and pays taxes here (and pays extra for healthcare, depending on visa status), I can

NOVA ESEA
May 15, 20253 min read


Nepalese Tibetan Street Fusion: A Bowl of Culture and Comfort – Issue 01
Discover upcoming East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) events in the UK, a featured story on Nepalese Tibetan Street Fusion, and how the ESEA community is showing support for Myanmar & Thailand. Curated by NOVA ESEA.

NOVA ESEA
May 1, 20252 min read


HORNIMAN MUSEUM & GARDENS: A PERFECT BLEND OF NATURE, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
Horniman Museum & Gardens is one of South London's hidden gems, nestled in the heart of Forest Hill, and has been captivating visitors...

NOVA ESEA
Jul 19, 20242 min read
bottom of page
.png)

