How Rice Burger Zen Is Reimagining Japanese Flavours in London – Issue 02

NOVA ESEA
May 15
3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

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’t help but feel hurt and angry like many of you.

We all contribute in different ways — whether through care work, creativity, food, culture, or community. Immigrants and refugees are not strangers to this country. We are part of it.

So this issue is also a reminder that sharing our stories matters. Art, food, memory, and togetherness can be powerful forms of resistance.

In this edition, we feature inspiring projects like Vietnamese Boat Refugees: Then & Now Exhibition by @milkteafilms, spotlight Rice Burger Zen and their creative take on Japanese food with heart, and share a taste of Dragon Boat Festival traditions. There’s also a huge lineup of upcoming events — from markets to live music — that show just how vibrant our communities really are. Christie

📣 FEATURED INTERVIEW

How Rice Burger Zen Is Reimagining Japanese Flavours in London

What do you get when you cross a burger with Japanese tradition and a mission to reduce food waste? You get Rice Burger Zen, a fresh new street food concept serving up gourmet rice burgers in London.

Founded by Yuki and born from his onigiri shop ZenMusubi, Rice Burger Zen was created to repurpose leftover rice. “We didn’t want to waste anything,” Yuki shares. “So we found a fun, tasty way to transform it.”

Their bestselling Chicken Katsu and Tofu Steak burgers combine miso, soy sauce, and teriyaki flavours with grilled rice “buns.” One of their newest creations swaps out curry for a surprisingly satisfying tuna twist. “It sounds weird,” Yuki laughs, “but it matches so well.”

Even in Japan, rice burgers aren’t common, but Londoners are loving them. “We wanted to create something new, something joyful,” they say.

Looking for something different and delicious? Rice Burger Zen is serving up comfort, culture, and crispy goodness, one rice patty at a time.

👉 Catch them this May at events like the Shotengai Market in the Lower Stable Market , and Urban Garden Fair. Follow @riceburger.london or @zenmusubi.london for their full pop-up schedule.

Check the video of the interview at @nova.esea

✨ COMMUNITY SHOUT-OUT

50: Vietnamese Boat Refugees Then & Now

@milkteafilms and @eseaforlabour have put together a beautiful and powerful exhibition at Rich Mix (Shoreditch) called “50: Vietnamese Boat Refugees – Then & Now”, on until 25 May.

It marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, and tells the stories of Vietnamese refugees — past and present — through film, photography, and personal reflections. I was really moved by how the curator Jan Le honours her roots and her community. It’s not just about trauma — it’s about joy, strength, and everything we’ve built since.

It feels so real, and I genuinely loved it, and think you might too :)

✨CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT

Dragon Boat Festival & Zongzi 粽子 Making in Hackney

The Dragon Boat Festival (端午節 Duānwǔ Jié) is a traditional celebration observed across East and Southeast Asia, commemorating the poet Qu Yuan with dragon boat races and the sharing of sticky rice dumplings known as zongzi (粽子). It’s a time to honour ancestors, eat well, and connect with community.

This year, our friends at Hackney ESEA Community Centre are hosting a special hands-on zongzi wrapping workshop on Sunday 18 May. Learn how to make your own dumplings (meat or veggie), guided by volunteers from @eseacc_luncheon_club

✨ Whether you’re reconnecting with culture or trying something new, this is a wholesome way to celebrate together.

📍 Where: ESEA Community Centre, 12–14 Englefield Rd, London N1 4LS

📅 When: Sunday 18 May, drop-in slots between 11am–3pm

If this newsletter resonates with you, please share it with a friend, bring someone along to an event, or support the artists and organisers featured Sign up here NOVA ESEA Newsletter

Thanks again for reading and supporting NOVA ESEA.

Let’s keep uplifting our cultures, our stories, and each other :)

Christie