The finalists have been revealed for the inaugural Street Food Salon, a brand-new competition within International Salon Culinaire taking place during HRC at Excel London from 30 March to 01 April. 

Designed to celebrate the creativity, authenticity and entrepreneurial spirit shaping the UK’s street food scene, the new competition will see ten standout operators go head-to-head in a high-energy live cook-off as part of the prestigious Salon Culinaire programme. 

The Street Food Salon, supported by NCASS, AMOBOX and CCE London, is a bold new competition concept created to reflect the innovation, pace and personality of today’s street food culture. For the first time, street food chefs and vendor teams will compete on the same respected stage as the industry’s most accomplished culinary talent. 

The finalists selected to compete are: 

• Karas Kitchen ST 
• SuJo / SuJo Foods Ltd 
• Back-a-Yard Cuisine and Reenie’s Dumplings 
• B&M Brisket 
• Secret Slider Club 
• Firepit Sandwich Co. 
• Ro Vietnamese 
• Arnabeet 
• The Little Sri Lankan 
• Smashing Plates 

Staged within two fully equipped mobile street food kitchens, the competition will see teams cook for both judges and the live audience, recreating the energy and theatre of real street food service. The mobile kitchen structures are provided by AMOBOX, while the internal kitchen equipment is supplied by CCE London, enabling competitors to deliver dishes in a professional, fully operational street food environment. 

Dishes will be assessed by leading chefs from across the sector, providing competitors with a powerful platform to showcase their brand, sharpen their competitive edge and gain recognition within one of hospitality’s most influential arenas. 

Senior Judge David Mulcahy comments: “The evolution of street food has made a significant impact on casual dining in recent years and shows no signs of abating. We have become used to pop ups in our cities, street food villages at events both large and small throughout the year, and most importantly we have learnt to trust the quality and care taken by vendors to deliver delicious results. 

“We were excited to launch the Street Food Salon as part of the Salon Culinaire programme at HRC 2026. We hoped for some good entries, but we have been blown away by the amount of serious street food businesses putting their entries forward to be considered. 

“This first Street Food Salon will truly embrace the rich, dynamic street food culture that exists in the UK today and I have no doubt that the teams involved will inspire others in the process.” 

The competition has been developed with support from the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS), which is also curating a dedicated Street Food Stage agenda at HRC exploring the trends, insights and opportunities shaping the sector today. 

By bringing some of the UK’s most exciting street food operators into the International Salon Culinaire arena, the Street Food Salon reflects the continued evolution of the hospitality landscape and the growing influence of street food across modern dining. 

To attend the Street Food Salon, register for your free trade ticket at hrc.co.uk.