Ara is an all day neighbourhood restaurant at 1 New Drum Street in Aldgate East, close to Spitalfields and the City. The bright daytime room becomes warmer and more intimate in the evening, supporting everything from weekend brunch to a relaxed dinner or group celebration.
The food takes inspiration from the chef’s travels and filters those ideas through modern London. Dishes such as miso gochujang aubergine, seabass ceviche and char siu onglet skewers move confidently between different culinary traditions while remaining designed for sharing.
An express lunch provides a concise weekday option, while weekend brunch includes Turkish eggs, shakshuka, smoked trout and mushroom dumplings. Larger plates, vegetable dishes and seasonal sweets let diners turn either menu into a more substantial meal.
Organic, biodynamic and low intervention wines are selected alongside classic and signature cocktails, coffee, juices and smoothies. Sharing and set menus can be arranged for larger groups, making Ara flexible enough for an informal catch up, a business lunch or a planned event.
Address: 1 New Drum Street, Aldgate East, London E1 7AY, England
Ara Restaurant Aldgate Menu
Express Lunch Menu
Monday – Friday. 2 courses – £25, 3 courses – £28. For the table: Sourdough bread, homemade cultured butter. Starter (Choose one). Main (Choose one). Sweets (Choose one).
Whipped tahini
Parsley oil
Courgette spread
feta cheese, chilli sesame oil
Miso gochujang aubergine
almond cream , herb salad & puffed wild rice
Beetroot
goats cheese, soft herb salad, smoked almonds
Grilled smoke cabbage
lime tofu crema, walnut and pomegranate gremolata
Fried chicken
no-pomelo salad, peanuts, toasted coconut
Stonebass
caper & dill veloute, grilled gem, smoked potato
Slow cooked pork belly
pear, kimchi, red chilli nahm Jim
Chocolate basque cheesecake
Miso caramel
Amazake & Strawberry sorbet
Pistachio crumble , Kaffir lime leaf oil
Brunch Menu
Sat – Sun from 9am till 3pm. Breads etc., On Toast, Breakfast Plates, Sides & Extras, Brunch Plates (served from 12pm), Sweets.
Grilled potato bread
cultured butter
Sourdough bread
toasted, cultured butter
Homemade Jam
Olives
smoked almonds
Whipped tahini
fermented chilli
Cacklebean eggs
scrambled, poached, fried
Courgette spread
feta, chilli sesame oil
Granola
greek yoghurt, seasonal fruits, honey, lime leaf oil
Turkish eggs
crispy chilli peanuts, garlic yoghurt, toasted sourdough, dill
Shakshuka
eggs poached in tomato, onion and peppers, yoghurt, toasted sourdough
Smoked chalk stream trout
scrambled eggs, labneh, pickled mooli, tomato chilli jam, dill
French toast
brioche bread, burnt apricot butter, creme fraiche, pistachio crunch, rose petals, lime zest, maple syrup
Fry Up
fried egg, sausage, bacon, double fried potatoes, roasted tomato, mushrooms, beans, toasted sourdough
Veggie
Beans, Kimchi, roasted tomatoes, or roasted mushrooms
Meat
Sausage, grilled chorizo, bacon, grilled halloumi
Slow cooked beef croquettes
spicy aioli
Corn ribs
umami dust
Burrata
crispy chilli peanuts, apricot puree
Fried chicken
spicy citrus dressing, coriander & peanut salad
Chalk Stream trout crudo
cranberry ponzu, daikon, sesame
Smoked Cabbage
lime tofu crema, walnut and pomegranate gremolata
Grilled half chicken
charred peppers and chilli sauce
Crispy pork belly
kimchi, pear, red chilli nahm jim
Amazake & strawberry sorbert
pistachio crumble , lime leaf oil
Chocolate basque cheesecake
caramelised whey
Semolina halva
preserved lemon and whipped coconut
All Day
Mon – Friday – 12 to 22, Sat – Sun 15 to 22. For the table, Small Plates, Large Plates, Sides, Sweets.
Grilled potato bread
cultured butter
Sourdough bread
cultured butter
Olives
smoked almonds
Whipped tahini
Parsley oil
Courgette spread
feta cheese, chilli sesame oil
Corn ribs
umami dust
Mussels’ skewers
roasted chicken wing butter glaze
Slow cooked beef croquettes
spicy aioli
Leeks skewers
tomato jam, labneh, macademia crunch, soft herbs
Burrata
crispy chilli peanuts and apricots
Fried chicken
spicy citrus dressing, coriander & peanut salad
Mushroom dumplings
wild mushrooms, garlic yoghurt, chilli & mint butter
Beetroot
goats cheese, smoked almonds
Seabass ceviche
strawberries, jalapeno & pickled red onion
Miso gochujang aubergine
almond cream , herb salad , & puffed wild rice
Grilled smoked cabbage
lime tofu crema, walnut and pomegranate gremolata
Crispy pork belly
kimchi, pear, fermented chilli nahm jim
Grilled half chicken
Turkish grilled pepper & chilli sauce
Char Siu onglet skewers
potato espuma, grilled pak choi
Stonebass
caper & dill veloute, grilled gem, smoked potato
Kimchi
Agria potato wedges
double fried, strong aioli
Gem lettuce
parmesan, pear, ladolemono, bread crumbs
Amazake & strawberry sorbet
Pistachio crumble, Kaffir lime leaf oil
Chocolate basque cheesecake
miso caramel
Semolina halva
preserved lemon and whipped coconut , desiccated coconut
Sharing Menu
£43 per person. Includes: Grilled potato bread, homemade cultured butter; Courgette & feta dip, chilli sesame oil; Leeks skewer, tomato jam, labneh, macademia crunch, leek top oil; Seabass ceviche, strawberries, jalapeno & pickled red onion; Fried chicken, spicy citrus dressing, coriander & peanut salad; Char Siu onglet skewers, Potato espuma, grilled pak choi; Gem lettuce, parmesan, ladolemono, bread crumbs; Chocolate cheesecake, miso caramel.
Grilled potato bread
homemade cultured butter
Courgette & feta dip
chilli sesame oil
Leeks skewer
tomato jam, labneh, macademia crunch, leek top oil
Seabass ceviche
strawberries , jalapeno & pickled red onion
Fried chicken
spicy citrus dressing, coriander & peanut salad
Char Siu onglet skewers
Potato espuma, grilled pak choi
Gem lettuce
parmesan, ladolemono, bread crumbs
Chocolate cheesecake
miso caramel
Set Menu
£56 per person. Shared Starters: Seabass ceviche, Miso gochujang aubergine, Short rib and cheddar croquettes, Burrata. Choose a Main: Grilled half chicken, Char Siu onglet skewers, Grilled smoked cabbage. Shared Sides: Agria potato, Gem lettuce. Choose a Sweet: Chocolate cheesecake, Amazake & strawberry sorbet.
Seabass ceviche
strawberries , jalapeno & pickled red onion
Miso gochujang aubergine
almond cream , herb salad & puffed wild rice
Short rib and cheddar croquettes
spicy aioli
Burrata
crispy chilli peanuts, apricot puree
Grilled half chicken
grilled turkish pepper & chilli sauce
Char Siu onglet skewers
Potato espuma, grilled pak choi
Grilled smoked cabbage
lime tofu crema, walnut and pomegranate gremolata
Agria potato
double fried, aioli
Gem lettuce
parmesan, ladolemono, bread crumbs
Chocolate cheesecake
Msio caramel
Amazake & strawberry sorbet
Pistachio crumble ,Kaffir lime leaf oil
Smoothies & Fresh Juices
Pink Haze
banana ,strawberry, honey, yoghurt, milk, collagen
Detox
banana, cucumber, apple juice, mint, spinach, lemon, ginger
Breakfast
banana, oat milk, granola, yoghurt, honey
Golden Glow
banana , pineapple, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, hemp seeds, date syrup
Apple
Orange
Mocktails
Mango & chilli lemonade
Mango, chilli, lemon, sugar, soda water
Passion fruit & hibiscus lemonade
Passionfruit, hibiscus, lemon juice, sugar syrup, soda water
Kowloon breeze
Earl grey tea, lemon juice, honey, ginger, juice
Virgin gimlet
Tanqueray 0%, lime juice, sugar syrup
Virgin margarita
Almave Blanco 0%, lime juice, sugar syrup
VirGin & tonic
Tanqueray 0%, Indian tonic water
Coffee & Tea
Coffee by Monmouth, Tea by Birchall Tea.
Espresso/Double Espresso
Americano
Macchiato/Double Macchiato
Mocha
Flat White
Latte
Wine
Sparkling wine (125ml/Btl), Orange Wine (125ml/175ml/Btl), White Wine (125ml/175ml/Btl), Red Wine (125ml/175ml/Btl), Rose Wine (125ml/175ml/Btl).
Prosecco, Le Monde
Dry sparkling wine, pale with fine bubbles, light with a fresh finish and melon
Prosecco Rose, Le Dolci Colline
Gently aromatic sparkling wine, notes of red berry, crispy and delicate
Champagne, Vauban Frere Brut
A blend of Premier Cru Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. A fruity nose with a fresh, light, lively and balanced palate, with a long-lasting flavour
Orange ‘No es Pituko’, Vinho Echeverria
aromatic profile of peach, tropical fruits, and buttery notes with flavours of orange peel and lime
Côtes Catalanes, Château de l'Ou
Rich and pithy fruit character with ripe melon, grapefruit, sage and white flowers
Côte de Gascogne, L’Eclat, Domaine de Joy
Fresh, citrus flavours with floral touch
Cocktails
Mixture of classic cocktails and signature cocktails.
Mango Sticky Rice
Mango Vodka, toasted rice syrup, white vermouth, bitters, shiso leaf oil, egg white
Sour cherry mezcal negroni
Mezcal, Campari, Discarded Cascara Vermouth, cherry heering
Banana rum old fashion
Discarded banana rum, sugar, orange bitter
The Bees Knees
Gin, Yuzu sake, lemon juice, bitters, egg white
Golde Umami
Silky parmesan-infused vodka, italicus, shiitake infused dry vermouth, suze liqueur, chargrilled pear
Hazelnut Espresso Martini
Vodka, Frangelico, coffee liqueur, espresso, chilli flakes