The Brown Bear is a traditional public free house at 139 Leman Street, close to Aldgate and Whitechapel. It retains the direct, unpolished character of a local pub, providing an easygoing place for a drink, a meal and conversation.
Food follows a straightforward British pub approach, with bar snacks and familiar cooked dishes rather than elaborate restaurant presentation. The simple format works well for lunch or dinner when comfort and value are more important than formality.
Vegetarian choices and lighter items add some flexibility for mixed groups, while the bar remains central to the visit. Beer, wine and other familiar drinks can accompany a meal or stand alone for customers stopping after work.
Live sport is shown across several screens, and a dartboard, jukebox and arcade game reinforce the pub’s social character. The Brown Bear is best suited to diners looking for traditional atmosphere, uncomplicated food and the rhythm of a genuine East End local.
Address: 139 Leman Street, London E1 8EY, England
The Brown Bear Menu
Starters
Vegetarian spring rolls
4 crispy vegetable spring rolls served with sweet chilli dipping sauce.
Crispy Fried Prawn
Crispy battered prawns served with sweet chilli dip.
Calamari
Lightly battered calamari, fried until golden, served with sweet chilli dip.
Hat Yai Chicken Pop
Southern Thai marinated fried chicken bities served with sricacha sweet chilli dip.
Spicy fish cakes
Fried spicy Thai fish cakes served with sweet chilli peanut dip.
Tao Hoo Tod
Fried tofu with sweet chilli peanut dip.
Chips
Classic thick cut chips.
Meat
Fried Pork Belly
Battered fried fish sauce marinated pork belly served with tamarind chilli dip.
Grilled Chicken
Skin-on boneless chicken thigh marinated in country style Teparos house marinade. Grilled to perfection,
Grilled Pork Collar
Grilled pork collar, served with tamarind chilli dip.
Moo Ping
Pork skewers marinated in a savoury blend of sauces and herbs, served with a tamarind chilli dip.
Chicken Satay
Chicken satay skewers served with home made peanut sauce.
Yum/Tum/Laab
Yum Fried Pork Belly
Crispy fried pork belly tossed with lime, chilli, fish sauce and fresh herbs for a zesty and vibrant Thai salad.
Yum Chicken Zapp
Crispy Thai poppers tossed in a tangy Laab-style dressing with toasted rice, mint and onions.
Laab Nam Tok Pork
Grilled pork collar tossed with chilli, toasted rice powder, mint and a zesty lime dressing.
Nam Tok Pla Tod
Crispy fried cod tossed in Laab dressing and herbs.
Somtum Swede
Shredded swede tossed in a bird’s eye chilli lime dressing with green beans, tomatoes, carrots and peanuts.
Somtum Plara Swede
Esaan style swede somtumwith fermented fish sauce.
Sweetcorn Sumtum
Sweetcorn kernels in a spicy-sour dressing with green beans, tomatoes, carrots and peanuts.
Yum Kanom Jeen (Somen)
Silty somen noodles tossed in a country-style fermented fish sauce dressing with chillies, herbs and prawns.
Yum Kaidao
Crispy fried eggs topped with zesty Thai spicy-sour dressing with aromatic herbs.
Yum Mama
Spicy and zesty Yum with mama noodles mixed with aromatic Thai herbs, onions and your choice of topping.
Stir Fry
Pad Krapow
Meat stir-fried with Thai holy basil & chilli. Served with a crispy fried egg and a side of Prik Numpla dip, for the egg.
Cabbage Soy Sauce
Sweetheart cabbage stir-fried with soy sauce & garlic.
Kale Fried Pork Belly
Kale stir-fried in savoury sauce and fried pork belly
One Plates
Kaprow Fried Rice
Fried rice made with Kaprow sauce and holy basil leaves, served with crispy fried egg and fried pork belly.
Chicken Pop Panang Rice
Creamy panang curry with chicken pop and rice.
Kaprow Rad Kao
Kaprow with rice
Khao Pad
Classic Thai style fried rice with the protein of your choice.
Khao Mun Gai
Classic Thai chicken rice with tender chicken thigh and chicken broth rice. Served with chicken broth and ginger soy chilli dip.
Khao Mun Gai Tod
Classic Thai chicken rice with fried chicken thigh and chicken broth rice. Served with chicken broth and sweet chilli dip.
Curry – Soup
Tom Yum
Hot and sour Tom Yum soup with meat, lemongrass and Thai herbs.
Cod ChuChi Curry
Crispy fried cod with savoury and aromatic chu chi curry.
Panang Curry
Creamy Panang curry with meat, aromatic Thai herbs and coconut milk.
Green Curry
Classic green curry with meat and vegetables. Creamy with a little kick of green chilli.
Noodles
Pad Thai
Classic Bangkok-style Pad Thai with meat, peanuts, lime, and beansprouts.
Drunken Noodle
Spicy wok-fried rice noodles with meat, Thai basil, and chilli.
Pad See Ew
Stir-fried flat noodles with meat, egg and dark soy sauce.
Green Curry Noodle
Somen noodle in green curry with beansprouts on side.
Klook Noodle
Skinny rice noodle mixed in savoury sauce with a spicy and tangy kick.
Lunch Sets
Available until 2.30pm
Curry Set
Green Curry + rice + 2 spring rolls.
Pad Kaprow Set
Rice+kaprow+egg+spring rolls.
Kale Stirfry Set
Kale stir fry + rice + spring roll
Grilled Chicken Set
Grilled chicken + rice + somtum.
Crispy Pork Belly Set
Crisy pork belly + rice + somtum.
Pad Thai Set
Pad Thai + spring roll + fried egg.
Khao Pad Set
Khao Pad + Fried rice + Fried egg + spring rolls
Panang Curry Set
Panang Curry Set
Panang curry + rice + 2 spring rolls.
Pub Classics
Fish and Chips
Classic British fish and chips served with house tartar sauce, green peas, and lemon wedge.
Poppers and Chips
Hat Yai chicken pops with chips.
Beef Burger
Smashed beef patties with cheese, lettuce, tomato, gherkins, and house sauce in a toasted bun, and a side of chips.
Teparos Burger
Spicy Thai grilled chicken burger with vegetables, crispy onions, and chips.
BLT Sandwich
Classic bacon, lettuce & tomato sandwich with mayo on toasted White Bloomer Bread.
Chicken Satay Sandwich
Toastied sandwich with grilled chicken satay, peanut sauce, and vegetables.
Ham and Cheese sandwich
Classic ham and cheese toasties sandwich.
Grilled Chicken and Chips
Grilled chicken thigh served with chips, side salad and tamarind chilli dip.
Desserts
Grass Jelly Thai Tea
Habal grass jelly pudding ins Thai tea, a classic Bangkok street dessert.
Pandan Custard Toast
Sweet and coconuty pandan custard on top of toasted bread.
Tiramisu Thai Tea
Tiramisu with a Thai twist, one of a kind perfect fusion of eastern and western dessert.
Drinks
Thai Tea drink
Sweet and creamy Thai milk tea with ice.