The Star by Hackney Downs is a neighbourhood pub at 35 Queensdown Road, beside Hackney Downs. It combines a bold, informal interior with a heated garden and a busy programme of music and events, creating a sociable setting for meals as well as drinks.
The current kitchen residency, The Dragon Flame, centres on oak smoked meats and live fire cooking. Slow cooked barbecue, smash burgers, grilled dishes and sharing plates give the food a robust pub friendly character, with vegetarian choices available for mixed groups.
Sunday service turns towards a traditional roast format, while weekday and Saturday food hours support casual dinners and weekend lunches. A function room and private karaoke space make the pub useful for parties that want food, drinks and entertainment in one venue.
Craft and cask beer are joined by spirits, wine and other bar choices. Guests with allergies should consult the current kitchen menu and speak to staff because barbecue sauces, burger buns, fried food and shared grill preparation can involve several common allergens.
Address: 35 Queensdown Road, London E5 8NN, England
Star by Hackney Downs Menu
The Dragon Flame Main – Starters
SPICED FISH TACOS
SMOKY VEGAN TACOS (VG)
OAK-SMOKED PORK BIRRIA TACOS
HUMMUS & OLIVES
LAMB CIGAR
SMOKY AUBERGINE PUREE & HARISSA DRESSING
MAC & CHEESE CROQUETTES
PADRON PEPPERS
SALT & PEPPER SQUID & SQUID INK AIOLI
Kids Menu
£9.50, Under 12 years old
CHEESEBURGER & FRIES
BEAN BURGER & FRIES (VG)
HALLOUMI BURGER & FRIES
CHICKEN BURGER & FRIES
Burgers/Mains
SPICY BEAN BURGER (VG)
Brioche bun, vegan feta cheese, harissa dressing
GRILLED HALLOUMI BURGER (V)
Brioche bun, aubergine & pepper salad, sriracha sauce
SMOKY PORKY BUN
Brioche bun, aubergine & pepper salad, chimichurri, sriracha sauce
DRY-AGED CHEESEBURGER
Brioche bun, baby gem lettuce, onion, pickles, cheese
DRY-AGED BEEF BRISKET BUN
Brioche bun, pickles, caramelised onion, mustard
CAJUN SPICE GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST BURGER
Brioche bun, baby gem lettuce, onion, guacamole
DIRTY BUN
Double Cheeseburger patty topped with brisket, cheese, peppercorn sauce, baby gem lettuce
LOADED BEEF BRISKET FRIES
Pulled smoked brisket, jalapenos, pickled chipotle aioli & crispy onions
CHILLI FRIES/ PLAIN FRIES
The Dragon Flame Main – Desserts
STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING (V)
WITH ICE-CREAM
CHOCOLATE & ORANGE TART (VG)
WITH ICE-CREAM
ICE-CREAM SELECTION (VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE)
KIDS’ ICE-CREAM
KIDS’ SUNDAE
Sunday Roasts
All served with seasonal vegetables, crispy roast potatoes, red braised cabbage, Yorkshire pudding & red wine jus
OAK-SMOKED HALF CHICKEN
FYI: Our chicken has been brined with pink salt for 24h and smoked until 79°C. The pinkish colour is due to the curing process with pink salt
DRY-AGED OAK-SMOKED BEEF BRISKET WAGYU
DRY-AGED ROAST BEEF
RARE-BREED ROAST PORK
OAK-SMOKED / CONFIT DEBONED DUCK LEG
CELERIAC, SPINACH & WILD MUSHROOM WELLINGTON (VG/V)
KIDS ROAST CHOICE (CHICKEN, PORK, VEGAN WELLY)
The Dragon Flame Sunday – Starters
SMOKY VEGAN TACOS (VG)
OAK-SMOKED PORK BIRRIA TACOS
HUMMUS & OLIVES
LAMB CIGAR
(SMOKY AUBERGINE PUREE & HARISSA DRESSING)
MAC & CHEESE CROQUETTES
SALT & PEPPER SQUID & SQUID INK AIOLI
Lighter Choices
CAESAR SALAD
BABY, CROUTONS, CRISPY BACON, ANCHOVIES, SHAVED PARMESAN
STEAK SANDWICH
TURKISH BREAD, DEVILS’ BUTTER, TRUFFLE OIL, PICKLE CHILLIS AND ONION, SALAD
Add Ons
EXTRA GRAVY
EXTRA YORKIE (V)
EXTRA SUNDAY ROASTIES (VG)
CAULIFLOWER CHEESE(V)
FRIES
The Dragon Flame Sunday – Desserts
STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING (V) WITH ICE-CREAM
CHOCOLATE & ORANGE TART (VG) WITH ICE-CREAM
ICE-CREAM SELECTION (VEGAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE)
KIDS’ ICE-CREAM
KIDS’ SUNDAE
Platters
PLATTER PARTY MENU – (1 platter 10UD)
MINI YORKIES AND ROAST BEEF (X 10)
SMOKED SALMON AND CREAM CHEESE BLINIS (X 10)
PULLED PORK SLIDERS (X 10)
DRY-AGED CHEESEBURGER SLIDERS (X 10)
SMOKY DUCK & ROQUEFORT SLIDERS (X 10)
HALLOUMI & SPICY HONEY DRESSING SLIDERS (V) (X 10)
BEAN & CHICKPEA SLIDERS (VG) (X 10)
HONEY & SRIRACHA WINGS (X 10)
SMOKY VEGAN TACOS (VG) (X 10)
DRY-AGED BEEF TACOS (X 10)
PORK BIRRIA TACOS (X 10)
CHICKEN AND TARRAGON CROQUETTES (X 10)
PORK AND NDUJA CROQUETTES (X 10)
BEEF BRISKET CROQUETTES (X 10)
SMOKED LAMB AND BOURBON CROQUETTES (X 10)
MAC AND CHEESE CROQUETTES (V) (X 10)
FRENCH FRIES
APPLE AND CHILLI ASIAN SLAW (VG)
HERITAGE TOMATO SALAD, BURRATA AND BASIL DRESSING
MOROCCAN STYLE COUSCOUS (VG)
Kids’ Pre-Order Party Menu
(Up to 10 kids per platter under 7y)
SANDWICH SELECTION PLATTERS INCLUDING
HAM & CHEESE, CHEESE & EGG, MAYO & CRESS (12 X SANDWICHES)
MINI CHEESEBURGER & FRIES (10 X BURGERS)
MINI HALLOUMI BURGER & FRIES (10 X BURGERS)
Burgers
PLAIN BURGER / CHEESEBURGER & FRIES
SPICED BEAN BURGER & FRIES
HALLOUMI BURGER & FRIES
SMOKY PORKY BUN & FRIES
Sandwich Platters
CARROTS, CHERRY TOMATOES, CUCUMBER PLATTER
SEASONAL FRUIT PLATTER
TOMATO AND BASIL PASTA BOWL
MAC & CHEESE TRAY
CHICKEN NUGGETS PLATTER
FRIES BOWL
ICE-CREAM
Draught Beer & Cider
Guests beers on rotation from a range of local Breweries
SAN MIGUEL -5%
CAMDEN HELLS – 4.6%
CAMDEN PALE – 4.0%
UMBRELLA APPLE CIDER – 4.5%
GUINNESS – 4.0%
FIVE POINTS CASK – 4.1%
Canned & Bottled Beer & Cider
PERONI – 4.5%
CAMDEN HELLS LAGER – 4.6%
LUCKY SAINT – 0.5%
CORONA EXTRA – 4.5%
KOPPARBERG CIDER – 4.5%
WHITE CLAW SELTZER – 5%
Cocktails
MARGARITA
Tequila Ocho mixed with lime and orange liquor. Shaken and served on ice with a salt rim.
HOT HONEY DAIQUIRI
El Dorado 3year old, lime juice, hot honey shaken and strained over ice. upgrade to the El Dorado 12 years for something extra special.
NEGRONI
Beefeater Gin mixed with Campari bitters and sweet vermouth. Stirred with ice. Switch it up with Burnt Faith Brandy version!
OLD FASHIONED
FEW Bourbon stirred with bitters and sugar for the most drinkable whisky ever. Switch it up to match it Scottish with benromach 10 yr old.
ESPRESSO MARTINI
Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka shaken with coffee liquor and a shot of espresso.
PORNSTAR MARTINI
Vanilla Vodka, Blends Passion fruit liqueur, passion fruit purée & Syrup shaken over ice to achieve a creamy texture. Paired with a Gran Cuvee Spumante bubbles.
APEROL SPRITZ
The almighty Aperol, Prosecco topped with Soda and an Orange wedge for a taste of Italy.
Simple But Tasty Highballs
WHISKEY AND GINGER
Classic built serve, woven whisky with ginger ale.
PALOMA
Ocho 8 Tequila, Fresh Lime Juice & Grapefruit 3 cents. Built with a spicy rim. Switch it up and at Quiquiri Mezcal for a smokey version.
SPICED RUM AND COLA
Sweet and Spicy Black Tears Rum is perfectly matched with cola and fresh lime.
Mocktails/Alcohol Free
PALOMA TEQUILA FREE
All the grapefruit fun without the tequila. Grapefruit soft drink made by 3 cents. Served with a spicy and salt rim to the glass.
CRODINO SPRITZ
A non-alcoholic spritz with a unique bitter-sweet taste. Crodino is the perfect taste of Italian sunshine.
TRIP
Lightly sparkling CBD infused drink, Lemon and Basil flavour.
WATERMELON RED BULL
Watermelon flavour Red bull.
Shots
TEQUILA ROSE
Easy to drink strawberry-flavoured tequila.
BABY GUINNESS
Baileys, perfectly layered on top of a sweet coffee liqueur.
CAZCABEL COFFEE
Rich, sweet-tasting freshly roasted coffee tequila.
JÄGERMEISTER
Bittersweet German liqeur.
House Spirits
SMIRNOFF BLACK VODKA, BEEFEATER GIN, EL DORADRO 3YR RUM, FOUR ROSES BOURBON, OCHO TEQUILA
Mixers
Pepsi. Diet Pepsi, Lemonade, Tonic, Juice
Wines
125ml | 175ml | 250ml | Bottle