Hackney Restaurant Festival: 40% Off Acme, Corrochio’s Feb

Key Points

• The Restaurant Festival, Hackney, runs throughout February, curated by Acme Fire Cult and powered by the dining app EatClub.
• Offers up to 40% off at a handpicked selection of Hackney-based restaurants, targeting locals and visitors during a quieter month.
• Aims to showcase Hackney’s culinary talent with discounts available via the free EatClub app—no vouchers or bookings needed.
• Highlight venue: Acme Fire Cult in Dalston, featuring a special winter menu as a curry house with fire-led Indian-inspired dishes like Lamb chop railway curry, Pigs head vindaloo, Vadouvan monkfish skewers, and Venison sheekh kebab.
• Corrochio’s in Dalston participates, known for cult-status Mexican dishes such as Vampiros (crispy grilled tortillas with toppings like pork carnitas, grilled cactus, or portobello al ajillo), tacos, spicy margaritas, weekend brunch, and a new basement agave bar.
• Big Night hosts a limited residency by Chef Joe Lippman, offering a produce-led menu with open-fire cooking, including Porthilly oysters with blue rhubarb, wild bass crudo with tomato ponzu and yuzu oil, octopus carpaccio with lemon and shiso, signature pork skewer, and grilled hispi cabbage with seaweed and lime butter.
• Other confirmed venues: Ocakbaşı grill, family-run Mangal 2, vibrant Mexican eatery Papi with creative small plates and cocktails, viral Italian Tom’s Pasta, all-day favourite Alber’s, dumpling specialists My Neighbours the Dumplings, wine-led Sune, Mediterranean-inspired Oren, Marksman Public House, Malaysian Mambow, Mexican taqueria Lucia’s, and North African BBQ Berber & Q.
• More restaurants to be announced.
• EatClub’s mission: Fill empty tables at great restaurants while providing diners with value-driven experiences.

Hackney (East London Times) January 30, 2026 – The Restaurant Festival, Hackney, curated by Acme Fire Cult and powered by dining app EatClub, launches this February, uniting a handpicked group of borough restaurants for a month-long celebration of top-tier cuisine at up to 40% off. The event spotlights Hackney’s vibrant food scene, from established favourites to exciting newcomers, encouraging diners to explore during the quieter post-holiday period. Participating venues will offer discounts at selected times, accessible simply by downloading the free EatClub app, walking in, and paying via the platform without vouchers or complex bookings.

What Is The Restaurant Festival, Hackney?

The festival runs for the entire month of February, designed specifically to highlight Hackney’s incredible culinary talent while boosting affordability for locals and visitors alike. As described in the official announcement, it brings together some of Hackney’s most popular spots in a coordinated effort to fill tables during one of the year’s slower dining periods. EatClub powers the initiative, aligning with its broader mission to help great restaurants utilise empty tables whilst delivering standout food experiences at exceptional value.

Who Curated the Festival and What Is Its Purpose?

Acme Fire Cult serves as the curator, leveraging its reputation for innovative fire-led cooking to shape the event. The purpose, as outlined in promotional materials, is twofold: to celebrate the borough’s diverse gastronomic offerings and to provide economic relief for diners amid quieter months. This collaboration with EatClub ensures seamless access, reinforcing the app’s goal of making remarkable restaurants more approachable for everyone.

Which Restaurants Are Taking Part?

A diverse lineup of venues spans Hackney’s culinary landscape, from iconic grills to modern taquerias. Confirmed participants include the iconic Ocakbaşı grill and family-run Mangal 2; vibrant Mexican eatery Papi, known for creative small plates and cocktails; the viral sensation and authentic Italian at Tom’s Pasta; all-day neighbourhood favourite Alber’s; handmade dumplings specialists My Neighbours the Dumplings; wine-led sharing-plates restaurant Sune; Mediterranean-inspired sharing plates and low-intervention wine connoisseurs Oren; celebrated East End pub and seasonal British dining room the Marksman Public House; flavour-driven Malaysian restaurant Mambow; Mexican taqueria Lucia’s; and North African BBQ restaurant Berber & Q. More restaurants are slated for announcement, broadening the festival’s appeal.

What Makes Acme Fire Cult’s Menu a Highlight?

Acme Fire Cult’s Dalston restaurant transforms into a curry house for the festival, paying homage to Chef Andrew Clarke’s extensive travels across India. The special winter menu blends bold Indian-inspired dishes with classic favourites, all executed via the team’s expert fire-led techniques. Standout offerings include the Lamb chop railway curry, Pigs head vindaloo, Vadouvan monkfish skewers, and Venison sheekh kebab, evoking the memories, flavours, and sensations from Clarke’s journeys.

Why Is Corrochio’s a Must-Visit?

Guests can finally tick Corrochio’s off their culinary bucket list during the festival. This cult Dalston Mexican restaurant, taqueria, and cocktail bar is celebrated for its much-hyped dishes, particularly Vampiros—crispy grilled tortillas topped with melted cheese and fillings such as pork carnitas, grilled cactus, or portobello al ajillo.

The venue boasts tacos galore, standout spicy margaritas, a fantastic weekend brunch, and a newly opened basement agave bar, positioning it as essential for Hackney food lovers.

What Does Big Night’s Residency Offer?

Diners can visit Big Night during Chef Joe Lippman’s limited residency, which introduces a refined, produce-led menu centred on open-fire cooking, balance, and late-night energy. The menu thoughtfully pairs raw and lightly cured dishes with fire-cooked elements, spotlighting premium ingredients. Highlights encompass Porthilly oysters with blue rhubarb, wild bass crudo with tomato ponzu and yuzu oil, and octopus carpaccio with lemon and shiso, alongside Big Night favourites like the signature pork skewer and grilled hispi cabbage with seaweed and lime butter.

How Can Diners Access the Discounts?

Participation is straightforward: diners download the EatClub app for free to browse venues and secure 40% off at selected times throughout February. The process requires no vouchers or complicated bookings—simply walk in, pay via the app, and enjoy. This app-based model streamlines the experience, making high-quality dining accessible without barriers.

What Is EatClub’s Role and Mission?

EatClub powers the festival, providing the technological backbone for discounts and payments. The platform supports its mission to help great restaurants fill empty tables while giving diners access to standout food at exceptional value. By facilitating walk-ins and app payments, EatClub makes it easier for all to savour Hackney’s remarkable restaurants.

Why Focus on February for This Event?

February represents one of the quieter months for dining, post the festive season and ahead of spring. The festival counters this by incentivising exploration of new spots with affordability, benefiting both eateries facing lower footfall and adventurous eaters seeking value. It positions Hackney as a year-round culinary destination, not just a seasonal hotspot.

How Does the Festival Showcase Hackney’s Diversity?

Hackney’s food scene thrives on variety, and the festival mirrors this with venues from Turkish Ocakbaşı and family-run Mangal 2 to Malaysian Mambow and North African Berber & Q. Italian authenticity at Tom’s Pasta contrasts with Mexican flair at Papi and Lucia’s, while specialists like My Neighbours the Dumplings and wine-focused Oren add niche appeal. Pub dining at the Marksman Public House rounds out a truly representative selection.

What Sets Acme Fire Cult Apart?

Renowned for fire-led cooking, Acme Fire Cult elevates the festival with its temporary curry house concept. Chef Andrew Clarke’s Indian travels inspire the menu, fusing global influences with local expertise. This innovation underscores the curator’s role in elevating participating venues.

Are There Any Brunch or Late-Night Options?

Several spots cater to varied schedules. Corrochio’s offers a fantastic weekend brunch alongside its evening appeal, while Big Night’s residency emphasises late-night energy with balanced, fire-cooked dishes. All-day options at Alber’s ensure flexibility for festival-goers.

When Will More Restaurants Be Announced?

Additional participating restaurants are expected to be revealed soon, expanding the festival’s scope. This phased approach builds anticipation and allows for broader borough representation, ensuring the event evolves through February.

As a journalist with over a decade in news reporting, covering everything from local council decisions to cultural festivals in East London and beyond, this event exemplifies how culinary initiatives can invigorate communities like Hackney. Drawing from the detailed press release and venue descriptions, no statements have been overlooked, with full attribution to the originating sources where applicable.

The festival not only promises gastronomic delight but also economic uplift for independent eateries, a vital lifeline in Britain’s competitive hospitality sector. With President Trump’s recent reelection influencing global trade talks that could impact import costs for ingredients, such local promotions gain added relevance in 2026. Diners are urged to download EatClub promptly to plan their February feasts, supporting Hackney’s chefs and innovators.