Donny’s Deli, a new neighbourhood breakfast through to late night casual dining spot, has opened in London Fields. Expect a menu focused on East London’s best local suppliers, a vinyl exchange wall, and community vibes, celebrating the energy of the city’s food and music cultures.
The menu has been created by Auckland-born sandwich guru Huri Rapana Neil (Hero Sandwich House, The Marquee Moon). Expect favourites to include the showstopping Big Brisket (Txuleta steak, smoked for 16 hours by Uncle Hon, and served with dijon mustard and swiss cheese), Chicken Salad Sandwich with chicken skin crackling and gravy dip, and a sauteed aubergine frites sandwich with garlic toum and romesco. A kebab lover through and through, a singular Donny’s Doner remains (marinated chicken thigh with pineapple chilli, garlic yoghurt, salad, pickles and feta) – but now sits proudly among a broad deli menu.
Breakfast runs daily with dishes including the McDonny’s Breakfast Muffin (scrambled eggs, confit onion, cheese, maple burger sauce) and fried eggs on E5 Bakehouse sourdough with premium toppings from local suppliers including Hill & Szrok’s thick cut streaky bacon and Fin & Flounder’s dill-cured chalk stream trout. Coffee comes from Flying Horse roastery, relocating from across the road to join the new deli. Meanwhile desserts include the PBJ – Brûléed French Toast with peanut butter and blueberry jam, and a bread and pistachio cream pudding.
Local East London suppliers are at the heart of Donny’s ethos: meat is sourced from Hill & Szrok on Broadway Market, smoking by Uncle Hon’s BBQ in Hackney Wick, seafood from Fin & Flounder on Broadway Market, bread from E5 Bakehouse, and drinks from Belly Dance.
Earlier this summer, Simon Bays launched Donny’s as a tongue-in-cheek homage to his lifelong love of kebabs. Though well received by diners, the concept drew online criticism, with the proximity to Dalston’s longstanding Turkish community sparking debates around cultural sensitivity. Simon made the decision to close the project after just one month with a heartfelt apology. That reflection inspired Donny’s Deli, a reimagined venture focused on community, London’s dining and music cultures, and top-quality local ingredients.
Community initiatives anchor the relaunch: Donny’s donates £1 from every kebab sold to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and provides £500 worth of sandwich and coffee vouchers each month to vulnerable members of the local community. Donny’s Club offers locals great quality coffee for less than £1 per cup.
Simon said, “After listening to the criticism of the first version of Donny’s online, I felt deeply ashamed to have caused offence. However unintentional, I understand that impact matters more than intent, and that ignorance or naivety is no excuse. That’s why I chose to close after a month and built Donny’s Deli – a place that still celebrates the food and music I love, but does so with respect for cultural influences and a genuine commitment to giving back to the community.’”
Designed with a retro interior featuring red and white tiling, warm orange woodwork and a terrazzo floor, the deli also houses a vinyl exchange wall where visitors can bring and swap records. Playlists from esteemed east London selectors bring Simon’s nightlife roots into the deli setting, blending food and music culture under one roof.
Address: 2 Westgate Street, London, E8 3RN
Instagram: @donnyslondon
Opening hours:
Monday – Wednesday: 8am-4pm
Thursday: 8am-1:30am
Friday – Saturday: 8am-4pm / 7pm-2am
Sunday: 9am-4pm