JP's Cafe in Tower Hamlets

Highly recommend this cafe, have visited a few times now, sandwiches and rolls are always prepared fresh, portions are ample, it is clean, staff are always friendly and welcoming, one of the best cafes for value for money we have been in since the pandemic

Authentischer Ort, um ein Tee zu trinken und einen kleinen Inbiss zu verzerren. Das typisch englische Morgenessen ist köstlich und grosszüg. Auch wenn der Laden den einen oder anderen abschrecken mag, es ist sehr sauber und schnell zubereitet. Das Paar ist sehr freundlich, hilfsbereit und sie scheinen ihre Arbeitsabläufe intus zu haben. Jederzeit wieder!

Really scrumptious ham and mushroom omelette with salad. Followed by a cup of tea and a slice of homemade carrot cake.

Delicious chicken salad, fresh and tasty and nicely presented. The staff are lovely and always friendly and welcoming.

Came here for breakfast when working nearby. The cafe is situated in the middle of a market and doesn’t look too good from the outside. Once inside the tables were clean and we was served quick. The food was really nice and all cooked to perfection. I would definitely return

Long may places like this continue! This is so far removed from the large coffee chains that dominate our high streets! For any tourist who wants to know what a proper east end cafe is like, this is well worth a trip to see. Quality food and 1980 prices!

Had a breakfast here today. Lovely grub and a decent price. Friendly place to stop, will definitely be back!

The ‘Greasy Spoon’ café is a staple of British culture. Throughout the UK, greasy spoons have planted themselves within the backstreets of our towns and cities, fuelling the nation on fry-ups and bacon-butties. For many, the humble greasy spoon is overlooked, disregarded, belittled to nothing more than a last-resort fast-food joint. In a society being monopolized by those oppressive hip, chic and ludicrously overpriced cafes, the modest greasy spoon stands strong; fighting on the front lines against commercialisation and gentrification. In the heart of East London, I sit in JP’s Café, my local greasy spoon, writing this very review. For years I’ve walked past JP’s without so much of a quick glance or second thought. However, here I am in late November, frozen to the bone, propped up against the cold steel of my chair, eagerly awaiting the arrival of my (hopefully) warm bacon butty and English Breakfast Tea. Known locally as Jim’s, JP’s Cafe is a quintessential greasy spoon and doesn’t pretend otherwise. From the tasteless décor to the uninspired furnishing, JP has built an intimate and refreshingly authentic space where everyday people, doing everyday things, can feel at ease; liberated from the conventions of other public spaces. From the corner of JP’s Café, I witness Jim routinely cleaning, serving, cooking and so on. Offering welcome greetings to the arriving customers, Jim remarkably knows each and every arriving local. As he walks through his café with a loving proud smile of his greasy spoon, customers consistently mosey in and request their “usual” as they recline in the comfortable atmosphere of their local caff. Like London without it’s traffic, a café is nothing without it’s customers. From pyjamas to hoodies, sandals to slippers and ponytails to buzzcuts, you can expect the full spectrum of Londoner to come meandering through JP’s doors (dogs welcome too). Quite possibly feeding the five-thousand on a daily basis, 7am will greet you with a sea of high-visibility jackets; construction workers getting ahead of the day, fuelling on fry-ups and English breakfast tea before their 9-to-5. By 11am an eerie silence seizes the caff, the lunch-breaks and hangover’s have commandeered the greasy spoon; sitting alone staring at their phones, earphones in, not to be disturbed. Jam-packed like the Central Line during rush-hour, seated mere inches away from fellow customers, I can’t help but catch excerpts of the conversations surrounding me. From Paul’s upcoming knee surgery, to Maggie’s new-born, the greasy spoon provides an intimate window into the lives of local community. JP’s Café is conveniently stationed next to Chrisp Street Market. Surrounded by a forest of depressed-looking clothes hanging from racks with tacky neon price tags, amongst shops and stalls, the café sits at the heart of Poplar; equipping local market-workers, builders and passers-by with a bite to eat and recovery from the bustle of East-London. Baring a striking resemblance to EastEnders, I almost expect Ian Beale to walk in. As the UK’s oldest purpose-built market, Chrisp Street Market is a local landmark, a site of historical significance and major hub for the local community. With independent retailers such as JP’s, community pubs, hardware stores and pie shops, the market is a cultural epicentre. Having spent significant time here, and with a loyal and neighbourly ambience surrounding the market and greasy spoon, I find my faith in humanity being ever-so-slightly rekindled; a spark of hope that perhaps chivalry isn’t quite dead. With a tide of gentrification moving rapidly eastwards through London, like the ‘greasy spoon’ café, Chrisp Street Market recently fought for it’s place within modern society. Coming close to redevelopment, the market locals mobilised as a community; halting such unwanted development. In a time where local independent businesses are being erased by the commercial, not unlike the market itself, the humble ‘greasy spoon’ café stands its ground; disobedient to the Starbucks’, Costa’s and Black Sheep’s of modernised London. On a lighter note, we can’t talk about a greasy spoon without mentioning the honourably deep-fried cuisine. Unlike modern cafes that’ll charge £14.99 for a cup of tea, JP’s Café offers tasty, albeit not the healthiest, food and beverages for an absolute bargain. From a seemingly never-ending menu, you can expect the classic English breakfasts, butties, pies and sandwiches; available to tailor to your every whim. With empty plates to prove it, there’s something for everyone irrespective of culinary taste. From the mountains of ready salted and cheese-and-onion crisps, to the fridges of fizzy drinks, the spot is always hit. As I sit here in the corner of JP’s café, with my tea in one hand and my keyboard the other, I can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the greasy spoon. This is soon cut short however as, having spent at least a few hours here already, and with just 12% battery left on my laptop, I realise I really need the toilet. Unlike modernised cafes, with no plug sockets or toilets provided, I’m left with no choice but to head home. In just an hour’s time, at 3pm, I know the caff will be shut anyway, staff gone home to rest, ready to do it all again tomorrow.

Our local cafe for breakfast. Authentic and simple fare but wide range of well cooked items. Good value and does what it says on the tin. My only criticism is that smoke from the smokers outside can get drawn in to the inside tables, which is an annoyance, so don’t sit next to the door. The poached eggs on toast are delicious.

Lovely staff, excellent value for money and tastes amazing! Never been disappointed, best local cafe by far.