• Source:JND
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Londoners are no strangers to food trucks or artisanal coffee carts, but a man passionately mixing puffed rice, chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillies, spices, mustard oil and a squeeze of lime in a steel tumbler while calling out “Jhalmuri! Fresh Jhalmuri!” has become a sight that stops people mid-step.

That man is Angus Denoon, a British chef-turned-street food vendor who has become a social media sensation for bringing Kolkata’s beloved snack, Jhalmuri, to the streets of London.

From Kolkata’s Lanes To London’s Corners

According to social media reports, Denoon first visited Kolkata in 2004, and again in 2005. Captivated by the city’s vibrant street food scene, he spent months learning from local chaatwalas, observing, tasting, practising and perfecting the art of mixing flavours. What began as curiosity soon became a lifelong passion.

After returning to the UK, Denoon decided to recreate that magic for Londoners. With a hand-painted cart and a flair for performance, he launched his own brand, ‘Jhalmuri Express’, serving Kolkata-style chaat and jhalmuri across different parts of the city.

Viral Fame And Authentic Flavours

Multiple Instagram reels and YouTube videos featuring Denoon’s animated style and impeccable Bengali and Hindi accent have gone viral. One viral post reads, “Kolkata’s Jhalmuri magic made a Britisher fall in love, so much that he’s been serving it on London’s streets for 18 years!”

A video from 2019 during the India vs Australia World Cup match at The Oval shows Denoon preparing bhelpuri and jhalmuri for cricket fans. The clip, shared by blogger Ansh Rehan, first brought him into the spotlight. In recent weeks, his videos resurfaced online, once again drawing admiration and nostalgia from Indians around the world. Some netizens hailed him as a cultural ambassador, while others jokingly called it “reverse colonisation done right.”

 
 
 
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Comments poured in from viewers who recognised Denoon from the Fox Life show Eat Street, aired nearly a decade ago. “Reverse colonisation, but to share the love of food,” one user wrote. Another added, “If Indians can sell Lebanese or Korean food, why can’t a Brit sell Jhalmuri?” Others praised the cleanliness and aesthetic of his stall. “Just see how neat his setup is, this is something we should learn,” a user noted.

Carrying Legacy, Not Just Snack

For Denoon, Jhalmuri is not just a business; it’s a bridge between cultures. Known affectionately as “Dada” by the Bengali community, he continues to serve with passion and respect for the tradition he learned on Kolkata’s streets. Fans often track his Instagram handle, @jhalmuriexpress, to find where he’s setting up next. One fan from Bristol even wrote, “He messaged me that he’d be in town, and set up his trolley just to serve me a bowl, top bloke!”

In an era dominated by viral food trends, Angus Denoon stands out for his authenticity. His journey from a British kitchen to a Kolkata sidewalk, and finally to London’s bustling streets, is a testament to how food can unite people, one steel tumbler of Jhalmuri at a time.

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