Review: Edinburgh Street Food (ESF), a neon-lit haven at the Omni

I am a massive fan of Edinburgh Street Food (ESF). I have been many, many times, primarily because it is so convenient. It is open late, it feels like it is open all the time, and it is strategically placed by the Omni Centre and not far from the end of Princes Street. If you are completely unfamiliar with how ESF works, I should probably take a step back and explain the transformation.

In previous years, there was a dead zone at the end of the Omni Centre, a mall and cinema complex. It was a dead zone because you had to walk through the Omni Centre, avoiding other restaurants, to reach the back end of the complex. Why would you do that? Well, ESF solved that problem in two ways. The superficial way was to put up an attractive neon sign and some outdoor hoarding that let you know, just by looking, that something interesting was happening around the corner.

The Vibe and Venue

The transformation has been very successful. The outdoor seats now lure people in, the heated lanterns and the food trucks. More importantly, Edinburgh Street Food is a really exciting food court because you have a dozen brands you can access just by being in the area. They all advertise and lure people in, making it a collective effort. It has gravity. It has mass. It draws people through.

Inside, you have long communal seating, so you will likely be sharing a bench with others. It does not really matter, as there is enough room that you have some privacy. I am a solo eater, and I have been there most of the time by myself. Occasionally, I have been with one other person, but it is no problem. You sit down on the end of a seat or in the middle of a bench.

The Food and Ordering

The ordering system is slick. You scan the nearby QR code, which is usually on the table, and you get a table number. You can basically order whatever food you want from any retailer through the app. You can also go to the individual food booth and place your order there, but I prefer using the QR code because I can mix and match.

I will generally get a beer or a soft drink from the bar, then I will order a main from one of the retailers, and then I might order a dessert from something like the Softcore ice cream concession, which is also there. The vendors rarely change, which suggests to me that it is a successful, profitable place to put your business.

It is a little bit more expensive than going to a single street food truck, as there is an Edinburgh Street Food surcharge to cover the multiple commercial entities and staff. There are waiters or waitresses who take your food to your table if you have chosen to order it rather than collect it yourself. That is quite useful. As a solo eater, I am very happy to do that because it is a bit of a pain to guard a seat and then go up and order. I would much rather sit down, check my emails and have my food brought to me when it is ready. If access costs a couple of pence or less than a pound, as it often seems to do at ESF, then it is absolutely worth doing.

Things to do in the East End

Edinburgh Street Food is perfectly positioned for a night out in the East End. You are right next door to the Edinburgh Playhouse, making this the ideal spot for a pre-theatre bite. If you have arrived early and have luggage, you can drop your bags at a Radical Storage point nearby so you are not hauling suitcases around the food court.

The Omni Centre itself hosts a Vue cinema, and just across the road is the St James Quarter for high-end shopping. If you are visiting the city, the transport links here are superb. You are a short walk from Edinburgh Waverley station, or you can catch a tram towards Leith or the Airport. For accommodation, the Britannia Hotels group has options in the city, or you can check Booking.com for apartments near Calton Hill, which offer stunning views over the city.

Overall

There have been a couple of negatives. I had a beer go missing and had to go up to the bar to sort it out, and I once had a frustrating experience with an expired discount voucher, writing to customer support but getting no response. However, generally, I will go to ESF before I go to a nearby theatre or the cinema, or if I get caught in the hubbub of any of the Edinburgh Festival shenanigans. I really recommend checking it out. It is just very convenient, and you get some very good food there.