Trap Kitchen Camden

In a mostly cold, grey, rainy city like London, comfort food is a strong currency—and Trap Kitchen in Camden delivers. This American soul food-inspired spot has a Cajun spice-heavy seafood menu, served in a moody, buzzy, and at times hectic, room. And we can confirm that it lives up to the Instagram hype.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Similar to the original Balham location, this Chalk Farm Road spot has the kind of moody lighting that’ll make you want to play footsie with the nearest crab leg. The sleek black interiors and dim lighting upstairs call for date night. Not the kind when someone pulls a chair out for you and calls you ma’am. The kind when you see them gnawing at a lobster tail, butter dripping down their chin, and decide you fancy them anyway. 

If you’re rolling with a group, downstairs is best. Grab a comfy booth or long table to fill with juicy lobster tails and buttery corn. Children give up on cutlery and pick up pieces of macaroni with their gloved hands, and adults follow suit. Groups speak in raised voices to make sure their story isn’t lost on the other end of the table, and platter after platter of mixed seafood and BBQ chicken is distributed around the thronging room.   

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

“The bucket” is what to get when you’ve mentally written off the rest of the night—and you’re with someone you can be 100% comfortable with. Buttery lobster tails, tender Cajun chicken wings, meaty bang bang prawns, and the best mac and cheese in London on one tray. It’s like the ultimate fantasy football line-up. Not looking to overdose on body-building lobsters? Pop in for an equally satisfying half slab combo with chicken thighs. Just whatever you do, get the mac and cheese.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Mac And Cheese

We’d pick the mac and cheese over some of our family members, so picking it over the Spanish rice side should be an easy choice. It’s seasoned with Cajun spices until it’s an apricot orange colour, and is topped with a spicy, creamy sauce that elevates it to the next level. It’s the best mac and cheese you can find in a London restaurant.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Bang Bang Prawns

These prawns gym at Third Space and spend all of their time in the weights room. They’re meaty, fried, and coated in a spicy and earthy Cajun seasoning. The creamy hot sauce drizzled on top just makes an already perfect thing even better. If in doubt, order an extra portion.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

The Bucket

This looks like a challenge, feels like a challenge, and tastes like the kind of food we’d like to eat immediately before we take a four-hour nap. It includes lobster tails or crab legs (go for the lobster, it’s meatier and requires less elbow grease), a bunch of excellent butter-drowned sides, and some unnecessary, and a little dry, Oreo waffles that we’d rather skip for some more juicy prawns. This is the It Girl order.