“We’re a family-run, full-service smoked meat restaurant, built around our genuine love for food and bringing people together.” So said NOx Smokehouse co-owner Jenna when I spoke to her back in February.
And in the glare of the year’s first bank holiday, Jenna, together with her partner Can (pronounced Jon), launched Leytonstone’s newest dining room.
The slightly tricky name — and spelling — simply alludes to “the chemical formula of nitrogen oxide,” she said, “the natural gases released when wood burns in our smoker. When those gases hit the meat, they form that rosy-pinkish signature smoke ring, and lock in real smoke flavour.”
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Unlike open-fire BBQ restaurant Burnt down in Leyton Midland, here the chefs use a professional pellet wood smoker, which “allows us to control temperature and smoke levels precisely and deliver consistency.” And they don’t believe in being “too rigid” with the menu, either. “So while our menu focuses on low-and-slow smoked meats and BBQ is at our core, there’ll always be a sense of creativity and movement in what we serve.”
As I said in my earlier feature, it’s been a long road here. Originally from Turkey, the couple moved to Australia in the late teens, where Can worked at acclaimed restaurant Nomad in Sydney, before they finally settled in Loughton in 2024.
And although the couple are based in Essex, they have a strong E11 connection as Mattcup Coffee, part of the cavernous Continental Food Exchange store near Leytonstone High Road Overground, is run by Can’s brother and their mutual friends Emrah and Zeynep. “It gave us a reason to hang around the area regularly,” she says. And that was what gave birth to NOx.
So, how long do the meats go in for? “They’re slow-cooked for 12-14 hours and then rested for another two to three,” Jenna told me this week. “That means it takes a solid 16-17 hours of prep before it even hits your table.”
On a sunny afternoon over the weekend, my partner and I popped by for an impromptu visit. On Substack you can read in detail about some of the highlights, including the instant hit rib ekmek sandwich, our hand-picked tray smoked meats (the chicken thigh is especially good), slaw, home-made dips and crunchy pickles. Read the full story here. 748 High Road Leytonstone E11 3A, follow @noxsmokehouse
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