Date of visit: 9th October 2026
Score: 10/10

Last Friday, I took the day off to recharge my batteries. I took the dogs out for a walk and went for a swim. Afterwards, I got in the car and headed to Canning Town where I had an early Pie and Mash lunch at B.J’s. At 10am it was quiet enough to park on a side road, though the parking was annoyingly expensive. But I got to the shop for opening.

A steaming plate of Pie and Mash at B.J's

The owner was in the process of cooking the pies and we had a quick chat to get the day going. He’s very friendly. Then another customer turned up. It seems that on Fridays at 10am, pie and mash is the order of the day. The shop has three large tables with benches and is situated on a busy road. I suspect he gets a lot of casual custom.

Now, I’ve changed my habits and I only order a single-single. This is because I’m trying to lose some weight and I need to be stricter on my days off. Notice also that this was a Friday and I was eating carbs. This is unusual, but I’d decided to take the weekend off everything.

The single-single cost £5.10 and filled me up. The pies are made on site and are delicious. The base of the pie was crispy and cooked well. The filling was tasty and the liquor was nice and thick. The serving of mash was well-sized. The chilli vinegar on the table did the job.

A double-double costs £9.70. This shop is incredibly reasonable, particularly as it’s in London. The friendliness of the owner means I will definitely be going back. You can’t easily get a meal for under a tenner in this town. No complaints then - we find ourselves with another 10/10.

B.J’s Pie and Mash
Address: 330 Barking Rd, London E13 8HL
Tel: 020 7474 3389
Hours: 1000-1700 Tue-Sat
Cash only.