There’s surely no better way to kick things off than with a true London classic, the Brindisa chorizo roll.
LOCATION: Brindisa, Borough Market [click here for map and opening times]
PRICE: £4.95 for two pieces of chorizo, £3.95 for one. Obviously I had the former.
BREAD: Ciabatta roll drizzled with olive oil and grilled.
FILLING: Chorizo, Piquillo pepper, rocket.
PROS: This sandwich is truly deserving of its place as a London stalwart (they’ve been firing up that grill for over 10 years now) and its success is down to the quality of the ingredients and the fact that the chorizo is grilled to order. A generous portion of freshly sizzled picante sausage (imported from Spain by Brindisa) oozes scarlet-paprika oil onto the scorched ciabatta bun. It really is some of the best Spanish sausage in London. Piquillo peppers serve to further ramp up the intensity with some sweetness. As for the rocket, this sandwich has the flavours to give it what for and quash any bullying tendencies.
CONS: Borough Market is a tourist destination and you’ll need to get there early unless you don’t mind queuing and spending 30 minutes trying to walk 10 yards in pigeon steps.
SCORE: 8/10
The London Review of Sandwiches 
Love it!!! I have to have this every time I go to Borough Market without fail. Even if the queue is a mile long!!
it’s SO lush isn’t it? I’m always torn between that and the grilled cheese…
Helen – loving the new blog. What a simple idea, well executed. Will add to my blogroll immediately. Despite working a stone’s throw from Borough, I’ve never eaten the chorizo roll – only because the queues are always so long. Will have to remedy that. Good luck with your sarnie questing!
Thanks so much Katy! And you must must must have that roll…
As you say, a London classic. Always wonder why something so loaded with oil and grease is so easy to eat – it’s not like there’s any citrus or sharpness in there, just that sweet pepper. But it really works doesn’t it.
Only problem I have is one is not enough and two is too much..
TOO MUCH?! NEVER! Ha ha. Actually, now I’m thinking about it, do they squeeze a little lemon over? That may be a false memory…
Fairly sure they don’t – IN FACT, they drizzle EXTRA olive oil over the top before serving! The crazy, greasy bastards.
They drizzle the oil on the bun before grilling. Don’t remember them drizzling it on top. Christ.
Yeah they do. At least they did last time I had one. Because what fried chorizo soaked in oil always needs is… more oil.
Such an amazing sandwich! One of the things I really miss after giving up pork. I think what keeps it from being overwhelming is the rocket – it’s nice to a have some bite in there. Makes me think of English mustard in other sausage sarnies.
Just want to say that I’m a longtime reader of Food Stories, and I think your recipes are really wonderful.
Awww thank you! I’m so pleased you felt moved to comment this time and I hope you keep enjoying the blog.
do burgers count?!! too pieces of bread and a filling?!
Yes of course! And hot dogs.
Great idea for a blog Helen, I’d been discussing the lack of sandwich review blogs with my sister just the other week.
I really like the chorizo roll and have eaten more than my fair share over the years – but i think my personal no 1 sandwich at borough is the bubble, bacon and cheese from maria’s market cafe.
I love the bacon bubble and cheese so much I did my own verson for Love Food.com. The picture at the top of the new sandwich blog is of that very sandwich!
Here it is! http://www.lovefood.com/guide/recipes/13810/bacon-bubble-and-cheese-butty
Fabulous idea for a blog- this roll may have been one of the clinching reasons for not only us moving to London, but living near Borough. It’s the number two stop for every visitor to our place (after a coffee).
Brilliant! Ah, the power of the sandwich.
Fantastic idea for a blog. I’ve had one of those chorizo sandwiches at Borough Market and you’re not wrong in your assessment. I’ll keep coming back as you build up your content. Good luck with it.
Thank you! I really hope you enjoy the blog.
Given up pork? Did you say given up pork? I would suggest therapy. I believe there are bacon therapists these days.
WHAT?! Where on earth did you get that idea!
I had a plan to try all the different ‘food to go’ and sandwiches on offer at Borough Market. I knew it would take a some time as my visits are rather infrequent.
The plan went well over the first few visits, until I tried the Brindisa Chorizo Roll! Now it’s Brindisa Chorizo Roll, Brindisa Chorizo Roll, try something else, Brindisa Chorizo Roll.
It could take years to try all the other offerings.
Hard to move away once you’ve tried it, isn’t it? The grilled cheese though…dribble
Not tried that yet. Last week it was two lincolnshire sausages in a bun with onions.
mmmmm sausage
Im late to the party but I have to say i am a big lover of this sandwich. I used to work around the corner till last year and it was responsible for many pounds out of my purse and onto my ass!
Ha ha! Those pounds are still on my ass unfortunately. I don’t think this site will help too much. Worth it though, totally worth it!
Classic sandwich to start with. Textbook. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Love the blog.
Cheers mate! I thought it might be up your alley 😉
I am looking forward to following this sandwhich blog very much.
Has anyone seen this great little film called ‘Sandwhiches You Will Like’?
Enjoy!
This just a clip and the whole film is about an hour long.
Fantastic, one to watch later. Thanks!
Oh Dear, I’m up in Glasgow and i’ve heard about this chorizo roll, it’s legendary, i’m vey jealous of anyone who’s tried it…..
of course i mean ‘very’ jealous
I think you know there’s only one way to resolve this torturous situation and it is: MAKE THE TRIP!!
You can add me to the list of tourists clogging up the queues; this just shot straight to the top of my London priority list. Next time I’m visiting that way I’ll be sure to try it. Chorizo + pretty much anything = divine.
Will
Leavened Heaven: My Search for Sarnie Shangri-La
Clog away Will, clog away! It has to be done.
yum!
i bloody love this… new borough market fave 🙂
Working my way through your top-rated sandwiches very slowly – Selfridge’s salt beef back in March, now finally this one. I got there at about half 11 and there was no queue at all, but when we passed by again at about 2pm (not for another sandwich, sadly) people were lining up round the block, so definitely worth catching as a brunch. Oh my god this sandwich though, seriously. I was worried it’d be a little dry and I’m big lover of sauces, but it didn’t need it. SO INCREDIBLY JUICY. A guy after me asked for his without rocket, and I was all like, what the hell are you playing at.
I see from your most recent post that you are not a fan of rocket. I apologise for my last comment (but it does work quite well for this particular sandwich, no? Adds a nice bit of crunch, I feel).
ha ha! just seen your second comment and yeah, it does work in this sandwich actually. I take it back! Really pleased you enjoyed it. They brush the bread with oil to make it nice and juicy. Love it.
So I know this post is over four years old but better late than never… I went at 12pm today and I only saw one other person order a roll in the 10-15 minutes I was there. The roll itself was okay and I enjoyed the slight crispiness of the chorizo, but it certainly didn’t live up to the hype of the best sandwich/roll/burger/other doughy goodness in London. Has anyone been lately? Has it changed? Is it just me?
Wow that’s a shame. I haven’t been for… about four years!