As part of our Spotlight on the Barras Food series, we tried out the epic ‘hangover killing’ scran from one of their hugely popular traders Colin Jenkinson, the man behind Monster Munchies.
Monster Munchies have moved to a much bigger space on Kent Street at the Barras(Image: Sean Murphy)
The Barras is undoubtedly one of the best places to go at the weekend in Glasgow, with shopping opportunities aplenty. Offering everything from clothing and crafts to oddities and antiques, the market is always bustling, however there’s another reason we find ourselves here on a busy Saturday afternoon.
We’ve come for some epic scran and there’s one place in particular we are heading to, the brand new home of Monster Munchies on Kent Street.
Formerly housed within the market itself, where owner Colin Jenkinson built up a loyal following thanks to his epic creations and friendly banter at his small stand next to The Hutch, his new space is allowing the keen foodie to really flex his wings.
Heading inside, past the waiting takeaway line, we grabbed a seat and asked the man himself what he’d recommend.
Where can you find Monster Munchies?
Look out for the famous graffiti-style Monster Munchies logo on Kent Street, which is found within the market itself.
Regularly firing out delicious dishes for Barra market dwellers, the popular street food spot offers plenty of thrilling options, brunch rolls and specials.
What we had
A chirpy Colin was all smiles as he worked on his now-famous Buckfast brown sauce, which, alongside his sriracha ketchup, will go on their newly launched brunch roll offering.
Always happy to chat as he cooks, Colin was only to happy to provide us with some recommendations, which included the classic Aberdeen Angus burger with their in-house fries (£10), the Irn-Bru Chilli fritters (£5) and the brilliant Fiver fish and chips – which for £5 for two decent bits of battered fish, a meaty portion of chips and their excellent sauce might be one of the best value dishes around.
“I’m getting used to the new space and it’s been going really well, the brunch rolls were a great addition too,” explained Colin. “I’ve been working in kitchens now for 26 years and I love combining that experience with fresh ideas.”
Ideas like his Irn-Bru chilli bao buns, which really helped put Monster Munchies on the map, and the sauce for which really shines on the fritters, combining that sweet and savoury hit that people love.
The burger is massive and, with those in-house chips, really is the kind of hunger bursting scran that Monster Munchies are known for. As expected, there’s aways one dish in this place you won’t expect and the Fiver Fish and Fries is not only incredible value but also shows why Colin is such a great cook.
“We use white fish for the fish and people have been loving it, I only use quality sourced ingredients, when I make these dishes they all have to be the best quality, that’s important to us.”
What else can you get?
Monster Munchies is known for its Taiwanese bao buns and loaded salt n chilli fries meaning there are various styles of each to enjoy including hoi sin, hot honey and satay.
On the day we went there were also the newly launched brunch filled rolls, with various breakfast fillings (one filling for £3.50 or one and a hot drink for £5).
There’s also a Korean BBQ chicken burger, a selection of fries and of course, it wouldn’t be Glasgow without some chips, cheese and curry.
Colin states that the best sellers are usually anything he recommends on the day, and with a specials board that includes the like of loaded fries with Buckfast burnt ends and pork, he’s always experimenting and creating stunning dishes, meaning there’s loads to look forward to.
Our verdict
Overall, Monster Munchies is a proper Glasgow joint where you can expect down-to-earth, friendly service combined with top-quality food and of course, great chat with Colin.
It’s also great value, with a top selection of comfort faves and judging by our trip there and the regular queues appearing for takeaway, this place will be an even bigger hit than the original.
Plus with the outdoor seating in the summer, this place is going to be the place to go on warm days – and we are here for it.
