Jenniewrites Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 Just had a delicious coffee in this cafe next to Eric's in Upland Road. They also serve Chinese food for lunch and supper, and to takeaway. Rather off the beaten track but worth supporting? 1 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
DulwichParker Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 Yes Aroma Lab is brilliant. They also work with an app called Paace which lets you save money on your coffee just by getting your steps in! I got a flat white there for £1.50! 1 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730633 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogkennelhillbilly Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 Just passed by and it does look nice. I'll try to go in soon. In fact, that whole little stretch of Uplands Rd seems to be having a little renaissance. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730670 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelina Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 They are so good. Fabulous people too. I love the food - AND they are dog friendly. I don't understand why everyone queues at the place next door when this like goldmine is right THERE! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730680 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 10 minutes ago, Angelina said: They are so good. Fabulous people too. I love the food - AND they are dog friendly. I don't understand why everyone queues at the place next door when this like goldmine is right THERE! To get bread? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730687 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelina Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 I mean the runners - they possibly don't know it's there. Really strange I Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730701 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracyk Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 I had a veg katsu curry from there recently - it was really good! This is their menu: 2 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730704 Share on other sites More sharing options...
alice Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 Chi chi Ra Ra started that stretch. 30+ years - closed last weekend 1 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730705 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPR Dave Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 Ah that's a shame for chi chi ra ra. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730713 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 (edited) 2 hours ago, alice said: Chi chi Ra Ra started that stretch. 30+ years - closed last weekend I don't think they depended on passing trade. I think they mainly provided clothes for theatre productions etc. Sorry to hear they've closed. Edited December 16, 2025 by Sue Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730716 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiddles Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 Had a a couple of takeaways from SD cafe - very good Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730723 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWB Cat Sitter Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 They seem to be having an identity crisis. SD Cafe? Aroma Lab Coffee? Either way, I look forward to the day they have a storefront. I live just around the corner & walk past every day, & I'm still not entirely sure what it's meant to be. For that reason, I'm not surprised if it often gets overlooked by passersby. Prior to all of this, it was Oriental Star - a wonderful Chinese takeout run by lovely people, & we were genuinely sad to see it go. It took a long time to find anything in this area that came close, & honestly, I still don't think we quite have. 1 1 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730729 Share on other sites More sharing options...
alice Posted December 16, 2025 Share Posted December 16, 2025 Sweet Dreams Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730730 Share on other sites More sharing options...
se22 Posted December 17, 2025 Share Posted December 17, 2025 We used Oriental Star regularly. We were also disappointed when they closed and we haven't yet found anywhere as good.. The shop is too small to operate as an eat in cafe which is probably why sweet dreams didn't last long. 1 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730785 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogkennelhillbilly Posted December 17, 2025 Share Posted December 17, 2025 I like the look of SD's Sweet and Sour chicken. It's a really good dish when made freshly and well. I'll need to try it. Sad that Oriental Star and Lucky House by Dulwich Library both closed at a similarish time. They were decent, reliable, "British Chinese" takeaways. 1 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730869 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Posted December 18, 2025 Share Posted December 18, 2025 On 16/12/2025 at 15:56, Angelina said: I mean the runners - they possibly don't know it's there. Really strange I Runners? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730905 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadNun Posted December 18, 2025 Share Posted December 18, 2025 What, has Chi Chi Ra Ra really closed? For real? I walked past the other day and it was open. Please tell me this isn't true Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730915 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted December 18, 2025 Share Posted December 18, 2025 (edited) 2 hours ago, HeadNun said: What, has Chi Chi Ra Ra really closed? For real? I walked past the other day and it was open. Please tell me this isn't true You could call in and ask them, if it's open when you are passing? It has never been open every day, to the best of my knowledge. But maybe they just haven't updated their social media yet. Edited December 18, 2025 by Sue Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730929 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelina Posted December 18, 2025 Share Posted December 18, 2025 12 hours ago, Callie said: Runners? yes - often see a morning queue of sweaty runners - presume they don't actually realise there's a fab cafe next to the one they queue at.. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730935 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewWave Posted December 18, 2025 Share Posted December 18, 2025 10 hours ago, HeadNun said: What, has Chi Chi Ra Ra really closed? For real? I walked past the other day and it was open. Please tell me this isn't true Yes The lease ran out on the shop. So chi chi ra ra will only be online or at the various fairs. It says on her instagram Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730966 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted December 18, 2025 Share Posted December 18, 2025 (edited) I hadn't looked at the actual posts on Instagram. That's sad, then. The shop opening hours are still shown at the top of the page. I guess changing them wasn't uppermost in her mind under the circumstances. Edited December 18, 2025 by Sue Punctuation 1 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1730973 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogkennelhillbilly Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 On 17/12/2025 at 17:59, Dogkennelhillbilly said: I like the look of SD's Sweet and Sour chicken. It's a really good dish when made freshly and well. I'll need to try it. I keep my promises...had the Sweet & Sour Chicken. It was great - the best sweet and sour dish I've ever had. The chicken itself was good and the sauce seemed home made with real vegetables and pineapple - it is NOT the red sugar sauce goo you get elsewhere. The Korean fried chicken was very good but the sweet chili sauce was much more chili than sweet - just far too spicy for me. There is a honey something sauce that I will get next time. Egg fried veggie rice was good as a side. We also ordered the chicken katsu curry which was polished off so quickly I didn't get to taste it. It looked very good tho. SD is not like Magic Wok used to be - cheap and filling but junk food. (Don't get me wrong - I went often to Magic Wok). SD's food is much higher quality, real ingredients, chunky portions, freshly prepared. I'll be back, for sure. 1 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1733116 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 6 hours ago, Dogkennelhillbilly said: I keep my promises...had the Sweet & Sour Chicken. It was great - the best sweet and sour dish I've ever had. The chicken itself was good and the sauce seemed home made with real vegetables and pineapple - it is NOT the red sugar sauce goo you get elsewhere. The Korean fried chicken was very good but the sweet chili sauce was much more chili than sweet - just far too spicy for me. There is a honey something sauce that I will get next time. Egg fried veggie rice was good as a side. We also ordered the chicken katsu curry which was polished off so quickly I didn't get to taste it. It looked very good tho. SD is not like Magic Wok used to be - cheap and filling but junk food. (Don't get me wrong - I went often to Magic Wok). SD's food is much higher quality, real ingredients, chunky portions, freshly prepared. I'll be back, for sure. Do they have veggie options? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1733153 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogkennelhillbilly Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Yes, there is veggie stuff - the menu is the same (or very similar) to what tracyk posted above: 1 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1733160 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susbo Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 On 16/12/2025 at 16:52, tracyk said: I had a veg katsu curry from there recently - it was really good! This is their menu: Just had the soup dumplings for lunch - genuinely amazing and I really hope they survive. Cooked by the young guy's aunty. He hinted that things are tough and acknowledged the slight marketing confusion. Quality not in doubt Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/371466-aroma-lab/#findComment-1733783 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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