Aroma Lab

[Jenniewrites]

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? 

[DulwichParker]

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!

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

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. 

[Angelina]

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!

 

 

[Sue]

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?

[Angelina]

I  mean the runners - they possibly don't know it's there. Really strange

 

I

[tracyk]

I had a veg katsu curry from there recently - it was really good! This is their menu:

 

[alice]

Chi chi Ra Ra started that stretch. 
30+ years - closed last weekend 

 

[CPR Dave]

Ah that's a shame for chi chi ra ra.

[Sue]

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

[tiddles]

Had a a couple of takeaways from SD cafe - very good 

[TWB Cat Sitter]

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.

[alice]

Sweet Dreams

[se22]

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.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

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.

[Callie]

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?

[HeadNun]

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

[Sue]

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

[Angelina]

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..

[NewWave]

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

[Sue]

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

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

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.

[Sue]

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?

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

Yes, there is veggie stuff - the menu is the same (or very similar) to what tracyk posted above: 

 

[Susbo]

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