Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters attended a fire at a vacant restaurant on New Road in Rainham.
Part of the ground floor and part of the roof of the restaurant was damaged by fire.
The Brigade was called at 1945 and the fire was under control at 2123. Fire crews from Harold Hill, Dagenham and Barking fire stations attended the scene.
The Brigade's fire investigators believe the cause of the fire was due to an electrical fault in lighting.