Happy hour in London can make a positive impact on your day, especially if you were planning to take the tube during peak times. Of course, back home, these are words that can conjure up feelings of regret or salvation, depending on how your night ends, and the state of your bank balance.But, when on […]
Food and Drink in London
7 Best Places to Eat in Brixton, London’s Culinary Haven
Posted on July 8, 2024
Why you should add Brixton to your London itineraryBefore World War II, Brixton was London’s go-to spot for shopping, as three of the city’s main department stores were located here. After the war, the Windrush generation arrived—when immigrants (mostly from the Caribbean, and a few from Ireland) settled into the neighborhood and would leave an […]
8 Best Doughnuts in London You’ll Want to Sink Your Teeth Into
Posted on May 28, 2024
London cuisine is well-known for hard hitting classics like: fish and chips, chicken tikka masala, and roast dinner to name a few. And once you’ve eaten the tried and true classics, you’ll want to save room for dessert or a tasty snack, like doughnuts. From cigar shaped to even Mars bar flavored doughnuts, London has […]
The Best Vegetarian and Vegan Burgers in London
Posted on September 13, 2023
There’s no consensus on the origin of the hamburger. Up until recently, it was mostly linked to the cuisine of the United States (though, even that’s hard to define). In the last decade and a half, however, the burger has gone international. Now from Saigon to Santiago, Prague to Perth, and Johannesburg to Jerusalem you […]
Speakeasy Bars in London: Unlock the Secret to Amazing Cocktails
Posted on June 6, 2023
The speakeasy renaissance is upon us and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. In big cities around the planet—New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Sydney, to name a few—hidden cocktail dens are thriving. And this very much includes London. Some say the pandemic caused the phenomenon, that drinkers want to feel they’re […]
The Most Popular International Foods in London and Where To Find Them
Posted on June 15, 2020
London is a city where you can eat the cuisine of virtually every country that plays in the World Cup. When people think of the flavors of London, it sometimes doesn’t extend beyond fish and chips or roast dinners. But while we adore our traditional tastes, the layers of London are dotted with a myriad of […]
The 10 Traditional Foods You Have to Try in London & Where to Get Them
Posted on May 31, 2020
London is a city with an incredibly multicultural population and globe-spanning cuisine. But when it comes to trying the most traditional foods in London, where can you get the best versions? Ask anybody what dishes come to mind when they think of English cuisine, and the same ones will pop up time and time again. However, […]
The 10 Best Cheap Eats in London that All Budgets Should Try
Posted on May 15, 2020
London is absolutely packed to the rafters with jolly good eats, from your celebrity chef-owned restaurants dripping in Michelin stars to your family-run bistros. Honestly though, you don’t need to dig too deep into your pockets here in London to find decently priced bites to devour… in fact, the hardest part of collating this post was choosing what to leave out! Dive on in and let’s explore our 10 favorite cheap eats in London for under £15, with most under £10. An absolute bargain, every single one. 
Cheap eats in North London
Tagine and couscous dishes at Le Rif
A cafe that wouldn’t look out of place in the souks of Marrakech, Le Rif graces the thoroughly local hinterlands off Seven Sisters Road and has a menu with prices will make you do a double take. Sip on mint tea while enjoying properly made tagine of lamb with prunes and cinnamon… or basically any other variety of tagine you can think of. It’s not fancy, but it most definitely is tasty.
Tube stop: Finsbury Park
Curry and rice at the Indian YMCA Dining Hall
Those in the know do not need the concept-heavy modern Indian restaurants down in the West End when, tucked away around the corner, you find the dining hall of the Indian YMCA. With low prices in a canteen setting, it’s authentic and it’s available to non-guests for lunch and dinner services most days of the week. If it’s meat you’re hankering for alongside your spiced lentils, the tandoori chicken should do the trick.
Tube stop: Warren Street
Cheap eats in South London
Roti jerk chicken wrap at Rudie’s
We adore Rudie’s, home to super nice staff and authentic tastes of the Caribbean, from saltfish and ackee to curry goat, all very well priced. For unbelievable bang for your buck, opt for their signature jerk chicken in a roti wrap with slaw, crunchy salad, and a kick of homemade hot sauce. Sunny island vibes, even on the wettest of days.
Tube stop: London Bridge
Pie, double mash, and liquor at Goddards at Greenwich
This dish is an absolute classic here in London and we all have our favorite pie shops to visit. Visit Goddards and you can guarantee you’re in safe hands: this family has been bringing the goods since 1890 and their liquor (not alcohol, but secret recipe green parsley sauce) is some of the tastiest around.
Tube stop: Cutty Sark DLR
Cheap eats in East London
Pho at Viet Hoa
One of the pioneer restaurants on London’s so-called “Pho Mile,” Viet Hoa was founded by refugees who fled to London to escape the Vietnam War. With lines out the door on certain days, their bun hue is game-changing—imagine pho, but spicy with heavy hits of lemongrass and shrimp paste. We are here for it all day.
Tube stop: Hoxton
Full English breakfast at E Pellicci
Family-run for more than a century? Check. Housed in a Grade II-listed building? Check. Absolutely gut-busting full English breakfast with all the trimmings for a knock-out price? Check. E Pellicci really does have it all—and it doesn’t hurt that, as an Italian family, their amazing pastas are cheap as chips, too. When you know, you know.
Tube stop: Bethnal Green
Cheap eats in West London
Shrimp dumpling noodle soup at Cafe TPT
This tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it joint (21 Wardour St.) on the edge of Soho’s Chinatown is a must for hawker-style dishes, from char siu pork and rice to chow mein. It’s is a welcome flashback to the old school Chinatown of 10 years ago and stays open until 1 a.m. for the post-pub munchies.
Tube stop: Piccadilly Circus
Customizable box at Grain Shop
A Notting Hill stalwart, this predominantly vegetarian hole-in-the-wall (269A Portobello Road) is worth the journey from any part of town, as evidenced by the lines of locals every day at lunchtime. Choose what you would like from the daily changing dishes to take out or eat at the little counter. Our pick: cauliflower cheese, dal, roasted new potatoes and as many veggies as can fit in the box—a surprisingly satisfying combo.
Tube stop: Ladbroke Grove
Cheap eats in The City (the square mile technically known as the City of London)
Philly cheesesteak baguette at Porterford Butchers
A top-notch butchers on Cannon Street since 1983, Porterford is a go-to for brilliant bangers and luscious lamb chops—and they even have a hot food counter. With a vast array of hot sandwiches to take out, our (small amount of) money is on the one filled with beautiful short-rib beef, Monterey Jack cheese, and stacks of grilled onions.
Tube stop: St Pauls
£1 Oyster Happy Hour at Wright Brothers
Really fresh, high quality seafood is always a good shout, and for that, we recommend a trip to Wright Brothers. These seafood specialists have a lively smart-casual restaurant in that can satisfy all your pescetarian needs. They use fresh fish daily from their own wholesale company so you can be sure you’re getting the best of the best.
Their undercover, heated terrace makes al fresco dining an option all year round! And everyday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. (as well as during Saturday and Sunday brunch) you can get oysters at Wright Brothers for £1 a pop. Now that’s our kind of happy hour!
Tube stop: Battersea Power Station
Update notice: This article was updated on July 31, 2023.
The 10 Best Pubs in London by Neighborhood
Posted on March 6, 2020
The UK has more than 60,000 pubs, and with London being home to almost 4,000 of them, it can be tough to know where to grab a drink. Here at Devour Tours, we don’t just focus on food. We also love to know where to find a great pint, especially here in London where it […]
These Are Hands Down the 7 Best Places to Eat in Shoreditch
Posted on March 5, 2020
You’ve made it to London—to the hippest borough, in fact—and now comes the task of finding where to eat in Shoreditch.Here’s the thing: Shoreditch is at the heart of the London food scene, and it can be extremely overwhelming trying to decide where to dine in the area with dishes inspired from all over the […]
