Squishy, slushy, slimy: youâd never use these words to describe a refined delicacy, right? Well, prepare to change your mind! Lampredotto in Florence will prove you wrong in the best of ways. Florentines have mastered the art of making every part of the animal edibleâeven delicious, weâd argue. And how can you prove us wrong, […]
street food
Best Lisbon Street Food: Croquettes, Prego & More
Lisbon street food doesnât typically come on wheels from trendy food trucks, but rather in long-standing establishments and revamped indoor markets. When we think of street food, we think of street carts, food trucks, and hot dogs in buns. But here in Portugal, itâs all about the cafĂŠs and pastelarias (pastry shops). Choosing what to […]
The Most Popular International Foods in London and Where To Find Them
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 doesnât extend beyond fish and chips or roast dinners. But while we adore our traditional tastes, the layers of London are dotted with a myriad […]
The 10 Best Cheap Eats in London that All Budgets Should Try
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 donât 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 letâs explore our 10 favorite cheap eats in London for under ÂŁ15, with most under ÂŁ10. An absolute bargain, every single one.Â
Cheap eats in North London
Tagine and couscous dishes at Le Rif
A cafe that wouldnât 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. Itâs not fancy, but it most definitely is tasty.
Tube stop: Finsbury ParkÂ
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, itâs authentic and itâs available to non-guests for lunch and dinner services most days of the week. If itâs meat youâre hankering for alongside your spiced lentils, the tandoori chicken should do the trick.Â
Tube stop: Warren Street
Cheap eats in South London
Roti jerk chicken wrap at Rudieâs
We adore Rudieâs, 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.Â
Tube stop: London BridgeÂ
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 youâre 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 DLRÂ
Cheap eats in East London
Pho at Viet Hoa
One of the pioneer restaurants on Londonâs so-called âPho Mile,â 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-changingâimagine pho, but spicy with heavy hits of lemongrass and shrimp paste. We are here for it all day.Â
Tube stop: HoxtonÂ
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 allâand it doesnât hurt that, as an Italian family, their amazing pastas are cheap as chips, too. When you know, you know.Â
Tube stop: Bethnal GreenÂ
Cheap eats in West London
Shrimp dumpling noodle soup at Cafe TPT
This tiny, blink-and-youâll-miss-it joint (21 Wardour St.) on the edge of Sohoâs Chinatown is a must for hawker-style dishes, from char siu pork and rice to chow mein. Itâs 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.Â
Tube stop: Piccadilly CircusÂ
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 boxâa surprisingly satisfying combo.Â
Tube stop: Ladbroke GroveÂ
Cheap eats in The City (the square mile technically known as the City of London)Â
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 chopsâand 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.Â
Tube stop: St PaulsÂ
ÂŁ1 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 youâre getting the best of the best.Â
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 ÂŁ1 a pop. Now thatâs our kind of happy hour!Â
Tube stop: Battersea Power Station
Update notice: This article was updated on July 31, 2023.Â
The Ultimate Guide to Solo Travel in Lisbon
Headed to Lisbon alone? Check out our top tips for solo travel in Lisbon, from accommodation and activities to culture and cuisine. Itâs safe to say that solo travel is in style. More and more people of all ages and interests are taking the leap to travel aloneâand discovering all its advantages along the way. […]
How to Budget for Food in Rome: Average Cost of Food Per Day
Any trip to the Eternal City will become a culinary one. Amidst thousand-year-old wonders and cobblestone streets, youâll find terrific food joints in almost every Roman corner. But how much should you be factoring in for food during your Roman holiday? Rome offers a myriad of eating options, from budget street food fare and trattorias […]
9 Essential Street Food Markets in London & What to Try at Each One
Donât get us wrongâwe love eating out at some of Londonâs best restaurants. However, over the last few years the food scene has changed. Instead of booking in for a sit-down dinner, more and more Londoners love nothing more than heading to one of Londonâs many street food markets and finding a spot on a […]
A Love Letter to London and the Food That Has Shaped Its History
Dear London, where everyone is welcome. With a family hailing from your East End, you have never not been a part of my lifeâand my goodness, we have grown together. Itâs been quite the ride so far, eh? I have played rock ‘n’ roll in your dive bars in Camden, guided hundreds of visitors through […]
7 Non-Touristy Places to Eat Near London Bridge That You’ll Love
London Bridge is iconic, to say the very least. It also happens to be a foodie heaven thanks to the famous Borough Market nearby. Unfortunately, with so many tourists coming to see London Bridge all year long, itâs hardly ever quiet and serene. And we all know that food in touristy places tends to lack quality […]
SupplĂŹ vs Arancini: Key Differences & Fascinating History
SupplĂŹ and arancini: two words that are popping up on menus everywhere. They are both beloved Italian street foods, and are both fried. But whatâs the difference between them? Italians love fried food. In Neapolitan pizzerias, thereâs the frittatina di pasta (fried pucks of pasta). In Puglia, no Sunday is complete without homemade panzerotti (fried, […]