Looking for the best restaurants London has to offer without breaking the bank? We’ve got you covered.
London is known as one of the world’s best foodie destinations and many assume this comes with a hefty bill attached. While this is often the case, London is also riddled with penny-saving gems that will leave your belly content and your bank balance intact.
You don’t have to compromise on quality or budget with these London cheap eats; it’s the ultimate win-win.
Take a look at our list of delectable dishes for £8 or less.
Bacon Naan at Dishoom
A strong contender for the best breakfast sandwich in London, Dishoom’s bacon naan ticks all the boxes. Packed with a generous portion of smoked streaky bacon and smothered in cream cheese and chilli chutney, it’s well deserving of all its accolades.
Price: £6.50
Phad Thai at Addie’s Thai
Located in Earl’s Court, Addie’s Thai has been serving authentic Thai dishes for decades. Their luscious Pad Thai is what put them on the map and it comes in bang on budget. Stir-fried to perfection with egg, ground peanuts, bean sprouts, spring onion and a meat of your choice; it’s the real deal.
Price: £8
Truffled Wild Mushroom Canelones at Rambla
Served with caramelised onion and nevat cheese sauce, these truffled Canelones are nothing short of spectacular. With a five star review from the Evening Standard, Rambla is a Spanish sensation delivering the notorious truffle at an affordable price.
Price: £8
Lamb Mantu at Ariana II
Known for its excellent cooking, budget pricing and BYOB policy, Ariana II is delightfully modest. From dumplings to tikkas, curries and kebabs they’ve got it all. Our favourite, the lamb mantu, boasts hearty flavours rolled into a steamed pastry topped with fresh yoghurt and lentils, delicious!
Price: £8
Two-Piece at Temple of Seitan
Hackney’s answer to vegan junk food, Temple of Seitan offers the best fried chicken alternatives in the capital. These crispy fillets are made from seitan (a meat substitute made of wheat) and are served with your choice of vegan mayo. Treat yourself to these beauties!
Price: £5
Five-Spice Beef Bao at Bao & Bing
Inspired by the traditional markets of Taipei, Bao & Bing is a Modern take on Taiwanese street food. The restaurant embraces the hustle and bustle with an authentic setting in a ’50s style teahouse. The five-spice beef bao is utter perfection served with fresh coriander, a wasabi dressing and bao buns as fluffy as pillows.
Price: £5.20
Cauliflower Jaffa Style at The Barbary
Fancy something vegetarian? Inspired by the Barbary Coast, the restaurant’s open-kitchen offers a variety of veg dishes all under £10. The Jaffa style deep-fried cauliflower topped with chopped tomato, lemon and coriander is our favourite. With a focus on care and imagination, this dish is sure to delight.
Price: £7.50
Bacon Cheeseburger at Bleecker
When all you fancy is a US-style burger made with dry-aged beef, Bleecker is the spot for you. The cheeseburger is any carnivores dream, packed with rare-breed, grass-fed beef, smoky bacon and American cheese to top it off.
Price: £7.75
The Original Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich at Butchies
In 2013 Butchies’ owners Garrett and Emer set out to create London’s ultimate fried chicken sandwich and they’ve certainly succeeded. The ever-growing queues and sell out menus are a testament to the crispiest chicken you’ve ever tasted. We like to keep it simple with the mouthwatering original sandwich. Smothered in the “OG” sauce and crunchy house pickles it’s nothing but dreamy.
Price: £6
Shack-cago Dog at Shake Shack
From humble beginnings as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park, Shake Shack has cemented itself as an international household name. Today London has seven branches and serves some seriously good burgers, fries and shakes. Not only do they serve mouthwatering hot dogs, the shack serves another kind of dog – of the canine variety. The restaurant chain made it onto the list of Rover’s Top 5 Dog-Friendly Restaurants & Cafes in London with its menu entirely for man’s best friend, including red velvet dog biscuits. Though they look damn good, we say you stick to the Shack-cago Dog; an authentic German all-beef hot dog dragged through the garden with Rick’s Picks Shack relish finished with all bells and whistles. It’s doggone good.
Price: £7.50
Brisket Bun at Smokestak
Smokestak has grown from a charming street cart to a Shoreditch sensation. The BBQ joint offers buttery buns stacked with slices of smoked beef brisket topped with pickled red chillies. There’s a handful of other options but the original itself is one serious sandwich!
Price: £5.50
Grilled Cheese Sandwich at The Cheese Bar
If cheese is your weakness The Cheese Bar will send you straight to heaven. Their dedication to celebrating British cheese and local, small-batch suppliers translates into one life-changing grilled cheese sandwich. Think West country brie, peppery rocket and sticky chilli jam – pure bliss!
Price: £7
MSC Fish Taco at DF Tacos
Offering a selection of Mexican classics, DF Tacos keeps it authentically simple with fresh ingredients and classic combinations. Paired with two soft tortillas, crunchy red cabbage slaw and spicy chipotle mayo the battered fish tacos absolutely hit the spot. Get even more bang for your buck on a Monday night with the half-price taco special!
Price: £7.25
Gyoza Bento Box at Rainbo
Rainbo live up to their namesake with an ever-changing selection of fresh and vibrant gyoza. The Bento Box offers six gyoza of your choice with a side of salad, sticky rice and copious amounts of chilli oil. Serving up the best Japanese street food this side of Tokyo, Rainbo is well worth a visit. You can find the truck at most London markets with a flagship store at Canary Wharf.
Price: £7.95
Reggae Wings With Pineapple and Mango Chutney at Fish, Wings and Tings
Taking regional street food and turning it into a trendy and delightful selection of new Caribbean fare is Fish, Wings and Tings’ speciality. The restaurant exudes character and warmth with its battered bright-orange tables and flamboyant service. The easy-going menu offers family favourites like sticky reggae chicken wings, cooked to perfection and served with a fruity chutney. The restaurant is all about great food and even better company.
Price: £6.50
A Sourdough Pizza At Franco Manca
A list of cheap eats in London without a mention of pizza would be With fresh dough made daily, Franco Manca’s pizzas always deliver on flavour and texture. The perfect combination of fluffy and crunchy makes for some of the best bases in London. Throw in organic tomatoes and fresh produce from Italy and you’ve got a deliciously authentic pizza at a bargain.
Price: £5
Ribs at Street Pig BBQ
This pork-themed street food stall serves a range of piggy dishes from porchetta in a toasted ciabatta to a black pudding toastie and BBQ smoked ribs. These baby back ribs are Applewood smoked, slow-cooked and glazed over coals. To top it off they’re drenched in the Street Pig’s homemade BBQ sauce – yum! Check out their Facebook page to see where they’ll be stationed next.
Price: £8
All-you-can-eat Buffet at Foodilic
These days trendy “health food” often comes at a price. Foodilic offers a huge range of value-for-money salads, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Boasting an array of fresh, organic ingredients and Ottolenghi-style salads the all-you-can-eat buffet is hearty, comforting and down-right delicious.
Price: £7.50
Roast Crispy Pork or Duck On Rice at Gold Mine
The mark of a good Chinese restaurant is when it’s packed with locals and Gold Mine is exactly that. Must-try dishes include the Cantonese duck and Char Sui pork which can be seen hanging in the open kitchen by the window. Served with the ultimate sticky rice it’s obvious why this crispy delight is so popular.
Price: £6.80
Hand-rolled Xi’anese Noodles at Green Papaya
Offering a taste of Vietnam, Green Papaya’s dishes are healthy, light and beautifully authentic. This long-established, family-run and delightfully simple restaurant brings the Xi’an Chinese influences to life. The hand-rolled noodles are some of the most delicious and best-value items on the menu.
Price: £6.20
Chicken Tikka Roll at The Kati Roll Company
What would a list of the best cheap eats in London be without the perfect curry roll? The Kati Roll Company specialise in hand-made Indian flatbreads filled with an array of traditional curries. Our favourite, the chicken tikka, is an absolute classic. The perfect level of spice, creaminess and flaky paratha flatbread griddled to perfection make it a sensation.
Price: £8
London is known as one of the food capitals of the world for a reason. The street food and vibrant food culture are a testament to the delectable delights the capital has to offer. Hit the streets with our list of cheap eats in London and your belly will be just as grateful as your bank balance!
Written by Emma Dittmer