1.
Rice bowls from Koshari Street
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This friendly, hole-in-the-wall restaurant specializes in Egyptian street food. As well as wraps and salads, they serve delicious rice bowls topped with meat and veggies. It’s comfort food at its finest; warming and flavorful.
Where: Covent Garden
Cost: bowls from £3.95
2.
A chicken wrap from Katsu Wraps
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This Asian-inspired fast food joint aims to bring convenient, healthy food to hungry Londoners. Your food is made right in front of your eyes, and the chicken katsu wrap is seriously amazing. Be sure to ask for extra chili oil if you like spice.
Where: Spitalfields
Cost: £4
3.
Fresh pasta from La Tua Pasta
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
With a couple of locations around the city, this market stall dishes out generous servings of freshly cooked pasta. From gnocchi and tagliatelle to pesto and bolognese, every preference is covered.
Where: Borough Market and Broadway Market
Cost: from £3.90
4.
Hearty British food from Kennington Lane Cafe
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This place is a no-nonsense British café that’s a great place to try inexpensive classic local dishes. The all-day breakfast menu includes a big fry-up with beans and sausages, while the lunch menu has jacket potatoes, fish ‘n’ chips, and everything in between.
Where: Vauxhall
Cost: lunches from £2.50
5.
Curries from Tayyabs
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This no-frills Pakistani diner is an East End fave, serving dishes that are packed with spices and flavor. Go for a slow-cooked curry or just some grilled meat with fresh roti.
Where: Whitechapel
Cost: mains from £6
6.
Bacon and egg roll from Le Swine
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
Le Swine is often cited by Londoners as the best bacon-and-egg roll in the city. Made with perfectly cooked bacon and two fried duck eggs that are just the right amount of runny, it’s hard not to demolish the whole thing in a couple of bites.
Where: Spitalfields
Cost: £6
7.
Pizza from Pizza Union
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This is the go-to spot for hungry Londoners on a budget. The pizzas here are big enough to share, but the prices are good enough that you don’t have to. Treat yourself to a glass of wine or a frozen rosemary marg with the money you saved.
Where: Aldgate, Dalston, Hoxton, Kings Cross, and Spitalfields
Cost: pizza from £3.95
8.
Taco Tuesdays at Del74
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
The drinks and food are always good at Del74, but they’re best during happy hour. All day Tuesday, and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weeknights, you can enjoy cheap tacos and other Mexican dishes
Where: Dalston
Cost: £2 tacos
9.
Salt beef bagel from Beigel Bake or Beigel Shop
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
On Brick Lane, you’ll find two bagel shops right next to each other. Both are iconic London bakeries, open 24 hours. Order a bagel filled with salt beef and mustard, topped with a pickle. It’s delicious, filling, and dirt cheap. It doesn’t matter which one you go to — just choose the one with the shorter line.
Where: Shoreditch
Cost: £4
10.
Bibimbap from Seoul Bakery
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This small restaurant is the best place in London for authentic Korean food. The menu is full of delicious things like dumplings, hot pot, and noodle soup. Everything is at a great price, but the bibimbap really shines as a standout dish.
Where: Bloomsbury
Cost: from £3.50
11.
Chicken wrap from The Kati Roll Company
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This Indian food takeaway joint specializes in wraps made with roti or paratha. Get a classic chicken tikka or go for a vegan one filled with veggies. These are packed full of flavor and a good choice for lunch on the go.
Where: Soho
Cost: from £2.95
12.
Dim sum from BaoziInn
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This place is kinda fancy, with some not-so-cheap dishes on the menu. But the dim sum selection is pretty wallet-friendly, especially if you come with a group of people. The dumplings here are seriously delish.
Where: Soho, Chinatown, and London Bridge
Cost: dishes start from £5
13.
Taiyaki from Bake 麵包屋
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This small bakery has a number of delicious and sugary treats, but they’re best known for their taiyaki. A fish-shaped pastry, sometimes filled with soft serve, it’s a perfect afternoon treat.
Where: Chinatown
Cost: from £2
14.
Meal deals at Tesco
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
Listen, it doesn’t sound that fancy. And it’s not. But a Tesco meal deal will never let you down. A sandwich or salad, a side of crisps or chocolate, and a drink, all for £3? That’s the dream. They’ve got a huge range of options, and plenty of vegan and veggie choices too. Don’t knock the Tesco meal deal.
Where: pretty much on every corner
Cost: £3
15.
Curry and roti at Roti King
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
You might have to wait a bit to get into this small restaurant but, trust us, it’s worth it. The menu has a huge range of different Malaysian dishes, but you can’t go past a classic curry and roti. Flaky, buttery bread is served with a hearty bowl of curry that’ll warm you up even on the coldest winter day. They also have great noodles here.
Where: Euston
Cost: £5
16.
Moroccan tagines at Le Rif
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
The extensive menu at this North African café is full of mouthwatering dishes, none of which cost more than £5. Come hungry and get a couple of different mains to share, as there’s so much variety you’ll want to try them all. Get a brass pot of mint tea at the end to polish it all off.
Where: Finsbury Park
Cost: starters from £2 and mains from £4
17.
Veggie buns at Bun House
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This Cantonese cafeteria specializes in steamed buns, made fresh whether you eat in-house or get them to-go. Soft and fluffy, they’re stuffed with a range of different ingredients — including vegan options. Plus, they’re open late and serve booze. Perfect.
Where: Chinatown
Cost: buns for £2.50
18.
Artisan ice cream at Ruby Violet
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
An artisanal ice cream shop sounds a little posh, but trust us when we say Ruby Violet is worth a visit. Everything is handmade in small batches with organic milk and super-fresh ingredients. Plus, the ice cream parlors are cute and ready to be Instagrammed.
Where: Tufnell Park and Kings Cross
Cost: one scoop for £3
19.
Pie at Young Vegans
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
Vegans and meat-eaters alike will be all over these delicious pies. Of course, enjoy it with the classic British accompaniments of mash and peas smothered in gravy. Go for a typical “steak” and ale, or spice things up with a “chicken” curry number.
Where: Camden Market
Cost: a pie with mash and gravy for £7
20.
All-day (and night) breakfast from The Breakfast Club
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This one’s for everyone who craves breakfast food at 3 p.m. Your all-day brunch dreams have been answered at this chain, with dishes like pancakes, bacon and eggs, oatmeal, and everything in between. There are plenty of low-cost dishes that’ll keep you full all day. And yes, they also have cocktails.
Where: All over London, from Battersea to Angel
Cost: dishes start at £5
21.
Chorizo roll at Brindisa
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This popular tapas restaurant has an outpost in Borough Market, dishing up their famous chorizo. The flavorful Spanish sausage is served in ciabatta with peppers, and is one of the tastiest street foods you can get in London.
Where: Borough Market
Cost: £3.75 or go double meat for £4.50
22.
Fresh-as-hell sandwiches from Orée
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
You can smell this French bakery from a block away. As well as selling glistening pastries and mouthwatering cakes, they’ve got a menu of sandwiches served in their fresh baguette bread. They’re always fresh and quick, though don’t get too distracted by all the baked goods!
Where: Covent Garden, Fulham, and Kensington
Cost: from £4.50
23.
Kebabs from Hiba Street
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
Kebab joints can often be hit-or-miss, but the food at this small Lebanese restaurant is consistently ranked as some of the best in the city. It’s a welcoming place with friendly staff and an extensive menu. Grab a kebab to go, or try to snag a table and get a mixed plate heaving with meat and salad.
Where: Fitzrovia
Cost: from £5
24.
Falafel from Falafel Feast
<blockquote>
View this photo on Instagram
instagram.com
This Middle Eastern deli has so many beloved dishes on the menu, including shakshuka, bagels, and cheese borekas. But you really can’t go past their freshly made falafel, served with salad and hummus in a wrap or a box. A classic budget lunch done so well.
Where: Finchley
Cost: £5
All copyrights for this article are reserved to DIY
Leave a Reply