London | Where to Eat on a Budget

London | Where to Eat on a Budget

Street Food, Fast Casual, and Restaurants with Great Value for Money
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Everyone knows that London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. But I always defend it by saying that its affordable food options are prevalent if you just know where to go. 

Granted, affordable is relative. And nothing is AS affordable as just buying grocieres. But if you ARE going to eat out, spending 10-15 pounds on a meal is actually pretty easy. 

I mean, worst case scenario you COULD just go to a boring chain like Pret, LEON, Wagamama or Itsu and EVEN STILL those are actually pretty great for chains. But you also don't have to- you can go to these places instead!!

Street Food

pockets
@sarahpollock
An incredibly good falafel stand. Perhaps some of the best I've had outside the Middle East.
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Arepazo Bros AREPA
@sarahpollock
My favorite arepas ever along Regents canal in Camden market. If you eat meat PLEASE get the beef one.
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Kappacasein Dairy
@sarahpollock
Institution of a place for grilled cheese (cheese toasties) on sourdough along the edge of Borough Market. Famous for a reason. Super high-quality ingredients and fair prices. Expect a long line but it moves pretty fast!
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Pizza 

Homeslice Neal's Yard
@sarahpollock
Huge slices, thin crust, and inventive flavor profiles. Love love love it here.
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Franco Manca Soho
@sarahpollock
One of a dozen sprinkled around London (and beyond). Suspiciously good sourdough pizza for its incredibly reasonable prices.
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Pizza Pilgrims
@sarahpollock
Another great and famed London pizza joint with multiple chains. Not sourdough and a little bit pricier than Franco Manca, but not by much.
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Pasta

Bancone Covent Garden
@sarahpollock
This was one of the first places I went for dinner when I got to London to study abroad. The quality is GREAT for the price. Would absolutely recommend for a casual sit-down lunch or dinner that's still very good.
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Padella
@sarahpollock
A newer, trendier version of Bancone, with similar prices, on the outskirts of Borough Market. I don't perceive much of a difference between the two, honestly. But there are in very different parts of the city so I guess go to whichever one you're closer to? Both are great.
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Burgers

Black Bear Burger Restaurant Shoreditch
@sarahpollock
Insanely good burger. On the trendier side when it comes to flavor combinations, etc. If that's your thing, GO!!! I've been to the one in Boxcar Shoreditch.
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Bleecker Burger
@sarahpollock
Another fantastic and famed burger institution in London. The name is an obvious nod to Bleeker St in New York. Compared to Black Bear, Bleeker is much more traditional. There are fewer options to choose from, and I think that works in their favor. They seem very committed to their craft. And the burgers are really, really good.
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Misc./ None of the Above

Dishoom Shoreditch
@sarahpollock
A classic for a reason. I don't think I will ever stop coming here or recommending it. (there are tons of locations around London besides Shoreditch!) Like I said in my notes on the Edinburgh location, make a reservation if you can or come at an off time and be prepared to wait!! And it's best to come with a group and order as many things as you can to share. I'd recommend the black daal, chicken ruby, housemade chai, and vegetable samosas. But you can't go wrong with anything really.
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Lena's Cafe Praed Street
@sarahpollock
Very cute neighborhood joint for vegetable-heavy, homecooked food. No complaints here :)
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The Tastebox
@sarahpollock
Unassuming establishment for some of the best Jamaican food in London. The locals know this.
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Rainbow Cookout
@sarahpollock
More amazing Caribbean. No notes.
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Sanjugo
@sarahpollock
Some of the more affordable sushi in London, and conveniently some of the best, especially if you prefer more authentic Japanese.
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Kanada-Ya
@sarahpollock
Probably my favorite ramen in London. Super super authentic and fortunately the prices reflect it.
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Meraz Restaurant Brick Lane
@sarahpollock
Well-known, cheap, delicious Indian on Brick Lane. Sandwiched in between a dozen curry houses which are probably also all great if Meraz is too crowded.
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Shawarma Bar
@sarahpollock
Fantastic Tel Avivian spot in Clerkenwell. The value for money, especially for a nice sit-down restaurant and especially if you come with a group, is amazing.
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Also, to be honest, most of my eating-out expenditures typically just tend to be a cafes (especially for brunch/lunch) and almost every time my meal would be no more than 10 pounds (15 at most for a fancy place). I have my favorites listed here. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Pollock is a twenty-something-year-old traveler, creative, and spiritualist. She graduated with a degree in Business Information Systems (although she did not enjoy it) and a minor in Sustainability from the University of Florida. Since embarking on her first trip abroad to Australia and New Zealand at 15 years old, she has since visited 25 countries and counting- most of them solo. She is also an avid foodie, reader, concert-goer, sitter at coffee shops, introspective thinker, and champion of small businesses. She prides herself on her romantic and nostalgic approach to seeing the world, which is reflected in the hidden gem-filled and slightly sentimental tone of her writing and recommendations. She recently spent this past school year splitting time between Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva, Israel; teaching English to underrepresented and underprivileged children in both Hebrew and Arabic-speaking schools. She is currently continuing this work in Madrid. For more personal thoughts and musings and present updates on where she is in the world and how she’s feeling about it, consider subscribing to her bi-weekly travel newsletter, Postcards. Other subject matters, though all undoubtedly influenced by her experience living abroad, are explored through her primary publication, Older Sister (both linked in bio).
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