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London is one of the world’s most expensive cities. There can be no argument against that. Although the city is fantastic to visit, you are guaranteed to leave with a bank balance that looks a lot less healthy than when you arrived. Finding budget-friendly eats in London is just one way to ensure that you keep spending to a minimum. Not only does this help you financially, but it also gives you an opportunity to explore an amazing and constantly improving food scene. To eat cheaply in London may mean eating in unique places. The standard restaurants are out of price range, so it involves eating at markets and even some very traditional London foods in a local setting. The benefits of eating cheap in London are far greater than you can imagine.  Here is my list of budget-friendly eats in London;

Currency Converter – £1 = €1.16/$1.30

Piebury Corner

No trip to London is complete without a pie. Pies are usually a meat and/or vegetables enclosed in pastry and baked. I first visited Piebury Corner because of its close proximity to the Arsenal Football Stadium (football is usually my primary reason for visiting London). They started out as a food stall before opening the shop in Islington and more recently a second shop at King’s Cross. The pies are incredible, as are both the roast and mash potatoes. With quite a large selection of fillings, you won’t be stuck for choice. The pies are fresh and are the best I have tasted. Piebury Corner has been consistent winners at the British Pie Awards over the last few years. It would be criminal to miss out on this traditional English dish during your time in London, and this is the best place to try it.

Opening Hours – 12:00 – 21:30 – Thursday – Saturday, 12:00 – 17:00 – Sunday

Price – Pie and Potatoes = £8

Address – The ‘Arsenal’ Pie Shop, 209-211 Holloway Rd, London N7 8DL

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Opening Hours – 11:00 – 23:00, Monday – Saturday and 12:30 – 20:00 on Sunday

Price – Pie and Potatoes = £11

Address – 3 Caledonian Rd, Kings Cross, London N1 9DX

Masters Superfish

Another traditional English dish is fish and chips. Most pubs across the centre of the city sell this but to get it in a real London setting, head to Masters. Just a few minutes walk from Waterloo station is a fish and chips shop that is usually packed with locals from the area either eating in or getting a takeaway. The portion sizes are huge. The fish is fresh and the batter is well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The chips are better than the normal chips you find at these sort of places, much less greasy and of restaurant quality. This is one of the best opportunities to eat a real traditional English meal, without paying a high price.

Opening Hours – 12:00 – 15:00 and 16:30 – 22:30

Price – £10.50

Address – 191 Waterloo Rd, South Bank, London SE1 8UX

Beigel Bake

Salt Beef Beigels are an institution in certain areas of London. Down by Brick Lane you will find a number of bakeries selling them. Beigel Bake is the busiest and most popular. Salt beef, which is also called corned beef in other parts of the world, is salt-cured beef. It is cooked by the brisket, then sliced up and huge amounts are stuffed onto a fresh bagel. You also get a choice of adding mustard and/or pickles. The meat is salty and delicious. Even though the portion sizes are quite large, the whole thing is very enjoyable. Beigel Bake is open 24 hours a day but expect to see it busier in the mornings with people coming for breakfast. These salty sandwiches are loved by locals who have had a few beers, so there may be a queue late at night too.

Opening Hours – 24 Hours

Price – £4.50

Address – 159 Brick Ln, London E1 6SB

Gourmet Goat

Goat is not found regularly in the UK. It is a meat that most have never even tasted. I am sure that its popularity would rise if they tried a Goat Kofta Pita Wrap from Gourmet Goat. Fresh goat koftas are grilled and served wrapped inside a piece of handmade pita bread. A chilli salsa and some tzatziki sauce are also added. It is pure magic. The meat is so flavorful and perfectly seasoned. This was one of those meals you never want to end. Every bite was a pleasure. They also sell salad bowls that include veal, chickpeas and a whole host of vegetables. If you are a fan of goat or are curious and wish to try it for the first time, this is where you need to go!!

Opening Hours – 11:00 – 17:00, Closed on Sunday

Price – £7.50

Address – Rochester Walk, London SE1 9AF

Roti King

Roti King is a throwback to the chaos of South East Asia. Down in the basement of a building near Euston station is this over-packed, cramped restaurant. You will struggle to order, guaranteed to be sharing your table with strangers and maybe even be waiting a while for your food. It is worth the hassle though. They have quite a large menu of Asian dishes, mostly with Malay and Indonesian influence. The roti is what they are famed for. Roti served alongside their lamb curry is my dish of choice. The roti is made fresh to order and tasted as good as anywhere I have had it. On the first glimpse, hygiene doesn’t seem to be a priority here but the line outside the door proves just how good the food is.

Opening Hours – 12:00 – 15:00 and 17:00 – 22:30, Monday to Saturday (Open all day Saturday)

Price – £6.50

Address – 40 Doric Way, London NW1 1LH

Brindisa @ Borough Market

Brindisa is primarily a shop at Borough Market. They sell a huge selection of fine Spanish foods. What impressed me though was the small grill set up outside the shop. There you can get a beautiful chorizo sandwich. Chorizo grilled and served on a small, crispy bread roll. Added to the bread roll is a slice of sweet red pepper and coriander. When you get right into the middle of that sandwich and take a bite that includes all the ingredients, wow! The flavours compliment each other perfectly. The slightly spicy chorizo with sweet pepper is a match made in heaven. The chorizo is quite meaty and not as oily as it can be. This just makes it even easier to scoff down.

Opening Hours -10:00 – 17:30, Monday to Saturday

Price – £4.50

Address – Floral Hall, Borough Market, Stoney St, London SE1 9AF

Herman Ze German

Herman Ze German specialize in sausages. They are made in the Black Forest of Germany before being sent to London to be grilled and served. There are a few different choices available, from Bratwurst to Curry Wurst. As well as a large number of toppings to go with it. Depending on your preference, your sausage will either come as a hot dog or on a plate. They also sell the other German speciality, schnitzel. I would suggest seeking out one of their three locations across the city. These budget-friendly shops are a great alternative to your standard fast food joints. The food is fresh and filling, without costing you a fortune.

Opening Hours – 11:00 – 23:00

Price – Bratwurst with Fries = £8

Address – 19 Villiers St, London WC2N 6ND, 33 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 5JU and 43 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1RS

I know this is a list that will never be complete. London is too big with too much good food. Finding budget-friendly eats in London can be difficult. Over time I plan to add to this post. I visit London regularly enough to keep exploring the food scene there, finding new and exciting tastes that the city offers. They may not always jump out at you but there are plenty of budget-friendly eats available. London always feels like a city that is impossible not to spend money in. However, with a little research, it is possible to keep expenditure on food to a minimum whilst not compromising on quality.

To read more about London, including the best free sights the city has to offer, click here.

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The Roaming Irishman

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