London is a popular country filled with diverse people from different cultures who recreate their cooking styles from their home countries. And if you’re a proper foodie, then you must be tired of the fine dining and international cuisines served at five-star restaurants by Michelin chefs.
All you need to do is head to the streets of London with some wet wipes to enjoy the best meals, from sweet treats to veggie food. And the best part is you can eat to your heart’s desire at a very affordable price.
Whether at the food stalls in the market or the food trucks in the street, it’s easy to get these fast and delicious meals. From street food like burritos to sticky toffee pudding, this post has the best street foods in London that you should try out.
13 Best London Street Food Worth Trying Out
1. Fish and Chips
You can’t say you have eaten the best street food in London if you haven’t had fish and chips. Served at almost every eatery, this fast food includes a portion of fried fish strips and french fries. The fries may come drizzled with cheese and a side of tartar sauce.
Although it’s considered the country’s national dish, it originated separately from the Jews and the French, all the Brits did was pair them together. Now, you can enter any eatery in most countries, especially English-speaking countries, and order this dish.
Though if you want to eat the best fish and chips, you’ll have to go to the north of England, Scotland, or the coastal towns. Since fish & chips is a home food, it’s best to make your order and enjoy your treat at home, preferably watching a movie and just relaxing.
Where to Eat: Honest Tom’s Snack Bar, The Laughing Halibut, Great British Fish & Chips, Dutch Bites, The Fryer’s Delight
2. Sticky Toffee Pudding
By Polina Tankilevitch, Pexels
There’s no way you went on a proper date without ordering the Sticky Toffee Pudding. Also known as the Sticky date pudding, this London street food is best shared between two lovers or intending friends.
Contrary to the name, this British dessert is a moist dark cake made with dates and covered in toffee sauce. It is super delicious and can be served with a topping of vanilla ice cream or custard. This dessert is really fast to make, and although it’s hot, it’s okay to eat once the cold cream is added.
Just like some of the popular London street foods, this famous pudding originated from the Canadians, but since it is so yummy, the Brits have no issue claiming it as theirs. The clotted cream, sponge cake, and sticky toffee sauce equals a slice of perfection.
Where to Eat: Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding Company, The Pudding Pantry, Red Lion Truck Shop, Hawksmoor Borough
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3. Ploughman’s Lunch
One of the traditional London street foods you can find at the pubs and street food stalls is the Ploughman’s Lunch. This cold dish is made of toasted bread, butter, cheese, and pickles. Depending on preference, you can add onions, fruits, pork pie, eggs, or sliced ham.
This street food was once the lunch of ploughmen since it was so easy for their wives to pack and gave them the energy boost needed for their hard work. It doesn’t matter what ingredients are used as long as it can be quickly made with cheese and bread. And if you’ve had a long night drinking, this meal can help you sleep better.
Where to Eat: Farndon Fields Farmer’s Kitchen, The Kingham Plough, Bears Paw Country Inn and Restaurant, The Pickled Ploughman
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4. Bangers and Mash
Bangers and mash is more than just a London street food, it is a favorite of the working class since it’s so simple and cheap to make. This traditional fast food in London is made with potatoes, sausage, and onion gravy.
The bangers in its name are the sausages, which are cooked at high heat, while the mash is a buttery potato mash. The sausage used can be pork, lamb, or beef, and the dish may be served with onion rings, fried peas, or some onion gravy on the side for flavor.
You’ll be able to order this meal at any regular old pub, although most of them are only for drinking. So if you want a proper traditional taste of this meal, you can check out any of the restaurants below.
Where to Eat: Hamilton’s Traditional Pie and Mash, Super Sausage Cafeteria, MotherMash, Roadking Hollies Truckstop
5. Burritos and Tacos
Because of the diverse people of different ethnicities in London, Mexican food like burritos and tacos are now some of the best street foods in London. You can just walk down the street and smell the delicious goodness of tacos and burritos in the air.
Tacos are tortilla bread meals filled with toppings and served as a wrap, while burritos are similar dishes but slightly bigger. From mouth-watering burritos to tangy salsas and creamy guacamoles, every bite is delicious.
And it doesn’t matter if you’re a vegetarian, there’s something for you in the Mexican street foods in London. From the quesadillas to the tostadas and enchiladas sold at these spots, you’re in for a treat.
Where to eat: Wahaca Southbank, Daddy Donkey Mexican Grill, Burrito Joe, Luardos Food Truck
6. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Grilled cheese is a hot cheese sandwich made by heating slices of cheese between bread slices until the bread browns and the cheese melts. Grilled cheese sandwiches are now making a comeback in London but in the American way, which means thicker and stringier cheese.
The American Grilled Cheese Sandwich has finally made its way to be a favorite street food in London. This bread toast is so comforting, greasy, and cheesy, and it can be found at any food truck or stall in London. You can get this dish in different flavors like goat cheese, mac and cheese, swiss cheese, and honey grilled.
Where to Eat: Kappacasein Dairy, Rope Walk at Maltby Street Market, The Cheese Bar, The Big Melt Toastie Shack
7. Poke Bowls
These Hawaiian food bowls with fish, rice, and vegetables are the latest hyped street food in London. Poke Bowls are so delicious that they are worth the hype. At most restaurants, you can choose what ingredients to add to your poke bowl.
But as a must, there will be rice, seasoned raw fish, sometimes an avocado, and vegetables. Poke bowls are a treat, so it’s fun to pick the best toppings while being with your friends. What better way to reminisce about your last group vacation in Hawaii?
Where to Eat: Island Poke, Poke House, Honi Poke, Lords of Poke
8. Pie & Mash
Pie and mash is a traditional working-class food originating from the East End of London. This dish is made of minced beef, mashed potato, and parsley sauce. Since London is the home of pies, there are several sweet, gluten-free, meat-free, and vegan filling options to try.
Unlike most street foods in London, this meal was actually created here among the working class and immigrant communities, who were mostly Italian. So for the longest time, there has always been a pie and mash shop in every street, making it a staple street food.
Most locals have their favorite spot for this meal, but there are several family-run restaurants still in their original buildings where you can get this meal. At any of these spots, you can consider ordering Shepherd’s Pie, Black Pudding Scotch Eggs, and Mince Pie.
Where to Eat: The Pie Man, Piemisnister, Putney Pies, Arments Pie & Mash, Manze’s
9. Gyros and Souvlaki
The best London street foods are not brought in from other cultures, just like these Greek and Mediterranean meals. Gyro is a dish made of stacked cooked round meat that is served on a pita. The meat can be substituted with either pork or chicken.
It’s easy to confuse gyros for souvlaki, but the difference is that in souvlaki, the marina meat is skewered before wrapping. It is also wrapped in pita and served with other ingredients, such as red onions, tomatoes, and French fries.
You can now find street vendors in London selling Shawarma, Doner Kebab wraps, Falafel, Gyro, and Souvlaki. The aroma of its cooked meat and the taste of the sauces are sure to pull you towards these eateries.
Where to Eat: The Athenian Souvlaki and Gyros, Holy Pitta, Street Greek, Great Greek Grill House, Yamas Greek Cuisine
10. Crepes and Waffles
Waffles and Crepes are popular delicious breakfasts and desserts in the streets of London. Although they can be made from the same batters, these meals couldn’t be more different with their textures, toppings, and fillings.
Waffles are just like pancakes but a bit crunchier and made with more sugar. The ingredients used are the same: flour, eggs, baking powder, sugar, and milk; the difference is the measurement and cooking method. This is similar to crepes, except it has less sugar and no baking sugar, and that’s why it’s so thin.
These snacks might be breakfast desserts but can be eaten any time of the day stuffed with Nutella and strawberries. Or wrapped around ham, spinach, and melted cheese. While you’re in London, you can order the Bubble waffle or any delicious waffle style for an English breakfast.
Where to Eat: Soonies, Marky’s Crepes and Waffles, Nosteagia, Zeret Kitchen, Crepes & Shakes
11. Scotch Egg
The best street food in London is not the sandwiches nor bangers & mash, but the delicious Scotch Egg. This snack is a boiled egg wrapped with sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried. As with lots of street foods in London, this snack is comfortable, portable, easy to get, and not very healthy.
According to stories, Fortnum and Mason invested in this snack by turning a type of food into something unusual. They supplied this meal to travelers, explorers, and adventurers on the go, and till today, the scotch egg is considered a fast meal on the go.
Where to Eat: The Ginger Pig, Fortnum & Mason, Mark & Spencers, Harwood Arms
12. Yorkshire Pudding
During winter, everyone knows the best part of the traditional Sunday roast is not the tender beef, juicy chicken, or roasted potatoes, but the Yorkshire pudding. This traditional street food is a side dish pudding made of eggs, flour, milk, or water.
Since it’s a side dish, it can be paired with anything from the Sunday roast to bangers & mash. Yorkshire pudding adds more texture and flavor to any meal, depending on how it’s served. In some parts of England, it can be eaten as a dessert with a sweet sauce on the side.
Where to Eat: Yorkshire Wrap Company, Yorkshire Burrito, Arcade Food Hall, The English Restaurant
13. Sliders and Burgers
American Burgers and Sliders are taking over London with their food trucks and tasty menus. American sliders are small sandwiches made with buns or dinner rolls that can be served as hors d’oeuvres, snacks, or appetizers.
Burgers are large buns filled with meat, cheese, and veggies and are part of the main meal. They can be grilled, fried, or baked. You’ll find these London street foods in any of the food stalls and trucks with various filling options, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Where to Eat: Mother Flipper, MEATliquor W1, Bleecker Street Burgers, The Hungry Cow, Burger & Beyond
Conclusion
If you ask Londoners for their best street food, these fast meals will be mentioned over and over again. That’s how delicious and popular they are. If you’re a foodie on a budget, these street foods will make sure you’re always well-fed.
Forget about the expensive restaurants and walk into any of the street markets, food trucks, and stalls to eat anything from pies to poke bowls. Now, pack some wet wipes and head over to the restaurants in this post to try out the best street food in London.
