Cheap eats in London: 100 of the best dishes for under £15
We've all had those months when payday can't come quick enough. If you don’t dare look at your bank balance, the good news is that London offers some of the best food in the country for the equivalent price of a couple of rummages down the back of the sofa.
From healthy bites to junk food treats and even to a truffle adorned souffle (really) London’s cheap eat scene provides pizzas by the pound, burgers by the bucketload, and some of the most interesting Thai, Malay and Chinese food around.
Whether you’ve got a craving in Camden or are famished in Farringdon, this is the food-forward directory your wallet will thank you for – every single one of these 100 dishe comes in at £15 or less. Just one tip – in the pricier places, it can often be worth making it clear you're just stopping by for a single course. In our experience, everywhere listed is welcome to the idea; letting them know simply helps the staff work out how quickly the table can be turned. They may also seat you at the bar, where perhaps they might not otherwise.
This list isn't exhaustive, and will be further added to and amended over the month. In the meantime, please tell us in the comments where else is a steal.
CENTRAL
1. Marinara at 50 Kalò di Ciro Salvo - £9.95
50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo opened in London in 2017 with surprisingly little fanfare for somewhere reportedly selling London’s best pizza. The Napoli-hailing restaurant serves up a super thin, soft base, perfectly charred underneath and boasting a gloriously authentic tomato sauce on top. The marinara adds just olive oil, garlic and oregano, while the margherita sporting gooey mozzarella, flown in from Campania especially for this perfect pizza moment. Admittedly, Crisp Pizza W6 does it for about a quid less, but bear in mind the time it takes to queue — we reckon it's better to come here. Napoli on the Road (in Richmond and Chiswick) is excellent too, although tends to be a little pricier.
7 Northumberland Avenue, Westminster, WC2N 5BY, 50kalo.it
2. Veg, pig or chicken bun at Bun House - £2.80
This is the cheapest entry on the list, and is not one dish, but six. Bun House has moved on from its Soho corner spot to bigger digs in Chinatown, but still sells these Cantonese buns for just £2.80 each. All fillings are great, but vegetarians (and vegans) can get very excited over the three mushroom, water chestnut and kow choi option.
WC2, bun.house
3. Braised chickpeas with tomato, chilli & mint at Bocca di Lupo - £9
Bocca di Lupo has been living la dolce vita for more than 10 years now, satisfying pre and post theatre appetites with perfect bowls of pasta and more. The menu changes almost weekly, but you can usually get a smaller portion of one of their pasta options for around £12 or less, but the wholesome and hearty chickpea number with tomato and mint is a winner.
12 Archer Street, W1D 7BB, boccadilupo.com
4. Korean fried chicken wings at Flesh and Buns - £9
For such an alarmingly named restaurant, Flesh and Buns is a pretty pleasant place to spend an hour or two. Flash the flesh with a portion of Korean fried chicken wings, which come sticky, sweet and and sprinkled with sesame.
W1, WC2, fleshandbuns.com
5. Classic banh mi at Keu - £9.60
Banh mi shouldn’t work, but it does. Specialising in the French-Vietnamese fusion food, sandwich bar Keu stuffs fluffy white baguettes with a variety of largely meaty fillings spiced with Asian flavours. Carnivores should make a beeline for the classic, which is stuffed with mortadella sausage, chicken liver pate, spicy pork belly, ham terrine and pork floss.
W1, EC2, EC1, thevietnamesekitchen.co.uk
6. Naan e barbari (£5) and celeriac shawarama (£9) at The Barbary - total £14
Following on from the success of The Palomar, sibling restaurant The Barbary took the party from Jerusalem to the North African Barbary coast. All veggie dishes served over the counter of this open kitchen restaurant come in at great value, and the celeriac shawarama with naan e barbari is possibly the best spent £14 in central London.
16 Neal's Yard, WC2H 9DP, thebarbary.co.uk
7. Ginger ice cream at Jidori - £5
, you know you’re up for something pretty special. This Japanese restaurant largely sells yakitori meat and fish skewers, but make sure you have room for a sweet
