London’s best street food

Stakehaus is a every carnivore’s dream. Their bavette steak is like something you might find at a high end fine-dining restaurant – except it’s served from a cardboard container and you will end up eating it on a bench. Skin-on fries with truffle and cheese, and charred cabbage with yogurt and hot honey help dial up the glam factor even further. Their roast beef sub is also a meaty marvel – get it dipped in gravy for extra juiciness.  

Find them at: Camden Market and Seven Dials Market.

But first check: @stakehaus__

Sometimes all that will truly fill your belly is a big, fat burrito. Luardos stuff theirs with flavour – the chicken option is poached with garlic and bay leaves, the pork slow-cooked with fennel and orange. Traditional pico de gallo, smooth guacamole, crunchy lettuce and Monterey Jack cheese all join in to make this mealtime a food fiesta. Also, look out for other items such as the ceviche tostada and beef brisket taco.

Find it at: Whitecross Street Market.

But first check: @Luardos

From the team behind Dom’s Subs and Rasputin’s bar, Juptier Burger is a grab-and-go burger joint nestled into Netil Market. Inspired by futurist 1950s googie architecture, it looks a little bit like a spaceship and sells two things; burgers and fries. Paying homage to the west coast’s beloved In-N-Out Burger, their lightly smashed Hill and Szrok beef pattys come sandwiched between Martin’s yellow-hued potato rolls with special Jupiter sauce, pickles, onion, tomato and lettuce. A veggie option is available, and a portion of fries come as standard with every burger.

Find them at: Netil Market, London Fields

But first check: @jupiter__burger

Scottish cook Carol Deeney and her partner Paddy’s former Broadway Market stall, this sarnie institution is renowned for its ‘Hamish Macbeth’ haggis toastie. As well as their Broadway Market stall, they have a permanent location in Leyton and also run a second outpost at the nearby William Morris gallery. 

Find it at: Broadway Market, every Saturday.

But first check: @deeneys

This longstanding Borough Market cheese shop is known for its seriously stonking toasties and raclette. Fans of the yellow stuff can get it hot and sticky and slammed between two large slices of sourdough or in a gooey puddle, served with boiled spuds and pickles. Cheesey bliss. 

Find it at: Borough Market

But first check: @kappacasein

If you’re under the impression that falafel is a boring lunch option, you clearly haven’t tried Pockets. The London Fields ‘pita bar’ started as a stall in Netil Market, before the foodies of Instagram soon discovered its pillowy steamed pitas stuffed with herby, crispy falafel balls, fragrant sauces, fried potato and eye-watering chilli. Overnight, there was a whopping great queue whenever you turned up. Pockets has since moved to bigger premises around the corner, but the queue just keeps on growing too. Want to beat the crowds? Turn up before 11am on a gloomy rainy day and you’ll be one of the first served. But no matter how long you have to wait, it’s always worth it.

Find it at: 367 Mentmore Terrace, E8 3RT

The mighty BBQ menu of Rack City Ribs offers a Jamaican-American fusion menu that includes everything from smoked pork and beef short ribs straight from the applewood smoker, with a sweet and sticky bourbon glaze, to epic sides; mac and cheese, cornbread muffins, and loaded brisket hash fries. God bless the pitmaster.

Find it at: Golden Lion, Camden

But first check: @rackcityribs

Mark Gevaux is living proof that you’re better off starting a business because you’re really good at it rather than because you think it’s on-trend. While working as a butcher, he began cooking ribs on disposable barbecues at farmers’ markets; demand was high and The Rib Man was born. His smoky, succulent baby backs have been shredded, piled high into white baps and drizzled with insanely spicy sauces ever since.

Find it at: By Hackney Wick for every West Ham home game and Brick Lane Market every Sunday.

But first check: @theribman

Like a Eurovision entry amidst a sea of indie bands, The Grilling Greek’s truck is cheerful, colourful and fiercely patriotic. Which figures, given that it serves up a fine menu of Mediterranean classics such as giant kalamata olives, red pepper houmous and stonking souvlaki. GG’s fresh, soft pitta bread is stuffed with tomato, red onion, a good dollop of ‘mama’s tzatziki’ and smoky chunks of grilled meat (or halloumi). Don’t forget to order some triple-cooked chips too.

Find it at: Victoria Park Market on Sundays.

But first check: @thegrillinggreek 

Mexa is the offspring of the much-loved Sonora Taqueria, so its taco game is predictably strong. Top marks, too, to a slow-cooked lamb birria quesadilla, accompanied by a pot of umami-dense jellied consommé. Lamb rarely gets a look-in on London’s Mexican menus and this is a real payday treat.

Find it at: Arcade Food Hall, central London.

But first check: @mexa_ldn

Roti King is one of London's most legendary cheap eats, and Gopal’s Corner comes from the same squad, bringing you extremely good Malaysian Tamil food. Think banana leaf rice meals, dosas, noodles, curries, and most importantly, roti canai.

Find it at: Victoria, Canary Wharf, Paddington and Oxford Street Market Halls. Westfield White City. 

But first check: @gopalscorner