London’s best street food

Everyone thinks they ‘get’ halloumi wraps – and then they have the Yemanes version and realise they didn’t have a clue. This van parked up just off Rye Lane slings out north African wraps flavoured with a selection of house-made chutneys, which vary in spice levels but all hit a 10 on the taste-o-meter. Whether you go for the fantastic breaded halloumi, the crispy falafel or the lamb shish, this is the best, most reliable lunch option on Rye Lane.

Find it at: 5 Parkstone Road, Peckham, SE15 4UQ.

But first check: @yemanes1

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

Meaning ‘perfect bite’ in Persian, Arabic and Turkish, Logma instantly went viral after opening at the end of 2025, thanks to their kofte and aubergine sandwiches, drawing hungry Londoners to queue along Goldsmiths Row for a take-out lunch that beautifully pays homage to both Iranian and Iraqi cultures. 

Find it at: 81 Goldsmiths Row, E2 8QR.

But first check: @logmaldn

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.

Find it at: 367 Mentmore Terrace, E8 3RT.

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

Edami is a bright and friendly Lebanese bakery serving coffee and Middle Eastern bites. The star of the show is the mankoushe, a traditional Lebanese flatbread stuffed with fillings like labneh, jibneh (a stretchy white cheese, not too distant from a mozzarella), minced beef, or sweet variants like carob and tahini. The most popular, ‘the cocktail’, combines jibneh with za’atar. 

Find them at: 73-75 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2EB.

But first check: @edamibakery

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: Seven Dials Market, Covent Garden.

But first check: @stakehaus__

Could this be one of the best value cafés in London? Angel Dabang is a gloriously diddy and retro Korean caff and bakery. Inside, it feels like a nostalgic nod to Seoul and its dabang – traditional Korean coffee and tea houses. There are grannyish floral curtains, ceramic pots, dark wood walls and najeonchilgi panelling (a traditional Korean lacquer that uses iridescent mother-of-pearl to create motifs of cranes and flowers). Here, a tenner could get you a long way. The food menu spans kimbap, corndogs, tteokbokki, croquettes and Korean fried chicken. There’s not much seating, but stroll 10 minutes up to Highbury Fields and you will have yourself the perfect Korean picnic.

Find it at: 247 Liverpool Road, Barnsbury, N1 1LX.

But first check: https://www.instagram.com/angel_dabang/?hl=en

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 and Battersea.

But first check: @mexa_ldn

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

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