The best cheap eats in London

What is it? Since opening in the 1980s, Wong Kei has become one of Chinatown’s most iconic hallmarks, specialising in Cantonese dishes as well as famously blunt service.

Why we love it: Minimalist decor of white walls and pale blue table tops creates a chacaanteng (Hong Kong diner) frozen in time. The cash-only Wong Kei has a famously massive menu and there is plenty available under the £10 mark if you stick to the soups and broths. A mainstay is the wonton soup, a deep bowl of flavourful broth complete with hefty pork and prawn wontons - ladle in the table-top chilli sauce to give it some oomph, and you’re good to go. 

Time Out tip: While you might have to queue for other popular Chinatown spots, its seemingly always possible to get a seat at the vast Wong Kei. As a solo diner this might mean sharing a two-top with a stranger, but that’s all part of the experience. 

Address: 41-43 Wardour Street, Chinatown, W1D 6PY.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-11pm, Sun 11.30am-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: Wonton soup £7.50. Wonton noodle ho fun soup £9.50. Mixed veg soup £4.50. Ho fun soups with meat £9.50.

What is it? The tasty source of a massive queue that reliably snakes up Camberwell Church Street every lunchtime. 

Why we love it: Situated in London’s coolest neighbourhood, Falafel and Shawarma serves up breezeblock-sized falafel wraps for about a fiver, and trays piled high with moist chicken shawarma for not much more, with a host of additional touches that mark this Lebanese takeaway out as an elite lunch spot. Add soft aubergine in sweet tomato sauce to your wrap, chuck on a side of almost fudgy potatoes, and order your chicken as part of a mezze with stuffed vine leaves, fried shards of flatbread and whatever other good stuff happens to be on the counter. 

Time Out tip: Always get garlic and chilli sauce. For more Camberwell tips, go to our expert guide to the south London neighbourhood.

Address: 27 Camberwell Church Street, Camberwell, SE5 8TR.

Opening hours: Daily 10am-11pm.

Expect to pay: Around £5 per wrap.

What is it? Budget tacos with big time flavour.

Why we love it: Transporting a slice of LA to the streets of Stoke Newington, at Sonora Taquería you can pick yourself up a couple of fully-loaded tacos and still have change from a tenner. Offering a small but perfectly formed menu, their staples include carne asada, barbacoa and cabeza (aka slow-cooked ox tongue and cheek), while their ‘especiales’ currently feature a beefy, cheesy caramelo and a mixed meat campechano. Veggies can enjoy a cactus leaf nopales or vegan chorizo, while their bean quesadillas are an absolute steal. All come with paper-thin tortillas and enough filling to make a delicious mess.

Time Out tip: You can add a grilled cheese crust to any of their tacos for a mere 50p.

Address: 208 Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington, N16 7HU.

Opening hours: Sun, Wed 12-5pm, Thu-Sat 12pm-10pm. Closed Mon-Tue. 

Expect to pay: Tacos from £4-5; bean quesadilla £2.50.

What is it? Excellent sandwiches from a family-run institution.

Why we love it: Owned by the same family since 1900, this Marylebone deli attracts hordes of hungry lunchtime munchers every day for its old school sandwiches: hefty slabs packed with a generous amount of filling and made by white-coated servers who only add to the aura of a Proper Sandwich Joint. The options are plentiful: egg and anchovy, smoked mackerel pate, a whole cheese board of fromage options or their ever-popular pastrami. It’s not just two bits of bread with something in the middle: it’s a whole vibe.

Time Out tip: Just as Paul Rothe & Son shuts at 4pm, The Parlour - an eccentric drinking den just down the road - opens its doors.

Address: 35 Marylebone Lane, Marylebone, W1U 2NN.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-4pm, Sat 11.30am-4pm.

Expect to pay: Cucumber and cream cheese sandwich, £3.50; pastrami, £9.

What is it? Jiangbing pancakes and superlative street food.

Why we love it: You’ll know when you’ve stumbled across Chinese Tapas House: it’s the small but mighty hole-in-the-wall spot on Little Newport Street that’ll likely have a queue of excitable bargain hunters several feet deep. It’s worth braving the line, however. Serving up authentic jiangbing pancakes - lacey crepes stuffed with spring onions, chilli oil, pickles and hoisin sauce - you can fill them with all sorts of extras, from pork belly to chinese sausage and crab sticks. They also serve chinese buns with various fillings and, for the sweet-toothed, Hong Kong egg puffs.

Time Out tip: For a mere £2 you can also try their ‘micro-kebabs’, filled with options from tripe to black fungus or a more conventional lamb.

Address: 15 Little Newport St, Chinatown, WC2H 7JJ.

Opening hours: Daily 11.30am-9pm.

Expect to pay: Pancakes are £6, with extra topping an additional £1-3.

What is it? Traditional Turkish meaty wraps.

Why we love it: If you’re not au fait with the delights of a tantuni, now’s your time to get involved. A Turkish wrap of thinly sliced beef, sauteed with spices and served with parsley, onions and tomato in lavash bread, Durak were the first tantuni-slingers in London and still serve up the moreish meaty morsels until 2am every night. Need something a little more hefty to soak up last night’s boozey decisions? The same fillings on thick slabs of bread will sort you out.

Time Out tip: Double up your wrap for a mere 50p extra.

Address: 390 West Green Road, Turnpike Lane, N15 3PX.

Opening hours: Daily 12pm - 2am.

Expect to pay: Double tantuni wrap £5; on bread £9.

What is it? A Maharashtrian street-food spot, affectionately known as SKVP, serving the iconic vada pav.

Why we love it: The vada is a spicy potato filling, coated in gram flour batter, deep-fried, and served in a soft, humble white bread bun (the pav). You’ll find six different varieties, such as the cheese vada pav, loaded with gooey melted cheese, a trio of tangy chutneys, and topped off with a fried chilli for an extra kick. Beyond the vada pav, SKVP’s menu is packed with vegetarian options and the friendly, knowledgeable staff are keen to make recommendations. The pani puri and samosa chaat will transport you straight to the streets of Ahmedabad or Mumbai. Over the years, the café has grown impressively, now boasting 15 branches across the UK, with a host across London, including this branch in Vauxhall. 

Time Out tip: While the vada is the MVP, the versatility of the pav cannot be ignored. The modest bun is given all sorts of makeovers but we like it best stuffed with crispy onion bhajia or served with mashed potatoes, pomegranates and peanuts in a sandwich called a dabeli.

Address: Unit 6, Arch 54 South Lambeth Rd, Vauxhall, SW8 1SS.

Opening hours: Daily 11am-9.30pm.

Expect to pay: Vada pav £2.50-£7.40.

What is it? Super seafood in the heart of Epping Forest.

Why we love it: Think that delicious, fresh-off-the-boat seafood is reserved for seaside trips and beachy Euro breaks? Think again. Hop down to Epping Forest and, at the end of your idyllic woodland stroll, you’ll find the increasingly Insta-famous Oyster Shack & Seafood Bar. Yes, the queues are almost always long, but yes it is worth it. Fill your boots with hot and cold platters full of prawns, cockles, whelks and more, with everything from oysters to eels available across their stacked counter. Their most iconic dish though, comes in a massive, buttered bun, stuffed with scallops, bacon and black pudding.

Time Out tip: While you’re there, it would be rude not to pop into the next door biker’s paradise of High Beech tea hut.

Address: Waltham Abbey, Loughton, IG10 4AE.

Opening hours: Thu-Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm.

Expect to pay: Pint of cold prawns; £7.50. Scallop, bacon and black pudding roll; £8.

What is it? Kebab rolls and curries from a tucked-away Peckham Rye hatch.

Why we love it: A nondescript spot just off Rye Lane, you could easily walk past Asian Takeaway without giving it a second thought. Behind its unshowy exterior, however, this hatch is banging out shishes and curries like nobody’s business, with kebab rolls and excellent value combo platters on top of a solid veg selection and an on-the-bone daily chicken dish. On a hot afternoon, eat at the outdoor tables, and make sure to order a naan, freshly made on the tandoor, to scoop everything up.

Time Out tip: Trendy music and arts venue Peckham Levels is a hop round the corner - grab a shish for sustenance and you’re ready for the night.

Address: 125 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-8pm.

Expect to pay: Most items, including combo platters, are £6 for a small and £8 for a large.

What is it? Pie and mash, as traditional as it gets.

Why we love it: Michele Manze and family arrived from Italy in 1878, started out as ice-cream merchants and finally opened this pie, mash and eel shop on Tower Bridge Road in 1902. Inside, little seems to have changed since the early days: the Victorian green-tiled interiors speak of history, while their pie and mash is reckoned to be some of the best in town. These days, they’ve updated the board to include a vegan option, but aside from that, the menu is proudly no frills. Pie. Mash. Liquor. Eels (jellied or stewed). Job’s a good ‘un.

Time Out tip: The always-on-point White Cube Gallery is around the corner, for a jump from the old school into arty modernity.

Address: 87 Tower Bridge Rd, Bermondsey, SE1 4TW.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 10.30am-6pm, Fri 10am - 7pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sunday 11am-3pm.

Expect to pay: Pie and mash £6.55.

What is it? Kurdish, naan-style wraps and breads on the coolest street in London; Blackstock Road in Finsbury Park.

Why we love it: Low-key and so locally beloved that nearby natural wine bar Top Cuvee have previously collab-ed on a T-shirt, Baban’s Naan pump out a truly excellent selection of tandoor-fired breads at bargain prices. Get them filled with falafel, kurdish mince kebab or cheese, go (relatively) simple with a peshwari, garlic or chilli option, and revel in your superior knowledge of both Finsbury Park and flavoursome carbs.

Time Out tip: Complete the T-shirt and head over to Top Cuvee for an orange wine to complement your naan.

Address: 51a Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, N4 2JW.

Opening hours: Daily 10am-8pm.

Expect to pay: Falafel or kurdish wraps £5.50; chilli, garlic or sesame naan £1.50.

What is it? No frills, canteen-style curries.

Why we love it: Let’s not beat around the bush: you don’t go to the Indian YMCA - otherwise known as the Indian Student Hostel - for a boutique dining experience. But if you’re after hearty, authentic fare in a central London postcode, you’re unlikely to find many better bargains. Food is served canteen-style, with a la carte weekday lunch and dinner menus and more expensive weekend set lunch offerings. For a hefty midweek lunch, go veg, where their dal or sambar with a whopping side portion of rice and chapati will keep you fueled for hours.

Time Out tip: The YMCA is alcohol-free; if you fancy a quick pint after your meal, head down the road to trad boozer The Ship, which has been pouring them since 1777.

Address: 41 Fitzroy Square, Fitzrovia, W1T 6AQ.

Opening hours: Breakfast daily 7.30am - 9.15am; weekday lunch 12pm - 3pm; weekend lunch 12pm - 2pm; weekday dinner 5.30pm - 9pm.

Expect to pay: Dal £3.20; plain rice £3.30; chicken curry £6.75.

What is it: An extremely tasty and very reasonable weekend lunch menu from a dinky Japanese place.

Why we love it: Throughout the week Zen Mondo does dinner and dinner only. However on Saturday and Sunday it opens from 11am to serve lunch. On offer: basically three different things, the stars of which are the fried buns which come filled with either beef and cheese curry, vegetable curry or chicken and onion teriyaki. You’ve also got hand rolls (the best of which features tuna mayo teriyaki) and a nice line of onigiri rice balls. If somehow you still have room after that, there’s also a nifty matcha custard doughnut.

Time Out tip: If you’re looking to stock up on sake cups and rice bowls, Zen Mondo also sells a lot of unique hand-made ceramics.

Address: 326 Upper St, Angel, N1 2XQ.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5-9.30pm, Sat 11am-9.30pm, Sun 11am-4.30pm.

Expect to pay: About £10 for a hefty fried bun, a hand roll and an onigiri. You will be full.

What is it? Burgers obviously, but really good ones.

Why we love it: A fairly robust food theory goes: the more compact the menu, the higher the expertise. By this metric, then, Jupiter Burger - brought to you by the team behind the equally excellent Dom’s Subs and Rasputin’s bar - really must know what they’re doing. You can get three types of burger, each with a side of fries as standard, and that’s it. Their cheeseburger variant is a lightly smashed Hill and Szrok beef patty that comes sandwiched between Martin’s yellow-hued potato rolls; and is a UK homage to In-N-Out Burger. It’s all dished up from a spaceship-like station in Netil Market - we’re all in the gutter but some burgers are looking at the stars.

Time Out tip: Rasputin’s is a five minute walk away, and serves a glorious five-olive martini for just £7.

Address: 13-23 Westgate St, London Fields, E8 3RL.

Opening hours: Sun-Wed 12-7pm, Thu-Sat 12-9pm.

Expect to pay: £10 for a cheeseburger and fries.

What is it? North African-style wraps and rice bowls.

Why we love it: Give us fresh bread, oodles of filling and lashings of sauce and we’re anyone’s. It’s a recipe that family-run Peckham food truck Yemanes have perfected with their locally-famed North African-style wraps, where you can pick up falafel, halloumi, chicken shawarma or lamb kofta variations, which they’ll further stuff with a heavenly assortment of extras: hummus, sundried tomatoes, feta, beetroot, and the list goes on. Swerving the bread? You can have the chicken or falafel over rice or, for vegans, they’ve got a mixed platter featuring a trio of traditional stews. In South London circles, Yemanes are top of the podium.

Time Out tip: Add an injera on the side of your rice bowl - a traditional Eritrean flatbread with a unique, spongy texture.

Address: 161 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4TL.

Opening hours: Daily, 12-5pm.

Expect to pay: Wraps are £7; platters start from £8.50.

What is it? Grab and go roti and patties.

Why we love it: A Stoke Newington staple, this gem in the local crown has been serving up Caribbean takeout for years. Their curried lamb roti - a heartily spiced affair housed in a flakey wrap - is its star dish, while you can also get jerk chicken, channa, pumpkin or salt fish fillings. Alternatively, if you’re in the mood for a fork-based lunch, ditch the roti and enjoy your main event served with rice and peas. Their Trinidadian doubles (channa on fried flatbreads) with tamarind sauce are a must.

Time Out tip: Head up the road to Church Street and pop into the legendary Auld Shillelagh - a proper Irish boozer and one of London’s best pubs.

Address: 36B Stamford Hill, N16 6XZ.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sunday 11pm-7pm.

Expect to pay: Roti £8-10; doubles £4.

What is it? Crispy, chewy traditional Tuscan sandwiches in central London with queues out the door.

Why we love it: By now, most of us expect to pay £10-12 for a half decent sandwich in London. But what if I told you you could get one of the best sandwiches you’ll eat in the capital for five great British pounds? In central London? Folks, we’re talking about Dal Fiorentino, launched by Italian couple Andrei-Valentin Bazavan and Cristina Fortunati back in 2022 and now with four outposts across the city. The fillings – the likes of fennel salami; stracciatella; pistachio pesto; even a whole burrata – are sandwiched between slices of uber-fresh schiacciata bread (basically a thinner focaccia). There’s a small and a large option, but if you get the large, you’ll likely be stuffing the second half in your bag for later. These are serious sandwiches – that they’re ridiculously cheap is merely an added bonus.

Time Out tip: Somehow got room for pudding? Try one of their sweet sandwich offerings – a half-portion spread with Nutella or pistachio spread.

Address: Branches in Holborn, Hoxton, Brick Lane and Fitzrovia.

Opening hours: Times vary by branch, but typically open 11am-7pm with slightly shorter hours on Sundays and Mondays.

Expect to pay: Small sizes from £4.50-7, large sizes from £7.50-11.

What is it? Daily set menus and noodle bowls.

Why we love it: The name of this canalside Japanese cafe, close to Haggerston station on the Kingsland basin, translates as ‘kids on the floor’, and their vibe is suitably family-friendly. Their speciality is a daily lunch set featuring a changing main dish, rice, miso soup and small salad - but head down early as they’re limited to 15 portions per day. Otherwise, their noodles come in udon or soba varieties, served hot or cold and topped with various delights including smoked mackerel and fried tofu.

Time Out tip: If you’re trying to feed your kids on the floor, Toconoco serve up snacks for toddlers too.

Address: Unit A, 28 Hertford Rd, Haggerston, N1 5QT.

Opening hours: Wed-Mon 10am-5.30pm, closed on Tuesdays.

Expect to pay: Daily lunch set £8.90; noodles from £7.

What is it? The best pork bap in town. 

Why we love it: With a sign outside reading ‘Ale. Cider. Meat’, it’s pretty clear what The Southampton Arms - one of North London’s finest boozers - is good at. And very good they are too. They proudly only serve pints from small and independent UK-based breweries, while their food menu is a short parade of powerful bar snacks that’ll elevate your outing to the next level. Pork is their preference. Top of the list is a hot roast bap, complete with heroic crackling and oozy apple sauce, while you can also nibble on extremely decent pork pies and sausage rolls. Plant-based pub-goers are catered for too, with veggie scotch eggs, cheese and chutney baps and cheese plates.

Time Out tip: Pork baps are only served Wed-Fri evenings and weekend lunchtimes, so plan your visit accordingly.

Address: 139 Highgate Rd, Gospel Oak, NW5 1LE.

Opening hours: Daily 12pm to around 11pm/midnight.

Expect to pay: Hot pork bap £6.95; pork pie £4.65.

What is it? Caribbean curries, homemade drinks and more.

Why we love it: Serving up the very best of Trinidadian fare, there’s nothing on Roti Joupa’s menu that’ll set you back more than a tenner. Taste your way through doubles, aloo pie and pholourie - warm, light, airy fritters made from split peas doused in tamarind chutney. For mains, there’s rice and peas or delicious flaky ‘buss up shut’ (paratha) to eat alongside curry chicken, curry goat or stew chicken. There’s also pumpkin, bodi (green beans) and spinach for a plant based meal. Wash it all down with a sorrel or mauby (traditional tree-bark) drink.

Time Out tip: Their ginger and coconut caramel fudge and tamarind balls are all made daily in house and cost either £1 or £2. A sweet bargain.

Address: 85 Vicarage Lane, Stratford, E15 4HG.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 12-10pm.

Expect to pay: Meat curries with rice and peas £10; veg curries £7.50.