London’s best street food

Using her Cordon Bleu training, Michelin star kitchen experience and Peranakan heritage, chef Abby Lee combines all three to deliver modern-Malaysian cooking to Peckham. A plate of deep-fried bean curd clusters stuffed to the brim with juicy pork and fish sauce served with a fiery chilli jam dip. They looked and tasted like unbelievable crunchy and crispy mini-explosions. Every bite was the ultimate combination of tangy, spicy, herby and aromatic flavours.

The queues at this ever-popular pitta stand speak for themselves. Itamar Grinberg's falafel pitta pays homage to his Israeli roots, but, says the man himself, is 'sexier'. That'll be thanks to the addition of battered fried potatoes, alongside in-house made fresh houmous, tahini, a herby green sauce, red zhug (a spicy chilli sauce) and amba, a pickled mango sauce.

Find it at: Netil Market, Hackney

But first check: @pockets_uk

Decatur have long been our faves, and you can order their Louisiana cajun shrimp boils – plus chargrilled pecorino oysters – direct to your house. Easier though is to wait for one of chef Tom Zahir Browne's regular pop-ups, where everything from po-boy sandwiches to pimento cheese dip is dished up, New Orleans-style.

Find it at: They're in a Leyton brewery one minute and fancy Fitzrovia members club the next. 

But first check: Take a peek at @decaturlondon for the latest. 

Celebrated Sarap chef Ferdinand ‘Budgie’ Montoya is all about Filipino street food at this grab-and-go skewer concept. Try BBQ pinoy pork, inasal chicken, garlic and salted egg prawns and oyster mushroom ‘isaw.’ Best of all is the banana ketchup for dipping, and don't forget the famous fried chicken skins.

Find it at: Market Halls, Oxford Street

But first check: @apoy_london 

He started out making pies during lockdown, and since then has become a London foodie legend. Pick up meaty, majestic pies at Willy's arch in London Fields, or at various decent delis across the capital. But if you need one hot and you need one now, then get to Netil Market and their pie hatch. 

Find it at: Netil Market, Hackney

But first check: @willys_pies

The best things come in small packages, or so they say. And ‘they’ would be right on this occasion, because The Gyoza Guys are packing a huge amount of pure unadulterated global flavour into their dumplings. There are various varieties (thai chicken laab, bulgogi pork with parmesan and spiced spuds, pea and feta), but each one is special – add a yakatori skewer on for good measure.

Find it at: Maltby Street Market, London Bridge.

But first check: @gyozaguys

Tongue ‘n’ Cheek’s nomadic meat masters have built up a cult following for its gutsy left-field bites. Some love the ‘Belly Connection’ (topped with 24-hour cooked pork belly, gorgonzola, pimiento mayo, pickled red onions and lettuce), but our current fave is the riff with candied bacon, cheddar and BBQ mayo. 

Find it at: Camden Market, Canopy Market in King's Cross, Kerb at The Gherkin.

But first check: @tonguencheeks

Mexa is the offspring of Netil Market’s much-loved Sonoria 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

Mother Flipper’s thing is putting its patties – all served medium – on to the grill as balls, and then smashing them down with a spatula to give them a good crust. Some come topped with huge wedges of avocado, others drip oozy Swiss cheese: but they’re all pretty damned hefty. Top of the heap is the legendary Dirty Barbie double-header, but its line-up also includes Korean fried chicken wings and a ‘flipper’ (kaarage-style chicken thigh with shredded cabbage and yuzu mayo). 

Find them at: Brockley Market.

But first check: @MotherFlipperuk

‘The original creators of halloumi fries’ boast Oli Baba’s, but there’s a lot more to this street-food outfit than pimped-up veggie nibbles – they also do a banging cheeseburger.

Find it at: Camden Market and Hackney Brewery & High Hill Taproom.

But first check: @Oli_Babas

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

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: Outside the London Stadium 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 and Oxford Street Market Halls.

But first check: @gopalscorner

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, Kerb+ London Bridge City Tuesday and Wednesday lunch.

But first check: @thegrillinggreek 

Three burgers (the truffle burger with a beef and bacon patty, a cheeseburger and a veggie option with a Beyond Meat patty), all of them imbued with the earthy, expensive taste of truffs. There's only one side; truffle and parmesan fries. Simple and pretty damn near perfect.

Find it at: Seven Dials Market, Covent Garden. 

But first check: @Trufflelondon

Fortunately, no birds’ mouths were used in the making of Bill or Beak’s stonking burger-style sandwiches, the best of which is the massive, sloppy smashburger.

Find it at: Camden Market and LaLaLand Shoreditch.

But first check: @BillorBeak