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[title]Written by Time Out in partnership with Chase
Here at Time Out, it's safe to say we’re certified foodies. But that doesn’t mean we’re food snobs. Quite the opposite in fact: while fine-dining restos and mega tasting menus have their place, the most delicious grub can sometimes be found at very reasonable prices. Tiny, tucked away cafes; pizza slingers selling more-ish slices; neighbourhood joints that don’t stint on quality – the UK is packed with these well-priced eats and so many more. After all, who said good food couldn't be affordable?
We’ve partnered with Chase on The Top 2% to bring together 200 of the UK’s best restaurants. Included among them? Some of the best cheap eats around the UK. The best bit is that with Chase, you can earn up to 2% cashback per month when you eat at a restaurant and settle the bill with your Chase debit or credit card. In fact, every month, Chase customers can qualify to earn up to £20 cashback. That means 2% cashback not just on restaurants, cafes and takeaways, but on groceries, fuel, public electric vehicle charging points and everyday transport too.
Keep scrolling to discover some of our favourite purse-friendly spots, from Margate to Glasgow.
Get more from your money with 2% cashback on everyday card spending with Chase*
Rasa, London
Rasa has been serving up comforting vegetarian Keralan dishes at wildly competitive prices in Stoke Newington since the mid-1990s. The restaurant’s vivid pink front is a beacon of comfort Keralan cuisine in the neighbourhood. It’s an unshowy place with a homely, welcoming atmosphere – somewhere you can bring family members from all generations. Once you’re inside, sample hearty chana masala, warming tarka dal and satisfyingly springy paratha flatbreads. If that isn’t enough to tempt you, the dosas are comically massive and so reasonably priced you’ll be convinced the bill is wrong.
Lucky Yu, Edinburgh
The buzzy neon-lit and Japanese-inspired food joint on Broughton Street, Lucky Yu, offers specialty dumplings, yakitori, banging cocktails, natural wines and much more, all served up in sleek, understated surroundings. Created by the team behind Bodega and chef Duncan Adamson heading up the kitchen, Lucky Yu isn’t the cheapest eat in Edinburgh, but it’s extremely reasonably priced for the quality. And if you’ve got a craving for gyoza, bao buns, or that specific umami kick that only soy or miso can satisfy, then this is the place for you.
Rising Café, Lincoln
Situated within Alive Church, Rising Café Lincoln is a social enterprise run by residents from the Betel Centre, which helps people with addictions. A glass ceiling gives an inside-outside feel to this quirky community café where old signage, model planes, lamps and ladders decorate the walls. Go for Turkish eggs at brunch, try the fabulous BLT for a quick lunch, or devour a burger (or two) at any time of day. Good (and reasonably priced) food that does good in the community.
Okie Pokie, Margate
For a bargain bite in central Margate, head to Okie Pokie – found at the back of Old Kent Market opposite the Turner Contemporary art gallery. The tucked away and inexpensive poke hole-in-the-wall serves sushi salmon, marinated tofu or rotisserie chicken on a base of rice or slaw (or 50/50), topped with your choice of vegan sauce. The friendly staff don’t skimp on the portion sizes; it’s usually a struggle to get the lid on top. Tuck in at the tables in the market or sit on Margate steps to eat with that Main Sands view.
Idyll, Belfast
For Instagram grid-worthy plates and sweet treats in Belfast, head to Idyll for brunch or lunch. Take a stroll through the lush, Victorian-era Botanic Gardens and up the Ormeau Road to the cosy and intimate eatery, where the seasonal, prettily plated menu changes monthly. Start the day with hearty strawberry and vanilla porridge, a cinnamon roll latte or miso brown butter scrambled eggs and halloumi. It’s picture perfect dining that won’t break the bank.
Errol’s Hot Pizza Shop, Glasgow
Glasgow’s best pizza shop. There, we’ve said it. Franks, West Side Tavern and Paesano all have a case to make, but no – the very best pizza in Glasgow can be found at Errol’s Hot Pizza Shop in Govanhill. It can be maddeningly difficult to get a table, but when you do, you’re rewarded with thin, chewy dough, umami-rich tomato sauce and toppings that may not reinvent the wheel, but deliver impactful flavour, bite after bite. Book early, bring your own booze, order a seasonally changing burrata side and settle in for an evening of the best pizza in Glasgow.
The Egg Café, Liverpool
The Egg Café is Liverpool’s award-winning vegetarian and vegan joint serving a colourful and affordable menu of pasta, pitta sandwiches, fry-ups and stir-fries to suit all plant-lovers out there. Found through a bright purple arch on Newington, the vast, open-plan café is open until 10pm in the evenings and doubles as an art gallery – hosting exhibitions and events. Make a night of it and bring a bottle of wine at £2 per person corkage.
Riley’s Fish Shack, North Shields
Savour the very freshest fish at Riley’s Fish Shack on King Edward’s Bay, Tynemouth. What began as a roving street food stall on a bicycle is now touted by restaurant critics, including Jay Rayner, as the eating experience of the year. If you appreciate knowing where your food comes from, you’ll love a visit to Riley’s where the menu is completely dependent on the most recent, local catch. Dine in (sort of) on the shack’s balcony or book early to dine on the beach with your own fire pit!
Matsudai Ramen, Cardiff
Recognised as the first dedicated ramen shop in Wales, Matsudai Ramen is buzzing with friendly, knowledgeable staff who will help you choose which sumptuous noodles, broth, and toppings to go for. This Grangetown joint regularly hosts takeover events with renowned chefs and foodie figures, and stocks freezable DIY kits. Try the creamy tori paitan, and save space for the karaage mushroom, which is served with vegan curry mayo.
House of Fu, Leeds
Nestled amongst OX Club and Headrow House, House of Fu is a vibes-heavy karaoke and noodle bar. Expect rich, comforting bowls of simmered stock, noodles and tender meat (or veg), with a revolving menu of culture-melding gyozas on the side. Try the frozen yuzu margarita or desert ice cream sandwiches, which are the perfect sensory contrast to the eatery’s iconic big bowls of warming ramen. Head to the House of Fu for their express lunch deal – a jaw dropping £12.95 for a ramen and portion of gyozas.
Get more from your money with 2% cashback on everyday card spending with Chase
T&Cs
*18+, UK residents. Eligibility applies. Chase current and saver accounts required. 2% cashback on debit/credit card spending on groceries, restaurants, cafes, takeaways, everyday transport, fuel & public electric vehicle charging points. Max £20 per month. Make 15+ payments per month using your debit or credit card and/or Direct Debits and maintain £1,000+ across your savers (excluding round-up accounts). Standing orders, refunds, bank transfers and other transactions won’t count towards the 15 payments. You’ll only earn cashback on eligible card purchases, not on Direct Debit payments or bank transfers. Exceptions and T&Cs apply. chase.co.uk/cashback