London offers excellent value for money as well as a mouth-watering range of cuisines.
For Noodle Slurping
With over 15 branches in London it won’t be hard to find a Wagamama. Slurp your way through a healthy range of noodle dishes, soups and rice based meals that won’t break the bank. This noisy, bustling canteen is perfect for all occasions from a Friday night out to a weekend lunch with the kids.
Ping Pong is an affordable but classy dim sum restaurant. It has stylish modern interiors, a classic dim sum menu, tasty cocktails, and a selection of beautiful Chinese flower teas.
Kingsland Road, Shoreditch is home to a string of authentic and inexpensive Vietnamese cafes. Song Que is renowned for its Pho (noodle soup) and Viet Hoa is a tasty all-rounder and always busy. Try the delicious bun hue - vermicelli rice noodles with a choice of meat, topped with mint, coriander, cucumber, peanuts and sweet-chilli dressing.
Burger Time
The GREat American hamburger has acquired some cool of late. Posh hamburger joints are popping up all over town.
At Hamburger Union you order on entry from a cheap and cheerful menu of beef, chicken, chorizo and veggie burgers, thick chips, shakes, sides and alcohol, then walk through the pleasant dining area. From the first bite to the last lick of your fingers, you’ll be happy to have found this antithesis to the burger giants.
The Gourmet Burger Kitchen in Clapham was nominated for the Best Burger Bar at the 2005 Time Out Awards. The wide menu includes Aberdeen Angus, four types of chicken burger, chorizo, venison, and vegetarian options.
Middle Eastern
The Afghan Kitchen is an intimate eatery with a focus on great-tasting food. Dishes sound basic – pumpkin or chicken in yoghurt, dahl, breads – yet are anything but. The potato and chickpeas dish is a must. But book ahead as this place is very popular.
Some of the oldest Turkish restaurants can be found in Dalston. Chargrilled meats and rice are accompanied by beautifully fresh salads and vegetables. The Mangal II is particularly good.
Tas is a wonderful find in Southwark. Opt for mixed meze and feast your way through a colourful mix of starters. If you still have room the mains are equally impressive.
Italian
Porchetta pizzeria serves huge and delicious pizza at jaw-droppingly cheap prices. The waiters are lively and attentive. This is the perfect restaurant to take a large party, where you can be as raucous as you like and get away with it.
Indian
Brick Lane is a hub for delicious Indian restaurants where you can eat like a king for under ￡15. A few of the best are the Shampan, Aladdin, the Muhib, the Nazrul and Café Naz although most regulars have their own favourites.
The Masala Zone chain serves delicious South Indian street food at affordable prices. The grand thali is the highlight here. Choose from a meat or vegetable curry. This comes served with dahl, rice, raita, two vegetable dishes, poppadum, mango chutney, salad and chapati, all for under ￡10. Phew!
Fish and Veggie
At Fish Club you choose from the daily catch – caught off the shores of Mersey Island. Have your fish chargrilled, steamed, roasted or pan-fried and accompanied with chipped or mashed potatoes or sweet potato fries. Fish Club won the award for Best Cheap Eats at the 2005 Time Out Awards.
Eat & Two Veg has been known to convert even the most avid carnivore with its simple but effective veggie food. Far from the stereotypical hippyish veggie joint, this place is stylish, airy and totally contemporary – just the ticket for chilled-out lunches or meat-free brunches.
