New York City and London are uncannily similar. They are both huge metropolitan cities with shopping, art, history, museums, bars, and that exciting “I can be anyone and do anything” type of feel. There are even neighborhoods in each place with the same name. Notably, Soho, Greenwich, and Chelsea.
Both cities also have world famous food scenes.
You can find nearly any type of food at any time of day, and chances are it’s going to be good.
There is one huge difference in the food scene… price. The British Pound is stronger than the US Dollar, meaning everything is nearly 25% more expensive for us Yanks. Jeremy and I spent a week in London, and we limited our food outings to street food and lite bites to save our cash. We happened to have some pretty darn good eats for quite reasonable prices…
Here are my top 5 London eats that didn’t break the bank.
5. Sandwich from The Black Pig in Borough Market
London has a robust market scene, and Borough Market is one of the most famous. It has been in operation since 1756, and it covers an impressive 4.5 acres. Hundreds of vendors are packed in a labyrinth of alleyways, which proves to be challenging for foodies like me who want to try everything.
We tried the viral creme brûlée doughnut from Bread Alone, which was perfectly good, but not nearly as good as the Polish donuts we had in Wroclaw. We also braved the line at The Black Pig for one of their famous pulled pork sandwiches.
“The Best One” features toasted ciabatta stuffed with their 10-hour slow cooked pork shoulder that’s topped with a honey truffle mayo, fennel apple slaw, and truffle parmesan. If I’m being honest, I didn’t think the add-ins and sauces were anything to write home about. But the pulled pork was brilliant. Juicy, tender, and packed full a flavor. It was a massive sandwich that was just under £13, which I don’t think is outrageous given the locale, quality, and quantity.
A must try at Borough Market! (If the line isn’t too long, that is…)
4. Falafel Wrap from Falafel Shack
We stumbled upon Petticoat Lane Market, which turned out to be an ultimate cheap London eats haven. There were 15 ish stalls selling the likes of Pad Thai, tandoori wraps, souvlaki, tacos, and falafel wraps– most for well under £10. Many stalls were handing out free samples, so of course I obliged and took them. A man from Falafel Shack handed us each a falafel and said, “50% off special. The falafel wrap is only £2.50.” The falafel was delicious and the price was unbeatable… SOLD!
Our massive falafel wrap was whipped up in under 2 minutes, and we dug in. It was loaded with hummus, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and pickles, with the star being the crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside falafel. The falafel was chopped up before being put in the wrap, which I think it genius because it means you get a bit of falafel in each bite without the risk of a ball falling out.
It was simple, cheap, and delicious, earning it the #3 spot on my top 5 London eats list.
Tip: This market is close to Spitalfield Market as well as Brick Lane. Two other spots that shouldn’t be missed in London!
3. Sri Lankan Curry Plate from Trampoline
I’ve never had Sri Lankan food, so when we passed by Trampoline in Camden Passage, we couldn’t say no. We sprung for the 5 curry and rice thali, which came with lentil curry, chicken curry, potato curry, chicken curry, and a chickpea curry. Compared to Thai curries, these were incredibly earthy with slow and winding spice journeys.
Plus, Trampoline hires and helps refugees. Great food and an admirable mission are what gets Trampoline the #3 spot on my top London eats list.
The 5 curry and rice set was £12, which I think is a great value!
2. Passionfruit Kouign-Amann from Chai Guys Bakehouse
Every once in awhile, you have a food experience that is so mind blowingly delicious that you take the last bite with despair knowing you may never have it again. We had said experience at Chai Guys Bakehouse
The passionfruit kouign-amann was magnificent. The pastry was rich and buttery with a flakey interior and crunchy, caramelized bottom. The passionfruit curd was bright and acidic with a creamy texture that meshed with the pastry perfectly. This pastry was one I’ll be dreaming about. Coming in at around £6, it isn’t frugal, but I do think it is worth it!
Chai Guys Bakehouse has loads of other epic looking pastries. I 10/10 recommend a visit if you’re in London.
1. Chicken Shawarma Wrap From Asada Chilean Grill at Chapel Market
As we were wandering around Islington, we stumbled upon Chapel Market. There were stalls selling clothes, books, and bric a brac as well as a handful of street food stalls. Asasda Chilean Grill was one such stall. The long line, aroma of grilled meat, and £6.95 chicken wrap had us sold.
The wrap was filled with chicken, roasted peppers, lettuce, cucumber, tomato salad, and a spicy sauce. What made this wrap incredible was the flavor of the chicken. It was marinaded in some sort of magic sauce that was bright and fresh with a hint of smoke and undertones of charcoal.
It looks and sounds simple. But sometimes simple is best! Not to mention it was a cool £6.95.
A pure delight, earning it the #1 spot of our top London eats list.
These 5 London eats were totally delicious without being outrageously expensive.
Cheers to another foodie adventure!
