The Best Cheap Eats In London

Most commonly dubbed as an expensive city, it takes an insider to show you the best value places to dine. Some of the best restaurants are budget-friendly, with street food vibes, located in affluent boroughs like Chelsea or even popular shopping destinations like Covent Garden. You'll find brunches that won't cost you a pretty penny, international cuisine and much more in our guide to the best cheap eats London has to offer. 

Looking for more dinner inspo? Get to know our complete guide here.

Last edited by Lauren Cole

Last updated on 1st July 2024




Slug and Lettuce Tower Bridge

Slug and Lettuce have always been a name synonymous with affordability, with sites all over London, including Croydon, Richmond and their pretty Tower Bridge spot. Head down to enjoy 2-4-1 cocktails throughout the week between 4pm and 10pm, and delicious picky plates (think chicken skewers, crispy coated prawns and halloumi bao buns) where you can bag three for £17. It also runs a cracking lunch deal where you can devour a sandwich, burger or light bite alongside a soft drink for only a tenner. 

Argan Restaurant

London cheap eats don't come any finer than Argan, found just off Clapham Common high street dishing out Moroccan and Lebanese cuisine from its family-run venue. It offers a relaxed setting to take your tastebuds on a journey through North Africa and the Middle East with plates like lip-smacking tagines, and you'll be pleased to find that all its cold and hot mezze plates are under a tenner. Look forward to tabouleh, moussaka, kibbeh lamb and more.

Vapiano Paddington

Vapiano Paddington doesn't scrimp on quality and still manages to offer some affordable eats in the city. The laid-back haunt features minimal decor and an open kitchen where you can watch your dish come time life. You can even customise your pasta by choosing the shape, toppings and sauce. Tuck into light sourdough pizzas from £11.25 and bowls of creamy carbonara for £13.75 and more across its Tottenham Court Road and West End locations too. 

Salsa! Soho

A dark and dreamy beacon of South American fun times, Salsa! knows how to pit a party bar up with some pretty tasty dining options. An explosion of colour, sassy culture and vibrant style, the restaurant's menu of tapas plates averages out at all under £8 each, so you can load up for less. Choose from panko-crumbed squid strips for £7.95, halloumi fries served alongside a fresh tomato and chill salsa at £6.45, or tacos for £6.90 a pop. If you're looking to share, order a mix-and-match plank where three plates come in at £16.45.

Honest Burgers King's Cross

With venues in King's Cross, Soho, Liverpool Street and more, Honest Burgers is offering some of the most renowned and scrumptious cheap eats London, England has to offer. The interiors across the city themselves are pretty casual - it's the food that does most of the talking, especially the specials, unique to each location. Get seriously excited about tucking into burgers for less than a tenner served with signature rosemary salted chips, with some great veggie options too.

Cellar At Kindred

Looking for a place to eat that's sleek, modern and also incredibly affordable? Well, you're in luck when it comes to Cellar at Kindred in Hammersmith, a gorgeous all-day café and bar doing just that. With a pretty terrace, olive green walls and leather booths, it's certainly a refined dining space catering to all sorts of meet-ups, be it dates or hangs with friends. Boasting European wines and seasonal menus involving pizzettes for under a tenner and shakshuka for £13, it's a buzzy neighbourhood spot that won't empty your pockets.

Ping Pong London

A pretty restaurant with sites strewn about the city, Ping Pong asks diners to take their palates across Asian flavours in Southbank, Covent Garden and more/ Look forward to glorious cherry blossom-adorned rooms, oak furnishings and plenty of natural light at its outposts, alongside bargain eats. The eatery serves up steaming buns in the form of an impressive all-you-can-eat banquet AKA Lazy Sumday for £29.95 per person. Load up on black prawn dumplings, chicken and truffle gyozas and crispy tofu to really make the most of this great deal. 

The Palm House

Bottomless Margaritas with Tacos & Fries and 4 other offers

When you see how gorgeous this 1930 Miami clubhouse-inspired space is, you'll be even more impressed when you take a peak at the menu boasting affordable prices. Head down to The Palm House for dishes with a Cuban influence, and dine surrounded by plush greenery and coral-coloured lamp shades. On Tuesdays see tacos available for £3.50 a pop all day, topped with barbacoa beef, jerk chicken or crispy fish, and there's even an express lunch deal throughout the week where you can enjoy a main alongside a soft drink for £12.50 each. 

Jalisco Loughborough Junction

Not far from Brixton, you'll find Loughborough Junction and its outpost of Jalisco - where casual, Mexican fare reigns supreme. The family-run haunt has been serving delicious dishes for over 14 years and was founded by a husband and wife duo, Carolina and Wilson, the latter of whom trained as a chef in London.  Expect large, customisable burritos starting from £9, enchiladas for £10.50 and quesadillas filled with chipotle chicken at £9.50 - plus all cocktails for washing it down are under £10 too.

YO! Sushi Restaurants in London

YO! Sushi outposts are among the cheap restaurants Central London has to offer, especially when it comes to their set menu items AKA an absolute steal. Head to this affordable Japanese hotspot to marvel at the sushi conveyor belt, or order tempting plates of chicken yakisoba, beef teriyaki, classic edamame and more, followed by ice cream bites wrapped in cherry cookie dough for dessert. 

OctaGreen

OctaGreen is a great choice for saving your pennies. The South West London spot provides a warm and inviting environment to tuck into some healthy, hearty grub that doesn't come with the eye-watering price stage. Fresh food is on the menu in the form of an amazing bottomless lunch deal where you can enjoy unlimited drinks and food for two hours at £25 per person. You can also bag a main and two salads for £9 if you're not looking to load up - choose from the likes of vegan moussakas, halal Thai chicken curries and more. 

Polo 24 Hour Bar

Birthday Pancake Stack and 3 other offers

Securely holding its place on the London cheap eats map is Polo 24 Hour Bar on Liverpool Street; it's coming in hot with a wicked menu of affordable eats in its American diner-style bar. Established in 1953, it's been feeding late-night passers-by for many years and features award-winning pancakes. Get your smackers around banging breakfast bites like buns filled with eggs, bacon and sausages for under a tenner, alongside £6 tuna melts, hotdogs for £7 and sliders.

DF Tacos Tottenham Court Road

Fancy some tasty Mexican fare on a budget? DF Tacos on Tottenham Court Road and in Shoreditch are cooking up just that. These casual venues are offering you bottomless refills of diet coke and pitchers of frozen margaritas to wash down some spicy fare. Think fully packed burritos for under a tenner, filled with slow-cooked pork, alongside tacos featuring smoky chipotle chicken, slow-cooked chilli beef and tomatillo salsa or ancho mushrooms.

Ayllu

Bank Holiday Bottomless Brunch

Fancy affordable restaurants in London? Ayllu is the place for that. Be pleasantly deceived by the swanky interiors (think rich furnishings and opulent lighting) before being met with a Japanese-Peruvian fusion menu featuring surprisingly pocket-friendly dishes. Look forward to three-piece tuna tacos (£7), salmon ceviche (£9) and bao buns filled with crispy chicken (£7). What's more, it's eight-course tasting menu doesn't blow the bank either, coming in at only £39 per head, and £30 for the vegetarian version. 

The Breakfast Club - Restaurants In London

Rise and shine, it's time for brunch in London's favourite venue, The Breakfast Club. What began as two 80s kids' ambition to set up a humble cafe in the heart of London and paint it egg yolk yellow has turned into a nationwide hotspot, still serving hearty spreads to this day. Shake up your morning routine with a steaming plate of blueberry pancakes topped with crispy bacon and maple syrup (£7.50), or opt for the Club Med Benedict (£15.25) served with fried halloumi, sun-dried tomatoes, avocado, and red pesto hollandaise.

Pasta Remoli: Restaurants In London

Cheap and cheerful Pasta Remoli is a great affordable restaurant serving hungry Londoners in Ealing and Bromley. Head to either of their venues to find a delicious menu of homemade pasta made with genuine Italian eggs and flour that can be customised however you like, right down to the cheese on top. As for toppings, you can expect cacio e pepe, pork sausage ragu and much more.

Pizza Pilgrims - Restaurants In London

London is lucky enough to have been graced with multiple Pizza Pilgrims sites – meaning award-winning Neapolitan slices for all. Their diverse menu features classic and quirky toppings, from mushroom and truffle to double pepperoni with hot honey and an 8-cheese spectacular, ranging from around £10 to £15 with halal and vegan options available. Dips are also on hand to ensure there's not a dry bite in the house, as well as aperitivo cocktails and an irresistible Nutella pizza ring. Some sites even have outdoor seating and are dog friendly. 

Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes

A bit of a Shoreditch locale for a cool atmosphere and affordable evenings out, Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes is as quirky as they come. The name comes from the 1980s bag and shoe wholesalers who used to occupy the building before it was turned into a two-floor arts and culture bar, playing host to music performances, workshops and more. Alongside exhibitions, you'll find a delicious selection of cocktails and super affordable eats from Taco Collective, a pop-up that's evolved from Lewisham and Brockley Brewery. Nab two tacos for £8 or three for £11: toppings include 12-hour slow-braised beef brisket, hand-pulled king oyster and enoki shrooms, plus black beans and feta.

Kraft Dalston Bar & Restaurant

Taco Tuesday + Pint for £10 and 3 other offers

Kraft Dalston is a vibrant little rooftop spot with a menu that appeals to your tastebuds and your wallet. Downstairs offers a bright and airy spot thanks to its conservatory-style roof, dangling foliage and pastel furnishing. It's here that you can find German beer brewed on-site, seasonal cocktails, plus Latin American and Japanese cuisine. Delight in small plates consisting of robata grilled mini chorizo bites (£7.95), stir-fry oyster mushroom tacos (£8) and more. 

Laki Kane

Bottomless and 2 other offers

Situated in Islington, Laki Kane is a vibrant, tropical venue filled with palm tree leaves, wooden furnishing and over-the-top decor. You can expect theatrical live entertainment and a delicious Thai menu, with dishes ranging from steamed pork dumplings to green curry or drunken noodles. You can nab a small plate paired with a large one for £26 per person, or two tinnier dishes for £19 each which include fried chicken wings marinated in oyster and soy sauce, crispy squid and more.

Ollie’s House Chelsea

Bottomless Brunch and 4 other offers

Somewhere affordable in Chelsea? Never heard of it. Well, we're here to prove you wrong is Ollie's House, a fun, tropical-inspired hangout on Fulham Road. Its decor offers you a glimpse of a blossoming oasis, filled with plants and woven wooden accents. On the men? Moreish Asian cuisine in the form of 50p gyozas alongside three-course £22.90 evening set menus between Sunday and Thursday, from 4pm 'til close. That's Thai green curry, Shanghai soy noodles and more on a budget.

Sotto Cucina & Bar

Sotto Cucina & Bar is a vibrant Aldgate venue inspired by Sicilian cuisine and offering a contemporary take on it. The restaurant is full of colourful artwork, peach-coloured walls and leafy greens - decor that whisks you away from the greys of the concrete city. On the menu, you can find good value-for-money dishes like burrata with toasted pistachios (£13), saffron arancini (£10.50) and pizzas starting from £12. Don't forget about the cracking dessert selection either, where a chocolate and almond cake will only set you back £7. 

Megan's - Various Sites

On the hunt for the best affordable restaurants London has to offer? Megan's located across the capital in Balham, Chiswick and beyond, truly rustles up a seriously enticing selection of Mediterranean eats, from moreish brunch classics like shakshouka (£12.90) and sharing plates such as buttermilk fried chicken served alongside date BBQ sauce (£8.50), through to salad bowls and posh kebabs. On top of that, the cocktails are pretty epic too - finish your meal with a house espresso martini or a picante margarita. 

Market Halls London

With locations in Canary Wharf and Victoria, as well as on Oxford Street, Market Halls has three major destinations in London covered for affordable meals in a cool yet contemporary food hall-style location. Ideal for groups or casual dates, they promise multiple bars alongside a selection of street food traders spanning global cuisine - think everything from delicious sandwiches from Sexy Buns, to incredible sushi whipped up by the legends at Inamo. 

Well Street Pizza

2 PIZZAS FOR £14! and 1 other offer

Real Neapolitan pizza for under £10? Yes please. Well Street Pizza in Hackney is known for its budget-friendly slices, especially if you take advantage of the two for £14 offers on Mondays and Tuesdays from 7pm. Hang out in a chilled-out setting, laced with cosy booths and industrial lighting, and tuck into scrumptious toppings featuring 'nduja, fior di latte and fresh chilli. What's more, you can devour Tuscan sausage, mushroom and olive pasta for only £13 too.

Voodoo Rays Peckham

With venues in Peckham and Dalston, Voodoo Rays are known for their affordable pizzas. Fronting neon signage and intimate tables to gather around with friends, it's a go-to when it comes to a bite to eat without the large price tag in the city. Think slices for less than £5 and full-size cheesy feasts for little more than a tenner, in an American-themed restaurant offering all kinds of craft beers to boot. Our favourite toppings include the Green Vlevet with artichoke hearts and sunblush tomatoes, plus the Porky's, featuring Cumberland sausage and stilton. 

Arepa & Co Stockwell

A trendy laid-back restaurant with venues in Stockwell and Haggerston, Arepa & Co offers a menu of vibrant Venezuelan eats that won't break the bank. Enter a contemporary dining space filled with navy walls and dangling lights to tuck into a selection of small bites like yuca fires (£7.95), twice-cooked green plantain crostini with pico de Gallo (£7.75), and arepas filled with shredded beef and black beans (£10.25). 

Pizza Union Dalston

Famous for its very cheap offering of cheesy goodness, Pizza Union Dalston is somewhat of a go-to when you're in need of a decent bite to eat but are saving the pennies. You'll find this outpost near the station, fronting its signature red neon signage and communal seating arrangement. On the menu? A marghertia comes in at a fantastic £5.95, plus frozen raspberry mojitos and margaritas for just £5.50 too.

Mangal II

Mangal II earns its place in our cheap eats list because of the quality of food in comparison to the prices, especially the set lunch menu where you can snap up two courses for £25. The modern Turkish restaurant offers a refined dining experience in Dalston and is run by the sons of founder Ali, Ferhat and Sertaç Dirik. You'll be able to try a mix of authentic plates here, as well as modern ones, all made with ingredients from UK-based suppliers. On the menu? Clams and smoked sucuk with samphire, and lamb belly shish alongside a house chilli sauce. 

Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles

At this social, canteen-style eatery, you'll find some of the most silky and delicious noodles you've ever tasted. Only a short walk from Aldgate East, Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles is whipping up eats for under a tenner. Begin with boneless chicken in special sauce (£8.50), with a helping of smacked cucumber in garlic sauce (£7.80) for good measure, before moving onto its signature handmade belt noodles starting from £11.50.

Brasserie Zedel

Home to a selection of tempting cheap eats, Covent Garden is both a bustling shopping district and food central. Particularly when it comes to the 19030s-inspired French eatery, cafe and cabaret bar Brasserie Zédel. Fronting fancy Art Deco decor with tall pillars and specks of gold, it oozes an opulent feel which is misleading when it comes to the price tag. You can delight in a prix-fixe menu that sees two courses available for £16.95. In addition to that absolute steal, most starters are under a tenner, including the classic French onion soup. 

Sambal Shiok

Formerly a Malaysian pop-up and now a thriving restaurant in the heart of Holloway, Sambal Shiok is a front-runner when it comes to places to eat that aren't super pricey during popular periods. Founded by Mandy Yin in 2013, all of its food is halal and it's even a dog-friendly establishment that's come under critical acclaim. Bag 20% off during peak hours and choose from a fragrant menu featuring its signature curry laksa, rice noodle salad and handmade fenugreek crackers. 

Roti King Battersea

Roti King is a Malaysian street food concept born from owner and chef Sugen Gopal's love of its authentic flavours and ingredients. It spans Euston, Waterloo and Battersea, near the Power Station, nestled under the arches with industrial interiors, silver chairs and an open kitchen where you can spy creations come to life. You'll be spoilt for choice here, as everything on the menu is super affordable, from the creamy dahl (£8.95) served with two pieces of roti to the delectable beef rendang.

Club Mexicana

This bright pink beauty is not only eye-catching but incredibly great value. When approaching Kingly Court, head over to Club Mexicana, a vibrant spot slinging out delicious plant-based tacos and margaritas. Every Tuesday, join them from 5pm onwards for all-you-can-eat tacos for only £20 per person. And throughout the week? Load up three of the same fillings (think Baja fish and 'cheezburger') for £13.50. 

Padella Shoreditch

Where would we be without Padella? The city's renowned pasta house was founded by Tim and Jordan, two guys with a passion for fresh egg-rolled delights and a desire to feed the people of London their creations, inspired by trips to Italy. The first outpost began in Borough Market, with a second in Shoreditch opening up later on, much to the delight of those looking to book their spot (the former runs on a walk-in-only basis). The menu includes generous helpings of tagliarini with dried chilli, garlic and pangrattato (£9.50), pici cacio & pepe (£12) and fettuccine with Cobble Lane Cured 'nduja, mascarpone and lemon (£13.50). 

BAO Borough

Bao in Borough brings you authentic Taiwanese cuisine and is one of the best joints when it comes to all the cheap eats London Bridge has dotted around its cobbled streets. It's famous for specialising of course in everyone's favourite fluffy buns, with all kinds of fillings from beef short rib (£6.75) to curry cheese (£6.25) and even an iconic Horlicks ice cream (£6.25) fried affair for dessert, with Asian-inspired cocktails and beer to wash it all down.

Crust Bros

Grab some seriously tasty slices at very reasonable prices at this cool Waterloo haunt. Crust Bros serves up some of the best pizza in this city and is well-known for its leopard print crust (hence the name), as well as its bottomless brunches which include 90 minutes of unlimited pizza, free-flowing beer and prosecco for £35 per person. If you're looking for a regular marghertia however, you'll be able to inhale one here for the pocket-friendly price of a tenner. 

Pastaio

Created by British chef Stevie Parle, Pastaio is the result of his mission to bring pasta to the masses that's great value without scrimping on quality, and that's also considerate to nature. The Carnaby location of this modern haunt features vibrant art adorning the walls and low-hanging light fixtures above marble-topped benches fronting scrumptious plates. Look forward to chomping on fresh ribbons of pasta covered in wild garlic and hazelnut pesto (£15) or slow-cooked tomato sauce (£12), followed by tiramisu (£8.50). 

Del74 Dalston

If you're on the lookout for bargain tacos, then you'll find plenty of them at Del74 Dalston on Tuesdays, where they're £3 a pop all night long, paired with £4 beers. And if you can't make it down on that day? Fear not, as happy means that they're that price Wednesday to Friday from 5pm 'til 6.30pm. Hit up this cool, glossy tiled spot on Kingsland Road to make the most of the munchies mid-week, and enjoy toppings such as braised leg of pork alongside red pickled onions, sautéed tilapia topped with homemade coleslaw and smoky chipotle vegetables.