10 editor picks in London.
10 street food places in London we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in London | Street Food across every city.
London's street food scene is one of the most diverse in the world, anchored by its markets and a roster of stalls that have grown into institutions. Beigel Bake on Brick Lane in Shoreditch and Spitalfields and Bao in Soho show the range, from round-the-clock salt-beef bagels to Taiwanese steamed buns, with Borough Market a constant hub for the rest.
The Brick Lane Beigel Bake bakery in east London, trading since 1974, runs hand-rolled bagels and salt beef sandwiches from a 24-hour counter.
OrderSalt beef bagel
TipOrder at the counter, pay at the till. Salt beef bagel with mustard is the orthodox order. £6 cash-or-card, queue runs 15 minutes after midnight.
Karim Salama's Egyptian street-food counter on St Martin's Lane in Covent Garden London, opened 2014, runs koshari (the Cairo bus-station dish).
OrderEgyptian koshari (rice, lentils, pasta, tomato sauce)
TipBox of koshari is £8 with all toppings. Counter takeaway or eat in the small upstairs space. Closed Sundays.
Mangal 2 Turkish ocakbasi on Stoke Newington Road in north London, trading since 1994, runs charcoal-grilled lamb adana, doner, lahmacun and pide.
OrderTurkish ocakbasi grill (lamb adana, doner)
TipBYOB; £3 corkage. Open until midnight Mon-Sun. The artist Gilbert and George are regulars; their original Mangal is across the street.
Honest Burgers' first counter in Brixton Village in London, opened 2011 by Tom Barton, Phil Eeles and Dorian Waite, runs dry-aged Ginger Pig beef.
OrderBritish burger with rosemary chips
TipThe Brixton Village original is walk-up only. Beer list from Beavertown and The Kernel. Plant-based burger is the vegan option.
Erchen Chang and Shing Tat Chung's Taiwanese bao counter on Lexington Street in Soho London, opened 2015, runs the classic pork bao that defined the British.
OrderTaiwanese steamed bao
TipWalk-up only at the counter; queue 30-60 minutes on weekend nights. £6 per bao; pair with peanut-milk shaved ice for dessert.
Padella's hand-rolled pasta counter at Borough Market in London, opened 2016 by Tim Siadatan and Jordan Frieda, the budget-priced (£8-15) fresh pasta.
OrderHand-rolled fresh pasta
TipUse the Padella app for the virtual queue at 12:00 sharp; otherwise 60 minutes on Saturday. The Shoreditch sibling has same kitchen.
Kappacasein's grilled cheese counter inside Borough Market in London, trading since 2002, runs the city's most-photographed cheese toastie made.
OrderAged cheddar grilled cheese
TipCounter only. The 09:00 Saturday queue runs 45 minutes. Order the raclette plate if the cheese toastie line is too long.
The Nguyen family's Vietnamese counter on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton London, opened 2016, runs bánh mì, pho and small-plates from a Saigon street-food.
OrderBánh mì sandwich and pho
TipBánh mì at £8 is the marquee handheld; pair with a Vietnamese iced coffee. Closed Mondays; weekend lunches walk in without waiting.
Dishoom's bacon naan roll counter on Boundary Street in Shoreditch London, served from breakfast service since 2012, the morning Bombay-cafe sandwich.
OrderBacon naan roll
TipWalk-in only for the breakfast rolls before 10:00. £6.50 a roll; chai £3. Faster than the dinner queue all week.
Mathew Carver's all-cheese counter in Camden Market's North Yard, opened 2017 and now trading as Pick and Cheese, runs British cheese plates.
OrderGrilled cheese
TipWalk-up at the counter for grilled cheese; the £30 tasting menu at the back runs full evenings only with a booking.
Guided tour · 3h 30m
Discover the flavors and street art of London’s East End on a guided food tour. Enjoy iconic eats and tasty treats, and explore Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane, Shored...
Guided tour · 3.5 hours
Discover the diverse food scene of London's West End on a guided tour. Taste Soho after dark with global bites, cocktails, and rock ‘n’ roll history in London’s most v...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Enjoy a 3-hour culinary tour of London's best Indian food. Explore East London with only a bit of walking as your guide leads you to the secret culinary delights surro...
