Squaremeal, the UK's premier restaurant review platform, has released its definitive list of cheap eats in London, highlighting 16 independent venues where diners can enjoy fine dining without breaking the bank. Prices range from as little as £1.50 for a plain quesadilla at Sonoria Taqueria to £24 for a half-chicken meal deal at Poulet.
Pedro's Wine Bar, Bermondsey
Tucked away on Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey, Pedro's Wine Bar is described by Squaremeal as ever so "quaint and ramshackle" with a rustic vibe, situated in one of Bermondsey's brick railway arches. The restaurant is rated 4.8 on TripAdvisor, and its "huge" Bifana sandwich (thinly-sliced, tender pork poached in a white wine and beer sauce) at £8.50 is a major hit with reviewers.
Poulet, Bermondsey
Another gem hidden in a railway arch in Bermondsey's Maltby Street, French diner Poulet is revered for its rotisserie chicken. Its giant chicken baguette is a prized lunch option at £12.50, and the half-chicken meal deal with a potato side and sauce costs £24. Poulet is rated 4.6 on TripAdvisor, while its "idiosyncratic" decor in an industrial setting makes it a hit with Squaremeal.
Wolkite, Holloway
Wolkite is a no-frills, family-run Ethiopian restaurant that has wowed reviewers since opening near Emirates Stadium in 2011. Its fragrant menu features inventive vegetarian dishes such as Shiro (finely-ground, roasted chickpeas, simmered in spices) at £12 and Fosolya (whole beans and baby carrots in spices) at £10.50, while meat dishes are £13 to £14. A set menu for two is also a steal at £35.
Durak Tantuni, Turnpike Lane
The Turkish street-food takeaway Durak Tantuni, situated on the long road between Turnpike Lane and Seven Sisters tube stations, sells tantunis (similar to a tortilla) with fillings of beef, sumac, and parsley fried on a giant hotplate and rolled in durum flatbreads for just £4.50. It has risen through the ranks to become one of North London's most acclaimed takeaways.
Wong Kei, Chinatown
Standing proudly on Soho's Wardour Street, Wong Kei is one of the most iconic restaurants in London's Chinatown. Its won ton noodle soup is a highly praised dish at £9.50. Wong Kei's interior has changed little over the years, and TripAdvisor notes service is fast and efficient, although The Guardian writes it has a reputation as "the rudest restaurant in London." Squaremeal writes: "We keep going back, despite the ropey health and safety inspections, and notoriously bolshy staff, because the food remains right up there among the best value in the city."
Cafe Mondo, Camberwell
Sandwich shops rarely make the grade for Squaremeal, but Cafe Mondo on Peckham Road is an exception, repeatedly topping critics' polls of best places to eat in London with five-star ratings from Time Out and Hungrysoles. The cafe's £11 chicken sub is a treat, as Squaremeal writes: "This sandwich shop-cum-bar/restaurant is a day-to-night operation slinging stuffed subs and sarnies by day, and a menu proper in the evening offering trendy sharing plates and well-priced wines and stouts."
Seoul Bakery, Bloomsbury
Long queues often line up outside Seoul Bakery in Great Russell Street for its "delicious and inexpensive" Korean buns, bibimbaps, ramyun noodle soup, and seaweed rice rolls, with Korean teas for added K-taste. Located just around the corner from Tottenham Court Road station, the bakery has earned a thumbs up from Squaremeal. A TripAdvisor reviewer says: "The food is authentic and never fails to please... The only downside is because the food is so good and the place so small you may have to queue."
Sonoria Taqueria, Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is the hippest place in North East London for bars, cafes, and bakeries, but Mexican restaurant Sonoria Taqueria on Stoke Newington High Street has earned a special shout out for its bargain prices. Three tacos and a quesadilla cost around £16.50. Squaremeal notes: "These wheat flour tacos are stuffed to bursting. If you can put away five, you’re a better person than us. Plus, a plain quesadilla is only £1.50." TripAdvisor rates the restaurant at 4.8 out of 5.
Rasa N16, Stoke Newington
Another mainstay of Stoke Newington, South Indian vegetarian restaurant Rasa N16 with its vivid pink frontage is described as "small and cosy" and one of the best-known vegetarian restaurants in London. Squaremeal lavishes praise on Keralan chef Das Sreedharan for his paneer curry and lemon rice at £14 and vegetarian feast at just £27. Rasa N16 has also earned rave reviews on TripAdvisor for its "spicy, interesting Indian vegetarian food" and "absolutely mouth-watering cuisines."
Master Wei, Bloomsbury
Master Wei is an unassuming Chinese restaurant discreetly situated on a side street near Russell Square, praised as a "hidden gem" by Squaremeal. The eatery specialises in Shaanxi cooking of north central China, and its beef biang biang noodles at £12.30 is a menu highlight. Squaremeal espouses Master Wei's "delicious, chilli-spiked cooking" with most dishes priced at around £10, and a "focus is food that tastes as good as it looks."
Mr Bao, Peckham
Mr Bao is a scrumptious Taiwanese diner in south London, famed for its bargain buns selling for around £5.50. Favourites include pork belly bao at £5.60, as well as "Bao Diddley" marinated chicken with wasabi mayonnaise, and ginger braised tofu. A TripAdvisor reviewer wrote: "Just the best Bao! We had several and they were so good, really fluffy and delicious filling. We also had some veggies sides which were also great."
Wonton Charlie's, London Fields
This popular Cantonese diner opened inside a former railway arch in London Fields last December, specialising in wonton dumplings. Wonton Charlie's is primarily a walk-in canteen and offers two types of wontons in chicken or fish broth, while Squaremeal singles out its soup noodles with wontons at £12 as particularly good value.
Sud Italia, Spitalfields
Sud Italia's viral folded pizzas have proved a hit on Instagram, making the brand's conspicuous pizza van an irresistible quick bite in East London. The Neapolitan pizzas are lavished with top-quality ingredients, baked in a wood-fired oven then folded to "create a hot, cheesy centre." The best part: the pizzas are only £5 apiece.
Buster's, Brixton
Possibly the go-to place for a premium burger in South London, Buster's next to Brixton station is said to be on a par with Wagyu. Burgers are priced from £10 and fries from £4. Squaremeal enthusiastically notes: "Look out for the Cheeseburger, featuring American cheese and green peppercorn dijonnaise, and the Buster’s Burger filled with its signature sauce. The IPA cheese sauce is mega and deserves to be ordered alongside a round of its crispy French fries."
Zula Burger, Marble Arch
Zula Burger is the first British venture from an Istanbul takeaway chain. Squaremeal highlights its basic burger and fries for £15 as a delicious bargain, adding: "This diner-esque spot keeps things simple, with its soft, house-baked brioche buns and top-tier British beef. There are several signature dishes, each with pretty low price tags."
Flour & Grape, Bermondsey
One of South London's most enticing Italian restaurants with eye-popping prices, Flour & Grape is regularly packed in the latter half of the week with work lunches and evening soirees. Squaremeal raves about the restaurant's casarecce arrabiatta pasta for £9.50, as well as pasta dishes including tortelloni with roasted pork shoulder and sage butter, or fazzoletti with spinach, mascarpone, and nutmeg, from £9 to £17.
