London is notorious for being one of the most expensive cities in the world and this does not stop when it comes to restaurants.
Indeed, there are two restaurants that have been awarded three Michelin stars in the capital, but that does not mean to say that London cheap eats don't exist.
If you know where to go and where to avoid, there are some great places to dine out for less than a tenner, in whichever area of London you are staying in.
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Central London
No visit to the UK is complete without fish and chips, so head to The Golden Union Fish Bar (38 Poland Street; Tottenham Court Road) in Soho. Better still, if you get there between 3pm-9pm, the fish of the day is just £5.
Soho is also a great place to find cheap oriental food. Try Viet (34 Greek Street; Leicester Square), which has Vietnamese food for roughly £6 a dish and you can cut out on paying for expensive drinks by bringing your own.
Wahaca (66 Chandos Place; Covent Garden) claims to offer real Mexican street food. From burritos to tapas sharing platters, this restaurant is cheap and different, although very busy.
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North London
Diwana Bhel-Poori House (121 Drummond Street, Euston), is a popular restaurant on this street of vegetarian Indian cuisine. Here there is no corkage fee so you can bring your own booze. The south Indian street food is delicious and comes in at less than £9.
Meanwhile, Islington has a chain of three Gallipoli restaurants (102, 107 & 120 Upper Street; Angel), a small Turkish empire where the falafels are tasty, the vibe is always bursting with energy and the staff are lovely. There are plenty of dishes here that come in at less than £10 or you can share a mezze platter.
South London
French Cafe (16 Ritherdone Road; Balham or Tooting Bec) serves some great French cuisine for a very reasonable price. A set two-course meal will cost just under £10 in a stylish and comfortable setting.
Another BYO cheap eat is Bonnington Centre Cafe (11 Vauxhall Grove; Vauxhall), "one of the best-value three-course meals the capital has to offer", according to Time Out, in a space filled with local art and a "bohemian world music soundtrack".
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East London
In true East End style, nothing beats a cheap lunch at G Kelly (526 Roman Road; Mile End or Bow Road) for pie, mash, liquor and jellied eels. All of the pies are handmade and have been since 1937 and you can leave with change from a ten pound note.
Over in Hoxton, you can have a meal and become a bit of a test subject at Open Kitchen (40 Hoxton Street; Hoxton or Old Street), where the chefs are students at the London City Hospitality Centre. Main courses read like a professional restaurant would, but are just £6 each. Do note that the restaurant closes at 2pm Monday to Wednesday and is closed at weekends.
West London
Vegetarians will love Blah Blah Blah (78 Goldhawk Road; Goldhawk Road) in Shepherds Bush, where the main dishes are less than a tenner and the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. This is reputedly one of the best veggie restaurants in the capital and serves dishes from Europe to the Middle East and the Orient.
There are a number of Chinese restaurants that line the streets of Bayswater and Queensway, which is a very popular tourist area for cheap hotels in London. Leong's Legend (82 Queensway; Bayswater) serves Taiwanese food with signature dishes and a tasting menu that will suit low to mid-range budgets.
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London cheap eats directory
Central London
The Golden Union Fish Bar (38 Poland Street; Tottenham Court Road) Viet (34 Greek Street; Leicester Square) Wahaca (66 Chandos Place; Covent Garden) also in The Park Pavilion, Canada Square; Canary Wharf and Westfield Shopping Centre; White City/Shepherds Bush
Other London cheap eats Soju Korean Kitchen (32 Great Windmill Street; Piccadilly Circus) Le Comptoir – Lebanese (65 Wigmore Street; Bond Street) also in the Westfield Shopping Centre; White City/Shepherds Bush
North London
Diwana Bhel-Poori House (121 Drummond Street, Euston) Cafe Gallipoli, Gallipoli Bazaar, Gallipoli Again (102, 107 & 120 Upper Street; Angel)
Other London cheap eats Yum Cha (27-28 Chalk Farm Road; Chalk Farm) Alpino (97 Chapel Market; Angel)
South London
French Cafe (16 Ritherdone Road; Balham or Tooting Bec) Bonnington Centre Cafe (11 Vauxhall Grove; Vauxhall)
Other London cheap eats Maltings Cafe (Sarsons Brewery Works, 169 Tower Bridge Road; Borough) Kitfo House (49 South Lambeth Road; Vauxhall)
East London
G Kelly (526 Roman Road; Mile End or Bow Road) Open Kitchen (40 Hoxton Street; Hoxton or Old Street)
Other London cheap eats Zengi (44 Commercial Street; Aldgate East) Tyyabs (83-89 Fieldgate Street; Whitechapel)
West London
Blah Blah Blah (78 Goldhawk Road; Goldhawk Road) Leong's Legend (82 Queensway; Bayswater)
Other London cheap eats Bonda Cafd (190 Sussex Gardens; Paddington) The Churchill Arms (119 Kensington Church Street; Notting Hill Gate)
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