If you have already moved to London to pursue acting, you’ve probably noticed how expansive and varied this city is. One thing to say about London is that it’s well-known for its food offerings, and since actors also need to eat and do it in an artsy way, today we’ll take a look at some of the best street food in London.
As someone who’s been born and lived my whole life here in London, I take pride in knowing all the best street food places in London, where the artists gather and what’s cheap enough to eat for actors on a budget.
Street food has quickly become the trendiest way to eat in London, particularly in the last decade, and it won’t break the bank. Whether you’re on-the-go to an acting class, or dining in with your fellow thespians, or at a street food market looking for something tasty, it’s a great way to get sampling and often a cheap way to socialise with other industry folks.
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Best Street Food in London
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Borough Market
It’s been a landmark of London trading for one thousand years! One of London’s most famous market places, Borough Market is not just traditional butcher, baker and green grocer. There are plenty of stalls to get your hands on some tasty street grub at lunchtime. Check out a full list here [http://boroughmarket.org.uk/lunchtime]
Here’s my favourite street food vendors at Borough Market.
Balkan Bites. They offer something a bit different serving up a fine array of traditional Israeli food using his grandmother’s recipes handed down through time. Not to be missed. Trading Monday – Saturday in Green Market area. To vist their restaurant in Croach End check out their website, they also do a great Sunday Bruch and it’s all vegetarian.
Gourmet Goat. Influenced by her Mediterranean roots growing up in Cyprus one part of the duo that run Gourmet Goat, Nadia prepares her delicious dishes with traditional flavours of the eastern med. Goat is also super sustainable and they sell a range of fresh cuts for you to try at home. Trading Weds-Sat in Green Market area. The souvlaki and kohlarabi salad served in a handy box comprises of chunks of marinated goat meat, with yogurt based dip and a tastytraditional salad. The perfect street food.
Gujarati Rasoi. Another family affair, the Parvais’ mother and son duo bring us dishes that have been passed down through generations from the street food stalls of India. This is authenticity at its best. Tuck in to samosas and slurp down a lassi and if you’re feeling really greedy, tuck into a traditional thali. Trading Mon-Sat in Green Market area. If you love them, visit their restaurant in Dalston.
To find out more about what’s going on at Borough Market, check out here.
Brixton Market
Brixton market is a bit special. As a community market, they pride themselves on giving back to the Brixton community and offer a diverse range of events. On weekdays, there’s always a food market, giving you a chance to sample some great food and there’s also Brixton Village Market and Market road with permanent street-style restaurants. It’s just great here.
Round the corner there’s more and you could accurately say that the ‘real’ culture of Brixton can be found outside the newly renovated market spaces so head around the corners and into what I like to call ‘old’ Brixton to check out halal butchers and West Indian culture and then you really feel like you’re in a proper old-school style London.
To find your way around you can download the famous Brixton Market map (PDF).
Here’s my favourite street food at Brixton Market and around.
Inside the market:
Okan, for Japanese style pancakes, edamame beans and delicious fried noodles. Lots of veggie options too like the cheese, sweetcorn and ricecakes.
Homade thai food, situated on the corner inside the market this family owned and cooking using electric cookers all in front of your eyes in an open kitchen. Great classic dishes such as red and green Thai curries.
Honest Burger, now with restaurants popping up across London, check out how this cool little burger joint serving fresh and honest produce (as well as gluten free buns) started.
Around the market:
Ultimate Jerk Centre, 397 Coldharbour Lane. This is Brixton streetfood at its most classic and at its best. Daily mini-meal deals for £2 and of course amazing jerk chicken, the daily queue speaks for itself.
Jeff the Chef, Brixton Station Road. I remember the first time I went to Brixton to check out the new food market for lunch. I got really lost and ended up in circles unable to find my way until I was lured by the BBQ smoke coming from Jeff’s, I didn’t even make it to the new market before I’d scoffed on this delicious jerk chicken. An absolute MUST.
Chinatown
Chinatown is arguably the original zone for street food in London with many rip-off joints close by around Leicester Square and Cambridge Circus, don’t be fooled by them, go straight to Chinatown and flock with the locals.
Here’s my favourite street food in China Town.
Baozi Inn, 25 Newport Court, WC2H 7JS. Sichuanese, western-Chinese street food for an authentic taste in a tidied-up venue decorated in Maoist style propaganda. For chilli-lovers try the noodles with ground pork and chilli oil and also try its namesake, the baozi, delicious and fluffy (cash only).
Café TPT, 21 Wardour Street, W1D 6PN. A tiny Chinatown staple that’s always packed. It’s one of the best places to get Chinese roast duck and their prawn dumpling noodle soup is a bargain.
Berwick Street Market
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It’s doubtful you’ll find cheaper fare than at Berwick Street, dated back to 1778, it’s one of London’s oldest markets. To top it off it’s slap bang in the middle of Soho and you won’t find cheaper, tastier outdoor fare than this. What’s cool about this market is that the vendor roster changes regularly so there’s often something new to try as well as regular staples to hit your cravings.
Here’s my favourite street food at Berwick Market.
Jerusalem Falafel is one of the greatest falafel stalls selling massive, filling and tasty flatbread wraps.
Savage Salads is the best stop-off for fresh but filling tasty salads, especially in the Spring and Summer months when you don’t want stodge!
Freebird Burritos reminds me why I LOVE burritos. Their burritos are always consistent and their gauc is always fresh and flavoursome.
Tandoor do curries and wraps but I’d opt for the curries. Always fresh and delicious with good veggie options.
Best Street Food Events in London
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There are always street food events going on in and around London so it’s good to keep an eye out. Check your trust TimeOut to keep in the loop but here’s a few of the coolest:
StreetFeast, London. Regular street food events held at various locations across London by Streetfest. All are free before 7pm and £3 after and all celebrate food, fun and socialising often with live music and going on way into the night! It’s the new way to get clubbed. My favourites from Streetfest are:
Dinerama, is held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Shoreditch. Don’t worry about the winter or the rain, it’s completely undercover. 5pm – midnight.
Hawker House, is an indoor night market at Canada Water set over two floors. There are 14 street food traders and 8 bars, so this is the spot for a party mentality. 5pm – midnight. Every fri/sat until 18/19 december. It’s free to enter before 7pm and £3 after.
Model Market, is held in Lewisham at an abandoned 1950s indoor market but it’s now been transformed to accommodate StreetFest., It will be returning in the Sprint 2016 from April-October, 5pm – 1am.
For more information check out here.
Best Street Food Vendors in London
Finally, here are my three favourite little street food vendors across London.
Hanoi Kitchen. Vietnamese with a European twist.
Check out Hanoi Kitchen for tasty Banh Mi, a Vietnamese inspired sandwich that’s street food-tastic! Follow them on Facebook to find out where they are and what they’re cooking!
The Bunnychow. Takeaway street food on 74 Wardour Street.
Check out the ‘bunny’ – gorgeous artisan rolls with little ‘pit’s dug into them and filled with sumptuous fillings such as the most innovative breakfast in the UK, the Full English Bunny. Fill your face! Follow them on Facebook for their latest news.
Snackistan Café. It’s at Persepolis, 20-80 Peckham High Street, SE15 5DT.
Tiny little café inside a Persian deliin Peckham is excellent value for money serving a selection of meze and sumptuous puddings, the Turkish delight sundae is a total winner!
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