Best 14 cheap restaurants in London

Tuck into low-cost daytime delights at London's best cheap restaurants.

London is home to a huge range of cheap and affordable eating options – from street markets to restaurant specials, a great meal doesn't have to break the bank. Take a look at our pick of London's best cheap restaurants.

Best cheap international restaurants in London

A plate of Spring Rolls in Chinatown
Spring Rolls in Chinatown © Karen Liu. Image courtesy of Karen Liu

You can find just about every global cuisine in London, often at great value.

1. Chinatown restaurants

Choose from dozens of Chinese restaurants in London's Chinatown for an affordable lunch option. Try the Golden Dragon for cheap dim sum starting at a few pounds each, or Good Friend for Taiwanese street food such as crispy fried chicken wings for under £10. 

2. Indian Veg

Head down to Chapel Market in north London to find Indian Veg's all-you-can-eat vegetarian buffet. Popular with a younger crowd before a night out, this is definitely good value Indian fare for under £10.

3. E. Pellicci

Step inside this Grade-II listed cafe to discover home-style cooking at prices that are hard to argue with. The family behind E. Pellicci has been serving honest Italian food and amazing sandwiches since 1900 in their Bethnal Green Road spot. Try the great value homemade Penne Pellicci (£12.80) or sausage ciabatta (£6) at this great cheap London restaurant option.

Best street food markets for cheap food

Food being cooked by a chef in a kitchen in Brixton
A cheap lunch in Brixton © Peter Kindersley visitlondon.com. Image courtesy of Peter Kindersley visitlondon.com

Street food markets continue to grow in popularity, and with a great eclectic mix of cuisines for you to try in London, usually at a low price, it's easy to see why.

4. Borough Market

Feast on street food and grab lunch on the go at Borough Market by London Bridge. Tasty food options await you, including Applebee's Fish fresh seafood wraps, Hobbs Roast slow-cooked meat baguettes, and authentic Thai street food at Khanom Krok.

If you want to discover the best of Borough Market, treat yourself by splashing out on a ticket for the Borough Market Food Tour.

5. Berwick Street Market

Take your cheap lunch on the go from the many options at Berwick Street Market in Soho. Try everything from Freebird Burritos' Mexican burritos and authentic Greek souvlaki from Greek2Go, to Miro Salads Turkish wraps and authentic Spanish paella from Paella Fellas.

6. Brixton Village Market

Under the arcades of Brixton Village you'll find more than 20 cafes and restaurants serving dishes from all over the world, every day of the week, from Taiwanese bao buns at Happy Dumplings to sourdough pizzas at Franco Manca. You could even restaurant hop between courses if you're struggling to decide!

7. Lower Marsh Market

Combine a bite to eat with artisan shopping at Lower Marsh Market. Expect tasty Korean street food at Bibimbab, Sicilian street food at Cucuzza and authentic Indian dishes at BhajisLDN for cheap prices - just a few of the options available Monday to Friday every week.

Best cheap London fast food restaurants

Fast food isn't limited to global chains – London has plenty of unique cheap fast food options.

8. Chik'n

Head down Baker Street to find Chik'n, who are "changing fried chicken for the good". Go for the Chik'n wrap or a Popcorn Chik'n bucket on the go for some great value but filling options.

9. Wingstop

Wingstop is the ideal cheap fast food lunch option for chicken wings, tenders and platters bursting with flavour. Choose from a range of flavours on the heat scale, from sweet and tangy Hawaiian to spicy Korean with crushed red pepper. Elevate your meal with a choice of sides and drinks and save some room for the churros for dessert to round up a filling and cheap lunch!

Best cheap vegan and vegetarian restaurants

London's budget-friendly bites are not limited to meat-eaters. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian cheap eats to hunt down in the city.

10. Club Mexicana

Spice up your lunch at Club Mexicana with cheezeburger tacos, "short rib" burritos and frozen Margaritas. The 100% vegan eatery can be found in Shoreditch and Kingly Court, with deals including three tacos for £12 and a burrito wrap or bowl for £10.

11. 222 Vegan

Go hungry, leave full in West Kensington where 222 Vegan offers a healthy, all-you-can-eat buffet that won't put a big dent in your wallet. With no fried foods or refined ingredients, this is a great option for a healthy meal in London too.

Best lunch deals in London

Some of London's top restaurants have lunch deals that allow you to eat well without breaking the bank.

12. The Real Greek

Stop at any of The Real Greek's 12 London locations for a three-course lunch including flatbreads, dips, meat or vegetable skewers and more. This low-cost lunch menu makes this a great affordable restaurant in London.

13. Brasserie Zédel

Take in the grand art deco interior of Parisian-style restaurant Brasserie Zédel while enjoying a two- or three-course lunch menu for under £20. The menu currently includes steak frites and chocolate tart. 

14. Ugly Dumpling

Enjoy tasty dumplings for tasty prices at Ugly Dumpling in Soho. Choose between a meat, vegetarian or vegan platter of eight dumplings for £13.50. Flavours include sweet duck, sticky-glazed pork and crispy tempura aubergine drizzled in sweet honey.