A lot more than Fish and Chips
What kind of food is available in London?
The myth of the London food scene very dull and boring might have been accurate at some point, but that hasn’t been the case in a long time. As one of the most multicultural cities in the world, London has a lot to offer on the food scene. There are loads of different types of places to get the food from. There are over 60 Michelin star restaurants, local restaurants, restaurant chains and food markets, to name a few. Food markets are quite popular for lunch during the week and delightful destinations when visiting London as a tourist.
Local food
London pubs are world famous and a traditional place to have a quick pint after work or lunch during the week or on the weekend. There is an increasing number of gastropubs that offer high-quality food with more sophisticated items on the menu. While there is plenty of food to choose from, having something traditional like fish and chips is recommended while visiting London. Other popular options include pies, for example, Steak and Ale pie and Bangers and Mash. These can be usually had for about £10, and a pint of ale or other beer is often about £4.
Burgers
Burgers are another popular option in London, like in most places, and there is a lot of choice on offer. Local restaurants and pubs typically offer burgers, and there are, of course, specific burger places, which often provide the best burgers. Some famous American burger chains have also landed in London, i.e. Five Guys and Shake Shack, both of which have several locations around London. These burgers are juicy and tasty but do cost between £6 and £12 depending on the type of the burger. The fries (chips) in Five Guys get a special mention, and they even highlight the farm from where the potatoes were delivered from each day.
The three most presented burger restaurant chains are Byron, Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) and Honest Burgers (shown in the main image). The burgers from Byron and Honest Burgers aim to use fresh local ingredients. The milkshakes at Byron are worth trying, and there’s even a hard shake option where bourbon or another spirit is added.
GBK burgers have more options what comes to ingredients. Some of them might feel too exotic like the Kiwiburger with beetroot, fried egg and grilled pineapple.
Some of the best burgers are available outside of chain restaurants, for example, on food markets. Bleecker Burger on Old Spitalfield Market and Black Bear Burger in Boxpark Shoreditch are both good burgers worth checking out.
Asian food
The two most well-known chains for Japanese/Asian food are Wasabi and Itsu. They offer mostly lunch options, for example, Sushi, salads and noodles. Chicken Katsu Curry is another popular option. As the food is targeted for people getting lunch, it usually costs £5-10.
If you want to get more authentic Asian food, the best place to go is towards Chinatown. In addition to Chinese food, there is also Japanese and Korean cuisine. Some foods to try are dumplings and okonomiyaki, which is a Japanese omelette that is delicious and filling. You can choose your own toppings/ingredients for the okonomiyaki.
Japanese noodles, Ramen, is another good option.
A Korean BBQ is a great way to spend the evening with family or friends as grilling the food yourself is part of the experience. Each table has its own grill in the middle of the table..
