fcuklp

Hi,

I am big-eater Asian male and going to travel Europe for 2 months alone.
I have planned my budget on transport, accommodations and entrance fees but find it difficult to plan on food.
I have checked several guidebooks and websites but cannot find much on photos of what I am going to get to eat.
I am an unusual person that don't enjoy Western food, so I am putting my budget more towards the other areas and try to spend less on food.
As I will be travelling fast, I won't have the time on most meals to sit down for more than 30 mins for a proper meal. I have read about takeaway food and self-cater food from grocery stores.
Where can I get some ideas how much they will cost, what's the food exactly and how easy can I buy takeaways or self-prepared food ?
I need a lot of carbohydrates for energy and a lot of vegetables(at least once a day to help digestion).
How much will it cost for a LARGE portion of pizza or sandwich ?
How much will an order of salad cost ?
What's the usual price for a set meal ?
I have asked friends but all of them who have been to Europe travelled in group tours, so they can't give me much info; except for cheap fish and chips in London that cost only 6 pounds for a large portion

I hope some can help.

nona1

Where in Europe are you going?

You'll find food from all over the world in most places. In London you can't move for tripping over a Chinese/Japanese/Indian restaurant/takeaway.

adrienne

Food prices vary tremendously within Europe. Generally, the southern countries will be less expensive than the northern countries.

For carbohydrates you can buy bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta (noodles) in restaurants and grocery stores. You can also buy beans (which I consider both carbohydrates and protein) in grocery stores although I've not seen many bean dishes in restaurants outside France and Italy.

Some countries (Portugal and Belgium) include salads with most meals; in other countries you need to purchase the salad separately.

Street markets everywhere have a large variety of fruit and vegetables and are usually less expensive than grocery stores.

Many guide books suggest vegetarian restaurants (at least within large cities) and you should bring a list of these restaurants as it seems that is the type of food you're looking for as you did not talk about meat.

The Let's Go guide books give suggestions for inexpensive eating and give a price range for restaurants or cafeterias. In fact, most guide books give a price range for food, usually using $ or Euro signs for the range. The legend for the price range will be somewhere in the front of the guide book.

I've not been to Asia so I don't know what the food looks like there but American Asian food seems to be all combined together. Western eating separates the food on the plate.

I believe all large cities in Europe will have Asian restaurants. I'm not a fan of Asian food so I don't look for these places but I've seen them.

I think once you get to Europe you'll see that it's not hard to find something you like to eat. You can always say that you're vegetarian and just order potatoes and vegetables; I'm sure most restaurant will accommodate your dietary needs.

bilboburgler

You will find certain cuisines also offer you alternatives for example North African vegitarian options are wider than the traditional french.

Pizza and sandwiches are Western European. They can be obtained in corners stores for a slice for 1 to 3 Euro depnding on size and quality. Or take aways (full rounds) at Euro 5 to 8 (sometimes with a second one for free). Happy hour happens for pizza too.

One of the tricks to eating cheap is to eat when the locals do. So in France and italy you will find many bars will have a little eating area out the back for a full sit down at Euro 12 at midday until 1pm and thats it.

Breakfasts vary across europe. German big while French can more basic all can be a carbs builder.

Fruit available in market stalls but restaurants (general rule here is meaningless as W Europe is so big) have limited supply

tarquin

On the whole, stay away from "Asian" restaurants, you will be sadly disappointed. But food in the UK at least has improved hugely in the past few years, you can find fresh vegetables, salads, soups and decent bread all around the country. And in France and Italy vegetarian food can be found with some effort, it's generally cheaper too.

fcuklp

Thank you for all your replies.
Sorry fo not having been clearer earlier.
I am not a vegetarian, love meat too. Just don't take it as an important need as much as carbo and vegie.
I will be travelling to most of Europe though more days will be spent in Western Europe and the more touristy cities.
I will not spend extra time to look for Asian food. Time is precious
I will have to go with simple western food as long as it is filling to the stomach.
I read about many advice by websites on getting food from grocery stores or the market. Are those "ready to eat" or do I still need to clean and prepare them ?
In simple restaurants or takeaways, will there be display of the food or description and price displayed in English ?
Is it necessary to learn some local words for ordering or some simple English and "finger-pointings" is sufficient ?
Is it true that dinner will be more expensive than lunch for the same food generally ?
I think I should go for sit down lunch and takeaways for dinner. Do the locals go for takeaway dinner food ?

Sorry if I am asking too much or worrying too much.

Tulips

In most large cities, you will be able to get by with English. Restaurants that have pictures of food, are usually very touristy (and ones that I would avoid).
If you are travelling to most of Europe, food will be very different from one place to the other; it's impossible to make a broad recommendation for all of Europe. Some locals eat a lot of take-away food, some don't. I find that in London there are lots of ready-made meals in the supermarkets. Much less so in Italy.
In Madrid I much prefer a big lunch, and only tapas for dinner, as most of the locals seem to do this. Every country has its own food and customs.

In many places there are better deals to be had for lunch than for dinner. In London you can usually get a good deal on early (pre-theatre) dinners.

Try Wagamama in London for a large bowl of noodles and vegetables for a reasonable price.

StCirq

I think you are worrying too much. Europeans in general take great pride in their food and there is plenty of it, of all kinds and at all budget levels, everywhere you look. Some places will have menus in English, some will not. Ready-to-eat foods will be widely available in some countries, not so much in others. Pointing is fine if there's a language barrier, but of course it's always good to have a few words in the local language, even if it's only to say you don't speak it.

Cholmondley_Warner

These answers are largely for the UK.


I read about many advice by websites on getting food from grocery stores or the market. Are those "ready to eat" or do I still need to clean and prepare them ?>>>>>>

Britain leads the world in “ready meals”. These are precooked meals you heat up at home – there’s a huge range. But in terms of walking into a shop and walking out with something to eat immediately that’s different. There will be sandwiches and things like salds and sausage rolls but not what you’d call a meal.

But there are um[pteen shops selling stuff like fish n chips, fried chicken, pizza, kebabs and the like. They are ready to eat right now.

In simple restaurants or takeaways, will there be display of the food or description and price displayed in English ?>>>>>>

No there won’t be pictures (well if there are – go somewhere else). Menus will be in the local language but in very toursity places they will have an English language menu (this is not generally a good thing)

Is it necessary to learn some local words for ordering or some simple English and "finger-pointings" is sufficient ?>>>>

There’s nothing to point at. A few words is helpful (put it this way – if you wrote your posts – you’ll be fine. The restaurants etc want your money. They’ll make an effort)

Is it true that dinner will be more expensive than lunch for the same food generally ?>>>

Yes.

I think I should go for sit down lunch and takeaways for dinner. Do the locals go for takeaway dinner food>>>>

Yes.

J62

"In simple restaurants or takeaways, will there be display of the food or description and price displayed in English?"


In my experience, prices are most often displayed in Hindu-Arabic all across Europe, which is a good thing.

fcuklp

Thanks again.

Is there any restrictions or designated areas to eat in public ?

Cholmondley_Warner

Is there any restrictions or designated areas to eat in public ?>>>>

Not really. Obviously there are some places where it is frowned on to eat – churches and the like.

Most museums have an area put aside to eat in (ie eat your own food) but these are really for schoolkids on trips. Ditto parks.

Some places in Britain don’t allow alcohol – I believe Hyde Park is one of them, but anything else is OK. The whole of the west end is a DPPO – ie it’s illegal to drink in the street. You won’t get into trouble if you fall foul of it. You just have to stop.

alihutch

On the whole, stay away from "Asian" restaurants, you will be sadly disappointed. But food in the UK at least has improved hugely in the past few years, you can find fresh vegetables, salads, soups and decent bread all around the country.

There are a lot of very good Asian restaurants in the UK.
You have also been able to get fresh vegetables, salads, soups and decent bread for a very long while; The whole food is no good in the UK thing is very very out of date.

bilboburgler

We have a slight difference of opinion here. In my eyes it is socially unacceptable to walk around eating on UK streets. However, eating in a park or sat around on street furniture eating is kinda acceptable.
Clearly wherever young people or tourists gather then normal mores collapse