London - Best places to eat on a budget
 

Which restaurants/pubs in central London offer resonably priced food. The last time I was in London I found things very expensive.

central london pubs are not the places to eat for many reasons.

try le mercury in islington (laughably cheap french food with a nice atmosphere)

also

Iranian
Patogh
Kandoo

Spanish
Navarro's (stretching "cheap eats" a bit but good value)

Kurdish
Gem

Mediterranean
Mem & Laz

Polish
Daquise

Wōdka (again, stretching cheap eats category)

Japanese
Taro, Soho

Chinese
Stick & Bowl
Cafe TPT
Wong Kei

and of course, curry but those are easy to find yourself.

For lunch you can get a can of drink and a sandwich from a supermarket like Tescos - Boots the chemist has a good range too.

Top of my list when I go to London is Jenny Lo's Teahouse in Eccleston Street, a short walk from Victoria Station. Big bowls of steaming Chinese noodle soups, laksa or my favourite -black bean seafood noodles for very reasonable prices. Friendly atmosphere and seating is shared bench type tables and so you can strike up conversations with other diners if you are that way inclined.

There are several branches of Wagamama around central London now. Don't be put off by long queues snaking there way out of the doorways - you won't have to wait long and the food is worth it. Again large bowls of Chinese noodle soups or Japanese soba or ramen noodles, stir fries etc. Not expensive. Long refectory shared tables.

Food For Thought in Neal Street. Good, cheap vegetarian food in cramped conditions - shared tables again.

Chutneys or Diwana Bhel Poori in Drummond Street, Euston for Southern Indian vegetarian food.

Soup and a sandwich from Pret a Porter is a cheap, decent lunch.

You can always check out the pre-theater menus in some Covent Garden restauants. Cafe du Jardin had a 2 course dinner for 10GBP...with very good food IMO. Kippy, we went back to Wagamama last week, while the food was decent it was pretty pricey for what it was 6.95GBP for a bowl of chicken ramen soup...not bad in GBPs but not so hot in dollars. Belgo Central was my fave cheap spot...5.45GBP for moules and frites, with a beer or a glass of wine. That is their beat the clock special...they have other items available ....love that place!!!!!

cmcfong...

Do you mean pret a manger or is there a new chain called pret a porter?

I'll second the motion for Wong Kei (expect abrupt service, worth it for the food tho) and Navarro's. I agree that Navarro's is rock bottom budget the food is wonderful and, IMO, a far greater value than Wagamama's. I'm not a fan of Waga's anymore.

Navarro's is on Charlotte Street (is that considered Soho?) which is host to a number of good restaurants. We like Thai Metro, just down the street from Navarro's.

http://www.pret.com

Sandwich cases at grocery stores (Tesco, Iceland).

Food courts at Marks & Spencer, Selfridges...

You are right, xyz. My oops. Sorry.

I've said i tbefore and I'll say it again ;-)

A really useful website is www.toptable.co.uk You can search restaurants in London by location, cuisine, price, availability, special offers and then reserve tables. You can also view menus, restaurant interiors, maps and reviews too.

I live in London and find this an invaluable tool for finding different places to catch up with friends and to book nights out with colleagues. It's not an exhaustive list of London restaurants but it could certainly help with planning.

Enjoy your trip to London, and don't forget to post back here with any reviews or recommendations!

Food Halls at Harrods.