October 14, 2024

22 Best Street Foods to Try in London

The Yorkshire Burrito beef and gravy wrap is part of the 22 best street foods to try in London

London is renowned for its rich and diverse collection of cultures, creating a vibrant food scene that celebrates meals and ingredients from all over the world. With a broad range of street foods to try across the city, you’ll always be discovering something new.

To help you make your choice on your next day out in London, we’ve compiled a guide to 22 of the best street foods to try in marketplaces all over the city.

European Street Foods in London

Europe has a wide range of cultures, each with their own unique flavour palates, creating an inventive and varied cuisine that you can enjoy while you walk around town, whether you’re looking for new Mediterranean tastes or something a little more classically British.

Cannoli

Food trucks and food stalls based around Italian street food can often be found to sell cannoli, a Sicilian fried pastry with a sweet ricotta cheese filling. The ricotta will often be paired with sugar or vanilla extract.

They are always served cold or room temperature, making them the perfect choice for enjoying on warm summer days without worrying about the temperature.

Calzones

Originating in Naples in the 18th century, calzones are an oven-baked turnover made of salted bread and filled with traditional fillings such as salami, prosciutto or vegetables. There will also be a cheese component, whether that be mozzarella, parmesan or pecorino.

Calzones are designed to be eaten hot, but don’t worry about them cooling as you wander around the marketplaces of London! The calzone pastry holds its ingredients well and keeps them warm for a long period of time.

Gelato

Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream foods, making this the perfect sweet treat for a hot day, coming in a variety of flavours that guarantees there’s something for everyone whether you’re into a classic strawberry flavour or want to try something a little more creative such as bakewell tart.

Crepes

In French street food, you will be able to find crepes, a thin and flat kind of pancake often loaded with fillings that can be both savoury or sweet, making it the perfect choice for street food regardless of the time of day.

Some popular fillings include:

  • Lemon and sugar
  • Greek yoghurt and blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries and cream
  • Smoked salmon and cream cheese
  • Chocolate and caramel

Souvlaki

For a more Mediterranean spin on London street food, you can try Greek souvlaki in either a wrap or as a kebab. As a kebab, it will often be small pieces of meat grilled on a stick and best eaten hot. Sometimes vegetables will be included as well.

In a wrap, there will be meat and vegetables with traditional options using chicken, pork or beef as well as vegetarian and vegan varieties that can use ingredients such as grilled halloumi and aubergine.

Fish and Chips

For classic British street food to enjoy on the go, look no further than the iconic fish and chips. With crispy batter coating a succulent piece of cod or haddock and generous portions of chips, you will be able to fill up quickly on homely and familiar flavours that are perfect for a quick bite as you move between attractions.

Sandwiches

Another classic choice for British cuisine, street food sandwiches are often bursting with flavour and ingredients. The best sandwiches will come packed with meat, cheeses, lettuce and other vegetables that put all other sandwiches to shame.

While a classic British staple, sandwiches are found all over the world and these cultures are reflected in London’s street food cuisine. Whether you’re looking for a grilled toastie to crunch on, a thick American sub or artisan focaccia sandwiches that are pocket-sized celebrations of Italian cuisine, you’re going to find something to love.

Yorkshire Burritos

Yorkshire Burritos offer a delightful twist on the classic burrito, blending the essence of a traditional Yorkshire pudding with street food flair. Picture this: a fluffy Yorkshire pudding filled with a hearty mix of roast beef, tender vegetables, and rich gravy. It’s a satisfying fusion of British comfort food and the convenience of street food, bringing together the best of both worlds in one tasty, portable dish.

American Street Food in London

Over in the USA, there are a number of unique flavour combinations that explode with vibrancy and transport you across the world even as you walk down the familiar London streets.

Burgers

Hamburgers and cheeseburgers are a classic American staple, oozing with gooey, rich flavour. Many food stalls in marketplaces around London will put their own spin on burgers in order to stand out from the crowd so foodies will always have some new flavour combination to try and a new burger to fall in love with.

With local pasture-fed beef, leafy and crunchy greens and thick layers of American Monterey Jack cheese, you’re sure to have a filling and memorable experience. Top it all off with a smoky barbecue sauce or tangy lemon mayonnaise to bring all the ingredients together.

Fried Chicken Wings

No American street food experience is complete without sampling chicken wings, most famously fried and lathered with a glossy and sticky barbecue sauce which is quite literally finger-licking good.

Some food stalls may also offer dips such as blue cheese to help sharpen up the sweetness and create a more fulfilling fusion of flavours.

Doughnuts

You can’t sample American street food cuisine without getting a sweet doughnut to pair with your savoury choices and you can’t go wrong with the quintessential American doughnut.

These deep fried treats are light, fluffy and the best ones ooze their fillings, whether that be a sweet strawberry jam, Bavarian cream or smooth, silky chocolate. Doughnuts come in all shapes and sizes as well. For the true American experience, opt for a ringed doughnut coated in your favourite toppings from sprinkles to cinnamon sugar.

Beignets

If you don’t fancy a doughnut, you can always try their confectionery sugar-coated deep fried cousins, the beignet, made famous in New Orleans. This Louisiana delicacy originated in France and are famous for their chewy sweetness.

They are best eaten warm and pair wonderfully with the coffee of your choice, creating a cosy eating experience perfect for the colder autumn and winter months.

Bagels

New York made the bagel famous and there are plenty of bakeries and food stalls around London that offer this tasty breakfast or lunch option that can be held easily as you wander around the city.

Bagels will most often be either plain or coated in sesame seeds and can have a variety of fillings to make them savoury or sweet, including:

  • Smoked salmon and cream cheese
  • Pastrami, melted cheese and mustard mayonnaise
  • Bacon egg and cheese
  • Salted beef, lettuce and mayonnaise
  • Peanut butter and banana
  • Ricotta cheese and blueberries

Mexican Street Food in London

Pack up your London dining experience and travel across the border from American street food to Mexican street food. The Mexican culture is fit to burst with colour and life and their street food options are no different with every meal packing a punch.

Nachos

Loaded nachos can be a fun – if messy – way of enjoying some of your favourite flavours and toppings on the go, creating the perfect snack in between meals.

Cheese and tomato salsa is a fan favourite choice but nachos in food markets around London can also be loaded with pulled pork, chipotle sauce, mashed avocado, chillies and sour cream. Whatever your choice, be ready for an explosion of flavour.

Tacos

Another Mexican staple for street food culture in London, Tacos are a spicy and flavourful way to spend an afternoon in town as you drink in the sights.

Pork, beef, fish and chicken are popular options along with vegetarian and vegan alternatives that ensure everyone gets to enjoy a tasty meal on the go. Top off your fillings with black beans, avocado, chillis and sauce for a fresh dining experience.

Churros

Boost your Mexican street food experience by selecting churros as a dessert option. While originating in Spain and Portugal, this popular sweet snack made its way across the sea to become a staple of Mexican food culture.

Food stalls in London load their churros with delicious fillings such as chocolate, butterscotch, hazelnut and pistachios. You can even try Brazilian-style churros that are coated in cinnamon and sugar and filled with dulce du leche or chocolate fudge sauce.

Burritos

Burritos are an iconic part of street food markets in London, packed with flavour from generous fillings of rice, meat, vegetables, salsa, guacamole and sour cream.

Our own burritos provide an inventive twist on British Sunday roast dinner, creating a fusion of two rich cultures into one easily eaten dish. Choose from roast beef, roast chicken or cauliflower cheese all coated in a silky smooth gravy.

Asian Street Food in London, England

One of the biggest draws of street food in London is the Asian food scene which is as rich and diverse as the many countries that populate the continent.

Noodles

Noodle street food dishes are among the most popular choices while visiting food markets and exploring the cities, with traditional Chinese cooking creating an authentic dining experience that will leave you coming back for more.

Try out some chow mein for an iconic Chinese street food option or get your noodles loaded with a curated selection of meats such as chicken or roast duck and shellfish such as king prawns, topped with a sticky sweet and sour sauce.

Bao

Bao are popular street food snacks found all over Asia. They originated in China but can also be found as a popular delicacy in Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore and the Phillipines.

They are traditionally filled with pork but London street food stalls and takeaways will also see you experiencing fillings such as:

  • Chicken, duck and lamb
  • Shrimp
  • Shiitake mushroom
  • Meatballs

Gyoza

Experience the tastes of Asia in your local London food market with gyoza, crescent shaped dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables, traditionally pork.

While originating in China, they have also become a huge part of Japanese cuisine. Find some classic Japanese gyoza with fillings like duck in hoisin sauce and pan fried pork in a tangy yuzu soy sauce.

Tandoori Chicken

Indian street food is full of warming flavours and tandoori chicken has become a popular dish worldwide whether you’re looking for a quick snack or a hearty lunch to fill you up on colder days.

Tandoori chicken is made from chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices and gets its name from the tandoor clay ovens they’re cooked in.

Bhaji

Bhaji is a popular snack food over in India, being a type of fritter made from spicy vegetables, normally onion though it can be made using potatoes, cauliflower and other vegetables too, sometimes even combining them.

There are plenty of street food stalls in London that specialise in Indian street food so don’t forget to pick up one of these crispy and flavourful snacks to go along with a main lunch.

Where to Buy Street Food in London

There are street food markets all over London with a wide variety of stalls that cover all sorts of cultures, with some even fusing cultures together to create new and exciting flavours for their customers. 

Some of the most famous food markets in the city include:

  • Camden Market – hundreds of shops and stalls celebrating food from Japan, the Middle East and Italy.
  • Buck Street Market – built from 52 old shipping containers, this market has a broad selection of stalls for all to enjoy.
  • Borough Market – famous for artisan foodie stalls including street food from Spain and Ethiopia.
  • Leather Lane Market – a bustling market famous for classic street food such as burritos.
  • Broadway Market – a trendy market with stalls celebrating Scottish, South-East Asian and Persian cuisine among others.

Our own Yorkshire Burrito shops can be found in a selection of markets and food stalls around London, making it easier than ever for you to stop by and rediscover the iconic and nostalgic tastes of a roast dinner in a new form.

These market locations include:

Whatever culture you’re choosing to delve into, you’re sure to discover some new hidden treat or surprise nestled away in one of London’s street food markets. 

Make your day out a memorable one by stopping by Yorkshire Burrito at one of our five locations. Check out our menu on our website ahead of time to find the perfect option for you.