London Food: 49 must-try dishes and where to eat them

A visit to the UK capital city isn’t complete without sampling some iconic traditional London food. But where to go? And what to eat? Here’s a Londoner’s guide to the top must-try traditional dishes plus favourite restaurants, cafes and markets for the best food in London England.

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Food in London England

Home to nearly 300 nationalities, London and its culinary scene are vibrant and ever-evolving; you can explore cuisines from all over the world here. And alongside these global flavours traditional London food is getting better and better.

Whether you’d like to sample new spins on favourite British dishes or savour timeless classics full of flavour and character, this is your guide to the best food of London. Here are the top traditional British food classics and where to find them in restaurants, pubs and cafes to suit every budget.

London food tours

Take a London food tour for a flavour of the capital’s vibrant food scene. From traditional British pub food to market finds, global influences and classic afternoon teas there are tours to suit all tastes.

Explore London’s best Indian food in the East End. go for an evening stroll around the Historic Pubs Traditional Food tour Dicover the diverse flavours of a London street market with traditional British classics and international favourites.

Famous London food that locals love

If you’re keen to try real traditional English food on a visit to London these are the meals to tick off your list.

Full English Breakfast

A full English, also fondly known as a fry-up, is a famous British dish, consisting of a cholesterol-inducing array of our favourite breakfast ingredients, all on one plate. The gentry in Georgian and Victorian times enjoyed a lavish meal at the start of the day and the habit caught on. And at a time when many British workers laboured in factories a protein-rich breakfast was the fuel they needed.

These days the traditional British breakfast has become more of a weekend treat, but it still doesn’t stint on the calories! A good full English will include most if not all of: fried, poached or scrambled eggs, bacon rashers, sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes, fried bread, black pudding and nowadays, baked beans.

Black pudding: this is a sausage that is not for the faint-hearted since it is made of pork blood, fat and oatmeal, hence it’s dark colour. But it is a rich, flavourful ingredient in a traditional full English breakfast.

Local’s tip: You have plenty of choice when it comes to finding a full English breakfast in London. This is a popular food in London and hotels, pubs, restaurants, brasseries and cafes all serve variations on the theme. For the most authentic version, beloved by Londoners, try a ‘greasy spoon’ cafe like my favourite, the legendary Regency Cafe in Westminster.

British roast lunch or dinner

Along with the full English the roast dinner is traditional London food that many Londoners still cook at home or enjoy in pubs. The Sunday roast is a British cultural icon and is treated as an opportunity to get the family together around the dining table. It’s a big meal that takes time and effort to prepare.

A modern day Sunday roast might have three courses, starting with a soup or terrine and rounding off the meal with a traditional British pudding.

A classic Sunday lunch (or dinner) consists of a main course of roast meat, usually chicken, beef, lamb or pork, with all the trimmings. Along with the meat we serve side dishes that might include – but are not limited to! – Yorkshire pudding, roast and mashed potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots, leeks, brussel sprouts, peas, green beans and gravy, with lots of variations according to tastes and season.

Condiments and sauces: served on the side, condiments add extra flavours to the meat. Try English mustard or horseradish sauce for beef, bread sauce for chicken, redcurrant or mint sauce for lamb and apple sauce for pork.

Yorkshire pudding

Fluffy, crispy and tender, Yorkshire pudding is a very traditional British food that originated centuries ago in the north of England. A savoury batter that’s cooked with the roast, often in a tartlet tin, Yorkshire puddings rise into fluffy, crispy cup shapes, a wonderful vehicle for gravy. You can also cook the batter on flat trays and slice it into wedges.

Originally this roasted batter, enriched with dripping, was served as a starter with gravy. It was intended to bulk up the meal cheaply and compensate for smaller meat portions in the main course.

Traditionally Yorkshire pudding is accompaniment to beef, though nowadays many restaurants serve it with every roast.

Gravy

Gravy is another traditional British food inextricably linked to the Sunday roast. It’s a deliciously rich sauce made of the meat juices from the roasting tin, thickened with flour and sometimes flavoured with red wine, garlic or rosemary. It’s quite different to USA’s white gravy.

Local’s tip: For a London pub with a country vibe try the Hand in Hand on Wimbledon Common where this photo was taken. You can read about it in Wimbledon village pubs. Or check out the pubs near the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London.

Try it at home: these are the best roast potatoes to enjoy with a home-cooked roast.

Fish and chips

The original British food takeaway, fish and chips traditionally comes from the fish and chip shop or ‘chippy’. Here you buy battered portions of white fish fillets with chunky chips of sliced potato, all deep-fried, sprinkled with salt and vinegar and served up in cartons (it used to be sheets of newspaper!). Side orders include curry sauce, gravy and the ubiquitous mushy peas.

There’s some question about whether fish and chips originated in London or Lancashire in the 1800s. Whatever, like the full English, fish and chips is a high-calorie plateful that originally sustained Britain’s industrial workforce. And it’s still one of our favourite national dishes. You’ll find this very British food in pubs and restaurants across the UK as well as in central London.

Mushy peas: Very different to fresh or frozen garden peas, these are dried marrowfat peas, soaked and then simmered.

Local’s tip: For the most authentic London food takeaway experience go to a fish and chip shop. Some have space for tables too where you can sit to eat your meal. In London you can find gluten-free and even vegan fish and chips: try the Hobson’s fish and chip shops.

Ploughman’s lunch

The traditional ploughman’s lunch is a pub favourite all over the UK and in lots of London pubs too. It has become a modern British food classic. This cold platter of meat, cheese and pickles has almost infinite scope for variety. But you can expect it to always include the basics of bread and cheese, as consumed by ploughmen of old.

Nowadays these rations are supplemented by further delicacies. You might find slices of ham or halves of Scotch egg. Or a chunk of pork pie with its delicious jelly and hand-raised crust. A ploughman’s lunch is usually garnished with sprigs of salad or quarters of apple and generally includes a dollop of Branston pickle and a pickled onion or two.

Afternoon tea

Afternoon tea is a fun experience that’s on many people’s to-do lists when they plan a London itinerary. In past times it was something of a ritual for the upper classes, involving fine porcelain teaware and a mix of savoury and sweet nibbles enjoyed on comfy chairs in the drawing room.

Nowadays we’re more likely to help ourselves to snacks and drinks on the go. Whilst the afternoon tea has morphed into an upscale ritual mostly confined to hotels and cafes. It’s generally a special occasion treat for locals as well as visitors and an indulgent afternoon tea is a popular food in London.

Expect to be served a cup of tea plus finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and the classic Victoria sponge cake named after the Queen. Up-scale versions of afternoon tea might include savouries, patisserie and even champagne.

Local’s tip: You can spend as much or as little as you like on an afternoon tea in London. Take a Royal High Tea at Kensington Palace. Enjoy a Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea bus tour. Cruise the Thames whilst enjoying your tea and cake. Or take an expert guided tour of the masterpieces of the National Gallery followed by tea service in their pretty Ochre restaurant.

Vegetarian and vegan food in London

Historically British food has been resolutely carnivorous. But nowadays you’ll find plenty of vegetarian and vegan versions of traditional food in London, from vegan fish and chips to vegan Wellington. Check the menus before you book a table at a restaurant or pub.

Popular foods in London to buy as souvenirs

HP sauce HP original brown sauce, with a picture of Big Ben on the label, is said to have got its name when the Houses of Parliament started to serve it in their restaurant. It is a favourite condiment for a Full English breakfast.

Bisto gravy A generation of British children remember the Aah! Bisto TV ad. These packets of granules are a 2 minute fix for fast gravy!

Jars of British condiments Find English mustard or horseradish, tartare, mint, redcurrant and apple sauce at every supermarket and grocery store.

Sarson’s malt vinegar Sprinkle it with salt over fish and chips. The original Sarson’s factory was in Bermondsey, London.

Pickled eggs Like vinegar, another stalwart of the traditional chippy, a jar of pickled eggs stands on every counter. For an up-market version look out for jars of pickled quails eggs in branches of Waitrose.

Branston pickle This sweet, spicy, vegetable pickle is found in most British pantries. It’s perfect with UK hard cheeses like Cheddar or Lancashire. Also try the tumeric-yellow Piccalilli, a mustard relish that adds a tangy spiciness.

Pickled onions Ubiquitous in a ploughman’s lunch and also found at most self-respecting chippies, pickled onions are a British institution. Serve fancy cocktail onions with drinks or dark malty pickles with a slab of Cheddar.

Lyle’s Golden syrup The foundation of a syrup steamed pudding, and delicious trickled on pancakes, a spoonful of golden syrup features in lots of traditional British cake recipes.

Birds custard powder Mixed with milk for instant custard!

Tiptree jams A top British brand of conserves and marmalades to slather on your homemade scones or toast.

Famous London food: pies and pastries

You’ll find these dishes on the menu in many London pubs. They are all well-loved traditional British recipes that are handed down through generations. The original street food of London, takeaway pies are still quintessential London snacks.

Takeaway pies and pasties

Lots of traditional British dishes involve pastry. For centuries it was cheap, filling and acted as a handy receptacle to carry a meaty filling to work for lunch. From medieval times or even earlier, the typical London food sold by city street vendors were meat pies. And it’s the same today! We love our pies, they’re an intrinsic part of our culture. Pies even star (sort of!) in the apocryphal London tale of Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Cornish pasty A meat and veg combo held in a shortcrust pastry pouch with a sturdy crimped ‘handle’. They originated as the portable lunches of the tin miners of Cornwall – the handle was essential to ensure that the miners’ dirty hands didn’t transfer toxins to their meal.

Sausage roll Sausagemeat rolled into a puff pastry case has been a popular street food in London for centuries. They even featured in a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta in 1896.

Pork pie In 1700s Leicestershire, gentry set off for a day’s hunting with snacks of pork meat in jelly contained in a dense hand-raised crust. Today the Melton Mowbray pork pie is officially recognised for its historic and cultural significance.

Scotch egg A similarly portable snack, the Scotch egg is a hard-boiled egg with an outer layer of sausagement and breadcrumbs. Originally baked for travellers by London grocers to royalty, Fortnum and Mason.

Local’s tip: If you’re looking for traditional London foods to try you can sample these savoury pastries at many London food markets, supermarkets or high street takeaways like Greggs. Or find up-scale versions of the classics in the refined surroundings of Fortnum and Mason.

Steak and ale pies

A popular London food, a hot steak and ale pie with vegetables on the side is a classic choice in one of the capital’s traditional pubs. Many offer a variety of fillings like steak and kidney, steak and Stilton or chicken and mushroom, all encased in shortcrust pastry or with a flaky puff pastry topping. Look out too for steak and kidney puddings which have a soft suet casing and are enjoying a bit of a comeback right now. Many pubs serve vegetarian pie options too.

Shepherd’s pie, Cottage pie and fish pie

Ok, this is where it gets complicated. Despite their name, traditional English dishes like shepherd’s pie, cottage pie and fish pie do not have a pastry layer. Instead mashed potato provides the carbs on top of the meat. But we still call them pies, sorry! They’re a popular London food in many pubs.

Shepherd’s pie has a base of mutton or lamb mince with vegetables.

Cottage pie swops in beef for lamb.

Fish pie is a mix of white fish and seafood in a creamy sauce.

In all cases the assembled dish is baked in the oven where the mashed potato topping turns a tempting golden brown.

Quirky London food

These are the oddly-named traditional London dishes that might catch your eye on a menu. They are all delicious so give them a try!

Pie, mash and eels

Once a staple of the working Londoner’s diet, pie and mash with liquor, a green parsley sauce, along with jellied eels are more of a specialist taste these days. But you can still find traditional pie and mash shops in London and keen foodies will enjoy tracking them down and savouring these historic dishes.

Local’s tip: try Harrington’s pie and mash shop in Tooting Bec or Cockney’s Pie and Mash on Portobello Road. Or, for a very posh smoked eel sandwich, check out the menu at Quo Vardis in Soho.

Bangers and mash

The bangers in question are sausages and this nickname for them dates back to World War 1. In those days of food shortages sausages would pop and crackle as they cooked, thanks to a high water content that eked out the ingredients. British sausages contain ground pork or beef with spices or herbs in a fine casing. In the much-loved traditional British dish bangers and mash the sausages are served with boiled or steamed potatoes, forked up to a puree with milk and butter.

Toad in the hole

Don’t worry, this has nothing to do with amphibians. Toad in the hole is another thrifty and filling traditional British recipe that combines the good old British sausage with a comforting blanket of batter. The batter in fact is the same recipe as is used to make Yorkshire puddings. Delicious with a spot of onion gravy too!

Bubble and squeak

This evocatively named dish is a simple fried mixture of potato with cabbage or brussel sprouts. It’s a great way to use up leftovers and the name refers to the sizzle of the veg in the oily pan.

Famous London food: puddings

Pudding is the traditional name for a dessert in the UK. Except in the case of steak and kidney pudding of course. And Yorkshire pudding, although historically this was occasionally served with jam, after the main course. Apart from these obvious exceptions here are the favourite sweet puddings of British cuisine that you’ll find in many London pubs.

Apple crumble

Purists may choose a traditional apple pie in shortcrust pastry, but arguably a crumble takes apples to the next level. In this dish the softened fruit is topped with a delectable baked crust of oats, sugar and butter. In season you can vary the recipe by mixing rhubarb or blackberries into the apple base. Apple crumble is traditionally served with custard or pouring cream, but ice cream is a popular alternative these days.

Sponge puddings

A steamed sponge pudding is a favourite traditionally British food, although nowadays they are rarely cooked at home. But you’ll still find them on pub menus, whilst updated versions are popular in modern British cuisine.

Syrup sponge pudding is a longstanding favourite, crafted with Lyle’s Golden Syrup. Although it’s been largely usurped in restaurants today by…..

Sticky toffee pudding a relative newcomer on the British food scene which is claimed to originate from the Lake District in the 1970s.

Jam roly-poly A very traditional pud made of suet, jam roly-poly is otherwise known as dead man’s arm or leg since, in days of old, it was steamed in a handy shirt sleeve!

Spotted Dick The currant-studded and unfortunately-named spotted dick is another suet pudding that’s enjoying a bit of a renaissance.

All these sweet treats are traditionally served with lashings of custard.

Custard

Another hard-wired British institution, custard, made with eggs and milk, is even called crème anglaise in France. It’s the traditional accompaniment to all our hot sweet puddings and pies. You can make it from scratch or buy a box of Birds custard powder for a delicious and quick version.

Sherry trifle

A sherry trifle can be as posh or simple as you like. A quick homemade trifle includes sponge fingers, a tot of sherry and layers of summer fruit, custard and cream. It’s a little out of fashion at the moment but you’ll find next-level sherry trifles at grand London restaurants like Wiltons. You can also buy this classic sweet treat off the shelf from the chilled food sections in many supermarkets.

Eton mess

Strawberries and cream is a favourite London food on summer picnics and at social and sporting events like the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. For an elevated version try a fruity, creamy Eton Mess. The story goes that it originated around the cricket pitches of Eton College, the exclusive boys boarding school near Windsor London.

A delicious muddle of strawberries, double cream and crushed meringues, it’s easy to whip up an Eton Mess at home and it’s extra scrumptious if made from scratch.

Local’s tip: The Boatman, a pub in Windsor, near Eton College, claims to make a best-in-class Eton Mess!

London food from around the world

It’s no surprise that in today’s multi-cultural Britain many favourite British dishes have far-flung origins. Over the centuries, waves of immigrants brought their own much-loved recipes to the UK capital, some of which have become staple London foods today.

Chicken tikka masala

One of the most popular London foods has origins on the other side of the world. Nowadays the British curry is as much a part of our culture as centuries old classics like sausage rolls.

Although they’d been eaten in Britain since the 18th century, the turning point for curries came in the 1970s with an influx of immigration from Bangladesh. This new community largely settled in the East End of London around Brick Lane, and opened curry houses there. It’s likely that they modified their original recipes for British tastes and London quickly caught on to the joys of chicken tikka masala in its creamy and tomato’y sauce.

Nowadays Indian food ranks high on the popularity charts in the UK. You’ll still find ‘British’ curries in Indian eateries in London, but also authentic regional recipes in a new wave of East Asian restaurants.

Local’s tip: For an Indian restaurant serving modern London food inspired by the past check out Dishoom branches. Or for a typical Brick Lane curry house, founded in the 1970s and still getting great reviews, try Aladin Brick Lane.

Chinese food in London

Chinatown in London grew up in the 1950s and 60s as Chinese immigrants settled in Soho. The restaurants there became popular with Londoners for their Cantonese menus, late hours and affordable prices. Roast duck, dim sum and sweet and sour dishes were fashionable fare. Nowadays Chinatown is pulsing with restaurants showcasing regional Chinese dishes as well as cuisine from across south east Asia.

For a traditional affordable Chinatown eatery try Joy King Lau for the atmosphere and flavours. YiQi Pan Asian Cuisine is a new star on the block, whilst the vast Loon Fung supermarket has been in Chinatown for more than 50 years.

Salt beef beigels

Jewish immigrants first brought beigels to London in the 19th century from Poland. In fact it’s even said that beigels were a thing in London before they arrived in New York. The Beigel Shop and Beigel Bake, both in Brick Lane, have vied for the crown of best beigels in London for decades. Both are open 24 hours and many Londoners have queued for this quintessential late-night London food treat at one time or another!

The classic salt beef beigel is the traditional option, but London is also enjoying a new wave of bagel shops with innovative fillings and flavourings.

Spaghetti Bolognese

Many post-war London cafes were run by Italian families who had emigrated to the capital. Italian dishes like spaghetti bolognese and lasagne joined the menus alongside traditional classics like the full English and ham and eggs and quickly became favourites. But like our British curries, the original Italian recipes were adapted for local tastes. Recently the city of Bologna in Italy has disowned our much-loved UK version of spaghetti bolognese. Spag bol, as we fondly call it, is very much a British food these days.

Traditional London food: fine dining

London still has a number of longstanding restaurants that serve traditional British food. Modern chefs have brought new life to the classics with an emphasis on using local and seasonal produce. In fine dining restaurants look out for famous London dishes like:

Kedgeree A lightly-curried dish of smoked haddock and rice, popular for upper class breakfasts in Victorian times.

Potted shrimps Tiny brown shrimps cooked and preserved with butter, served on thin toast as an appetiser.

Game dishes Autumn and Winter is the season to eat wild game in London: roast pheasant, partridge or the highly prized grouse.

Fish and seafood Oysters, crab and lobster, smoked eel, Dover sole, plaice, turbot…. Fish lovers will be in heaven at one of London’s speciality seafood restaurants.

Beef Wellington A glorious rich dish of fillet steak and pâté in a puff pastry crust. It was probably named in honour of the Duke of Wellington after his victory at Waterloo.

Oysters in London

Forget fish and chips, Londoners have been eating oysters since Roman times. And you still can – the only difference is that today they are a luxury food.

In the 19th century raw, pickled or cooked oysters were a plentiful supply of cheap protein in London, fished straight from the Thames. They were sold on the streets along with pies, eels and pickled whelks and were popular with rich and poor. But by the 20th century the Thames was over-fished and polluted. Oysters became an expensive treat.

Today supply has improved and oysters are once again on the menu in London’s restaurants. Try them at branches of Wright Brothers.

Where to eat traditional British food in London

You can dine on British classic dishes at a Michelin star restaurant or grab cheap eats at a food market. Take afternoon tea in a luxury hotel or have a slap up full English in a greasy spoon cafe. Here are some suggestions for places to enjoy the best traditional food of London England.

Restaurants serving traditional London food

Rules Covent Garden. The oldest restaurant in London, Rules even plays a cameo role in TV series Downton Abbey. You can enjoy traditional dishes from potted shrimps to roast rib of beef and golden syrup sponge in its classical surroundings.

Wiltons St James’s. Serving classic British dishes since the 18th century, this grand London restaurant is famed for its seafood and game. Queen Victoria ordered oysters from here and you can too.

Sweetings Restaurant the City. Long-established old-school lunchtime spot for fish and seafood. Go for the historic dining room, counter service and classic dishes.

J Sheekay Leicester Square. A Theatreland legend, this seafood restaurant is fancy enough for a celebration but friendly too. Check out the pre- and post-theatre set menus.

Quality Chop House Clerkenwell. Modern British cuisine in Victorian surroundings. The meat-centric menu of high quality produce is regularly updated. Their confit potatoes are famous.

St John Smithfield. The pioneers of nose to tail eating, the stripped-back setting and celebration of British food has made St John a contemporary London classic. It has a Michelin star too.

The Wolseley Piccadilly. This grand café-restaurant has a European menu with many British classics from kedgeree at breakfast to fruit crumble for pudding.

The Ivy West Street Covent Garden. In the heart of Theatreland, the original Ivy restaurant serves classic London dishes in glamorous surroundings. Long famous for its Shepherd’s pie, the menu also features a beef Wellington for two.

Pubs with typical London food

Although pubs primarily sell beer and other alcohol, nowadays many London pubs serve excellent traditional British dishes too. The vibe is more relaxed than in a restaurant: you order and pay for food at the bar and find your own table. Londoners are very fond of a pub lunch and lots of London pubs serve excellent Sunday roasts.

Many of the photos in this post were taken at The Hand in Hand Wimbledon. It feels like a country pub though it’s close to central London and it’s a great place for a typical Sunday lunch, a homemade pie or sausages and mash!

Check out more pubs in Wimbledon and some traditional West London pubs near the Royal Albert Hall.

London food markets

Nowadays our street food has a global flavour, and in a London market you’re as likely to find Bao buns or Mexican tacos as you are a Cornish pasty. If you’re searching for traditional London food though here’s what to look out for:

Cockles and whelks These little shellfish are a very traditional street food in London. Try Shellseekers in Borough Market.

British cheeses Londoners have relished cheese for centuries. And a cheese board is a delicious alternative to sweet puddings at the end of a meal. Britain proudly produces a vast array of cheeses from crumbly Lancashire to tangy blue Stilton and a market stall is a good place to sample some flavours and buy a snack lunch.

Pies and pasties Steak pies, sausage rolls, Cornish pasties and Scotch eggs are regulars in London food markets.

Local’s tip: For traditional British food try Borough Market, open Tuesday to Sunday. London Farmers’ Markets like the one in Pimlico Road, are usually open one morning a week and feature fresh food from local producers as well as takeaway snacks.

Traditional food in London cafes

Greasy spoon is the nickname Brits give to a particular type of much loved but increasingly rare, you could say heritage, cafe. In fact it’s more a term of endearment than an indictment. Whereas today we pop into a cafe for a flat white and a muffin, back in the day a ‘caff’ supplied a more robustly down-to-earth menu.

A traditional greasy spoon served a cheap filling cooked breakfast for the working man or woman, accompanied by bread and butter and strong cups of tea. At lunchtime, plates of ham, egg and chips, liver and bacon, or omelettes would (and still do!) serve the same function.

With tiled walls and formica topped tables, greasy spoons have a stripped-back aesthetic – and a new wave of fans with each new generation. Track one down for some popular London food to remember!

Local’s tip: Try Regency Cafe, Westminster. E. Pellicci, Bethnal Green Road, or Speedy’s Sandwich Bar and Cafe in North Gower Street that featured in the BBC Sherlock series.

Please note that all visitor information here is for guidance only. Please check the relevant websites for the most up to date information eg. accommodation details, tickets, entrance requirements, opening times etc.

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