Guest Post: Top 5 Affordable Eats in London

Today’s guest post is written by Helen Cross of Simonseeks. Helen is a social media obsessed marketer who also loves to travel. Her passion is for off the beaten track, shoestring expeditions, and she’d take a hammock in a hostel over a five star hotel any day. She particularly loves the vibrancy and friendliness of Central America, and is always planning her next trip!

Top 5 Affordable Eats in London

London is possibly my favourite city ever: a thousand different countries in one place; you can experience the best of British or get lost somewhere so foreign-feeling you could be forgiven for thinking you’d left England entirely. Add to this the numerous free festivals and the pure buzz of England’s capital, and you have the recipe for one hell of a trip. The UK has been much maligned by foodies for its supposedly lacklustre cuisine, and London has often be charged with putting the British Isles back on the map; but does it live up to the challenge? Here are my recommendations for the best affordable eats in London:

1. Tito’s Peruvian Eatery

Tito's Peruvian

You don’t need to hang around Machu Picchu for some real, authentic, Peruvian cuisine. Head to Tito’s, near London Bridge Tube, for your South American fix. Prices are reasonable, at between £9 and £14 for a main course or £19 for the set menu (two courses with a soft drink, glass of wine, or beer). Whilst I could spend all day raving about the Aji De Gallina (shredded hen in cheese sauce, served with rice), what I really love about Tito’s is the drinks: I have yet to come across anywhere else that sells the delicious, Lemon Verbena flavoured Inka Kola, the corn based superdrink Chicha Morada, or the famous Coca Tea. If you prefer your drinks to have a little more bite, there are also damned good Pisco Sours and Caipirinhas.

2. S&M London

S&M

Despite the name, the closest thing you’ll see to leather and whips in S&M are the studded jackets of some of the more alternative patrons on a Sunday afternoon. Known around Islington as the coolest way to feed a hangover, S&M (it really stands for Sausage and Mash!) serves traditional, hearty British food in an unpretentious environment. Prices start at £7.50 for traditional sausages served with mash and gravy, and the most expensive item on the main menu clocks in at a bargain price of £9.75 for Salmon and Parsley Fishcakes. If you drop by on a weekend, expect to wait, or you can make like a true Brit and grab a takeaway before heading back to bed!

3. Navajo Joe

Fishcake at Navajo Joe

Navajo Joe is a gorgeously furnished bar and restaurant in Covent Garden that serves inventive, exotic food with wide ranging influences from Mexico to The Pacific Rim. Main courses run from £9.95 for an Asparagus and Oyster Mushroom Enchilada to £19.95 for South American Surf and Turf. My personal favourite is the Tequila Lime Chimichanga with Mango Salsa, which is far more delicious than it really should be for just £11.95! Cocktails are sold at a ‘good for London’ price of around £7 and some are really inventive: I could write a whole post on how much I love the hot, spicy kick of the (aptly named) ‘Inferno’ Margarita.

4. Pho Cafe

Pho Cafe

Vietnamese street food has taken over from Malaysian as London’s hot cuisine of choice, and dedicated restaurants are popping up all over town on what feels like a daily basis. Pho was the first and, some may argue, the best: it’s nice and informal and great for a weekday lunch. Pho has expanded to four locations throughout London, including Oxford Circus and Soho. I always go for the traditional Pho Noodle Soup, which has never disappointed. There are 15 different combinations to choose from, and you are encouraged to garnish with herbs and sauces at your table to get the perfect taste.

5. Sugar Cane

Sugar Cane

Ok, so it’s a stretch to call Sugar Cane a restaurant, but this cocktail bar near Clapham Junction does serve some delicious eats to complement its truly amazing cocktails. The Thai Beef is particularly delicious and, at £9.50, saves you the majority of your budget for drinking! The deco is pure Tiki heaven: transporting you instantly from rain-strewn Clapham to the South Pacific, whilst the drinks are expertly mixed and beautifully presented. Stand outs include Pele’s (named after the goddess of fire), which is garnished with a hollowed-out passion fruit, filled with flaming rum; and the giant Tiki Death Punch, a potent mix of rums and tropical juices, which is large enough for 8 brave people.

Follow Helen on Twitter: @Beyond_Escape

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