The Top Cheap Eats in London

by The OpenTable Team

Updated 09 November 2023

Where can diners find good food at a low price in London? Britain’s capital has a reputation for traditional high quality cuisine and a vibrant foodie scene. You'll discover traditional dishes such as meat pies, English breakfasts, and fish and chips—along with Italian, Indian, Caribbean, Chinese cuisine, and more. But where are the smartest, savviest diners eating out? Welcome to our Tastemakers List. We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. Impress your friends and family and score a table; we wish we could join you.

Ivy Market Grill

4.2

4.2 (18656)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Covent Garden

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Covent Garden and close to the theaters, the Ivy Market Grill serves food all day with a British or European theme. You'll find a good vegetarian and vegan menu as well as brunch and light bites. There are daily specials and a great choice of main dishes. Choose from the Ivy Shepherds Pie or Chicken Milanese among many other tempting dishes including a traditional English breakfast. Seasonal flavors are also reflected in the menu. The pre-theater menu is really good value for two or three courses—but do make a reservation, as the restaurant is popular.

Top review

Martin

Dined 1 day ago

Great atmosphere and perfect waiting staff.

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4.4

4.4 (2192)

£26 to £40

Italian

Soho

About the restaurant

This award-winning Italian restaurant is in Soho and is famous for their authentic cuisine and romantic atmosphere. The menu features food from all 20 of the Italian regions and has an excellent wine selection. Bocca Di Lupo changes its menu weekly to make the most of seasonal specialties but there is a wide range of inexpensive choices for diners at this London hot spot. Popular dishes include Tuscan salami, grilled sardines with gremolata, and more. Reservations recommended.

Top review

BenR

Dined on 29 Jul 2021

Very Authentic Italian food. If you have been around Italy and are missing it, try this place.

Blacklock Soho

4.7

4.7 (5915)

£25 and under

Steak

Soho

About the restaurant

Blacklock is famous for high-quality meat served at a good price for Central London. Grills and chops are the order of the day, and diners can make up a plate from a range of meats and sides. The meat comes from Warren's butchers in Cornwall, which is one of the finest in the U.K., and operated by farmers. With a fun atmosphere in the restaurants and their cocktails for a fiver, Blacklock is the ideal place to come for a night out or a pre-theater meal at one of the best cheap London restaurants serving British cuisine.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 5 days ago

Loved our dinner- great service food and ambiance! We visited from Australia but felt so at home- thank u !

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Riding House Fitzrovia

4.4

4.4 (4859)

£26 to £40

Modern European

Fitzrovia

About the restaurant

With a modern appearance, the Riding House Cafe is a popular venue in London's Fitzrovia. Located near the main shopping district and theaters, Riding House Cafe is a good place to find cheap eats in London. Choose from healthy salads or coconut chicken as just a few tempting menu items. Diners can also pick a selection of smaller plates to share. This is a restaurant with a lot to choose from so suits most tastes.The restaurant is open all day so diners can drop in or make a reservation from breakfast to dinner.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 1 day ago

Love this restaurant. Pancakes and burgers were delicious.

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Popular dish

Buttermilk Pancakes

Popular dish

Buttermilk Pancakes 2

Experience

CHRISTMAS DAY 2024

The Ivy Soho Brasserie

4.3

4.3 (11031)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Soho

About the restaurant

All-day dining at the Ivy Soho Brasserie makes this central London restaurant popular with sightseers and theatergoers. They are also one of the best cheap places to eat in Central London in a venue that has a sophisticated atmosphere but thrives on quality. The music scene in the neighborhood and the poet William Blake both inspired the artwork in the restaurant. Diners can select a wide range of dishes from specials to brunch. On Fridays and Saturdays, a DJ is present, creating a lively beat while you eat.

Top review

ChrisVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Very good food and service would highly recommend

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Experience

New Year's Day Brunch

4.5

4.5 (5562)

£41 and over

Mediterranean

Soho

About the restaurant

NOPI Soho is an Ottolenghi restaurant with inspirational dishes created with a Middle Eastern twist. There is seasonal cuisine here with signature dishes including courgette and manouri fritters, and a real fusion of flavors. NOPI serves meals all day including breakfast and pre-theater dining. The downstairs area has communal tables with the upper level for more formal dining. This is a popular restaurant and reservations are a must.

Top review

LucyB

Dined on 5 Jan 2020

Excellent food, lovely service - it lived up to its reputation!

som saa

4.6

4.6 (416)

£26 to £40

Thai

Shoreditch

About the restaurant

Located in London's Spitalfields neighborhood, Som Saa is well-known for their regional Thai cuisine. The Tem Toh sharing menu for three or more has some tempting dishes for groups. Lunch and dinner at Som Saa feature enticing dishes including five spice soy-braised pork belly and Thai green curry. Known for its quality, Som Saa is one of the best cheap London restaurants for a culinary treat that really highlights the best of Thai cuisine.

Top review

Emily

Dined on 15 Oct 2024

Warm welcome, 4 of us for lunch. There was a la carte and a set menu to choose from, but the set menu is only provided for the whole table. Luckily, the dishes on the set menu today were cashew nuts with chilli and lime leaves, a beautiful, crunchy salad, duck curry, excellent mixed vegetables in garlic and oyster sauce, plus sticky and jasmine rice. We paid a supplement for a whole sea bass, fried. Dessert was also included.

Yauatcha Soho

4.5

4.5 (6835)

£26 to £40

Chinese

Soho

About the restaurant

For the best dim sum and other Chinese specialties, Yauatcha Soho is one of the best places to eat. Located in the midst of London's Chinatown, this is a classy restaurant with some great twists on dim sum. You'll find crispy duck rolls alongside dumplings, and mushroom spring roll with black truffle. The restaurant also has an excellent patisserie with beautifully designed tempting desserts. Yauatcha Soho is another of the best cheap London restaurants to experience.

Top review

mark

Dined 5 days ago

Great service and excellent choice of food.. our waitress was so attentive and it was busy

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Popular dish

Crispy duck salad

Popular dish

Crispy aromatic duck - half

Popular dish

Crispy duck roll

Dean Street Townhouse

4.6

4.6 (4605)

£26 to £40

British

Soho

About the restaurant

Located in Soho, Dean Street Townhouse serves food all day. From traditional British breakfasts to lunches and even afternoon tea, there is a wide selection of tempting dishes. Choose from classic dishes including lamb pie, Scottish salmon, and a range of salads, or settle for the set lunch which is good value. Diners will find a pre-theater menu too, as well as dinner and a great choice of wines.

Top review

Helen

Dined 2 days ago

Lovely from the moment you arrive here. Table service was impeccable .. food, wine and ambience also. Thank you townhouse.

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Popular dish

Steak tartare Burford Brown egg

Popular dish

Sticky toffee pudding vanilla ice cream

Popular dish

Monkfish & prawn curry rice

The Ivy Chelsea Garden

4.4

4.4 (14141)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Chelsea

About the restaurant

Kings Road is one of London's most famous shopping streets and also home to the Ivy Chelsea Garden. The restaurant has a relaxed feel, along with a terrace and a garden, so they are the ideal place to chill out and enjoy a cheap meal after a few hours of shopping. There is a bespoke cocktail menu with drinks themed after iconic Chelsea locations and characteristics. Diners will find a blend of British and international cuisine here and the daily special is worth a look and generally great value for money.

Top review

William

Dined 1 day ago

Brilliant experience from the moment we arrived at the restaurant. The service was outstanding. The food was served quickly and was delicious. Although a little expensive it was well worth it. Highly recommend this restaurant.

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Experience

Breakfast Set Menu

Experience

The Ivy Chelsea Garden Festive Afternoon Tea

Experience

Boxing Day Brunch

Balthazar London

4.3

4.3 (5301)

£26 to £40

French

Covent Garden

About the restaurant

This popular brasserie in Covent Garden serves delicious food all day and is really popular, being close to the theaters. Taste some of the best bistro food in London and relax with a glass from the extensive wine menu. Balthazar is also known for its artisan bread, salads, and pastries, which patrons can eat at the restaurant or as a take-out. This is one of London's best cheap places to eat and they are proud to serve quality food.

Top review

navjot

Dined 2 days ago

Lovely pre Christmas family lunch. Quick service. Good food and drink.

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4.6

4.6 (374)

£41 and over

British

Mayfair

About the restaurant

Hide Above is one of London's best kept secrets for cheap eats and run by Chef Ollie Dabbous. He earned a Michelin star at his previous restaurant before opening Hide. With views across Green Park, this elegant restaurant serves a good value set menu and has a larger tasting menu. There is also a vegetarian set menu lunch which is popular with diners. Reservations are a smart decision as the restaurant has a good reputation and can get busy.

Top review

JackieWVIP

Dined on 18 Sept 2019

Excellent. A bit bonkers, but excellent. Friendliest staff I’ve ever encountered, but still extremely professional.

Bistrotheque

4.2

4.2 (1877)

£26 to £40

French

Bethnal Green

About the restaurant

Bistrotheque sits in a converted East London warehouse and serves seasonal French and European cuisine. There are some great choices on the menu including camembert pie with parsley and truffle sauce or Swaledale steak. The drinks menu is one of the best in the area and Bistrotheque has music events and more at weekends, creating a lively atmosphere. They are one of the best cheap London restaurants for French cuisine.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 4 Jan 2020

Food is amazing. Service is great. Every time I go I remember why I keep coming back.

Social Eating House

4.3

4.3 (2189)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Soho

About the restaurant

The Social Eating House in Soho has a comfortable, yet informal atmosphere, with a definite lively vibe. They serve great quality food at a good price in Central London and are one of the best cheap places to eat. Who would have guessed this was a Michelin star restaurant? But they are, and well-deserved, too. Social Eating House sprawls across three floors with the Blind Pig Cocktail bar on the first floor. The dining space is on the ground floor with a designated space for the kitchen. Seasonal and regional food is the order of the day with the set lunch menu being of particularly good value.

Top review

SanushaNaidoo

Dined on 4 Jan 2020

Lovely experience! Everything we ate was divine. Would definitely recommend to others. Only area for development - fix the WIFI

Umu

4.4

4.4 (647)

£41 and over

Japanese

Mayfair

About the restaurant

This award-winning Japanese restaurant has some of the best sushi in London, and largely influenced by Kyoto cuisine. This is a restaurant that prides themselves on the provenance of ingredients and the influence of Chef Yoshinori Ishii is everywhere, from the menu items to designs and even flower arrangements. UMU has a Michelin star for the quality of the cuisine. Fish comes from Cornwall and Scotland with some authentic Japanese ingredients flown in from Japan. Reservations are highly recommended.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 4 Jan 2020

Outstanding sushi and great service.

Park Chinois

4.5

4.5 (757)

£41 and over

Chinese

Mayfair

About the restaurant

This sophisticated restaurant in the heart of Mayfair specializes in French Chinese cuisine. The era of 1930s Shanghai inspires the decor and there is live music, creating a vibrant dining experience. A light lunch menu includes dim sum, salads, bao, and more. The set menu is good value with great choices, and there is a dinner menu with a wide range of sophisticated dishes. Park Chinois has live music seven days a week, so they are one of London's best cheap places to eat, but with added entertainment.

Top review

frankVIP

Dined on 9 Dec 2024

Pricey but very good food and service:) ambiance is amazing.

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Experience

Cocktails & Dim Sum in Salon de Chine

Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill

4.7

4.7 (2736)

£41 and over

Seafood

Mayfair

About the restaurant

Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill have one of the best outdoor terraces in London, as well as high-quality seafood. Shucking oysters is a passion here, and there is a wide range of shellfish on the menu. There are sharing platters too, and a fish and chips special offer on Mondays. Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill are popular and reservations are advisable.

Top review

JaswinderVIP

Dined 6 days ago

I’ve been to Bentleys several times in the last year. It’s very good well presented food. I like the menu - particularly the range of starters. The seafood is as good as it should be. Service is very good, attentive but not intrusive. I like the traditional ambience. I’ve only ever eaten upstairs but the bar area has banquette seating and you can sit outside too.

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Experience

Best of Bentley's 3 Course Set Menu

St. JOHN Smithfield

4.8

4.8 (4106)

£41 and over

British

Farringdon

About the restaurant

St John is in the heart of historic Smithfield in the City of London. They are in a converted warehouse close to the Smithfield Meat Market and specialize in nose-to-tail eating. Diners will find seasonal food on the menu with a large choice featuring the best of British cuisine. Items include kid liver, bacon, and mash or hare pie for two as the restaurant makes the most of locally available food. Reservations advised, as this restaurant is very popular.

Top review

Louise

Dined 1 day ago

As always totally superb food, wines and service! Thank you St John for always being special!

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Popular dish

Eccles Cake and Lancashire Cheese

Popular dish

Welsh Rarebit

Popular dish

Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad

Hakkasan Mayfair

4.6

4.6 (7863)

£41 and over

Chinese

Mayfair

About the restaurant

Specializing in Cantonese cooking, Hakkasan Mayfair is sophisticated and popular. Spread over two dining floors, there are both intimate spaces to eat and livelier areas. In Hakkasan Mayfair there are unique dishes specially created for the restaurant such as black truffle roast duck, as well as classic Cantonese dishes. Hakkasan also has a well-deserved Michelin star. There are dim sum and light bites, as well as an extensive a la carte menu in this popular restaurant.

Top review

Sebastian

Dined 1 day ago

The Peking duck with beluga caviar wasn’t our favorite

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Experience

Taste of Hakkasan - 3 Course Menu

Experience

Taste of Hakkasan - 3 Course Menu with Champagne

Experience

New Year's Eve Lost in Shanghai £218pp

Spring Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (1585)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Covent Garden

About the restaurant

The iconic Somerset House, one of London's most historic buildings, is the location of Spring Restaurant. The cuisine is local and hearty with a creative touch by Chef Skye Gingell. This is an excellent place to relax over lunch or dinner and is one of the best cheap London restaurants. Spring has a good range of vegetarian options as well as seafood and regional specialties. Reservations recommended, as this restaurant is popular, especially when special events take place here.

Top review

CarrieJ

Dined on 2 Jan 2020

Spring didn't disappoint. It's a lovely space with wonderful food and very attentive and happy staff.