London is a world-class city known for its architecture, royal family, and theater (to name a few). But it’s definitely not known for its cuisine. The food in London — and England as a whole — has a reputation for being out-right bad. But for a city of almost 9 million people, it’s ridiculous to think there isn’t good food to eat in London.
British food doesn’t exactly have the same sort of appeal as other cuisines, but when it comes to comfort food you crave on a cold, rainy day, British food hits the mark. Think about it: when it’s dreary and damp outside, doesn’t a hearty chicken pot pie sound delicious? Or when you’re drinking a beer at your neighborhood bar, can you ever go wrong pairing it with fish and chips?
Even still, food in London is so much more than British cuisine. London is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world and its residents speak an astonishing 300 different languages. Needless to say, there’s more to eat in London beyond fish and chips. Here are 7 dishes you can’t leave London without eating.
7 Foods to Eat in London
1. Fish & Chips
Fish and Chips is synonymous with England so of course it’s one of the foods to eat in London. The dish has been an English staple since the 1800s, but it was one of the few foods not rationed during World War II, making it an essential part of life.
Purists say traditional British Fish and Chips is made with cod or haddock paired with thick-cut floury potatoes (they absorb less oil than thinner counterparts), both fried in beef drippings or lard. Originally it was wrapped in newspaper to be used as a plate to eat outdoors, but that’s been deemed unsafe since the 1980s.
Enjoy them with vinegar and a sprinkle of salt, served with mushy peas. Fair warning: mushy peas taste exactly like they sound and, as one server explained, if you try them once, you’ll never need to have them ever again. (He was right!)
2. Meat Pie (with Proper Gravy)
Meat pie, or just “pie” as it’s called in England, is one of the classic British dishes, regardless of what’s inside. Traditionally the filling varied by region, based on what was easily available. Today many of those traditional types have stuck, but you can pretty much find everything everywhere.
Beef, mutton, chicken, vegetables, lamb, even oysters are some of the pies offered throughout Britain at neighborhood restaurants, pubs, and chippies (fish and chip shops). They are available all through London and I noticed some offered with “proper gravy,” which my British friend explained is homemade gravy not from a packet.
Apparently Brits eat pies for any meal of the day, hot or cold, at home or on the go. That plays to pies’ history: they were created to preserve the contents and make food easier to carry. Originally the pastry crust wasn’t eaten, but used as a way to keep air out to preserve the meat inside. Eventually the pastry was replaced with an edible version and the popular pies of today were born.
3. Modern British Food
Once you’ve had your fill of traditional British food like meat pies and fish and chips, hunt down one of the many restaurants elevating British cuisine to dishes worthy of the world-class city that London is.
London currently has 72 Michelin restaurants — one of the highest densities of starred restaurants in the world. They cover just about every cuisine, but since you’re in London, find one serving British food. Or one reinventing what’s considered British, like Marcus. The two-starred restaurant has an incredibly affordable tasting menu and the food and service were excellent.
If you’d rather focus your calories on alcohol, London is also home to an astonishing number of bars listed on the Best Bars in the World list. From cocktail bars to gin speakeasies, London bars clearly made an impression on the notorious list. Hunt down one or two, but skip the #1 Best Bar in the World, The American at the Savoy. The cocktail was good, but hardly enough to justify the 35£ price tag considering the service was some of the worst I’ve ever received at bar.
4. Indian Food
Britain’s national dish is Chicken Tikka Masala. Yep, it’s no longer fish and chips! While that might be shocking, the British have been eating curries since the mid 1700s. (Some people even claim since the time of the Crusades.) This is all thanks to India being a British colony and people returning craving the spicy food they ate abroad and recreating it back at home.
Today London is one of the best places to eat Indian food outside of India. So of course Indian is one of the foods you have to eat in London! Hundreds of Indian restaurants in London cover all the regional varieties and range from hole-in-the-wall spots to Michelin-rated restaurants. So figure out the type of Indian food you want, then find a corresponding restaurant.
I picked Trishna, a one-Michelin starred restaurant in Marylebone serving contemporary Indian coastal cuisine. They also had an entire menu of gin and tonics — and picking one was not easy! The neighborhood spot was an excellent choice for my first night in London and, the best part, provided me with leftovers for the next few days.
5. Full English Breakfast
Another classic British dish you can’t leave London without eating is a Full English Breakfast or “Full English.” The dish is beyond hearty and will leave you full til dinner. It’s pretty basic, but includes a bit of everything. Which is where the name comes from: it’s ordering everything offered at breakfast. The best place to have it as at the nearest neighborhood pub.
In England, a Full Breakfast includes fried eggs, back bacon, grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, buttered toast, sausages (or “bangers”), baked beans, hash browns, and sometimes black pudding. Served, of course, with tea.
Ireland and Scotland have their own versions. The Irish includes soda bread and pork sausage, and the Scottish includes tattie scones and haggis. Wherever you are and whatever version you have, it’s a classic — and delicious — start to your day.
6. Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea is practically synonymous with British culture, at least in the minds of many Americans. What started as a midday meal in the 1840s practiced mostly by the wealthy has become a special occasion requiring its own set of etiquette and rules.
Traditionally, afternoon tea (never “high tea,” mind you) is served with crustless tea sandwiches, scones, pastries, and often, Champagne. Hotels and department stores throughout London offer daily afternoon tea and many have creative variations on the traditional offerings. Traveller has an extensive list of the best afternoon teas in London so find one that suits your style and book reservations beforehand. (I had afternoon tea at Hotel Café Royal but wouldn’t recommend it.)
Don’t forget to brush up on your tea etiquette, too. Remember: milk first!
7. Anything at Borough Market
London is full of outdoor markets selling everything from trinkets to truffles. The markets started during the Middle Ages and have been selling stuff ever since. One of the oldest and largest of those markets is Borough Market, which can trace its history back to the 12th Century!
Borough Market is near the London Bridge area in a partially open-air building. The stalls sell specialty foods like meats, cheese, and tea, plus ready-made food and pastries.
Devote an afternoon to wandering the market and nibbling on baked goods, freshly-caught seafood, and food stalls. Stock up on souvenirs, then stop at the pub for a pint or two.
And don’t forget the drinks!
A pint of English ale and a gin and tonic are must-haves in London.
English Ale is unfiltered, unpasteurised, and only uses natural carbonation. Contrary to popular belief, beer in England is not served warm! It’s served at cellar temperature, so it fluctuates slightly with the seasons but is usually around 50-57° F. It’s also served from a hand pump, giving your bartender a good workout to pour your pint!
Gin, on the other hand, has been popular in Britain since the 1700s, when regulations made it easy and cheap to produce. It was so popular, the period is actually known as the Gin Craze. Eventually the craze led to the London Dry Gin style, where the flavor comes only from re-distillation and no sweeteners, colors, or other ingredients are added. Gin is still wildly popular in London, so make sure to have a gin and tonic while you’re there!
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Related :: Ramen in London, a day trip to Windsor Castle, and more.
Regarding number 7 and afternoon teas; as an English person I can say you NEVER put the milk in first. How you take your tea is widely contested, but one fact many brits agree on is this.