London’s best street food stalls.
We have one of the best jobs in the world here at London Bites. We don’t just run food tours but we also need to go and test out as many different food stalls as we can in order to make sure all of the tours visit the best places possible.
There’s thousands of amazing street food vendors in London and we keep finding new and different flavours.
Here, we explore some of the best street food stalls in the city that promise to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving for more.
Borough Market: The Heart of Food Lovers
Borough Market, located near London Bridge, is a historic market that has become a haven for food enthusiasts. Among its many stalls, Kappacasein Dairy stands out with its legendary cheese toasties. Made with Montgomery cheddar, onions, and leeks, these toasties are grilled to perfection, resulting in a gooey, crispy delight that is simply irresistible. There’s always a big queue though so prepare yourself.
Another must-visit at Borough Market is Portena. We visit here on our food tour and it’s a really popular stop. They make fresh empanadas daily in their small stall on Stoney street. Classic fillings like ham and cheese or tomatoe and beef go really well with a cold beer on a summers day.
Maltby Street Market: A Hidden Gem
Tucked away in Bermondsey, Maltby Street Market is a smaller, more intimate market compared to Borough Market, but it packs a punch with its eclectic food offerings. Mooncheese toasties is a standout here, serving up some of the best grilled cheese sandwiches in London. Using locally sourced cheeses, their sandwiches are gooey, cheesy, and utterly delicious.
Once you’ve had your lunch you can then enjoy an afternoon on the Bermondsey beer mile.
Brick Lane: A Flavor Explosion
Brick Lane is famous for its vibrant street art, bustling markets, and a plethora of food stalls offering flavors from around the world. Beigel Bake, a 24-hour bakery, is an institution in itself. Known for its salt beef bagels, this iconic spot serves up soft, chewy bagels stuffed with tender salt beef, mustard, and pickles. It’s a must-visit for anyone exploring Brick Lane. It isn’t a street food stall but you can’t really come to Brick lane without paying a visit here.
Southbank Centre Food Market: Riverside Delights
The Southbank Centre Food Market, located along the River Thames, is a bustling hub of food stalls offering an array of international cuisines. The Frenchie is a popular stall here, known for its gourmet duck confit burgers. Served with truffle mayonnaise, melted cheese, and rocket in a brioche bun, these burgers are a decadent treat that should not be missed.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, head over Choco fruit. It’s actually a bit healthy as there’s plenty of fruit which is then drizzled with the most delicious belgian melted chocolate.
Camden Market: A Street Food Paradise
Camden Market is a street food paradise, offering a wide variety of food from different cultures. Three Uncles is definitely worth a visit. Cantonese roasted meats. think Charsiew pork, roasted pork belly and duck. It’s really popular but the queue does move quick.
Another good spot is Tropidog which knocks out amazing gourmet hotdogs. Great to eat as you wander around the market.
London’s street food scene is a reflection of its rich cultural diversity, offering a myriad of flavors and culinary experiences. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, exploring these street food stalls is a gastronomic adventure that will introduce you to some of the best bites the city has to offer. From the historic Borough Market to the eclectic Camden Market, each stall offers something unique and delicious. We could write millions of blogs like this and hardly even touch the sides. There’s so much great food to discover. So, grab your appetite and embark on a street food journey through London that you won’t soon forget.
We run daily food tours in London. Each tour explores either Borough market or the East End. We try some amazing dishes from our local vendors on the tour supporting the local food and drink community.
You can find out more here.
The best markets in London
Some of the best markets in the country can be found in London. We are really lucky to be able to enjoy amazing art, antiques, fashions and no forgetting food right on our doorstep. Many guests who come on our food tours ask us what are our favourite markets in the capital so here’s a list of our top 5.
Borough Market
Known as one of the best street food markets in the UK a visit to Borough is a must for every food lover visiting London. Situated at the south end of London bridge the market is also one of the oldest in London dating back over 1,000 years. We host food tours on market days (Wednesday to Sunday) where we explore the market as well as the fascinating surrounding areas. Highlights of our tastings include freshly baked empanadas, traditional fish and chips and some of the best cheese in the country. Don’t miss it, book your spot here.
Alfie’s Antique Market
This is a really unique experience. Alfies is located in Marylebone and is open Tuesday to Saturday. If you are an antiques lover you’re in the right place. Spread over 4 floors there are over 100 dealers selling everything from old electronics to period furniture. It’s a great place to stroll around even if you aren’t buying anything.
Broadway Market
Hosted on Saturdays this Hackney market is for the hip and trendy. A traditional fruit and veg market has been here since the late 19th century but now it is the home of organic food, vintage clothing and books and gifts to tempt you in parting with your cash. It’s a great spot for food as well with some really good stalls but also some great restaurants in the local area.
Columbia road Flower Market
Get the instagram ready for your photos. Columbia market is hosted every Sinday just off the main drag of Shoreditch. The street is transformed with the coloruful plants, bulbs, flowers and trees on sale. It gets really busy so give yourself plenty of time to wnader the street and it’s surrounding area. There’s some great little coffee shops along the road as well so even if you go on a non market day, you’ll find something good there.
Greenwich Market
This indoor market dates back to the 18th century. There’s a great selection of gift stalls, including lewellery and other nic nacs. Theres even some popular furniture sellers based here. You are very close to the river so during the summer it’s a good market to visit with the breeze. There’s also some good street food to sample while you’re there.
Are you planning on coming to London in 2023? If so we’d love to show you around on one of our food tours. Explore London’s east end or Borough market with us.
