Guide to affordable restaurants in Central London

Some of London’s most sought-after pasta can be found at Padella in Borough Market. This classic and low-key venue often has a wait for tables but dedicated diners are willing to queue. On the menu you’ll find hand-rolled pasta served with various delicious sauces and fillings, providing top quality cooking at reasonable prices.

Craft your ideal stir-fry at Wok to Walk. These colourful and casual spots are modern, dishing up food that’s ideal when you’re on-the-go. Choose your base – rice, noodles, or mixed veg – then pick your favourite ingredients, sauces, and extra toppings for custom Asian food that’s cooked to order just for you.

Maries Café in Waterloo is a versatile eatery dishing up affordable food. Early on in the day you can enjoy café classics like filling fried breakfasts and later munch on authentic Thai cuisine. It’s a casual and low-key eatery but the service is friendly and welcoming and it’s a firm local favourite.

Discover Philadelphia in London at Passyunk Avenue. These buzzy bars and restaurants have a lively atmosphere and an affordable menu of regional American classics. Try out a Philly cheesesteak, a hot dog or meatball sandwich, or a plant-based alternative. The bar serves a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Set over two floors, Bun House is a favourite for steaming dumplings in Chinatown. The restaurant’s style is elegant and modern, and the menu offers up fluffy Asian buns with a variety of mouthwatering fillings – curry chicken, BBQ pork belly, and pork with prawns are just some of the options available.

For top quality pasta that won’t break the bank, visit one of Bancone’s restaurants. Pasta is made in-house at this stylish modern eatery, served with sauces like cacio e pepe, braised ox cheek, and spicy meat ragu. You can complete a meal at this respected venue with wine or signature cocktails.

For tasty fish and chips in Soho, check out Golden Union. This casual eatery has distinctive tiled walls in the dining room and a classic style. Traditional fish and chips are on the menu made with sustainably-sourced fish, plus there are pies and a broad choice of vegetarian and vegan alternatives.

When you're craving authentic Neapolitan pizza you can get a budget-friendly pie from Pizza Pilgrims. The chain has a number of locations around Central London. These restaurants are bold and contemporary, using ingredients imported from Italy to create pizzas ranging from a simple marinara to Italian sausage with broccoletti.

Grab casual street food from The Kati Roll Company. This cosy eatery has a colourful orange canopy and specialises in hot wraps with an Indian influence, ideal for eating-in or takeaways. Each wrap is made from an Indian paratha stuffed with fillings like chicken tikka or potato and vegetable patties.

When you fancy authentic Chinese cooking try Lanzhou Noodle Bar. This humble restaurant is lively and unpretentious, specialising in hand-pulled noodles. A range of noodle dishes are served. The menu also includes rice dishes and a small selection of dim sum. Have your noodles with additions like tomato and egg or wontons.

Try plant-based Mexican street food at Club Mexicana. This bold and colourful eatery in Kingly Court is decorated in an eye-popping shade of pink. You can try tacos, burritos, and nachos with flavoursome vegan ingredients like BBQ jackfruit and plant-based meat alternatives. Cocktails and beer, including the famous lagerita, are available here.

In Chinatown you can experience modern Vietnamese street food at Viet Food. The menu includes dishes at a range of price points, including wallet-friendly options. Lunchtime has a particularly good selection of affordable dishes including pho and bun. The interior is spacious and contemporary with lots of light flooding in.

Experience a Parisian brasserie in London at Brasserie Zédel. With authentic Art Deco interiors, this place is crammed with classic style. You can choose from several menus here but the casual café menu or the two course prix fixe option are ideal if you want an affordable taste of France.

Homeslice cooks up whopping 20 inch pizzas with both classic and innovative toppings. With chequered tablecloths and banquettes, the restaurant has a classic feel. Some pizzas are available by the slice for a really cheap option but sharing a whole pizza still makes an affordable meal. You can get half and half too.

For fried chicken without the grease, don’t miss Chick ‘n’ Sours. This contemporary Seven Dials restaurant has a vibrant and comfortable interior. Halal fried chicken is the focus of most of the dishes here, with spices and sauces for full-on flavour. Choose sandwiches, wings, or tenders, plus there’s nachos and chicken toast.

Japanese restaurant Machiya feels homey and comfortable. The dining room is bright and modern, with intriguing light fixtures as a centrepiece. The menu offers affordable donburi, curries, and small plates like miso soup, teriyaki-glazed salmon, or pickled cucumber. Complete the meal with sake for an authentic dining experience.

You don’t have to miss a great burger when you’re on a budget – Bleecker Burger is affordable and won National Burger of the Year in 2020. These eateries are cool, contemporary, and low-key. Burgers are made from rare-breed grass-fed beef and cooked to order. The menu is straightforward – simply burgers, fries, and drinks.

Premium steak is usually pricey but you can get a budget-friendly version that lacks none of the quality at Flat Iron. These restaurants are full of plants and distinctive style. Premium cuts of steak are available with various sides and you get a free ice cream cone at the end of your meal.

Tuck into Egyptian street food from Koshari Street. This Central London eatery is casual, bold, and vibrant. The speciality is koshari, the Egyptian national dish combining pasta, rice, lentils, and tomato sauce. The classic option is satisfying and vegan-friendly but you can add on extras like jackfruit, spicy potatoes, or chicken.

Visit Bao for comforting and low-cost Taiwanese food. Expect clean and simple interiors and a tempting menu of steaming bao buns with fillings like confit pork or daikon radish, plus other Taiwanese small plates like ox heart skewers or fried chicken. A couple of plates makes an authentic and affordable meal.

Try an elevated kebab that’s a far cry from your late-night takeaway at Le Bab. Whether you opt for the regular size or go large you’ll get an affordable meal. The interior is bright, contemporary, and sophisticated. Each kebab features fresh and intriguing ingredients, and mezze is served too.

For speedy pizza, Pizza Union is a go-to destination. These Roman-style pizzas are crispy and thin, served in a buzzy and informal environment. A wide variety of toppings are offered, as well as sides and drinks. Order at the counter and when your buzzer goes off your pizza is ready to devour.

Pastaio aims to give diners the best plate of pasta they’ve ever had. This Soho restaurant is vibrant and colourful with a modern look. Antipasti is available to start but pasta is the main event. These are generous portions with diverse sauces like slow-cooked tomato, cacio e pepe, or beef and porcini bolognaise.

Bold and colourful pizzeria Icco is inclusive and affordable. From classic Italian recipes to vegan or halal versions, this place does it all. The space is simple, bold, and colourful, and food is available to eat in or take away. Sides, desserts, juices, and smoothies are there to complete a meal.

Lina Stores has various sites in London and is a destination for handmade pasta, antipasti, and desserts. Each restaurant has a distinctive contemporary style. Menu choices include stracciatella ravioli and pasta shapes laden with flavourful sauces. Surprisingly low prices mean this is a popular destination for a budget meal.

Cosy and intimate Café TPT is one of Chinatown’s most popular restaurants. The dining room has light wood interiors and serves a varied range of Chinese and Malaysian streetfood favourites. Try out fish, noodles, sizzling pot dishes, and a variety of authentic desserts. Set menus are on offer as well.

The fresh and vibrant food and interiors at Poke House will look fab on your Insta grid. The place is full of pink tones and smooth style whilst the food is health-conscious and refreshing. Build a poke bowl customised to your preferences or choose a house bowl with toppings like chicken or vegan nuggets.

At Kanada-Ya you can sample award-winning tonkotsu ramen bowls, with a variety of affordable options to tempt you. Japanese small plates and onigiri are available for smaller appetites or to add to your meal, and there’s Japanese beer and sake. The restaurants have simple and modern interiors with distinctive lighting.

Get a low-cost vegetarian meal at Govinda's in Soho, one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in the city. It's a straightforward space serving nutritious yet tasty food and has links to the Hare Krishna movement. Thali meals are a popular choice, with several to pick from, but à la carte options are available as well. This restaurant also does catering.