5 Tips for Eating on a Budget

 After traveling around Europe and Asia, I realize prices here are no joke. I thought NYC would have prepared me but at times I find London food prices even harder to navigate.
So, here are 5 tips for a full stomach and wallet in London!

Bangers and mash

1. Eat pub grub.

There is no end to my pub preaching. Pubs are the best source for cheap favorites like bangers & mash, a full English breakfast, and also lunch/dinner deals that include a nice pint. Want something more take away? Look no further than your neighborhood chippy or pie shop. Fish & chips and savory pies are historic cheap eats that have stuck around for a good reason!

Locally sourced sausage with mustard and barbecue sauce

2. Eat at a market.

The local farmers' market like Bloomsbury Farmers' Market and sprawling food epicenters like Borough Market offer dozens of different, affordable bites. Not to mention my favorite, "free sample"-grazing, which can be filling enough by itself.

Jerk chicken meal

3. Eat ethnic.

As I've mentioned before, London is a global city. And luckily, most of these ethnic restaurants are high in flavor and low in prices. Just a few blocks from NYUL campus is Chinatown which is packed full of not only Chinese cuisine but Korean, Japanese, Malaysian, and much more. It is more than easy to get a meal for under 10 quid at a Chinatown restaurant. For Indian cuisine, try Brick Lane.

Picture from mysupermarket.co.uk

4. Eat supermarket food.

One of the first things I ever noticed about London were the shelves and shelves of pre-packaged meals in supermarkets. While I've always felt that there was a stigma attached to such ready-to-eat meals, that is definitely not the case here in the UK. The selections (which can vary from supermarket to supermarket) are vast and diverse, spanning from piri piri chicken sandwiches to shepherd's pie. And most importantly, they are changed daily to ensure freshness. Some markets even have meal deals where you can add a drink and small side for a smidgen more.

5. Eat here, here, and here!

In general, Time Out London is a reliable source for restaurant recommendations in the city. Their cheap eats section/pages are a gift from the foodie gods since the recommendations come from some the best eaters in the city. My favorite banh mi place, Banh Mi Bay, tops the list!