Top Ten London Cheap Eats For Students

Franco Manca

Very cheap pizza (we‘re talking £6. Mamma mia!), winner of ridiculous amounts of awards, sourdough bases (they’re white). Good times.

4, Market Row, Electric Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LD. Nearest Tube – Brixton

New Tayyabs

With a plethora of curry houses just round the corner on Brick Lane, you’d think Tayyabs would have to worry about the competition. It doesn’t. There is no doubt, this is the best curry restaurant in London. Turn up early (you can’t book, expect to wait for an hour at the weekend), BYO booze, order the lamb chops and the ribs, enjoy the bustling atmosphere and drift away into curry heaven.

85 Fieldgate Street, London, E1 1JU. Nearest tube – Whitechapel
Zaytoon

You won’t find this Lebanese gem in your average budget eateries guide. No sir. That’s because the other guides are inferior. Guestlist Network is all up in your grill with the finest unknown café you’ll find. Get the sharwarma wrap and feel the party in your mouth. And chat to the owner, he’s lovely.

12 Bond Street, Ealing, W5 5AA. Nearest Tube – Ealing Broadway

StringRay Globe

The busiest Italian café in the land I tell thee. Service isn’t great (depending on your waitress) but the food certainly is. Whether you have the perfect pizza or the pretty damn good pasta, you’ll go home happy. And very full. The portions are massive.

109 Columbia Road London E2 7RL. Nearest Tube – Bethnal Green/ Liverpool Street/ Old Street

Boys Café

Ooh I don’t half love a good Thai. I like it even more when it’s cheap. Therefore, I really, really like Boys Café. Have the Red, Green or Jungle (if you’re hard as nails like me) curry and look at your bank balance after. And laugh. Then repeat, weekly.

Boys Cafe, 615 Harrow Road, NW10 5NU. Nearest Tube – Kensal Green

Farshad

The area around Hanger Lane is about as inspiring as Mr. Mansfield (WORST CHEMISTRY TEACHER LIKE, EVER!) but Farshad shines like the brightest star. Helpful waiting staff, exceptional Iranian cuisine and very reasonable prices make the journey from wherever you’ve come well worth it.

13 Ashbourne Parade, Hanger Lane, W5 3QS. Nearest Tube – Hanger Lane

Tas Firin

I’d never heard of a ‘pide’ before I came here. Now I’m always banging on about them. They’re little Turkish pizzas and they should eaten. By you. Now. Go. Bye then, bye. (You can’t book, so seriously, just go.)

160 Bethnal Green Rd, E2 6DG. Nearest Tube – Bethnal Green

Cafe Sol

Mexican food in this country is generally dire. Sickeningly bland and uninspiring rubbish disguised as good food with jalapeño peppers (mmm jalapeño peppers). Not here, not even slightly mate, nah. Have the enchiladas, they’re both nang and peng in equal measures.

13 Nelson Rd, Greenwich, SE10 9JB. Nearest Tube – Greenwich/ Cutty Sark

Beatroot

My missus is a veggie. That’s a bit upsetting, huh? It’s alright though (and I know this is hard to believe) but vegetarian food can actually be quite nice. In Beatroot, for example. I had a vegetable stir fry, it was brilliant and I forgot about dead animals for a good hour.

92 Berwick Street, Soho, W1F 0QD. Nearest Tube – Piccadilly Circus

Noodle King

There’s a few of these very cheap noodle houses around London, but this one is by far my favourite. HUGE (seriously, you could feed two or three of you with one) portions. I always have the Singapore Fried Rice and I always get meat-sweats after. Exceptional value for money.

185 Bethnal Green Road London E2 6AB Nearest Tube – Bethnal Green