Originally posted in Italian on Vivere Londra, 2nd January 2015.
Especially if you’re short on money, street food is your best friend. With a few pounds you’ll be able to take away a meal that not only fills your stomach, but is also delicious and unique. There are many corners of London where you can find the swoon-inducing smells of incredible stalls and vans. These are my four favourite markets, where everyone will find something to suit them.
Borough Market
A few steps away from London Bridge, this is one of the most famous and typical markets in London. You can find a bit of everything and it’s basically a pilgrimage site for the locals. Apart fro street food, you can find amazing stalls with artisanal treats, from bread to cheese. Last time I went, I spend £12.00 on fudge, so keep an eye on the prices.
The street food is definitely more accessible and you can really stuff yourself for as little as £5.00. My heart and stomach will always go to Bread Ahead Bakery and Ethiopian Flavours.
One to rule them all: Brindisa and their chorizo sandwich
Where: 8 Southwark St, SE1 1TL – Tube: London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern Line)
When: 10am-3pm Mondays to Wednesdays; 11am-5pm Thursdays; 12am-6pm Fridays; 8am-5pm Saturdays
Website: boroughmarket.org.uk
KERB
Founded only recently, it can mainly be found just behind King’s Cross Station and presents a selection of trucks taht changes every day. It was born at the apex of British “culinary re-education”, so all vendors are hyper-certified and a bit hipster. The incredible variety is given by the fact that you can never find the same food and you can be surprised every day. I don’t think it would be physically possible to try everything.
One to rule them all (ok, two): Yum Bun and its Taiwanese pork buns
Anna-Mae’s and her mac’n’cheese, to die for
Where and When:
- Every day 12 to 14 in Granary Square, King’s Cross – Tube: King’s Cross St. Pancras
- Wednesdays 12 to 14.30 at Spitalfields Market – Tube: Liverpool Street
- Thursdays from 12 to 14 under the Gherkin – Tube: Aldgate (Circle and Metropolitan line)
Website: kerbfood.com
Real Food Market
On the square behind the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank, Friday is your lucky day. You can find and buy an incredible selection of food, as well as cured meat and cheese. In my experience, the Real Food Market is brilliant but always really busy, but when I’m lucky enough to have something to do at the BFI over the weekend, I always eat there. There is an amazing stall, of which I can’t find the name, that makes ridiculously good tortellini.
One to rule them all: Jamon Jamon’s paella
Where: Southbank Centre Square Belvedere Road SE1 8XX – Tube: Waterloo (Bakerloo, Jubilee eand Northern Line)
When: Fridays 12-20; Saturdays 11-20; Sundays 12-18
Website: realfoodfestival.co.uk/market
Broadway Market
If you’re vegetarian or vegan, this is the market that will offer you the widest choice – after all it is in Hackney, an area that was invaded by hipsters in the last couple of years. The “one to rule them all” is impossible for this one, so just throw yourself on anything sweet. That’s always going to be a
Where: Broadway Market, E8 – Overground up to Hackney Central and then bus, OR train to London Fields and then walking
When: Saturdays and Sundays 9-17
Website: broadwaymarket.co.uk