21 iconic dishes you need to try in London
This post shows you the best things to eat in London.
England isn’t exactly world-renowned for its food, but that doesn’t mean it’s not full of delicious things to eat. A lot of the most famous British dishes were born in London – both in the working class neighborhoods of centuries past (think pie and mash) and the refined tea rooms of the capital’s high society.
Even if a dish didn’t come from London originally, the city is still the best place to try England’s most iconic foods. Here’s a list of dishes to add to your list for your next visit, and some suggestions for where to try them.
1. Fish and Chips
This one is close to my heart for two reasons. As a New Zealander by birth, I view fish and chips as my own national dish, but the combination of battered fish and chips was actually born in London. Specifically, the world’s first fish and chip shop was opened in 1860 on Old Ford Road, close to the home in East London where I lived for almost a decade.
That shop, Malin’s, is long gone, so if you want to try really great fish and chips – flaky, perfectly battered fish accompanied by golden and crispy chips (a chunkier version of French fries) – try Poppies. This award-winning “chippie” has locations in Camden, Notting Hill, Soho and Spitalfields.
2. Full English Breakfast
OK you’re not going to eat a cholesterol-bomb like this every day of your trip, but consider trying a full English breakfast at least once.
A “full” full English includes back bacon (not the crisp streaky bacon common in the US), pork sausage, eggs, grilled tomatoes, fried bread or toast, fried mushrooms and baked beans.
The authentic experience can be found in cafes (“caffs”) on nearly every neighborhood high street.
For a slightly more elevated experience, try The Breakfast Club, an all-day diner specializing in hearty English breakfasts. Locations across London.
3. Pie and Mash
If you want to try this historic London dish, you’ll need to be quick. The number of pie and mash shops is declining fast, and only a few places still serve this centuries-old dish.
Born in the busy working-class streets of London’s East End, a classic pie and mash is a single-serving pie filled with minced beef served with creamy mashed potatoes and a generous ladle of parsley liquor or gravy.
Traditionally, shops also sold jellied eel alongside their pies, a cheap food sourced from the nearby Thames River. Today, Manze’s on Tower Bridge Road, established in 1902, is one of London’s few surviving pie, mash and eel shops.
4. Custard Tart
A custard tart features a crisp pastry shell filled with smooth and creamy custard, often flavored with vanilla or nutmeg.
Unlike the Portuguese or Chinese versions, the British custard tart is usually served in slices, rather than as a dish that can be held in one hand.
The wonderful Borough Market, just south of London Bridge, is a great place to buy a slice – pair it with an espresso from Monmouth Coffee Company.
5. Sunday Roast
I’ve always loved dishes related to particular days of the week – fish on Fridays, tacos on Tuesdays, and of course, roast dinner on Sunday. A classic Sunday roast is beef, lamb, or chicken, roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding (an eggy pastry baked in hot oil), vegetables, and gravy. Dating back centuries, the Sunday roast originated as a communal meal after church services – making it a lunch meal, not a nighttime dinner.
Almost every London pub and gastropub does a Sunday roast, but for a memorable version try the Hawskmoor in Spitalfields.
6. Bangers and Mash
A British pub classic, bangers and mash features flavorful sausages served with creamy mashed potatoes and onion gravy.
Dating back to the early 20th century, it was a staple during wartime rationing.
Today, it remains a beloved comfort food. You can find bangers and mash – which is more commonly known as simply “sausages and mash” these days – at traditional pubs all over London.
7. Eton Mess
Consisting of layers of whipped cream, sticky meringue and fresh strawberries, all piled into a glass bowl or serving dish, Eton Mess is the quintessential British dessert.
First mentioned in print in 1893, Eton Mess is believed to originate from the posh boys school Eton College, where it is still served at the school’s annual cricket match against Harrow to this day.
The Ivy, a classic British bistro with locations across London, serves a sumptuous Eton Mess with seasonal berries and crisp meringue.
8. Beef Wellington
A luxurious British dish, Beef Wellington consists of tender beef fillet coated with pâté, mushroom duxelles, and wrapped in puff pastry, then baked until golden and crispy.
Named after the Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo in 1815, it’s associated with upscale dining and special occasions.
Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill in Covent Garden does probably London’s most famous Beef Wellington, but you can get the same dish for a lot less at Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchens in locations across the city.
9. Afternoon Tea
These days it seems that every fancy hotel does its own version of afternoon tea, an elegant affair consisting of tea served with a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes, and pastries.
But London is where the tradition began – Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, introduced it here in the early 19th century – and the city still offers some of the world’s best afternoon tea experiences. Luxury hotels like The Ritz and Claridge’s are justly famous for their afternoon teas, as is the iconic food store Fortnum & Mason.
10. Scotch Egg
There’s something endearing about the name “Scotch egg”. But what exactly is it? A Scotch egg is simply a hard-boiled egg encased in seasoned sausage meat, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried until golden.
Originating in 18th-century London, it was created as a portable meal for travelers, and is now found in supermarkets and convenience stores across London. Don’t expect a flavour explosion from those cold, clammy mass-produced versions though.
For a truly great Scotch egg, try The Harwood Arms in Fulham, where the sausage meat is made with ground venison, and the egg is exquisitely cooked with a perfectly runny yolk.
11. Sausage Roll
Sausage rolls are another snack that seem to be everywhere in London. To make one, you take the same sausage meat you’d use for a Scotch egg, wrap it up in flaky pastry, chop it into finger-length pieces, and bake until golden and crispy.
Like the Scotch egg, the sausage roll originated as a popular snack for workers. These days, St. John Bakery – an offshoot of the famous St John restaurant – does a delectable version using high-quality ingredients. For a much more affordable option, stop into any Greggs bakery store.
12. Ploughman’s Lunch
A Ploughman’s lunch comprises a selection of cold meats, cheeses, pickles with bread and butter. It’s actually not as old a dish as you might think – it originated in rural pubs during the 1960s, inspired by the hearty midday meals that farmers eat while out in the fields.
The Cow in Notting Hill serves a delightful Ploughman’s lunch, featuring locally sourced ingredients and artisanal cheeses.
13. Cream Tea
What’s the difference between afternoon tea and cream tea? Not that much, except a cream tea has to include warm scones, served with clotted cream and jam.
Cream teas are most associated with Devon and Cornwall in the west of England, but can be found in tea rooms and hotels across the country.
In London, The Orangery at Kensington Palace (built in 1704) offers a delightful cream tea experience in an elegant and historic setting.
14. Pork Pie
Yet another meat-and-pastry snack, the pork pie features seasoned pork encased in a crisp and buttery pastry crust, traditionally served at room temperature (or fridge-cold – though I don’t personally recommend it).
The Ginger Pig, at various locations across London including at Borough Market, crafts delicious pork pies using premium-quality pork and handmade pastry.
15. Crumpets
Another really fun word to say, crumpets are small, fluffy cakes made from flour, yeast, and milk, cooked on a griddle.
Most Brits are used to eating crumpets toasted with butter, golden syrup or treacle, but they work as a base for all sorts of savory meals too.
Dean Street Townhouse in Soho, central London, does a great breakfast version.
16. Toad in the Hole
The dish that wins “oddest name” in this list, Toad in the Hole is actually just sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding batter until golden and crispy.
Traditionally a home-cooked dish, it can be hard to find Toad in the Hole on London menus. It’s out there if you look, though!
17. Curry
Brought to London along with the wave of Asian immigrants after World War II, curry is now a true British national dish.
Traditionally, Brick Lane in London’s East End is the place that visitors are advised to go for good Indian food. While there are still plenty of curry houses on Brick Lane and the surrounding streets, rising rent prices have forced many older businesses out of the area.
You don’t need to go east for great curry, though. Try Dishoom which has multiple locations throughout London, including Kensington and Covent Garden.
18. Chicken Tikka Masala
If curry is the UK’s favorite import, chicken tikka masala is its homegrown hero. The dish combines authentic chicken tikka and a sauce made from tomato puree, coconut cream and masala spices.
Sources differ on where exactly in Britain chicken tikka masala was invented, but all agree it was designed to make chicken tikka (which is traditionally served dry) more appealing to gravy-loving Brits.
The good news about this dish is that it’s served in practically every Indian restaurant in London. Wash it down with a Kingfisher beer for a true British experience.
19. Breakfast Bap
While most of the dishes on this list date back centuries or more, the breakfast bap is a much more recent invention. The only real non-negotiables are a fried egg and, of course, a bap, which is a soft, flat, floury bread roll.
Other common ingredients include bacon, sausage, cheese, tomato and even chips (French fries). Don’t forget the ketchup, or squirt of HP sauce.
Breakfast baps can be found in cafes all over London.
20. Bacon Butty
The simplest dish on this list is also one of its most delicious. This simple bacon sandwich – butty was originally a word for buttered bread – is a true British comfort food, usually enjoyed in a cafe with a steaming mug of tea or from a paper bag on the go.
21. Crayfish and Rocket Sandwich
To round off this list, we have another much-loved sandwich. Unlike the bacon butty, which is made to order and available in cafes across the city, the crayfish and rocket sandwich is only made by one particular company: Pret a Manger.
Luckily, there are “Prets” absolutely everywhere in London – like Starbucks in the US, but for delicious pre-packaged sandwiches.
I admit, crayfish and rocket isn’t Pret’s best-selling sandwich, but to me, it’s the most iconic. A rich blend of wild crayfish, lemony mayonnaise and peppery rocket (also called roquette or arugula), this is probably the Pret sandwich I’ve eaten more than any other.
When I think of classic London foods, I think of this.