London Cheap Eats - the ultimate guide to dining out on a budget

A recent study by TripAdvisor sites London as the 7th most expensive city in the world, where an average meal for two costs £66.77.

The million dollar question for London’s food fans on a budget: when dining out in our great city, is it possible to get tasty, fresh and filling food that is truly cheap?

YES. Apparently so. New website www.londoncheapeats.com is the answer. 

It’s no secret London is a pricey city to socialise in, but it’s also full of solid, inexpensive feeds - most people just don’t know where to find them. Looking for a budget brunch dish in Brixton, cheap and cheerful pasta in Primrose Hill, or a finance-friendly lunch spot in Farringdon? London Cheap Eats is here to help. It directs discerning customers to the best places in town to eat well for £8 or less, advising not only where to go, but also what to order once there.

London Cheap Eats is designed to assist both Londoners and visitors alike in seeking out a good dining experience that doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Sure, there’s always a place for the finer things in life, but there’s no arguing that wonderful feeling of having a good meal out, and not recoiling at the sight of the receipts the next day.

London Cheap Eats doesn't guarantee a gourmet dinner or fine dining experience, but what it can promise is a solid and tasty feed on the cheap. Chuck in a couple of beers and a few good friends, and that sounds like a pretty good time to us.

 Founder, Leyla Kazim, said:
"I like to go out as much as I can. I still very much wanted to be an active member of London's dining scene, enjoying the fantastic meals it has to offer on a frequent basis, but without the £20-£60 (and beyond) price tag each time. And I figured there would be others like me.
"I thought to myself: wouldn't it be great if there was an insider guide to the best budget food in London, made up of trusted and objective opinions, suggesting not only where to go, but also what to order?
"As I pondered this, I realised it didn't exist - I figured I'd better do something about that. And so, the idea of London Cheap Eats came to be."

London Cheap Eats founder and creator Leyla Kazim is a food and travel writer and photographer based in London. 

Quick Smoked Mackerel Pâté

This is a really simple and tasty recipe for Smoked Mackerel Pâté which uses just a handful of ingredients to create a dish fit for a dinner party right through to a packed lunch. Bags of flavour with nourishing oily fish!


Ingredients:
2 Smoked Mackerel Fillets
3 heaped tablespoons of creme fraiche (or cream cheese if you prefer)
Juice of 1/4 lemon
Splash of Tabasco sauce
2 teaspoons of mild paprika
Salt and pepper to season

Method:

1. Break the mackerel into large chunks and add to a food processors (alternatively you could flake with a fork). Blitz at intervals until the mackerel is in large flakes.

2. Add the creme fraiche and the lemon juice and blitz again. Taste and add more lemon juice if needed, then add a splash of Tabasco (to taste), the paprika and mix.

3. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

4. Serve with toast or freshly baked bread and butter. You could also serve this as an open sandwich with a sliced avocado.

 

 

Enjoy!