Best London Food Markets + 18 Dishes To Try

Street food, London and blogging are some of my all-time favourite things. A blog on the best London street food markets was inevitable!

Best London street food markets

Whether I’m at home in England or abroad, I love the atmosphere, tastes and smells of food markets. Not only is street food some of the cheapest food in London, its very nature means it’s fresh and in demand. Those backpacking England on a budget will want to eat lots!
Until I get to the next one, the blog you’re about to read is currently a list of the nine best London food markets. That’s nine times I’ve rocked up to a food market, camera in hand and stomach empty, prepped to eat my heart out in the name of blogging. But let’s face it, I’d probably do it even if no one reading. Here goes…

Foodie visiting London? Check out EatWith, a platform pairing travellers with passionate local chefs and foodies.

Maltby Street Market

food, united kingdom, best london food markets + 18 dishes to try

This is my probably my favourite street food market in London. It’s smaller than some of the others but I like the local, authentic feel. I got to chat with the vendors about their food and backstory, plus there weren’t many long queues.

Top picks

Waffle On – topping options include fried chicken; whipped cream and berries; fig and goat’s cheese; and egg, bacon and maple syrup. I hope those semicolons have succeeded in cancelling out visions of chicken and whipped cream together. Please no.
Happy Biltong – I bought back all my South Africa memories by sampling this tasty biltong (dried meat if ya didn’t know) and took home a large packet.
Comptoir Gourmand – This giant vat of French tartiflette (cheese, potato, cream and bacon) almost made me regret having chosen waffles and that’s saying something as those waffles were gooood.

Getting to Maltby Street food market: Catch the tube to Bermondsey and walk for 10 minutes. Maltby Street is an enlarged alleyway nestled off the wider main streets.
When: Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 11am-4pm.

Borough Market

If you’re doing a food crawl, Borough Market is just a 15-minute walk from Maltby Street. Now, I’m not saying you should gorge yourself at two of the best London food markets in one morning… actually I am saying that. Do it do it do it.
Even though Borough Market was totally crowded during the Saturday lunchtime I visited (no Maltby local feel!), there are so many awesome London businesses here.

Top picks

Horn Ok Please – I’m guessing this name has a lot to do with hectic Indian driving standards. The food is just as authentic to India – veggie, spicy and delicious. I had aloo tikka chat: sweet potato patties with chickpeas, yoghurt, spices and pomegranate.
Brick Lane Beigel Bake – having tried the salt beef variety at the original Jewish bakery I can vouch for these bagels biiiig time.
Scotchtails – food regret kicked in again after my curry. I’d have never thought of ordering a scotch egg but I reconsidered after seeing the giant queue of happy punters clutching eggs baked in enormous sausage and breadcrumb balls. Next time! 2022 update – now closed.

Getting to Borough Market: Don’t do the sensible thing and go to Borough station – the market is actually right beside London Bridge underground.
When: Most of the year the market is open Mon-Sat but check the full details at Borough Market website.

If you’d rather explore Borough Market with a guide, book a 10 dish tasting tour of Borough Market and the surrounding area.

KERB Camden Market

KERB is an outdoor section of Camden Market by the canal locks. The whole of Camden Market is full of good food so go to whichever bit you like… but if you want halloumi fries, go to KERB. I sniff out halloumi like wild animals sniff out watering holes so you can guarantee I found myself there pretty quickly.

Top picks

Oli Baba’s halloumi fries OBVS. Not even fries topped with halloumi… these bad boys are ACTUAL FRIES MADE OF HALLOUMI loaded with tzatziki, mint and pomegranate seeds. They did not disappoint.
Mother Clucker – probably the best buttermilk fried chicken and cajun fries you ever did try!
Lords of Poke – Have you tried Hawaiian poke yet? If not, build your own bowl here with ingredients like salmon, avocado and edamame.

Getting to KERB: Camden Market is right by Camden Town underground station. To find KERB, walk through the inside market to the open-air area by the canal.
When: Seven days a week. Mon-Thurs, 11am-6pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-7pm.

Portobello Market

As one of London’s most popular tourist streets, of course there’s fantastic food on Portobello Road!
For a London market traditionally all about antiques and bric-a-brac, the food at Portobello Market is decent. It’s not the best London street food market; it’s more of a farmers market vibe with loads of fresh bread, baked goods, gourmet chocolate, cheese and olives. If that’s what you’re in the mood for, you’ll be in your element.

Top picks

Jamon Jamon paella is cooked up in an enormous vat and is so tasty.
Falafel – the vendors always seem to be changing but every time I’m here, so is lots of amazing falafel.
Doughnut stands – there are plenty of these and they are seriously good.

Getting to Portobello Market: From Notting Hill underground station, follow signs to Portobello Road.
When: Friday & Saturday are your best bet for food with Sunday being more about antiques. Some food stalls serve on weekdays – check here for the full listing.

Greenwich Market

Salt beef short ribs from Salt Shed

The perfect add-on to a lovely day in this part of town, Greenwich Market has everything including more upmarket treats like sushi and macaroons.
Top picks:

Salt Shed salt beef short ribs – aside from the halloumi fries, this was probably the saltiest, most delicious London market food I’ve eaten. Pricey London street food at £10 but worth it (2019 update – these guys have now moved to BOXPARK food market)
Lilika’s Treats – I’d really recommend Lilika’s luxurious cakes and macaroons. I bought 6 macaroons for £5 and my favourite flavours were lemon, pistachio and rose. If you want to stir up a storm on social media get the unicorn or rainbow ones!

Read next: 14 free things to do in Greenwich

Getting to Greenwich Market: The nearest station is Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich (on the DLR) right beside the market.
When: Seven days a week, 10am-5.30pm

Brick Lane Food Hall

This area of London is famous for its curries so obviously I went there and ate the latest trendy dessert, bubble waffles. The stomach wants what it wants.
Head to Brick Lane Food Hall at the Boiler House for all kinds of weekend yumminess. Food-wise, there’s a bit of everything. It’s definitely a London street food market rather than a farmers market thanks to the ready-prepared, snackable dishes.

Getting to Brick Lane Food Hall – Shoreditch High Street, Liverpool Street and Aldgate East stations are all nearby.
When – Saturdays 11am-6pm; Sundays 10am-5pm.

Explore Brick Lane Market, Spitalfields and Middlesex Street Market on a small group East London markets tour.

Brixton Village

We Are Brixton Village & Market Row is one of the best London food markets. The series of indoor streets with lots of permanent eateries serve world cuisine, plus it was the birthplace of some fantastic popular businesses like Franco Manca and Honest Burger.

Photo credit: @bexfast_

Top pick

Getting to Brixton Village: This London food market is just around the corner from Brixton underground station.

When: Check the individual vendors’ opening times but basically seven days a week ’til 5 or 6ish.

Old Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields is less of a street food market in London; it’s more about bars and restaurants, as well as clothes and trinkets. I prefer some of the other London street food markets as there is a bit of a chain focus here.
Saying that, they’re nice ones like Leon which officially became a chain by opening the third branch of their healthy fast food restaurant in Spitalfields.

You will find a couple of street food stands like the Duck Truck and a Crosstown Doughnuts truck. Yum to both.Getting to Spitalfields Market: Shoreditch High Street and Aldgate East are the nearest stations.
When: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday 11am-5pm and Sunday 9am-5pm.

BOXPARK

Shoreditch is known for being quirky and hipster so pop-up businesses serving food from inside a recycled shipping container is nothing to be surprised about, surely?

BOXPARK is a London street food market that goes big. There are loads of OTT food offerings like monster burgers and freak shakes. Not for the faint-hearted.