With purse strings a bit tight nowadays, we're all looking for ways to save. But that doesn't mean you have to hold back when it comes to London's dining scene.
From restaurant deals to affordable restaurants and reasonable set menus, we're giving you all the best places for a cheap meal under £25 in London. Pig out without breaking the old piggy bank.
Along with a sprawling beer garden and cheap drinks, Effra Social is also an affordable restaurant. From burgers with fries 2-for-1 deals on Mondays to an all-day menu under £20, there's plenty of top quality eats to be had on a budget. Our favourite deal? Nab three small plates for £21. We recommend pairing the halloumi fries with the crispy, cheesy jalapeno bites and padron peppers.
If January is testing your willpower and your budget, let The Nel in Clapham do the heavy lifting. Their £10 lunch menu runs Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm, serving up classic pub favourites that are fresh, full of flavour and perfect for a no-fuss midday meal.
Come evening, the value continues with the January set menu, offering two courses for £18.
Whether you're in Victoria, Canary Wharf or Oxford Street, Market Halls is the place to be for affordable fare from all sorts of street food vendors. There are countless London favourites selling scrumptious eats here, from £10.50 burgers at Black Bear to £9.50 kebabs from Le Bab.
They serve every cuisine under the sun here, and there are multiple bars if you fancy a tipple alongside your meal. Expect sleek, modern interiors across their sites, with a buzzing atmosphere at all times.
If you're craving cheap street food in London, the quaint and relaxed Arepa & Co in Haggerston and Bethnal Green has a budget-friendly menu. During the week, you and your pals can pop in for a quick meal for £16.50 and under, including arepas, cachapas or house rice bowls alongside a jug of fresh sugarcane lemonade.
BrewDog has a varied menu packed with £9.75 wings, burgers with fries for under £20 and pizza for under £15, and trust us, they taste absolutely amazing. Check out locations in Waterloo and beyond.
If you're after a cheap lunch that still feels like a proper treat, The Bull in Wanstead has January sorted. Their £10 lunch menu runs Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm, serving up classic pub favourites that are fresh, hearty and full of flavour.
Come evening, the value continues with the January set menu, where you can enjoy two courses for £18.
With the arrival of Patty&Bun's exciting new kitchen residency at The Star by Liverpool Street comes an epic weekday lunch deal that will see you dining on one of London's top burgers for under £15.
To be more specific: you'll be served a burger of your choice alongside rosemary for £14.40. Add a soft drink for £1.50 or, if you're feeling boozy, secure a £5 pint of beer.
Make your way to Old Compton Street to discover Bar Soho, a buzzing destination that's filled with bright red decor. Think plush leather booths, dark wooden furniture and colourful posters lining the walls - open until late every single day.
There's also an extensive, affordable menu to choose from. There are tapas plates from only £6, £14 sharing platters and a number of deals too - we're talking 40p wings on Wednesdays and a burger and a drink for £13-£13.50 between 4 and 8pm on weekdays.
Channelling the street food markets of India, Mowgli serves up plenty of mighty affordable bites. In its dreamy decor, you can tuck into all sorts from spicy chaats to creamy curries.
Whether you get down to its spot on Charlotte Street or over in Stratford, nothing here is likely to bust your budget. Main dishes like the temple dahl start from just £7 while there's plenty of sides on offer for under a fiver.
The Rose Fulham is your place for cheap London meals, dishing up affordable Sunday roasts, plus lip-smackingly good drinks. They offer £15 express lunches (two courses and a drink) on Monday through Friday, 11:30am to 4pm, including French onion soup and BBQ chicken wings. Chow down on pub classics without breaking the bank. Mmm.
If you're hunting down cheap meals in Crystal Palace without skimping on flavour, The Faber Fox has January covered. Their £10 lunch menu runs Monday to Friday, midday 'til 3pm, and serves up classic pub favourites.
And if you're heading there later in the day, the January set menu offers two courses for £18, making it an excellent choice for an affordable dinner out.
If you're looking for great value lunch in Wimbledon this January, The Old Frizzle has one of the best deals in town. Their £10 lunch menu runs Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm, serving up classic pub favourites that are hearty, fresh and full of flavourideal for a casual midweek break or a budget-friendly catch-up with friends.
And when dinner time rolls around, the value continues with the January set menu, offering two tasty courses for £18.
If you're hunting for a wallet-friendly lunch that still feels like a proper treat, The Artful Duke in Bromley is doing a January menu that's hard to beat. Their £10 lunch menu is full of classic pub favourites, served fresh and full of flavour.
And if you're after a slightly bigger meal without breaking the bank, their January set menu offers two courses for £18, making it a great option for a cosy dinner or a casual catch-up.
Honest Burgers in Kings Cross, Spitalfields, Holborn and beyond is a sure bet when it comes to looking for something delicious to eat that's not going to wipe your bank account. Grab the Smash Cheese burger off the Smash + Grab menu for just £6.25, bringing together beef patties, cheese, mustard mayo, homemade pickles and diced onions. The veggie burgers are out of this world too, as well as the light and crispy onion rings.
Whether you're in Parsons Green or Clapham, you can easily find a meal for under £25 at Common Pizza - and you're likely to leave with some change too. Their pizzas start from just £11, alongside affordable sides, starters and cocktails.
Choose from either a New York or Detroit-style base, and load it up with toppings like nduja and whipped ricotta, pesto chicken or burrata and hot honey. As for the venue itself, expect realxed, American vbes and vinyl music.
For cheap eats that actually hit the spot, head to The Rosy Hue, where January brings two great money-saving options. Their £10 lunch menu - available Monday to Friday between 12pm and 3pm - serves up fresh, flavour-packed pub favourites that make weekday lunches something to look forward to.
Later in the day, enjoy the January set menu with two courses for £18, offering excellent value for a night out without the usual price tag.
A go-to beer garden just minutes from London Bridge, Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen is a perfect pitstop in the heart of the busy city. If you're looking for a bite with your pint, this place leaves you spoiled for choice.
The Joint serves up stacked burgers and mega mains like baby back ribs and award-winning wings from just £12. Over on the pizza menu, there's even more to love with all kinds of toppings on your pie for around 15 quid a pop.
City of London restaurant 26 Furnival Street offer a number of affordable deals. You can secure yourself a burger and a pint for £20 on Mondays, while Fridays promise a pizza and a house wine or selected beer for £20 too.
Much of their food comes from independent London suppliers and producers, with a choice of chicken or beef patties and all kinds of pizza toppings. As for the interior, expect exposed brickwork, rustic wooden furniture and warm lighting.
With locations in both Fitzrovia and Paddington, The Mughals Indian Restaurant is a stylish space for authentic dining. It's a family-run business that has been around for more than 50 years, serving an entirely halal menu with plenty of plant-based options.
Tuck into everything from chicken tikka kahari to chilli paneer and lamb jalfrezi, with most mains coming in at less than £15. Plus, their special lunch deal costs just £7.
For well-priced pub food that still feels like a proper meal, The Regent in Balham is serving up two excellent January deals. Their £10 lunch menu dishes up classic pub favourites cooked fresh and full of flavour - a perfect solution for a quick, delicious midday meal on a budget.
Later in the day, dive into the January set menu where you can enjoy two courses for £18, making it a smart choice for an affordable dinner out.
If you're a lover of all things cheesy, then Pizza Pilgrims will surely fill the void. Enjoy excellent toppings on your scrumptious slices such as pesto, pepperoni and much more, as well as tasty cocktails and Nutella pizza rings.
Boasting a rooftop terrace that looks out over St Paul's Cathedral, Mansion House, Monument and beyond, Coq D'Argent is a stunning spot for affordable lunches. You'll find it on the top of No.1 Poultry, promising delicious French cuisine.
Their steak frites set menu comes in at £20 per person, available from 12pm every day. It features a 24-month dry-aged beef top rump steak, served alongside grilled tomato, golden pomme frites and peppercorn sauce.
With classic architecture, warm wood tones and plush seating, Richoux adds a heavy side of style and sophistication to any meal. This ultra indulgence is easy on your wallet too.
Drop in for lunch or dinner Monday to Friday or after 4pm on Saturdays to tuck into two delicious courses for just £19.95. You can order up all sorts, from tuna or beef tartare and steak frites to gnocchi à la tomate and chocolate truffle.
When it comes down to wallet-friendly meals under £25, Megan's is a great option. From Balham to Chiswick and Clapham, these top-notch venues flaunt low-cost dishes. Our favourite? The Kebab Nights offer, which includes a hand-stretched flatbread, packed with your choice of filling, for £12 every Monday and Tuesday from 5pm.
Located in Shoreditch, Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles is an authentic Chinese restaurant that specialises in hand-pulled noodles. They serve a mix of thin and belt noodles, which you can pair with everything from braised beef to chunky pork belly or a sour and spicy soup.
Their main courses start from as little as £11.90 each, while small plates start from only £8.90. Enjoy these dishes in casual, laid-back surrounds.
Nestled in the heart of Soho, The Palomar is a vibrant and trendy restaurant offering an exceptional taste of Jerusalem-style dishes with a modern twist. Known for its warm, inviting atmosphere and impeccable service, it's no surprise this spot has earned a coveted Bib Gourmand recognition from Michelin.
For those looking to enjoy a delicious lunch without breaking the bank, The Palomar offers a fantastic three-course £28 lunch deal featuring the likes of chicken labneh with yoghurt and chilli butter, and grilled hake. There's also a baklava and pistachio ice cream sandwich for dessert. Phwoar.
With venues in Soho, Shoreditch and King's Cross, Flat Iron is an affordable steakhouse that promises an entire meal for under £25. Their signature cut costs just £15, which you can pair with everything from homemade beef dripping chips to truffled macaroni cheese or crispy bone marrow garlic mash.
They're also slinging out cocktails for jut £9 each - our favourite is the Aperol Bellin. The sleek basement space is perfect for date night, especially if you're after an affordable treat.
The Bib Gourmand-awarded Bancone is a real gem - not only for its sleek interiors and cosy dining spaces but for its exceptional menu at an affordable price. You can easily dine here for under £25 with pasta dishes starting from a humble £10 per person, and negronis coming in at £7 each. Look forward to the likes of silk handkerchiefs with egg yolk in walnut butter for £13.50 and so much more.
With other locations in Borough and King's Cross, BAO is a fab cheap restaurant. Offering the best set lunch, this quaint spot has a menu from 12pm to 5pm during the week, complete with a bao bun, xiao chi dish and rice bowl.
