Eating out in East London can be amazing; the area has fancy spots like Dishoom and The Clove Club that are great for special nights. But not every day is a splurge day. Not every day you have the budget to spend on food with extravagance, so if you need to eat on a restricted budget but want a good experience, this guide will help you with plenty of tips and tricks. Let’s not only explore some affordable takeaway restaurants near you but also find out how to eat well on low prices!
Smart ways to eat well on a budget
Here are simple, useful tips to keep costs low and meals tasty:
- Choose lunch deals and set menus; they are often much cheaper than dinner.
- Use markets and food stalls where portions are big and prices are low.
- Swap eating in for affordable takeaway, as delivery and takeaway promos on websites and apps often save money.
- Buy a salad or share a main to get healthy, cheap food that fills you up.
- Look for student or staff discounts and apps that post daily about East London food deals.
These habits help you eat well on a budget while still trying different foods.
Four affordable East London spots
Below are four real places in East London that help you eat well without spending much.
1) LCY Takeaway (Albert Road, Royal Docks)
Location & background: LCY Takeaway is next to London City Airport, and it grew from a food service linked to the LCY Hotel. For almost a decade now, they have been serving food, and not once have people complained about high prices. They have everything from delivery, takeaway, to dine in, but the prices remain constant regardless of how you eat with them.
Why it’s cheap: Fast turnover, simple dishes, and a takeaway model that keeps costs down. They focus on familiar, filling items that are quick to make and also on customers. They care about their customers and have rarely ever raised the prices of meals.
Cheap meal picks:
- Chicken Soup — £4.50.
- Mixed Salad — £5.50.
- Gourmet Beef Burger— £6.50
2) Sonora Taquería (Stoke Newington, Hackney)
Location & background: Sonora Taquería is a popular taco spot in Stoke Newington known for Mexican flavours and simple service. Tacos can be an expensive item in London, but at Sonora Taqueira, the only thing you have to worry about is eating too much, as their prices and tastes keep you stress-free. It’s praised in local reviews for real tacos at low prices. Due to already low prices, you don’t have to worry about additional delivery charges.
Why it’s cheap: Small plates (tacos) are designed to be cheap per item, so you can mix and match, high quality but low price per taco. Moreover, it helps them keep customers coming back as it is such a value deal.
Cheap meal picks:
- Carne Asada taco: under £5 per taco.
- Barbacoa taco: low price; great for sharing.
3) Bánh Mì Hoi-An (Hackney Central, Graham Road)
Location & background: A small Vietnamese sandwich shop in Hackney Central serving classic bánh mì. Although it can be considered a specialty yet the prices are very reasonable for takeaway. Locals praise its special sandwiches and low prices. Reviews and local guides list it as a bargain lunch spot.
Why it’s cheap: Simple menu, focused ingredients, and fast service mean low prices and quick turnover. Street-food style sandwiches cost much less than sit-down meals.
Cheap meal picks:
- Hoi-An Special bánh mì: £5.
- Classic pork or tofu bánh mì: affordable, filling options.
4) Beigel Bake (The Beigel Shop, Brick Lane)
Location & background: A Brick Lane institution famous for bagels and salt beef. The shop is a classic East End spot with a long history of serving their famous bagels, which are not only famous for their low prices but also for their special taste. People even say it is impossible to find such bagels in all of London!
Why it’s cheap: Simple menu, huge volume, and basic ingredients keep prices very low. A plain beigel can be under £1, and classic fillings are still wallet-friendly.
Cheap meal picks:
- Plain beigel: from about £0.65. (Beigel Bake)
- Smoked salmon & cream cheese or salt beef beigel, still modestly priced compared to many sit-down sandwiches at other restaurants.
Quick tips to save more
- Order takeaway instead of dine-in during peak hours.
- Share a main or pick a side + protein for lower cost.
- Follow local spots on Instagram for East London food deals.
- Use delivery apps for first-order discounts and bundle deals.
Conclusion
You don’t need to spend a lot to eat well in East London. With places like LCY Takeaway, Sonora Taquería, Bánh Mì Hoi-An, and Beigel Bake, you can find affordable takeaway and healthy, cheap food that tastes good and costs low. Use lunch deals, street food, and simple swaps to eat well on a budget, and enjoy more of what this part of the city offers.
