London is one of the best cities in the world for food. There is really no other city quite like it. In one afternoon you can eat Sri Lankan hoppers in Soho, fresh pasta near Borough Market, and Punjabi lamb chops in Whitechapel, all without travelling more than a few miles. That variety is what makes eating out in London so exciting, and it is one of the best things about being a student here.
Being a student in London can feel expensive, and it is true that the city is not always cheap. But the food scene tells a different story. Some of the best meals you will ever have in London cost less than a supermarket shop. The city is full of independent restaurants, family-run cafés, and small neighbourhood spots that have been quietly serving incredible food for decades, places that never make the big food guides but that locals and students keep coming back to again and again.
This guide covers 10 restaurants across different areas of London. We have picked places that spread across the city, East London to Brixton, from Soho to Whitechapel, so that no matter where you are studying or living, there is something close to you worth visiting. Each restaurant has been chosen not just for the food, but for the atmosphere, the value, and the kind of experience that makes you feel like you are really making the most of living in one of the greatest food cities in the world.
Whether you are a first-year student just finding your feet, a final-year student looking for a reason to step away from your dissertation, or an international student discovering London for the first time, this list has something for you. Good food in London does not have to cost a lot. You just need to know where to look.
Student discounts guide
Before you head out, download these two free apps. They take about 5 minutes to set up and can save you money not just at restaurants but at hundreds of brands across the UK. Always check the app before you sit down to eat.
1- Student Beans
Verify with your uni email. Show the QR code in-app to your server. Works at thousands of UK brands.
2- UNiDAYS
Verify your student status once a year. Get codes for in-store and online use across 29M+ students worldwide.
Dishoom | Indian · Covent Garden · WC2
Dishoom is one of the most popular restaurants in London and for good reason. Inspired by the old Irani cafés of Bombay, it serves rich, flavourful dishes at prices that feel very fair for the quality you get. The bacon naan roll for breakfast has become almost legendary in London. The restaurant itself looks beautiful inside, with dark wood, low lighting and a warm atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours.
Student tip: Dishoom in Covent Garden is walking distance from King’s College London and the London School of Economics (LSE). It is a great spot for students of those universities to grab a proper sit-down meal after a long day of lectures and the queue moves faster than people expect.
Entry is completely free, no tickets or reservations are required. Visitors can explore at their own pace and enjoy the festival’s beautiful and dynamic light installation.
Hoppers | Sri Lankan & South Indian · Soho · W1
Hoppers is a brilliant little restaurant in the heart of Soho. It serves Sri Lankan and South Indian food, think crispy rice-and-coconut bowl-shaped pancakes called hoppers, filled with egg or meat curries. The food is bold, different and incredibly tasty. It is the kind of London restaurant that feels exciting without being expensive. The small menu means everything on it has been perfected.
Student tip: Soho is right in the middle of central London, making it an ideal area for students from the University of the Arts London (UAL) and University College London (UCL) to explore. Hoppers is the perfect place for a quick and filling lunch or an early dinner before heading back to campus.
Padella | Italian Pasta · Borough Market · SE1
Dishoom is one of the most popular restaurants in London and for good reason. Inspired by the old Irani cafés of Bombay, it serves rich, flavourful dishes at prices that feel very fair for the quality you get. The bacon naan roll for breakfast has become almost legendary in London. The restaurant itself looks beautiful inside, with dark wood, low lighting and a warm atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours.
Student tip: Dishoom in Covent Garden is walking distance from King’s College London and the London School of Economics (LSE). It is a great spot for students of those universities to grab a proper sit-down meal after a long day of lectures and the queue moves faster than people expect.
Entry is completely free, no tickets or reservations are required. Visitors can explore at their own pace and enjoy the festival’s beautiful and dynamic light installation.
Rti Kingo | Malaysian · Euston · NW1
Tucked away in a basement near Euston station, Roti King is one of those hidden gems that London does so well. The roti canai, a flaky, buttery flatbread served with curry, is some of the best Malaysian food you will find in the whole city. The prices are very student-friendly, and the portions are generous. It is a no-fuss, no-pretension kind of place where the food does all the talking.
Student tip: Euston is right next to University College London (UCL) and a short walk from SOAS University of London. Students looking for an affordable and genuinely delicious meal near campus will love Roti King. It is the kind of place you keep coming back to.
E. Pellicci | Traditional Café · Bethnal Green · E2
Pellicci is a proper East London institution. Open since 1900, this family-run Italian-British café on Bethnal Green Road is full of character, wood panelling, tight tables, and the kind of staff who call you “love” and mean it. The full English breakfast is a classic, and everything on the menu is simple, hearty and cheap. If you want to experience real London culture alongside your food, this is the place.
Student tip: East London is home to Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). For students based in that part of the city, a trip to Pellicci for a big breakfast before an exam or after a late night in the library is basically a rite of passage.
Gunpowder | Modern Indian · Spitalfields · E1
Gunpowder is a small, independent Indian restaurant in Spitalfields that punches well above its size. The menu is full of creative, home-style Indian dishes you will not find at your typical curry house, think slow-cooked lamb chops with fenugreek and spiced venison keema. It is not the cheapest place on this list, but it is well worth it for a special meal out. The atmosphere is lively and the service is warm.
Student tip: Spitalfields sits right next to London Metropolitan University and is a short ride from Queen Mary University. Students who want to treat themselves to something a bit special will find Gunpowder is one of those restaurants in London that genuinely surprises you.
Kiln | Thai · Soho · W1
Kiln is a Thai restaurant in Soho that cooks everything over a live fire in a small open kitchen. The dishes come from the border regions of Thailand and Burma, and the flavours are smoky, deep and unlike most Thai food you will find in the UK. It is counter-seating only, which makes it feel very casual and exciting. The clay pot dishes and the pork belly skewers are standouts. For students who love bold food, this one is a must.
Student tip: With UAL Central Saint Martins nearby and easy tube links across the city, Kiln in Soho is a great destination for a student dinner with friends. The sharing-style dishes make it social, and the whole experience feels very much like exploring what London has to offer.
Franco Manca | Pizza · Brixton · SW9
Franco Manca started in Brixton Market and has since become a London favourite. The sourdough pizzas are slow-fermented for up to 20 hours, which gives the base a flavour and texture that most pizza places simply cannot match. The menu is short, the ingredients are fresh, and the prices are genuinely very affordable — making it one of the best-value restaurants in London for students. There are now branches across the city, but the Brixton original still has the most soul.
Student tip: Brixton is close to Goldsmiths, University of London and St George’s, University of London. Students in south London should make the trip to the original Brixton Market site for a meal that is delicious, affordable and uniquely London.
Bao | Taiwanese · Fitzrovia · W1
Bao started as a small market stall and grew into one of London’s most talked-about restaurant groups. The soft, pillowy Taiwanese bao buns filled with slow-braised meats and punchy sauces are simply very good. The Fitzrovia location is stylish but relaxed, with a menu that feels creative without being confusing. Dishes are small and meant for sharing, which keeps the bill very manageable for a group of students looking for a fun dinner out in London.
Student tip: Fitzrovia is surrounded by some of London’s most famous universities, UCL, University of Westminster, and the Royal Academy of Music are all nearby. Bao is an ideal spot for students in this part of central London who want something a bit different for lunch or dinner.
Tayyabs | Punjabi · Whitechapel · E1
Tayyabs has been feeding East London since 1972, and it remains one of the most beloved restaurants in the whole city. The lamb chops, marinated and cooked over charcoal, are legendary. The food is Punjabi-style, rich with spice, and incredibly generous in portion size. It is also BYOB, which keeps the cost of a meal here very low. There is almost always a queue outside, but the atmosphere inside is lively and worth every minute of waiting.
Student tip: Whitechapel is right on the doorstep of Queen Mary University of London and a short journey from London Metropolitan University. Tayyabs is one of those restaurants in London every student should visit at least once, it is real, honest food at prices that make sense on a student budget.
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