Home • A Definitive Guide to the Best Street Food in London 2026
Step off the beaten tourist path and plunge headfirst into that which traditional London city maps typically ignore, and that is the London street food scene. Over the past decade, the London street food culture has expanded far beyond jellied eels and old cafes that have been open for decades. Today, London’s best food markets abound with the rich aroma of sizzling local and exotic cuisines. These are places where Michelin-starred chefs rub shoulders with second and third-generation families who have served Londoners for decades. Literally on the sidewalks, chefs pepper the city with global street food from all six inhabited continents that range from Japanese yuzu marmalade to Sichuan peppercorns, and dry-aged steak cooked over flames. That said, the following is a list of the absolute best places to eat London street food in 2026.
If you ask any street food vendor where the pulsing heart of West London truly beats, chances are that they will point you towards Portobello Road Market. For first-time visitors, it is good to know that the market was first established in the mid-1800s as a humble country lane where local farmers could sell their fresh produce to eager middle-class families in the bustling Paddington and Bayswater neighborhoods. It is also worth noting that over its 150+ year existence, Portobello Road Market has kept one unique thing consistent: Incredible food. In this market that stretches for about a mile, most street food stalls situated in the strip between Elgin Crescent and the Westway flyover open on Fridays and Saturdays. North African and Caribbean street food can be found on Golborne Road throughout the week.
Saturdays tend to be the busiest and liveliest. On Fridays you will find slightly thinner crowds with a similarly large selection of stalls. The mix of food available on Portobello Road is reflective of the diverse groups of people who have made Notting Hill their home for over a century.
Portobello Road Market and Golborne Road, in particular, host a large section of West London’s international food market selling traditional dishes from around the world. Caribbean cuisines are found at traders situated at the northern end of Portobello Road. Here, chefs cook curry goat for hours, after marinating the meat overnight. The dish is typically served as part of a combo that includes rice, peas, and a side of coleslaw. Portobello Road also hosts vendors from across Europe. Renowned Spanish delicatessen R Garcia & Sons has, for example, been on Portobello Road since 1957, supplying fresh meats and delicious fish savouries alongside cured meats such as jamón and chorizo, cheeses, cava, and imported pantry staples.
Portobello Road also has Southeast Asian and East Asian food sellers selling curry dishes as well as specialty foods such as fluffy bao buns at local stalls and falafel wraps from Falafel Point. Fusion street food has recently appeared at the market with Japanese and Korean foods now being served alongside Western dishes such as tacos and fries. Other specialist vendors selling French dishes and crepes can also be found in the area, not to mention German and central European stalls.
The retail and street food side of Borough Market near London Bridge has existed in one form or another for centuries. In 2026, Borough Market continues to be one of the epicenters for street food in the city. While the wholesale side still supplies high-end restaurants in the city, legions of foodies and tourists descend on the small streets lined with every food concept imaginable. From Sri Lankan street food at Rambutan, which focuses on bold spices and coconut-based cooking, to West African flavors at Akara in Borough Yards, the area has something for everyone. One of the most popular cheesy treats to try while in the area is the famous cheese toastie from Kappacasein at Borough Market.
Another iconic London snack is the salt beef bagel. It can be found on Brick Lane. Thick slabs of warm cured salt beef are piled onto a chewy bagel with spicy mustard and tangy pickles to create one of the juiciest, tender, flavour-packed bites in London. The legendary melt-in-your-mouth mountain of succulent meat is perfectly balanced by the fiery kick of English mustard and crisp, lip-puckering gherkins.
Also, right outside the Old Truman Brewery, you can literally eat your way around the world. Kebabs may be London’s unofficial national dish, but locals line up for The Rib Man, who piles tender pulled rib meat from slow-cooked baby-back ribs onto a roll. Sonora Taqueria, now found at its newer permanent locations, also offers delicious Mexican street food. The establishment serves slow-roasted meats stuffed into flour tortillas. Here, you will find everything from ox tongue to mushroom-based vegan chorizo.
For visitors seeking something a bit more refined, Maltby Street Market is your jam. Nestled underneath railway arches in Bermondsey, this market features seasonal Street Food Fridays, which has been a staple over the past few years. Attracting foodies who have exhausted all options at nearby Borough Market, Maltby Street offers a much more intimate vibe. When visiting the area, you can grab a pint from one of the bars belonging to the Bermondsey Beer Mile.
For those traveling over to the south side of the Thames, Greenwich Market has been serving varied global cuisines for decades. Officially opened in September 1737, Greenwich Market has transformed into one of London’s premier global food courts. The unique lineup of bakeries and fusion food concepts makes Greenwich well worth your time. The Maritime Greenwich area is, notably, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Located on Southbank Centre Square behind the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre Food Market has built a strong reputation for serving high-quality street food. Naan wraps and Polish pierogi are firm favorites. Getting tickets to watch the orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall or a show at the National Theatre? You can grab a meal here. Up north, Camden Market is still going strong and KERB is the place to be for excellent Camden Market food. Featuring everything from Lebanese tacos to Taiwanese fried chicken, this food market beside the canal has one of the most picturesque settings in all of London. If you would rather have something more contained, there are plenty of indoor food markets in London like Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle. The food hall emphasizes community by hosting dozens of independent vendors and international artisanal producers.
London food halls have mastered the mobile ordering system. Just scan the QR code on your table and you will receive a notification when your order is ready. The busiest time to visit any London outdoor market is from 11 am to 3 pm on weekends. Some market traders accept Healthy Start prepaid cards for fresh produce.
For those visiting the city for the first time, the Notting Hill Carnival event, which occurs in August, is a massive celebration of Caribbean culture. Since 1966, the carnival has led to the roads surrounding Portobello Road Market being blocked off as hundreds of stalls pop up to sell typical Caribbean meals, making it one of the best things to do in London during summer. Overall, curry goat, fried plantain, rice and peas, and jerk chicken form a significant portion of the overall street food industry across London.
Keep in mind that seasonal street food menus change throughout the year. Think tomato bruschetta, cold brew coffee, and refreshing ceviche in summer and s’mores, mulled wine, and chili stew in winter. We hope you are hungry!
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