London’s best street food

Mother Flipper’s thing is putting its patties – all served medium – on to the grill as balls, and then smashing them down with a spatula to give them a good crust. Some come topped with huge wedges of avocado, others drip oozy Swiss cheese: but they’re all pretty damned hefty. Top of the heap is the legendary Dirty Barbie double-header, but its line-up also includes Korean fried chicken wings and a ‘flipper’ (kaarage-style chicken thigh with shredded cabbage and yuzu mayo). 

Find them at: Seven Dials Market, Covent Garden.

But first check: @MotherFlipperuk

Humble Crumble is a sweet treat-centric bakery serving up super nostalgic desserts. Apple and cinnamon, elderflower and berries, and the mighty rhubarb, these crumbles have taken over TikTok and with good reason. Score the heroic trifle crumble if you have an insatiable sweet tooth.

Find it at: Borough, Old Spitalfields and Camden. 

But first check: @humblecrumble

Celebrated Sarap chef Ferdinand ‘Budgie’ Montoya is all about Filipino street food at this grab-and-go skewer concept. Try BBQ pinoy pork, inasal chicken, garlic and salted egg prawns and oyster mushroom ‘isaw.’ Best of all is the banana ketchup for dipping, and don't forget the famous fried chicken skins.

Find it at: Market Halls, Oxford Street

But first check: @apoy_london 

The best things come in small packages, or so they say. And ‘they’ would be right on this occasion, because The Gyoza Guys are packing a huge amount of pure unadulterated global flavour into their dumplings. There are various varieties (thai chicken laab, bulgogi pork with parmesan and spiced spuds, pea and feta), but each one is special – add a yakatori skewer on for good measure.

Find it at: Maltby Street Market, London Bridge.

But first check: @gyozaguys

Mexa is the offspring of the much-loved Sonora Taqueria, so its taco game is predictably strong. Top marks, too, to a slow-cooked lamb birria quesadilla, accompanied by a pot of umami-dense jellied consommé. Lamb rarely gets a look-in on London’s Mexican menus and this is a real payday treat.

Find it at: Arcade Food Hall, central London.

But first check: @mexa_ldn

Roti King is one of London's most legendary cheap eats, and Gopal’s Corner comes from the same squad, bringing you extremely good Malaysian Tamil food. Think banana leaf rice meals, dosas, noodles, curries, and most importantly, roti canai.

Find it at: Victoria, Canary Wharf and Oxford Street Market Halls.

But first check: @gopalscorner

Tongue ‘n’ Cheek’s nomadic meat masters have built up a cult following for its gutsy left-field bites. Some love the ‘Belly Connection’ (topped with 24-hour cooked pork belly, gorgonzola, pimiento mayo, pickled red onions and lettuce), but our current fave is the riff with candied bacon, cheddar and BBQ mayo. 

Find it at: Canopy Market, King's Cross and Strutton Ground Market, Victoria. 

But first check: @tonguencheeks

‘The original creators of halloumi fries’ boast Oli Baba’s, but there’s a lot more to this street-food outfit than pimped-up veggie nibbles – they also do a banging cheeseburger.

Find it at: Camden Market, Camden.

But first check: @Oli_Babas

Sometimes all that will truly fill your belly is a big, fat burrito. Luardos stuff theirs with flavour – the chicken option is poached with garlic and bay leaves, the pork slow-cooked with fennel and orange. Traditional pico de gallo, smooth guacamole, crunchy lettuce and Monterey Jack cheese all join in to make this mealtime a food fiesta. Also, look out for other items such as the ceviche tostada and beef brisket taco.

Find it at: Whitecross Street Market.

But first check: @Luardos

Mark Gevaux is living proof that you’re better off starting a business because you’re really good at it rather than because you think it’s on-trend. While working as a butcher, he began cooking ribs on disposable barbecues at farmers’ markets; demand was high and The Rib Man was born. His smoky, succulent baby backs have been shredded, piled high into white baps and drizzled with insanely spicy sauces ever since.

Find it at: Outside London Stadium every West Ham home game and Brick Lane Market every Sunday.

But first check: @theribman

Like a Eurovision entry amidst a sea of indie bands, The Grilling Greek’s truck is cheerful, colourful and fiercely patriotic. Which figures, given that it serves up a fine menu of Mediterranean classics such as giant kalamata olives, red pepper houmous and stonking souvlaki. GG’s fresh, soft pitta bread is stuffed with tomato, red onion, a good dollop of ‘mama’s tzatziki’ and smoky chunks of grilled meat (or halloumi). Don’t forget to order some triple-cooked chips too.

Find it at: Victoria Park Market on Sundays.

But first check: @thegrillinggreek