London is a city with a rich and diverse culinary history, and it's no surprise that it's home to some of the best traditional foods in the world. From the hearty Full English breakfast to the iconic Sunday Roast, there are plenty of delicious dishes to try during your visit. Bubble & Squeak, Scottish eggs, Cornish pasties, roasted bone marrow, toad in the hole, jellied eels, chicken tikka masala, afternoon tea and fish with 26% French fries are just some of the unique dishes that you can find in London. A Full English breakfast is one of the most popular traditional foods in London.
This hearty meal dates back to ancient Anglo-Saxon traditions and is still enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. It typically consists of bacon, eggs, sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast and baked beans. It's a great way to start your day or cure a hangover after a night out! The Sunday Roast is another classic British dish that has been enjoyed for centuries. This sumptuous meal usually consists of roast beef or lamb served with potatoes, vegetables and gravy.
It's a great way to end your weekend and can be found in most pubs on Sundays. Bubble & Squeak is a traditional English dish that dates back to the mid-18th century. It's made with boiled potatoes and cabbage and fried with animal fat or butter in small round cakes. It's often served as a side dish with Sunday Roast or as a cold snack for travelers.
Scottish eggs are another popular dish in London. They were originally served as a dinner dish along with sauce and mustard sauce but later gained popularity as a cold snack for travelers. Cornish pasties are also popular in London. This simple but delicious cake is considered Cornwall's national dish and is responsible for up to 6% of Cornwall's food economy. Roasted bone marrow is another unique dish that you can find in London.
It's usually served with parsley salad and crusty bread and is surprisingly affordable at just 14 pounds per serving. Toad in the hole is another traditional English dish that dates back to the 18th century. It consists of sausages baked in a Yorkshire pudding base and is usually served with onion sauce. Jellied eels are one of the most famous dishes in London but not everyone's cup of tea! This typical London food originated in the East End in the 18th century and has been enjoyed by Cockneys and Londoners ever since. Curry is another popular dish in London that may not seem like a typical London food at first glance but has been enjoyed throughout the capital since the 1960s. Chicken tikka masala is one of the most popular curries in London and consists of boneless pieces of chicken breast cooked in a creamy tomato, yogurt and coriander sauce.
If you're looking for something more luxurious, why not try afternoon tea at The Ritz? This traditional afternoon snack has been served since it opened in 1906 so they know how to make it perfect!Fish with 26% French fries is another classic London food that has been enjoyed by locals for centuries. Expect to eat battered and fried cod, hake or haddock and French fries when you eat this dish - although some chippies offer other varieties of fish such as mackerel or halibut. Beigels have also been popular in London ever since Jewish immigrants from Poland started baking them in the 19th century. Fast forward to today and locals line up to buy beigels on Brick Lane at all hours of the day and night. Tipping is not expected in London in the same way as it is in the United States but it's common to tip 10-15% for good food and service in restaurants. Tipping in bars or cafés is not common. So there you have it - some of the best traditional foods that you can find in London! From hearty breakfasts to sumptuous roasts, there are plenty of delicious dishes to try during your visit.
