London, England is one of the most important cities to shape the world in the last millennia. Due to the historical and political importance of London, there has been a lot of influences on the food in England that you can enjoy when visiting the city.
Food In London
The foods in London can be as fancy or relaxed as you want them to be. British food for supper typically comprises a combination of meat and starch options, with the desserts being something sweet. You can also find traditional food in London that will warm you up on a cold, rainy afternoon.
Here are some famous dishes in London that you should try next time you are in the city!
Typical Dishes In London
Fish And Chips
This is arguably the most traditional food in London. Fish & chips are made from a battered and fried fish fillet (typically cod or another white fish) and paired with thick, crisped fries.
This is a simple but essential British food that is a hot main course and best enjoyed with a pint of your favorite beer.
Originally an English dish, you can eat fish and chips at a restaurant, a pub, or from a take-away shop on the go. Even if you are looking for a more elegant meal, fish & chips are so British that chefs are constantly trying to make the meal more highbrow and unique.
Sunday Roast
A hearty food of London, Sunday roast comes from the tradition that families would gather around after Sunday church services and have a larger, filling meal together before starting the next week.
You will get a meal that includes some type of roasted meat, mashed or roasted potatoes, gravy, and vegetables, and sometimes Yorkshire pudding or mint sauce. The vegetables that the meal is served with can include whatever is in season during the time of year you order a Sunday roast, or brussels sprouts, carrots, peas, and more. Most pubs will have this on the menu for Sundays, and you will probably want to wash the meal down with a pint of something a little lighter.
English Breakfast
Also known as the “full English breakfast,” this plate of morning bites is a great way to kickstart a day of exploring Londontown.
You will enjoy a very well-balanced meal that will include eggs, English bacon (more like American ham than American crispy bacon), sausages (also called bangers), roasted tomato halves, black pudding, baked beans, roasted mushroom halves, and a slice of thick toast.
British people will typically drink a coffee or tea with their English breakfast as well. And while there are plenty of restaurant options to get this food in London, you can easily find it on any pub or café menu throughout the day since it is so popular. This popular English dish is perfect to cure your jetlag, or after a night out in London.
Cockles
If you are familiar with seafood from other parts of the world, you may not be very familiar with cockles. Unlike their cousin the clam, cockles are a rounded heart shape with very deep groves going vertically down their shells.
Cockles also must be eaten cooked, as you can get sick from their raw meat. Many will serve these shellfish with seasoned malt vinegar and white pepper.
You may also find cockles served with bacon and a laverbread (this is made from seaweed, not wheat like other bread!). This is another British meal that you can eat on the go as you explore some of London’s top landmarks.
Afternoon Tea
One of the more famous food in London is actually a collection of food—like finger sandwiches and desserts—paired with the quintessential English beverage, tea!
Afternoon tea refers to the tradition of a late afternoon meal that is lighter. You will probably need to pre-book a reservation for afternoon tea in London and can expect a platter with cakes, biscuits, pastries, bread and jams, and finger sandwiches, like cucumber sandwiches. You may even be offered a glass of champagne to top your teatime off with!
Pie And Mash
Pie and mash are another warming comfort food that is cheap and easy to order from a pub. A typical “working class” meal, the pie is made of minced meat (typically beef) and served with mash potatoes. There is also normally a parsley sauce that you pour over your pie, known as a liquor sauce. This is a great meal to eat on the go as well since the pies are smaller and easy to hold in one hand.
Scotch Eggs
If your body is craving protein, you may want to consider getting a scotch egg. This is a hardboiled egg that has been wrapped in sausage and then coasted in breadcrumbs. It is then either baked or deep-fried and served piping hot with a dipping sauce.
Scotch eggs were traditionally a dinner dish that came with a gravy and mustard sauce. They then became popular as a cold snack for travelers in the 18th century. Nowadays, you will find them at fairs and picnics warmed and ready to be snacked on.
Bangers And Mash
One of the more popular dishes in London, bangers, and mash has been a British staple for centuries. Bangers are sausage links made of beef, pork, or lamb, and come with a hefty serving of creamy mashed potatoes.
Typically, the meal will come with onion gravy and a side of peas or fried onions. This meal is best ordered in a pub. Bangers and mash is known to be one of the United Kingdom’s best comfort foods as it’ll warm you right up and make you feel right at home in whatever pub you have ordered it at.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
One of the more common British desserts, sticky toffee pudding is made of a sponge cake with chopped dates and a toffee sauce drizzled on top. You will typically be served this dessert with a side of vanilla ice cream too. This is an indulgent meal, but one you should definitely try will in London.
FLAVORS AROUND THE WORLD |
Pasty
Many cultures and cuisines have pasties in their traditional food. English dishes are no exception. English pasties are made with a shortcrust pastry filled with uncooked meat and vegetables that are then baked once the pastry has been sealed and shaped like a half-moon.
They are usually filled with diced beef, potatoes, onions, and turnip. You can, of course, fill your pastry with whatever you may enjoy! If you are familiar with Colombian cuisine, they closely resemble an empanada.
Visiting London
There are plenty of London dishes that you should try next time you are in the city exploring. From traditional food in London like fish and chips and a full English breakfast to other typical food in London like afternoon tea and pastries, you will never be hungry on your next visit.
Don’t forget to check out these fun facts about London, and also the best things to do in London when visiting. If you want a localized experience, London also has tons of food tours that bring you to specific well-rated restaurants so you can sink your teeth into some of these yummy foods in London.