Throughout 2024 we're asking Michelin-starred chefs and top bloggers to pick their favourite cheap eats - a meal for two for less than £40 - in their part of the UK. We'll add to this list every week...
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Tom De Keyser, head chef at Tom Kerridge's two-starred The Hand and Flowers, Marlow: "The Cedar Marlow is a local gem, it's a fantastic coffee shop and spot for a lovely lunch. I always have the pastrami bagel which is brilliant, my wife loves the chicken shawarma salad, and my young daughter has a fluffy bowl of scrambled eggs. You can happily feed the three of us with a couple of delicious coffees for less than £40."
Sarah Haywood from the one-star The Coach, in Marlow: "Definitely The Butcher's Tap and Grill in Marlow (like The Coach, also a Tom Kerridge pub), a great spot to pop in for some pub snacks or a fantastic burger, or for something a little bit special you can choose a cut from the butcher's counter like a pork tomahawk or T-bone steak. The chefs will cook it exactly how you like it!"
CORNWALL
Bradley Monk from the award-winning One Fish Street in St Ives: "Roundhouse in Penzance. Joel makes the most incredible focaccia sandwiches at this little spot in Penzance. The lightest focaccia you will try, with just the right level of saltiness. Next is Blas in St Ives. While being well known for their burgers - which are also delicious - it's the rotisserie chicken I'm recommending. Little Palais in St Ives is stretching the budget slightly, but it's totally worth it as it's utterly delicious. The co*cktails are sublime, the cheeseboard is by far the best in the area, and the ever-changing selection of small plates are always divine. The view from the window table doesn't hurt, either."
CUMBRIA
Ollie Bridgwater, executive chef at the one-starred SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel: "Homeground, Windermere: This is my go-to brunch place of choice. Brunch is served til close and the menu has a variety of sweet and savoury options. My personal favourite is the Homeground Sarnie which includes both smoked back bacon and streaky bacon, a fried egg, smashed avocado, hash browns, caramelised red onion and leaves and is served in a sourdough ciabatta. Toast, Windermere: Their whole concept is around serving toasted sandwiches in Shokupan bread. Shokupan is a Japanese milk loaf, which when toasted is the perfect bread for toasties - they bake the Shokupan on site daily so it's the freshest it can be. They have a range of fillings, including plant-based options, and their teriyaki pulled mushrooms toastie with pulled mushrooms, teriyaki marinade, cheese, spring onion and sweet mayo is delicious. The Brown Horse Inn, Winster: Quite simply, a really good pub. It's family-owned, has a varied food and drink offering that celebrates local produce and always guarantees a warm welcome for all - families and dogs included. It was even Cumbria's best pub and bar in last year's National Pub and Bar Awards."
DEVON
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Simon Hulstone, from Michelin-starred The Elephant in Torquay: "Jun Jaow Thai restaurant in Torquay. We can be fed well for £40 with authentic Thai food in a family-run restaurant. I am partial to the Thai flavours from many trips and slowly building up my chilli tolerance. Jun Jaow is as close as I can get to some local Thai cuisine."
HUMBERSIDE
Gareth Bartram, former head chef at Winteringham Fields, Lincolnshire's only Michelin-star restaurant: "The Hope and Anchor, South Ferriby is a fantastic pub on the south bank of the river Humber. We always go for the home-cured charcuterie board and the burger made from the trim from their whole cow project is incredible. If me and my wife manage to convince the grandparents to look after the kids, it has to be Hearth in Hull. The restaurant and bakery is an amazing addition to the Hull dining scene with Ryan Telford cooking the majority of the menu over hot coals."
LANCASHIRE
Lisa Goodwin-Allen, executive chef of the Michelin-starred Northcote: "I love Jungle on the high street in cl*theroe. I go there a lot for brunch with my husband and my son. It's great value for money and just has a really cool, relaxed atmosphere, and they serve really tasty food. They have things like sweetcorn fritters with chilli jam and shakshuka with a falafel scotch egg on the menu. The dishes always have a twist to them. It also feels great to be able to give back to the brilliant independents on the local high street."
LONDON
Sameer Taneja, executive chef at one-starred Indian restaurant Benares, in Mayfair: "The Kati Roll Company in Soho is my go-to eatery for Kolkata-inspired meat and vegetable wraps that are absolutely delicious. My wife and I have been regular visitors since before our kids were born, and I have fond memories of this little place. It's always a treat to enjoy their excellent spicy wraps, a bottle of beer, and good old Bollywood music."
Tom Brown, from Pearly Queen and the Michelin-starred Cornerstone in Hackney, east London: "My all-time favourite cheap eat is Max's Sandwich Shop, which has an amazing reputation - their classic 'Ham, Egg 'n' Chips' sandwich is undoubtedly the best. I'm big on my football, and where it's located in Finsbury Park, it's a great spot to hit before Arsenal. My other choice for a cheap eat is a spot called House of Momo. They do a variety of fried dumplings served with delicious Nepalese curries - a personal favourite of mine is the cheese and vegetable momo. The food is divine. It's big portions - the value for money is insane."
Pied à Terre owner David Moore: "Tongue and Brisket (Goodge St) - Bring your appetite as portions are generous. I have a large salt beef on rye, pickles and mustard, £10 take away, a bit more to eat in. If dining in, try the Latka, fish balls and an excellent chopped liver, cucumber salad on side. No licence for booze… not a bad thing. Shoop (Tottenham Street) - This tiny, hole-in-the-wall spot serves up some of the tastiest soups you will find this side of Tel Aviv, but it doesn't stop there. Falafel, £8.20; shakshuka, £8.20; and chicken schnitzel, £9.00, are my firm favourites. Everything is cooked fresh on the premises. Palms of Goa (Charlotte Street) - They have been on Charlotte Street close to 30 years, you don't do that without solid regulars and good food. My favourite is king prawn masala, £15.95, or lamb biryani, £15.95 - plus a couple of naans at £2.95 each and some tap water just to stay on budget. I have to say I usually need a snooze after an Indian lunch… there are worse problems to have."
Andy Beynon, chef patron of Behind in Hackney: "I love Lahore Kebab House in Whitechapel. I used to go with my dad - we'd get a couple of lagers from the shop next door, then tuck into lamb chops, tarka daal, the Peshwari naan, which is always cooked fresh on the tandoor, and all the dips on the menu. You can't beat a 'That Spicy D' from Dom's Subs. There's just something about that burnt chilli mayo and schiacciata piccante. It's my favourite lunch to have on the go, and totally worth the mess. Umut 2000 in Dalston is my go-to for a kebab fix. They also do this amazing chargrilled lamb mince on a bed of tomato sauce with yoghurt and clarified butter. So good."
Meedu Saad, head chef and co-owner of Kiln in Soho - which as well as being in the Michelin Guide, was crowned the UK's best restaurant in 2018: "Durak Tantuni, in Haringey. This place specialises in tantuni, a meat wrap that originates from Mersin in the south of Turkey. It's finely diced lamb boiled and then lightly fried with spices, topped with fresh tomatoes and parsley before being wrapped in lavash and served with a monster plate of pickled chillies and lemon wedges. Haringey Corbacisi. A no-menu restaurant specialising in daily made soups and stews at very reasonable prices. My personal favourite is a soup by the name of kelle paca, which is a sheep's head soup in a broth topped with garlic and ghee. Yipin China, based in Highbury and Islington and specialising in Hunanese dishes and techniques. They have a great selection of offal dishes and sour soup - one of my favourites being white fish and mustard greens."
Jeff Tan, a Michelin-starred chef who now runs Viet Food in Chinatown: "I will recommend having Dim Sum with Chinese Tea for lunch which represents both culinary and cultural significance in Chinese tradition. The three restaurants that I recommend are Orient London, Bun House and Golden Dragon. Moreover, Orient London and Golden Dragon will be around £40 in terms of budgeting while Bun House is less than £40."
MERSEYSIDE
Mark Birchall, chef-patron at two Michelin starred Moor Hall in West Lancashire: "Swan fish and chip restaurant, Southport. It's fresh fish, nice chips, lovely pies! A great one to visit on a family day out - kids all love it too. For a cheap burger, Five Guys is consistently great! Customise your own burger, simple but delicious. Cajun fries are excellent too."
NORFOLK
Galton Blackiston of the Michelin-starred Morston Hall: "Allium in Downham Market, a family-run restaurant which involves mum, dad, Joe in kitchen and James front of house. Open Wednesday through to Sunday, it has a great vibe on a Saturday evening and great food. Bure River Restaurant, a tiny restaurant on the broads in Horning cooking lovely fish dishes. Final cheap place is the Parlour in Binham, where they have a great restaurant and you put money into an honesty box for their local cheese from the village and raw milk from their farm - a great place to visit in Norfolk."
NORTHERN IRELAND
Stephen Toman, chef owner at the one Michelin starred Ox restaurant in Belfast: "There's a great little pub not too far from me in Belfast that does great pub grub and an even better Guinness. It's called Robert Stewart's, or Bob Stewart's to the locals. I recommend the peppered steak and a pint of the black stuff to wash it down. For in the city centre I recommend Ora. The perfect spot for small plates and wines by the glass. Super co*cktails also. The bang bang chicken or the pork fritters never fail."
SCOTLAND
Tom Kitchin, chef-owner at The Kitchin in Edinburgh: "I really enjoy The Fishmarket at Newhaven, down by the Newhaven harbour in Edinburgh. They offer classic fish and chips, done incredibly well, which you can either enjoy in the restaurant or to take away."
Popular Glasgow food blogger Pam Gilmour, better known as Glasgowfoodgeek: "You can't go wrong with a filling ramen, and Ramen Dayo is the best in the city, with massive bowls of soup coming in at around £13. No one stuffs a sub like La Pastina, which makes sandwiches so big that you can keep half for dinner. The Bordain is a masterpiece. If you're looking for the best burger in the city you won't go far wrong visiting award-winning El Perro Negro, where you can enjoy a classic burger and side of fries for just £13. The flavour and quality will absolutely blow your socks off."
SOUTH YORKSHIRE
Dan Conlon, head chef at Michelin Guide recommended Rafters in Sheffield: "Paesani. This is a family run, traditional Italian restaurant serving classic wood fired pizzas using authentic ingredients. My go-to's are nocellara olives for, then the new contadina vegetarian or the San Daniele. Nottingham House (the Notty House) is a down to earth pub serving pies, chips and mushy peas - a great selection of homemade pies at very reasonable prices, good student vibe. The steak and stilton, and the chicken and sausage stuffing are my go-to's. Urban choola is a long-established curry house in Sheffield, going from strength to strength.It's not your run-of-the-mill curry - they have a distinct and inventive style."
STAFFORDSHIRE
Great British Menu champ Tom Shepherd, from Michelin-starred Upstairs by Tom Shepherd in Lichfield, picks his favourites in the city: "The Patty Freaks - Great burgers, super tasty, filled with all the good stuff, a big selection of different toppings, cooked to order and they do some delicious sides too - from loaded fries to chicken wings and tenders. Bore Street Bakery - Not only are the owners Nathan and Rosie a pair of absolute legends, but they can also bake! The pastries, fancies and savoury breads here are absolutely delicious, people queue past the door of the restaurant every single morning, it's heaving from 9am, their pastry 'knots' are incredible, and the coffee is good too. Poms - a firm local favourite serving some delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch items - all their bread is sourced locally from Silvertree Bakery (I used to work with the owner, Kirk) and they make the most amazing sandwiches, eggs benedict and salads, a definite go-to if you're in Lichfield."
SUFFOLK
Dave Wall, head chef at the UK's number one ranked gastropub, The Unruly Pig in Suffolk: "Honey + Harvey, various locations: A cracking spot for breakfast, brunch or lunch. They have the most delicious coffee and a cracking full English, the vibe is super-chilled and laidback and I always feel so relaxed there. Lark, Bury St Edmunds: A beautiful little independent restaurant with the most incredible selection of small plates and top-drawer cooking. Admittedly, I find myself spending a fair bit more than £40 at Lark because I love James Carn's cooking so much that I end up going way over the top and ordering far too many dishes."
WALES
Mark McHugo, head chef and owner of Michelin Green Star restaurant Chapters in Hay-on-Wye, Powys: "Daphnes in Presteigne - they serve great pizza, delicious wines and brilliant seasonal salads and starters. Then, in the newly renovated Castle in the middle of Hay-on-Wye, the cafe there serves really great lunches - plus Sunday lunch in the winter months, and their breakfast is pretty good too. It is the perfect quick stop off with great service and tasty dishes."
WARWICKSHIRE
Richard Craven from one-starred The Royal Oak in Warwickshire: "For brunch or lunch it has to be The Straw Kitchen at Whichford Pottery. The kitchen offers classic brunch dishes with homemade relishes and home-grown leaves and super interesting and healthy salads with a great range of meaty and vegetarian options. My go-to treat would be the bacon sandwich. The second is The Copper Grill, which recently opened within our local, The Black Horse, Shipston-on-Stour. The burgers are incredible. The bacon double-cheese burger is my favourite, but there are a great range that pair well with the selection of beers that the landlord, Gabe, keeps. They both support sustainable and regenerative farming and use the brilliant Tamworth pork from our neighbour Paddock Farm."
WEST MIDLANDS
Simon Carlo, from the award-winning Meat and One Veg blog: Yikouchi - Whilst teaching English in Beijing, James fell in love with, and subsequently learned to cook, Sichuan food. The menu is short and nothing is over a tenner. Their fried chicken in chilli oil is legendary, whilst the fish fragrant aubergine is arguably the best vegan dish in Birmingham. WokChi - a Cantonese that never fails to deliver. The menu is approachable, if slightly anglicised, and far too cheap. There isn't a dud on the menu, though barely a week goes by when I don't visit them for the Singapore style rice with roast pork, chicken, and prawns. Shababs - the last bastion of the Balti Triangle is stronger than ever. It's hard to look past the chicken balti; theirs is semi-dry with caramelised edges from the rapid cook. The table naan has to be seen to be believed.
