In Search of London’s Best $5 Lunch

When I was asked where to find the best lunch $5 can buy in London I simply chuckled. £5 maybe, NOT $5.

London’s never been known as a bargain, in fact it’s one of the world’s most expensive cities. $5.00 US equals approximately £3.40 UK and not one restaurant, café or even fish ‘n chip shop sprang to mind. Sending someone towards the kebab street food vendors in Leicester Square isn’t advisable even for hangover sufferers despite the price. And while respectable, I don’t think the ready made deli items in the Marks & Spencer grocery store refrigerators exactly count as London’s best budget lunch.

However, London’s market food is always impressive: from Daddy Donkey burritos in Leather Lane Market to Jamon Jamon’s Portobello Road Market signature giant paella, but nothing goes for under a fiver. Determined to find a fabulous lunch within my budget, my dad (who was visiting from the U.S. and tight with his cash) and I headed for London’s gourmet food source, Borough Market. Indeed we found gorgeous lunches of Thai curries, fresh falafel sandwiches, stir fried scallops with back bacon and Iberian picnic boxes … yet again, all were over £3.40. Taking this quite seriously now, we split up in competition.

Immediately I spotted Mrs King’s Pie stall selling traditional English meat pies, made a beeline for the English flag bunting and handwritten sign announcing, “Handmade by Me – England’s Best Pork Pie”. Obviously popular, the only hot pie variety left for the day was a chicken and leek pie for £3. Also in the oven were two more English favorites, sausage rolls for £2 and pasties, baked crescent shaped pastry filled with meat, swede, potatoes and onions for £3. I opted for the chicken and leek pie and was not disappointed.  It was truly fabulous and oh so British, a perfect recommendation plus about 58 cents under budget.

Just after polishing off my pie, my dad appeared declaring he had found the best British lunch for $5. Following my father into the adjacent pub appropriately called The Market Porter I wondered how he could have found a gourmet budget lunch inside a pub until he pointed to his table with pride. A pint of ale & a packet of crisps.

Clearly the winner.

{photos courtesy of Erin Maury}