Cuisine in London
London’s food is a mash-up of several ethnicities, reflecting the city’s varied people and vivid past. Visitors visiting London may indulge in a broad variety of exotic cuisines in addition to renowned traditional British delicacies like fish and chips and bangers and mash. London offers a wide variety of cuisine, from traditional pub meals to Michelin-starred establishments.
Below are some of the most famous traditional foods in London.
Full English Breakfast
Full English breakfast in London is a hearty and satisfying meal that’s become a cherished tradition in the UK’s capital city. At its heart, a Full English breakfast typically includes bacon, eggs, sausages, baked beans, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and black pudding. But variations abound, with different regions and restaurants adding their own unique twists to the dish.
Bangers and Mash
Bangers and Mash is a quintessentially British dish that’s beloved by Londoners and visitors alike. This hearty meal is a celebration of comfort food at its finest, combining flavorful sausages with creamy mashed potatoes and rich gravy to create a dish that’s both satisfying and delicious.
At its core, Bangers and Mash is a simple meal made with high-quality ingredients. The sausages, or “bangers,” are typically made from a blend of pork and seasoning, while the mashed potatoes are made with butter, cream, and a touch of seasoning to create a silky and creamy texture. And with modern twists and variations on the classic dish, Bangers and Mash continue to evolve and inspire, bringing new and exciting flavors to a timeless favorite.
Boiled Eggs and Soldiers
Boiled eggs and soldiers are another common breakfast item in London. The egg should be soft-boiled so that the yolk is nice and runny, ready to dip your soldiers in (thin strips of buttered toast). This is a dish that reminds childhood and is a breakfast table favorite.
This traditional British comfort food is also suitable for lunch or as a light tea (dinner). The eggs should be served in their shells in an egg cup, and the fun part is cracking the top off. When ordering boiled eggs and soldiers at a restaurant, the eggs will almost certainly come without the shell.
Smoked Kippers
A smoked kipper is a butterfly-cut herring fish that has been salted and smoked over smoldering wood chips. It’s traditionally eaten for breakfast but also good for dinner or lunch. After smoking, the fish turns red, known as a red herring.