Guide to affordable restaurants in Covent Garden

Guide to affordable restaurants in Covent Garden

With its hordes of tourists looking to spend their holiday money and upmarket boutiques on every street, Covent Garden isn't usually considered at the top of the list when it comes to cheap restaurants. However, there are still plenty of cheap eats to be found in this part of London if you know where to look, and thankfully, we do. Read our guide to the best budget-friendly restaurants in Covent Garden to find affordable, tasty meals in this popular area.

In this guide
  1. Cheap eats in Covent Garden
    1. Homeslice – Pizza to share or by the slice
    2. Pizza Pilgrims – Budget-friendly classic
    3. Maison Bab – Reinventing the kebab
    4. Kanada-Ya – Hot ramen at hot prices
    5. Chick 'n' Sours – Elevating fried chicken
    6. Koshari Street – Healthy Egyptian street fare
    7. Wahaca – Sustainability-minded Mexican food
    8. Chez Antoinette – French fare with flair
    9. Honest Burgers – Honest food at honest prices
    10. Go Falafel – Fresh falafel for the masses
    11. Pasta Brown – Classic Italian dishes
    12. Blacklock – Steak made accessible
    13. Old Chang Kee – A classic taste of Singapore
    14. Banana Tree – Diverse Asian flavours
    15. Chill Since '93 – Casual light bites
    16. Lanzhou Noodle Bar – Bustling noodle spot
    17. Vasiniko – Bright Italian restaurant
    18. Bibi's – Fresh salads for lunch

Cheap eats in Covent Garden

Homeslice

Pizza to share or by the slice

Homeslice dishes up 20 inch pizzas that are ideal for sharing but if you don't want to shell out too much you can also get a slice of pizza for an affordable price. Classic and inventive toppings are available, with every pizza made using seasonal produce. The restaurant has a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere.

  • Price: About £5 for a pizza slice

Pizza Pilgrims

Budget-friendly classic

Filling and tasty, pizza is a classic affordable choice, and when it comes to classic Neapolitan pizzas, Pizza Pilgrims and their “in crust we trust” motto are a top choice. They source their high-grade ingredients directly from Italy and combine them in a variety of flavour combinations. The decor at the Covent Garden branch is inspired by some of cinema's greatest works.

  • Price: About £12 for an eight-cheese pizza

Maison Bab

Reinventing the kebab

Get a gourmet kebab without breaking the bank at Maison Bab. Along with sister restaurants Le Bab, this place redefines kebabs into sophisticated street food. Each kebab is loaded with tempting ingredients and there are meaty and plant-based options, served in a buzzy contemporary environment. Mezze dishes are on offer too.

  • Price: About £12 for a kebab

Kanada-Ya

Hot ramen at hot prices

The award-winning Kanada-Ya group specialises in authentic tonkotsu ramen, made with an 18-hour pork and corn-fed chicken bone broth, chashu pork belly, spring onion, wood-ear fungus and yuzu-shoyu. In addition to this London exclusive, different ramen options are available, as well as a concise selection of small plates, onigiri and rice dishes. When it comes to hot, steamy ramen at an affordable rate, Kanada-Ya is hard to beat.

  • Price: About £15 for a ramen bowl

Chick 'n' Sours

Elevating fried chicken

Chicken shops are traditionally low-cost and Chick 'n' Sours is, by most definitions, a chicken shop. Where it stands apart from the usual corner local, however, is the gourmet approach it applies to the fried poultry – crispy outsides, juicy insides, and slathered in Asian spices and sauces. The Seven Dials outpost adds a few other options such as chicken toast and nachos, as well as budget-friendly lunchtime exclusives. You can even split a whole fried chicken with a friend without breaking the bank, though you'll have to order it 48h in advance.

  • Price: About £12 for a fried chicken sandwich

Koshari Street

Healthy Egyptian street fare

A vibrant pop-art eatery in St Martin's Lane, Koshari Street offers healthy street food that's ideal for when you're on the go. The titular koshari is a national dish in Egypt and composed of pasta, rice and lentils with tomato sauce. You can add toppings such as jackfruit, spicy potatoes, chicken or lamb to your base for a simple yet satisfying taste.

  • Price: About £10 for a classic koshari bowl

Wahaca

Sustainability-minded Mexican food

The colourful Mexican cuisine at Wahaca doesn't just come with a budget-friendly price tag, it also does good for the planet, as this was the country's first carbon neutral restaurant group. There's a ton of choice on the menu, from casual street-food bites and classic mains to shareable set menus. Vegan, gluten-free and children's menus are also offered.

  • Price: About £12 for a burrito

Chez Antoinette

French fare with flair

French cuisine doesn't have to come at a hefty price, as evidenced by Chez Antoinette. This classic bistro cooks up contemporary incarnations of traditional recipes in a vibrant, relaxed ambience. The all-day dining here includes savoury breakfast options and a varied main menu with light dishes such as open-faced tartine sandwiches with different fillings, or salads. Weekday lunch deals are also offered.

  • Price: About £10 for a tartine

Honest Burgers

Honest food at honest prices

Championing sustainable farming, best-of-Britain produce and transparent sourcing, Honest Burgers run burger joints all over London, including Covent Garden. You can choose from various chicken, beef or veggie burgers featuring different sauces and toppings. The affordable burgers come with a side, and the drinks are reasonably priced as well. You can eat in or get the food as takeaway.

  • Price: About £10 for a hamburger

Go Falafel

Fresh falafel for the masses

Fresh and contemporary, Go Falafel offers a straight and to-the-point menu focused on the Middle Eastern staple that is falafel. Choose a wrap, salad box or hummus plate for a light, healthy meal, with sides such as stuffed vine leaves available as well. There's also a large selection of energising juices and smoothies to complement your meal with.

  • Price: About £7 for a falafel wrap

Pasta Brown

Classic Italian dishes

Pasta Brown dishes up affordable and authentic Italian food in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Classic dishes are on the menu such as bruschetta, pizza with a range of toppings, and a choice of pasta dishes. Gluten-free and wholewheat pasta is offered too. A small selection of Italian wines is also available.

  • Price: About £16 for quattro formaggi pizza

Blacklock

Steak made accessible

The Blacklock restaurant in Covent Garden is vast and spacious. Top quality meat at reasonable prices is the main focus here, with steaks and chops in two different sizes if you're watching your wallet. This place makes steak accessible and also does a roast on Sundays. Additionally, the restaurant has its own beers that you can't find elsewhere.

  • Price: About £12 for a steak sandwich

Old Chang Kee

A classic taste of Singapore

Award-winning restaurant Old Chang Kee brings the flavours of Singapore to Covent Garden. The speciality at this award-winning eatery is curry puffs, a favourite from Singapore that combines a Western-style pie with Eastern spices. Other dishes at this casual counter service spot include fried chicken, fried noodles, a choice of curries, and laksa.

  • Price: About £9 for curry with rice

Banana Tree

Diverse Asian flavours

Banana Tree specialises in vibrant pan-Asian cooking, served in a cosy modern setting. This place is ideal for groups with its diverse menu combining influences from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Children's meals are served here too. From the bar, enjoy Asian beers, wine, and cocktails to complete your meal.

  • Price: About £14 for pad Thai

Chill Since '93

Casual light bites

Visit Chill Since '93 to grab a slice of pizza in a chilled contemporary setting. It's a family-friendly spot with a clean look and a simple menu of pizza slices, sandwiches, and cookies for dessert. Various toppings and fillings are on offer. It's an ideal choice for casual meals and snacks in Covent Garden.

  • Price: About £8 for pepperoni pizza

Lanzhou Noodle Bar

Bustling noodle spot

Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar is a humble eatery with a bustling atmosphere. It can get busy at times. On the menu you'll discover a considerable range of noodle dishes with tasty ingredients like tomato and egg or pork wontons. Try noodles fried or in soup or go for other options like rice dishes or dim sum.

  • Price: About £13 for noodle soup
Vasiniko Covent Garden – Affordable restaurants in Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden – Affordable restaurants in Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden – Affordable restaurants in Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden – Affordable restaurants in Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden – Affordable restaurants in Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden – Affordable restaurants in Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden – Affordable restaurants in Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden – Affordable restaurants in Covent Garden
Vasiniko Covent Garden

Vasiniko

Bright Italian restaurant

Already an established restaurant group in Italy, Vasiniko brings authentic Neapolitan flavours to Covent Garden. The bright dining area fuses modern style with Mediterranean influences. The range of pizzas are popular here but you can also try salads, pasta dishes, and starters like bruschetta or potato croquettes. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are served.

  • Price: About £11 for margherita pizza

Bibi's

Fresh salads for lunch

If you're craving a fresh and healthy, but still affordable lunch in Covent Garden, check out Bibi's. This cute and contemporary spot specialises in salads and you can mix and match your favourites to create your perfect box to eat on-site or take away. You'll find fresh veggies, seasonal salad mixes, and fresh and inspiring bakes as well.

Send suggestion

Did we miss something in this guide?

At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.