Top Affordable Dining Spots in the UK Michelin Chefs Picks
Chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants across the UK pick their favourite cheap eats, with a new addition to this list every week.
Throughout 2024, we’re asking Michelin-starred chefs 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 with a new chef.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Sarah Haywood from the one-star The Coach in Marlow says, “Definitely The Butcher’s Tap and Grill in Marlow (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 has just the right level of saltiness. Next is Blas in St. Ives. While they’re 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 cocktails are sublime, the cheeseboard is by far the best in the area, and the ever-changing selection of small plates is always divine. The view from the window table doesn’t hurt, either.”
DEVON
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 am 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, says, “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 are 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, says, “I love Jungle on the high street in Clitheroe. 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 meal 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 for £10 takeout; a bit more to eat in. If dining in, try the Latka, fish balls and an excellent chopped liver with cucumber salad on side. No licence for booze is 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.”
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 is based in Highbury and Islington and specializes 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, says, “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 Halls in West Lancashire: “Swan Fish and Chip Restaurant, Southport. It’s fresh fish, nice chips, and 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! Customize your own burger—simple but delicious. Cajun fries are excellent too.”
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 take away.”
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, 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—and a 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 9 a.m.; their pastry ‘knots’ are incredible, and the coffee is good too. Poms is 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. They’re a definite go-to if you’re in Lichfield.”
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.”
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 fragrant aubergine fish is arguably the best vegan dish in Birmingham. WokChi is a Cantonese word 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, are 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.