Coolest Restaurants in London for Students
London’s food scene is one of the best in the world, and you don’t need a big budget to enjoy it. From late-night bowls of ramen to buzzing pasta bars and legendary street food, the city is packed with restaurants that deliver on flavour, atmosphere, and value. Whether you’re after a student deal, a late-night spot after a long library session, or somewhere to impress without spending a fortune, this list has you covered.
1. Bancone
Location: Multiple sites across London, including Covent Garden, Soho, City and Borough Yards
Book: bancone.co.uk
Price: ££ (mains from around £14–18)
Bancone is one of London’s most talked-about pasta restaurants, and for good reason. It sits on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, meaning inspectors have flagged it as exceptional value for money. The silk handkerchiefs with walnut butter and a fried egg is the dish everyone talks about. The vibe is relaxed, and the portions are generous. For pasta that rivals anything you’d find in Italy, this is the one. It books up fast, though, so make sure to reserve ahead.
For more places to eat in the area, check out our guide to the best restaurants in Covent Garden.
2. Masala Zone
Location: Multiple sites across London, including Soho, Covent Garden, Earls Court and Bayswater
Book: masalazone.com
Price: £–££ (thalis from around £12–16)
Masala Zone is a student staple. The thali platters are filling, freshly made, and represent genuinely good value in a city where Indian restaurants can get pricey. Each thali comes with a main, dhal, rice, bread, and sides, so you get plenty for your money and always leave full. The interiors are colourful, and the service is fast, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner after lectures. There’s usually no long wait for a table, and the quality is consistently high across all sites.
3. Hoppers
Location: Multiple sites across London, including Soho, King’s Cross and Chelsea
Book: hopperslondon.com (Walk-ins only at the Soho branch)
Price: ££ (hoppers from £6–8, sharing dishes £8–16)
Sri Lankan street food with a cult following, Hoppers serves bowl-shaped fermented rice and coconut pancakes, best eaten with their signature karis and sambols. Portions are designed for sharing, which makes it great for a group dinner. The lamb kottu is a must if it’s on the menu, and the prices are very reasonable for how good everything is. The Soho spot doesn’t take bookings, so arrive early or be prepared to queue, but the wait is worth it.
4. Dumpling Shak x Fen
Location: Old Spitalfields Market, Brushfield St, London E1 6BG
Book: dumplingshack.co.uk
Price: £ (dumplings from around £8–12 for a portion)
A Farringdon favourite that’s gained serious momentum on social media, Dumpling Shak serves South Asian-inspired dumplings with punchy fillings and bold sauces, and the Fen collaboration brings Sichuan-style influence into the mix. It’s casual, fast, and extremely affordable. Perfect for lunch between classes or a quick dinner when you don’t want to spend much more than a tenner. The queues can build at peak times, so either get there a bit earlier or expect to wait a few minutes.
Discover more student-friendly places to eat in Whitechapel, just a short walk away.
5. Eat Tokyo
Location: Multiple sites across London, including Covent Garden, Soho, Notting Hill, Hammersmith and Bloomsbury
Book: eat-tokyo.co.uk
Price: £–££ (ramen and rice dishes from around £10–14)
Eat Tokyo offers reliable, affordable Japanese food with locations convenient for most London students. The menu includes everything from ramen and sushi to katsu curry and gyoza. The portions are big, the prices are fair, and the food is consistently good across all branches. The Bloomsbury location is particularly handy for students at UCL or SOAS. It’s not the flashiest restaurant on the list, but it’s the kind of place you’ll come back to again and again throughout your degree.
6. Roti King
Location: Locations across London, including Battersea, Euston, Spitalfields and Waterloo
Book: Walk-ins only (website: rotiking.com)
Price: £ (roti canai from around £5–8, mains from £9–13)
This is one of London’s most beloved budget restaurants, and a genuine institution among students near Euston and King’s Cross. Roti King’s roti canai is the must-have dish: flaky, griddled flatbread served with rich curry sauces, made in front of you. The beef rendang and laksa are both exceptional, and the prices are extraordinary for central London. It’s cash only, the space is small, and queues form quickly, but this is the kind of place that makes London’s food scene genuinely world-class.
Explore more must-try food spots near King’s Cross.
7. 27 Old Compton Street
Location: 27 Old Compton St, Soho, W1D 5JN
Book: 27oldcomptonstreet.com/
Price: £–££ (burgers and mains from around £10–15)
Soho’s best late-night option for students who don’t want the night to end, 27 Old Compton Street stays open until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays, making it one of the few sit-down restaurants in central London you can actually get into after midnight. The menu is straightforward, the food is good, and the atmosphere is always lively. If you’re heading out in Soho and need something to eat before or after, this is the spot.
8. Emelia’s Pasta
Location: Multiple locations across London, including Canary Wharf, Victoria and Marylebone
Book: emiliaspasta.com (Walk-ins only, except at the Victoria branch)
Price: £ (pasta boxes from around £9–13)
If you’re in the mood for fresh pasta from a market stall that’s won over just about everyone who’s tried it, this is the place to go. Emelia’s is known for rotating seasonal menus and generous portions at prices that are remarkable for the quality. It’s based in and around Borough Market, making it a good excuse to visit one of London’s best food markets. Portions come in takeaway boxes, perfect if you’re heading back to a lecture or eating on the go.
9. Pad Thai Story
Location: Multiple locations across London, including Soho, Battersea, Hammersmith and Wandsworth
Book: Walk-ins only (website: padthaistory.com)
Price: £ (dishes from around £8–12)
Pad Thai Story is exactly as the name suggests: a small, no-frills Thai restaurant in the heart of Soho that does one thing brilliantly. The pad thai is made to order, fresh, and full of flavour, and at these prices, it’s hard to find better value anywhere in central London. The restaurant itself is a tight space, so you might be sharing tables, but the food arrives quickly, and you won’t leave hungry. It’s a reliable choice when you need a filling meal without spending much.
10. Superstar BBQ
Location: 4 St Giles High St, London WC2H 8AB
Book: superstarbbq.co.uk
Price: ££ (set menus and per-dish options, expect around £15–25 per person)
Korean BBQ in the centre of London. Superstar BBQ has become one of the most shared restaurants on student food guides for its fun format and social dining experience. You cook your own marinated meat on table grills, which makes for a lively group dinner. It’s affordable when you go with a group and split the cost, and the banchan (Korean side dishes) that come alongside are worth it. Make sure to book ahead for evenings, especially at weekends.
11. Common Pizza
Location: 10 Rookery Rd, London SW4 9DD
Book: commonpizza.co.uk
Price: ££ (pizzas from around £12–16)
This is a go-to pizza spot among students, and particularly good in warmer months when the alfresco dining area comes into its own. Common Pizza does Neapolitan-style pies with proper sourdough bases and quality toppings. On Friday and Saturday evenings, there’s often live music, creating a lively, student-friendly atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that’s equally good for a casual lunch or a relaxed evening with friends, and the outdoor seating makes it a summer staple.
12. Café François
Location: 14-16 Stoney Street, London, SE1 9AD
Book: cafefrancois.london
Price: £ (the £15 chicken and chips deal makes it one of the best value spots in London)
Café François has gone viral among London students, and the reason is simple: a £15 chicken and chips deal that is genuinely unmissable. The restaurant also offers unlimited chocolate mousse, which has made it a social media favourite. Beyond the deal, the menu has French bistro classics done well, and the vibe is relaxed and welcoming. It’s the kind of spot that should be on every student’s radar early in the year.
Read our guide to the best restaurants near Tower Bridge for backup options if the queue is just too long.
Whether you’re hunting for the best cheap eats, planning a group dinner, or just trying to survive London student life without blowing your budget, these restaurants prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to eat well in the capital. From cult-favourite pasta spots and late-night ramen restaurants to viral market stalls and unbeatable lunch deals, London’s food scene has something for every craving and every student budget. For more budget-friendly tips for eating out, the top vegan restaurants, and must-see London spots, head over to the urbanest Student Journal to start exploring the city beyond campus.