While industrialisation ha moved much of English street food indoors, to places such as cafes and localized fast food joints. Does this mean it is still street food? In short yes it does.
And by this stretch it means that there are truly some great English street foods stretching from cafes, to chip and kebabs shops, food carts and of course “da street”.
To read about what street food is click here.
With this in mind I hands fashioned by top 20 best English street foods, from bottom to top.
20 Best English Street Food Dishes
20. Bacon Butty
An absolute must for the best English street foods with the only question being should it higher on the list? A favorite for people after a night out on the beer for its taste and simplicity. A white bun with butter gently melted by the cooked bacon. I personally then add small pinch of salt and brown sauce, red sauce being the alternative.
19. Black Pudding
You’ll often see black pudding served as part of a full English breakfast, but it’s also a street food star in its own right. A traditional blood sausage, black pudding is rich and hearty, often enjoyed in slices with some mustard on the side. In recent years it has ben gentrified with pairings with scallops and apple sauce.
18. Jellied Eels
A quintessentially East London dish, jellied eels have been around since the 18th century. While not everyone’s cup of tea, they are steeped in tradition and have their loyal followers. The eels are boiled and then set in a jelly made from their own stock. Often served cold, you can find them at pie and mash shops or traditional market stalls. One of the best street food ways to have this is from the pub when the fish man visits!
17. Cornish Pasty
The Cornish pasty is a street food classic that dates back to the 13th century. Originally a miner’s lunch, this hearty pastry is filled with beef, potatoes, turnips, and onions, then crimped to seal in the goodness. Today, you’ll find variations like lamb, chicken, and even vegan options served up from food trucks and market stalls across England.
Fun fact! In Devon which is next to Cornwall they call them “local pasties”
16. Sausage Roll
Another beloved British street food, the sausage roll, consists of seasoned sausage meat wrapped in puff pastry. Whether picked up from a bakery or from a street food stall, this flaky and savory snack is an ideal on-the-go bite. The modern take includes gourmet fillings like caramelized onion, apple, or even chorizo, but for purists like me these should be ignored. Try to avoid Greggs and visit a real independent baker.
15. Pie and Mash
The pairing of pie and mash is traditional East End fare. The pies are filled with minced beef and paired with mashed potatoes, then drenched in a parsley liquor (don’t let the name fool you; it’s not alcoholic). It’s simple but incredibly satisfying, and many street food vendors now offer various pies, from chicken to vegetarian options. Fairly disgusting if I am honest, but something I still eat if only for patriotic reasons.
14. Scotch Egg
Once an aristocratic snack, the Scotch egg has been democratised into a street food icon. Traditionally made by encasing a boiled egg in sausage meat, breading it, and then frying, it’s now a gourmet offering with variations like black pudding or even smoked salmon. Generally purchased from bakers, supermarkets and even petrol stations. They are best though bought late night and from food van.
13. Yorkshire Pudding Wrap
Yorkshire pudding—usually reserved for Sunday roasts—has found its way into street food. The Yorkshire pudding wrap takes a giant Yorkshire, fills it with roast beef, gravy, and vegetables, and folds it into a portable, mouth-watering meal. It’s a roast dinner on the go and an absolute favourite at markets across the UK.
12. Bangers and Mash
While bangers and mash is traditionally a pub meal, street food vendors have mastered the art of making it mobile. The key here is quality sausages—usually Cumberland or Lincolnshire—served with buttery mash and a rich onion gravy. Look for this dish at outdoor events and festivals across the country. One I have been known to eat at race courses where it is indeed English street food, although bloody expensive,
11. Ploughman’s Sandwich
Inspired by the Ploughman’s Lunch, this sandwich features thick slices of cheddar cheese, tangy pickles, and ham. Add some apple slices and chutney, and it’s the perfect grab-and-go bite, with all the flavours of a countryside picnic wrapped up in a sandwich.
10. Bubble and Squeak
Often made from leftover vegetables like potatoes, cabbage, and carrots, bubble and squeak is fried up into a patty that’s crispy on the outside and soft inside. Vendors have elevated this dish by adding ingredients like smoked bacon, ham, or even a poached egg on top. Tends to be a “greasy spoon” dish, something quintessentially English street food.
9. Meat and Chips
You could not have an English street food article without having something big from a kabab shop. A Turkish-English fusion dish the donner meat here is literally nothing like a shawarma. Served with real chips and doused in chili sauce, burger sauce and salt and vinegar, The perfect end to a night as it is eaten, outside or at best in a car as the quintessential English street food.
8. Chips and gravy from a Chinese restaurant
Following on closely from Meat and Chips is another late night favorite and indeed epitome of fusion cuisine. You are drunk and it is late, the only place open is a Chinese restaurant, but alas you cannot do rice and noodles. Have no fear for there is pipping hot Chips n Gravy. More like potatoes with gravy and a bit like a the Chinese dish 土豆烧牛肉. Guaranteed to burn your mouth and another great fusion English street food.
7. Crumpets
Who knew that crumpets could be street food? These fluffy, hole-filled griddle cakes, traditionally served with butter, have been reinvented by street vendors. You’ll find crumpets with toppings like smoked salmon, cream cheese, or even Nutella and bananas at food markets. They are best though at home and piled with melting butter. Something I usually bring home when I visit England.
6. Battered Mars Bar
Once a novelty from Scottish chip shops, the battered Mars bar has crossed the border into England’s street food scene. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a Mars bar dipped in batter and deep-fried until crispy and melty inside. It’s an indulgent, guilty pleasure and a favourite at fairs and markets. Annoyed that England stole their national dish that they now deep fry EVERYTHING.
5. Samosas
Though originating from India, the samosa has become a firm favourite on England’s streets. These fried pastry parcels, filled with spiced potatoes, peas, or meat, are now a common snack at food stalls. You’ll find them with fillings ranging from traditional curry to more British flavours like cheddar and onion.
4. The Saveloy
This is a very seasoned red sausage that you read about here that is predominantly even at fish and chips shops as an alternative to fish. Truly flavorsome and truly English street food in the north of England you can also get it at butcher shops where it is then cooked and eaten with pease pudding.
3. Full English Breakfast/Wrap
This is a dual entry! A full English breakfast is perhaps one of the best dishes ever made consisting of eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, toast, fried tomato, fried mushroom, bubble and squeak, black pudding and of course an English tea. American, Aussie and even Filipino breakfasts are derivatives of this, Many of these ingredients can be put into a wrap, or even a sandwich to be eaten on the fly.
2. Pork Pie
The pork pie is an iconic British food, with a long history. These pies, filled with seasoned pork and encased in golden pastry, are often eaten cold, making them ideal for street vendors. You can find them served whole or in mini versions at many farmers’ markets and food fairs.
1. Fish and Chips
And finally, no list of English street food would be complete without the national treasure: fish and chips. The crispy battered fish, paired with chunky, salt-sprinkled chips, and a splash of vinegar is the ultimate English street food. Whether served from a seaside shop or a food truck, it’s an iconic experience that defines English street food.
To read about the correct way to eat Fish and Chips click here.
And there you have it! The most quintessential best English street food dishes, well 20 of them, with there being so many (chip butty, chicken tikka wrap) that just failed to make the grade.
But, hey, who knows, maybe I will simply increase the list….