UCL Foodie's top 10 cheap eats

Either way, UCL Foodie have got you covered!

In 2015, we wrote about some of our favourite restaurants around campus, but we thought its time to make a return to give you our guide to eating for £5 or less around campus...here are our top 10 Cheap Eats around campus:

1. The King of Falafel

Where: Hunter Street (10 mins walk from Gower Street)

Ordered: Lebanese falafel wrap (£4.25)

Review: KoF serve Turkish and Lebanese food and their signature lebanese falafel wrap is absolutely delicious. At £4.25 this beats a standard supermarket sandwhich any day. The wraps come with salad of your choice, garlic and chilli sauce, and the choice of falafel, halloumi or chicken. It's great  for vegetarians and carnivores alike. PLUS they do an additional 10% student discount. Aside from the food, the staff are so genuine and friendly - having run this place for 6 years, we could really feel the community vibes.

2. Roti King

Where: Doric Way (close to Euston Station, c. 5 min walk from Gower Street)

Ordered: Roti Tissue - £4 (pictured), chicken murtabak roti - £5, chicken noodles - £6.50 (don't remember the name)

Review: Roti King has become a long time favourite of ours. The food was tasty, arrived quickly and was amazing value for money - authentic Malaysian street food at street food prices! We definitely recommend it, especially the roti tissue dessert (pictured) for a post-exam treat! 

3. The Kati Roll Co. 

Where: Poland Street (c.15 mins walk from Gower Street)

Ordered: Chicken tikka - £3.95, achari paneer - £4.45, shami kabab roll - £4.45

Review: We love the decor of the Kati Roll Co's little store hidden away in Poland Street, just off Oxford Street. The walls are half orange, half stripped brick adorned with classic bollywood movie posters, reminiscent of Kolkata streets. Kati rolls are a popular street food in Kolkata with various skewer-grilled ingredients marinated in spices and chutneys and wrapped in flaky and buttery Indian flatbreads. They've got a wide selection for vegetarians, vegans, and some of their meat options are also halal.

4. Pizza Pilgrims

Where: West India Quay (10 min walk from Canada Square campus)

Ordered: Portobello & truffle - £5 (during Apé Hours)

Review: Pizza Pilgrims is another one of our favourite pizza places with their super soft dough and authentic saucy pizzas. And now with their £5 offer at the West India Quay branch for their Apé hour (3pm to 6pm daily) this is definitely worth making the most of, especially for those studying in the new Canary Wharf campus.

5. My Old Dutch

Where: High Holborn (20 mins walk from Gower Street)

Ordered: Banana, nuts and chocolate sauce pancake - £8.50 (£5 on a Monday)

Review: Now we know this place is a bit further out, but My Old Dutch pancakes are our go-to Monday cheat meal. These pancakes are super indulgent, with both sweet and savoury flavours on offer and at £5 it is definitely great value for money! Students also get 10% everyday except Mondays.

6. Benito's Hat

Where: Benito's Hat (c. 7 minutes walk from Gower Street)

Ordered: Grilled veg naked burrito - £5.80 (£5.10 w/ student discount)
*veg option incl. guacamole (shown in pic)
Grilled chicken naked burrito - £6.10 + extra Guacamole + 70p (£6 total w/student discount)

Review: Benito's Hat is a great place if you're in the mood for Mexican. The staff are always super friendly and they regularly have offers / promotions on. They also have a loyalty card and student discount. The food itself is fresh and delicious and we love their guacamole. 

7. Papaya

Where: Goodge Street (c.6 mins walk from Gower Street)

Ordered: Chicken and cashew stir fry - £4.50, chicken green curry - £4.50, chicken with chilli and basic and sweet and sour mix - £4.50, noodles/brown rice - 50p extra

Review: Papaya is a nice little Thai place on Goodge Street for an on-the-go lunch. They serve vegetarian alternatives and the chicken is also halal. Would definitely recommend the green curry - very tasty and the large portion makes it good value for money! NB we recommend the rice over the noodles!

8. Herman Ze German

Where: Charlotte Street (c. 7 mins walk from Gower Street

Ordered: Wurst in a roll - £4.95 to £5.75

Review: Being at UCL means you have a load of great restaurants around you with Charlotte street and Fitzrovia boasting some of the finest restaurants in London...a lot of them way out of the student budget. But Herman Ze German is an awesome spot in for a quick lunch without breaking the bank. Their "Wursts in a rolll" range from £4.95 to £5.75. Pictured is their delicious vegan bratwurst.

9. Pizza Union

Where: Pentonville Road (c.20 mins walk from Gower Street)

Ordered: Margherita pizza (pictured) - £3.95, funghi - £4.95

Review: The competition for the best pizza near campus is tough with so many great options close to campus (Icco, Franco Manca, Vapianos, Pizza Sophia to name a few). For under £5, one of our favourites has to be the 12'' margherita pizzas from Pizza Union near Kings Cross station. This place is great value for money with fast service and friendly staff. 

10. Crussh

Where: Hunter Street (c. 5 minutes from Gower Street)

Ordered: Vitality box (falafel, hummus, aubergine tapenade, quinoa, chickpeas, pomegranate, mint & toasted almonds) - £5.25

Review: While we love to indulge, it is also important to have a balanced diet, especially during a busy week. Crussh do a wide range of freshly made salads, soups and juices - many of them around £5 or less. They cater for all diets including vegan, gluten and sugar-free! Pictured is the vitality box - which is great for a healthy on-the-go lunch. The Bloomsbury branch also offer a student discount for UCL students. And extra tip: half an hour before closing, all the remaining fresh food is sold for 50% off!

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- UCL Foodie is run by UCL graduates Zoë Constantinou and Keshvi Gandesha

Note: All opinions are those of UCL students, published by UCL Foodie, and are in no way endorsed by UCL. All information is subject to change.