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Street food markets have grown enormously in popularity over the past few years as diners take their culinary experiences to more casual settings. Suitable for a variety of tastes, these markets offer a unique experience for those wanting to try a bit of everything while socialising with friends and family.
If you’re on the hunt for tasty street food, you’re not alone. ‘Street food’ on TikTok currently has 28 billion views globally. The phrase ‘street food market’ has 10 million views as users seek inspiration for their next meal.
To help narrow the search, we’ve analysed street food markets across the UK, London and the South West to help you find the best places to sate your appetite. After tallying up TikTok views, Instagram hashtags, Google ratings, reviews and searches, we present the best street food markets on offer and the best markets for each cuisine – whether that’s spicy Mexican tacos, authentic Italian pizza, or a vegan-friendly meal.
London’s 10 best street food markets
London is a haven for street food diners looking for somewhere casual to try authentic dishes. These are the city’s best markets, loved by locals and tourists alike.
1. Borough Market
None other than London’s world-famous Borough Market tops the list as the best spot to grab street food. Arrive with an appetite, as you’ll undoubtedly want to try something from one of the hundreds of food stalls full of British and international flavours.
Stop by Applebee’s Fishbox for seafood wraps, Comptoir Gourmand for classic French cakes and pastries, Juma for Iraqi street food, Hobbs Roast for slow-cooked meat baguettes, and Gujarati Rasoi for vegetarian Indian street food. Finish up with Humble Crumble’s viral homemade fruit crumble. Choose your own fillings and toppings, including custard and hot melted marshmallow. If Thai cuisine is more to your taste, you’ll be pleased to know that Borough Market is rated the best place to eat Thai street food in London.
2. Camden Market
Home to over 1000 shops, stalls, bars and cafes, it’s no wonder Camden Market is such a popular spot. Camden’s colourful setting makes it a great choice for Londoners and tourists looking for a lively atmosphere and endless cuisines.
Maize Blaze’s gluten-free Colombian-inspired street food will have you drooling over sweet fried plantain, marinated grilled chicken, garlic rice and smoked paprika chorizo. If pasta’s more your thing, The Cheese Wheel’s tagliatelle is freshly made and generously coated in white wine, mushroom or tomato sauce, then spun in a giant Grana Padano cheese wheel. For a Caribbean street food experience, head to Only Jerkin’ for chicken nuggets in ginger beer batter or mango, coconut and honey fried chicken in cream soda batter with a side of jerk fries. Find all these delicious options and more in the heart of Camden.
3. Mercato Metropolitano – Elephant and Castle
Setting up shop in an abandoned paper factory, Mercato Metropolitano houses over 40 street food vendors and a microbrewery in its indoor and outdoor market venue.
Fill up on Korean pancakes and bibimbap (a Korean rice dish) from Korean Green Choi, Sri Lankan street food at Karapincha, and authentic Neapolitan pizza at Fresco. If you have room for more, tuck into Longboys’ long doughnuts for an indulgent dessert with all the trimmings.
Drinks-wise, there are various bars to choose from, as well as a cocktail caravan whizzing up frozen cocktails and all the classics. Head to the microbrewery for beers brewed on site, or enjoy some German Kraft in the beer garden – a great spot for a summer’s day.
4. Greenwich Market
Set in the historic town of Greenwich, Greenwich Market was established in 1700, originally selling fruits, vegetables and livestock. Today, it’s one of the most famous markets in London, selling everything from arts and crafts to antiques, jewellery, beauty products and, of course, street food.
Home to 47 food stalls, you won’t be short of choice. Tuck into a sourdough pizza at the Pizza Shack, enjoy a falafel or chicken shawarma pitta from Ehla Eats, or pick up a refreshing Italian gelato from Milktree Gelato. If mini Dutch-style pancakes tickle your fancy, Planet Pancake and its indulgent toppings are just the ticket. You can even get a street food version of a Sunday roast at Red Cow Carvery, with roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and gravy topped with hot melted cheese.
5. Broadway Market
Located in East London’s trendy Hackney, Broadway Market is open every weekend and boasts an exciting mix of street food. Head to Banh Mi 11 for Vietnamese baguettes and soups, or for a vegan feast, look no further than Biff’s Jack Shack and its jackfruit burgers and wings. The fruit is braised, double dipped in panko breadcrumbs and fried, creating its meat-like texture and taste.
If classic Jewish bites are your thing, the Jewish Deli’s hot salt beef and coleslaw wraps will not disappoint. For Asian fusion, try Mikito’s noodles and dumplings stall, inspired by the flavours of Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand. And if you’re in the mood for classic BBQ food, Street Pig’s baby back ribs are smoked over applewood, slow cooked and drenched in BBQ sauce.
The South West’s 10 best street food markets
Highlighting the best the South West has to offer, here are the top-rated street food markets throughout the region.
1. St Nicholas Market, Bristol
Open Monday to Saturday, Bristol’s St Nicholas Market is a staple of the city. This market has a range of independent retail stalls and food vendors to keep you occupied for hours.
Some of the tasty stalls here include Caribbean Wrap, which serves fresh, authentic wraps drizzled with hot sauce, Portuguese Taste, which serves classic homemade Portuguese food like the pastel de nata (custard tart), and Pieminister, offering traditional free-range British beef pie with mash and minted mushy peas.
How to get there: Catch a train from London Waterloo to Bristol Temple Meads. From the station, it’s a 15-minute walk to St Nicholas Market.
2. Plymouth Market, Plymouth
Another vibrant Monday to Saturday market, Plymouth Market boasts countless stalls, shops and vendors, making it the perfect place to find unique treasures and have a bite to eat.
Calling all foodies who enjoy cuisine from around the world. Head to Everest Flavours for authentic Nepalese street food, or try K-Street for a taste of Korea, with corn dogs, tteok (soft, chewy steamed Korean rice cakes) and bungeo-ppang (fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean paste). If you’re keen to try Mauritian flavours, head to Maurish. This stall offers a selection of authentic dishes, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
How to get there: If you’re based in Exeter, hop on a train from Exeter St David’s to Plymouth station and arrive in an hour. From the station, it’s around a 10-minute walk to the market.
3. Gloucester Green Market, Oxford
Gloucester Green Market is open from Wednesday to Saturday in Oxford City Centre. Aside from the shopping, this outdoor market has a generous choice of tempting street food that’s bound to tickle your fancy.
Veggies and vegans may be best served by Lula’s Ethiopian Cuisine and Flavours of Goa. Their spicy vegetable-based curries are inspired by African and Indian flavours, with meat-based options available too. Gluten and dairy-free diners should check out Boonburi for authentic prawn pad Thai. Warm up at the Hungarian Goulash hut with traditional beef goulash or vegan goulash.
How to get there: Get from London Paddington to Oxford in an hour by train. The market is a 10-minute walk from the station.
The UK’s 10 best street food markets
Here are the best street food markets to sample delicious flavours from around the world across the rest of the UK.
1. Kommune, Sheffield
Sheffield reigns supreme with its food hall, Kommune, housed in a Grade II listed building in the city centre. Diners can choose from eight independent kitchens, two bars, one beer stall and one coffee stall, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Head to Fat Hippo for juicy stacked burgers and waffle fries, The Monkey Jar for a fix of Indian curries, house dhal and onion bhajis, and Edo Sushi for sushi, sashimi, katsu curry, vegetable gyozas and other classic Japanese cuisine.
There’s more than just street food at Kommune. It hosts a quiz night every Thursday at 19:00, salsa classes every Wednesday evening, yoga and brunch on the first Sunday of each month, and many more recurring and one-off events.
2. St George’s Market, Belfast
Northern Ireland’s capital is where you can find the UK’s second-best rated street food market. St George’s Market is an award-winning Friday to Sunday market that’s been running for around 130 years. As well as antiques, jewellery and clothes stalls, the market also hosts various street food stalls for hungry visitors.
Serving up hot paella, French crêpes, fresh pasta, traditional Irish seafood chowder, freshly baked cakes and pastries (to name a few), St George’s Market has it all. Spend the day meandering around the stalls, speaking to local vendors, listening to live traditional music and soaking up the atmosphere with a bite to eat.
3. Mackie Mayor, Manchester
This food court on the edge of Manchester’s Northern Quarter is housed in a beautifully restored Grade II listed building. Mackie Mayor is open from breakfast to dinner and has nine independent kitchens and bars to choose from, with plenty to suit all tastes and diets. Tuck into Tender Cow’s rare breed steaks, Mumma’s fried chicken burgers, or Pico’s tacos and frozen margarita cocktails. If cocktails aren’t your thing, Blackjack Brewery has craft beers, ciders and soft drinks to quench your thirst.
Mackie Mayor is perfect for all weather. Its beautiful glass ceiling will shield you from the rain while you take in the amazing aromas from the stalls.
4. Cutlery Works, Sheffield
Another Sheffield-based market finds itself in the top five. Cutlery Works’ industrial but relaxed setting is the perfect hangout for foodies, with 14 unique vendors.
If you visit for brunch, head to CJ’s Brunch Club for fluffy fresh crumpets, smoothie bowls, flavourful hash and other breakfast classics. Be sure to get your morning coffee from Foundry Coffee Roasters – their carefully selected beans will provide that all-important caffeine fix. For later diners, try Syiok Lah for delicious Malaysian street food, including classic curries, bao buns and spicy satay.
5. Baltic Market, Liverpool
Get a taste of street food from around the world at Liverpool’s first street food market, Baltic Market. It has a wide offering suitable for even the fussiest of eaters, as well as those on restricted diets. Whether you’re veggie, vegan or gluten-free, there are all sorts of culinary delights waiting.
Get your hands on Richie’s juicy loaded hotdogs for an American feast, Noso’s Latin arepas, empanadas and homemade cheese, Spice Thai’s pad Thai, teriyaki sirloin steak, chow mein and fried rice, or Christakis’ chicken gyros and pork souvlaki for a taste of Greece. In fact, Baltic Market was rated the best place for Greek street food.
Finish up with a sweet treat from The Midnight Delivery, where you can choose between bubble waffles, brownies, cheesecakes and hot cookie dough.
The best street food markets for each cuisine, vegans and vegetarians
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If your go-to order is an Indian dish, a classic Italian meal, or a burger, these are the best street food markets to sate your appetite.
Mackie Mayor in Manchester is rated the best market for Italian and Japanese street food. Hello Oriental, also in Manchester, is the best place to visit if you love Chinese and Korean food. Edinburgh Street Food market wins the title as the best market for Spanish cuisine, vegetarian food and the staple dish: pizza.
In the capital, Mercato Metropolitano (Elephant & Castle) also wins on multiple counts: Chinese, Greek, Indian, Japanese and Korean street food diners will be best served at this market. Boxpark Croydon is London’s top-rated market for Italian and Mexican street food.
Thai lovers in the South West should stop by Salisbury Charter Market. If burgers, Chinese, Greek or Vietnamese street food sounds good to you, Gloucester Green Market should be on your must-visit list.
If all this street food talk has got you hungry for more, why not explore traditional British food gems like afternoon tea and fish and chips in the South West? Or check out the best Chinese restaurants in London, from Chinatown to Mayfair. And with summer days just around the corner, perhaps an ice-cold beverage in a beer garden is in order? In that case, discover the best beer gardens in London, from Clapham to Camden, for all your craft needs.
Methodology
SWR generated a seed list of 97 street food markets across the UK, 68 street food markets specifically in London and 20 specifically in the South West of England. Each street food market was analysed against its Google rating, number of Google reviews, Google search volume from Jan 2022 to May 2023, number of Instagram hashtags, and TikTok views. These metrics were collated, put in a weighted rank, and given equal 20% weighting to generate a score out of 100 for each market.
To determine the best markets for each type of cuisine, SWR analysed Google reviews and performed a sentiment analysis of reviews that included specific keywords alluding to each cuisine. E.g., Mexican, tacos, Italian, pasta etc.
SWR collected the top 1000 most relevant (or total reviews if less than 1000) Google reviews for each street food market using the 'sort by' filter. SWR then used Natural Language Processing (NLP) to analyse the sentiment around keywords in reviews, with markets scored by their compound sentiment score.
Note that SWR only included markets in the index with more than 10 reviews on Google. Similarly, when analysing the best markets for each type of cuisine, SWR only included markets with at least 10 mentions of each cuisine.
