EAST
Amélie, Cambridge
The speciality here is flammekueche, a thin Alsatian flatbread spread with creme fraiche and topped with onions, bacon and gruyere, or perhaps salmon and avocado.
The Grafton Centre, CB1 1PS; 01223 778898
Bread & Meat, Cambridge
As advertised, it serves meat (porchetta and crackling, perhaps, or marinated chicken thighs) in bread (ciabatta). If your hunger requires more than a sandwich, all toppings can be served as poutine, with chips and gravy, or as a meal with chips, roast veg and slaw.
4 Bene’t St, CB2 3QN; @breadandmeat
Orange Tree, Hitchin
An accessible, family friendly, dog friendly pub with locally brewed beer and great value pasta and burgers and, if you’re with a friend, tapas to share.
100 Stevenage Rd, SG4 9DR; 01462 432733
LONDON
Decatur, Hackney
Keep an eye on Instagram to find out where you can next have a taste of Louisiana in London – crawfish rolls, barbecued giant shrimp and grilled oysters with spicy garlic butter.
Various; @decaturlondon
Roti King, Camden
It’s walk-ins only at this basement restaurant tucked away near Euston station. Unless you get very lucky with your timings, there may be a wait, such is the popularity of its soft-crisp flaky roti, the deeply spiced curries, slippery smoky char kway teow and other Malaysian hawker classics.
40 Doric Way, NW1 1LH; 020 4580 1282
Lounge Cafe, Wembley
A location in a health centre may seem an unlikely spot for one of Wembley’s most popular lunch spots, but this four-time runner-up offers a balanced menu of simple but flavoursome food, friendly service and keen prices, all with a side of community education.
113 Chalkhill Rd, HA9 9FX; 07990 506609
MIDLANDS
The Cod’s Scallops, various
This mini-chain prides itself on having 20 types of seafood, from monkfish to dover sole, delivered daily and cooked to order – fried, barbecued or baked to order, perhaps with shrimp, lemon and dill butter. There are chips and curry sauce, of course, and more interesting desserts than your average chippie, including a seasonal fruit crumble with custard.
Original Patty Men, Birmingham
They may be self-proclaimed “purveyors of filth”, but quality reigns at OPM: burger patties are aged longhorn beef, there are vegetarian and vegan options, and the wings served on Wednesdays (buffalo or barbecue sauce) are all free-range.
9 Shaw’s Passage, B5 5JG; 0121 643 2546
Tiger Bites Pig, Birmingham
Red-braised pork or white-cut chicken are just two of the classic Chinese preparations that appear in bao or on rice at this small diner, where the menu draws inspiration from afar but the ethos is otherwise focused on local and sustainable.
34 Stephenson St, B2 4BH; 0121 643 5192
NORTH
Harry Pszza, Little Hulton, Manchester
Harry’s loose (but effective) approach to spelling also applies to pizza toppings, so the 13-inch pies feature the traditional (straight-up pepperoni) to more creative (garlic butter, house-made spicy honey or Frazzles).
9 Ridyard St, M38 9LN; 07548 254935
One Pan Band, Liverpool
In a craft-beer pub, this kitchen sends out a weekly changing menu that twists pub classics – think French-onion loaded fries, a Mediterranean-inspired fish stew, or a stacked brunch burger with oozy fried egg.
The Ship & Mitre, 133 Dale St, L2 2JH; 0151 236 0859
Bundobust, Leeds
Gujarati street food snacks pair brilliantly with beer – luckily, Bundobust makes its own. Highlights of the vegetarian/vegan menu include the many chats, and the bhaji burger, with £1 from each sale donated locally.
6 Mill Hill, LS1 5DQ; 0113 243 1248
NORTHERN IRELAND
The Grateful Bread, Belfast
Regulars of Justin Nicholl’s ever-changing blackboard menu are grateful indeed. Past hits include fishcake with massaman on chips, many good things on toast, lemon Basque cheesecake (an incredulity-stretching £3.50) and locally, justifiably, famous cheese croquettes.
The American Bar, 65 Dock St, BT15 1LF
The Dundrum Inn, Dundrum
Locals and tourists stop by for the warm welcome and sub-£15 pub classics (roast pork, red cabbage and mash; garlicky mussels; caesar salad), plus the £6 menu for little guests.
143 Main St, BT33 0LX; 028 4375 1211
General Merchants, Belfast
With five venues, an all-day Antipodean-style brunch and coffee is never too far away. If it’s early at the East Belfast or Ormeau Road branches, perhaps start Irish-oat porridge, or go straight for smashed avo and sourdough or chilli-spiked scrambled eggs. Other locations specialise in sandwiches.
SCOTLAND
Parlour, Dundee
Friendly and veg-forward cafe, where lunch could include a mezze platter, a comforting gratin or baked potato with chickpea curry. For similar vibes out of town, it also runs the cafe at Cambo Gardens, making the most of produce grown there.
Unit 9, 58 West Port, DD1 5EP; 01382 203588
Cafe Pomelo, Edinburgh
The menu changes but the approach is to use the best Scottish ingredients with Asian inspiration – think crab and cheese pandesal, black-bean beef pie, kimchi macaroni, or hand-ripped wide noodles – and options for different dietary needs.
21c Strathearn Rd, EH9 2AB; 0131 452 9204
Sunshine Tea Lounge, Baillieston, Glasgow
Part tea shop, part deli, there’s dumplings, soup and tempura for savoury tastes, homemade cakes for sweet treats, and a range of noodles, sauces and snacks to take home and cook.
29 Buchanan St, G69 6DY; 0141 773 1184
SOUTH
Taste Tibet, Oxford
At lunch or dinner, no reservation is needed to eat the momos, noodles, curries and other food from Yeshi Jampa’s homeland.
109 Magdalen Rd, OX4 1RQ; 01865 499318
Honest Burger, Brighton
The chain’s founders met in Brighton, so it’s apt this branch is one of the town’s favourite budget eats. Consistency is key, so the burgers and rosemary fries are as good here as they are in any other branch – and in the beachside outpost, you can find a special featuring salted caramel beer-candied bacon, smoked cheese, shoestring fries and pickleback slaw.
8 Duke St, BN1 1AH; 01273 049972
Pompoko, Brighton
At this Japanese cafe, donburi (rice bowl), gyoza, curries and salads all make a welcome diversion from shopping in the city’s North Laine district.
110 Church St, BN1 1UD; 07796 001927
WALES
Bab Haus, Barry
The second site of Bab Haus takes a Mexican focus and is driven by the seasons – expect tacos and salsa to go with frozen margaritas in the warmer months, while in winter, enjoy the heavier comfort of smoked beef burritos.
Goodsheds, Hood Rd, CF62 5QR; 02921 690013
Plumvanilla Cafe, Narberth, Pembrokeshire
For 12 years, local, ethical and seasonal has been the starting brief at this veg-focused cafe run by sisters Plum and Vanilla Harrison. The popularity of its homemade cakes, breakfasts and vibrant salads means this is not the cafe’s first appearance in this list.
2A St James St, SA67 7DB; 01834 862762
Milkwood, Pontcanna, Cardiff
Dinner is inventive and elegant at this small restaurant showcasing clever Welsh cooking. But the best value can be found on the daytime menu: bacon, cockles and laverbread on toast, or a breakfast burger with sausage and homemade hash browns, and perhaps a slice of bara brith for later.
83 Pontcanna St, CF11 9HS; 029 2023 2226
WEST
288 Bar & Wok, Cheltenham
Jody and Pak Wai Hung won this category in 2019 and are still pleasing loyal customers with skewers and wontons to start, then rice or noodles bowls (most under £10), lunch deals, friendly service and a vegan menu that isn’t an afterthought.
288 High St, GL50 3HQ; 01242 582346
Fisherton Mill Cafe, Salisbury
Everyone loves a gallery cafe, especially one that’s vegetarian and vegan friendly, gluten-free friendly and dog friendly. Whether for a slice of cake or a light meal, Michael Fox’s food is designed to suit all appetites.
108 Fisherton St, SP2 7QY; 01722 415121
Nole Pizza, Salisbury
Whichever sourdough pizza you choose (nduja and crispy onions, or the vegan caesar special), you’ll also want a dip for your crusts (perhaps smoked beetroot ketchup) or to maybe share a side of baked aubergine or padron peppers.
4 Butcher Row, SP1 1EP; 01722 445447
