Finsbury Park offers up a dining scene that is every bit as eclectic as its residents. From piping hot Nepalese dumplings to traditional Turkish pancakes, there’s something for every taste and appetite – all for a pocket-pleasing price.
Finsbury Park is a diverse neighbourhood, home to London’s largest Algerian population, as well as artsy types, Arsenal fans and priced-out Islingtonites. Most of the best restaurants are concentrated around its main thoroughfares, Stroud Green Road and Blackstock Road, though there are gems to be found on some of its storied sidestreets. And, the best bit is that you won’t need to re-mortgage to make the most of them. There are dozens of restaurants and cafes to choose from, so to help get you started on your culinary journey we’ve cherry-picked five of our favourite cheap eats in Finsbury Park.
Cinnamon Village
Eggs that won’t break the bank at Cinnamon Village (Photo: Just Eat)
Brunch in London is usually an eyebrow-raising experience that involves forking out £12.50 for two reasonably poached eggs on a lamentably average slice of bread. But at Cinnamon Village, early risers can tuck into a Full English for a paltry £6.50. For those with more adventurous appetites in the morning, there’s a whole assortment of tasty Turkish-inspired dishes to tuck into. Try the Gozleme, a crispy golden Turkish flatbread stuffed with delicious ingredients, like potato, feta cheese and onions.
Yak & Yeti
Yak & Yeti serves up authentic, affordable Nepalese dishes in Finsbury Park (Photo: Yak & Yti)
Situated halfway up Stroud Green Road, Finsbury Park’s chaotic but charismatic thoroughfare, Yak & Yeti serves up fine Indian and Nepalese fare for pocket-pleasing prices. You’ll find biryanis, curries, tandoori and more on the menu, but don’t leave without a decent selection of momo. These traditional Nepalese dumplings are stuffed with minced pork, spiced chicken or veggies and served steaming. A generous helping costs less than £6. Or, if you’re feeling particularly peckish, there’s the set menu for two, priced at just £27.
Q&T Vietnamese Kitchen
Q&T Vietnamese is a local gem (Photo: Q&T)
Q&T Vietnamese Kitchen is a lovely, laid-back neighbourhood restaurant that serves up some of the capital’s best Vietnamese food. The pho noodle soup, simmered in bone broth and a choice of your toppings, costs less than £12 and is guaranteed to fill you up. It’s also one of the few restaurants in north London offering a range of bun dishes – thin vermicelli noodles served with mixed salad and served with barbecued pork, chicken or tofu.
Dotori
Dotori serves up sensational Korean and Japanese cuisine for superb prices (Photo: Dotori)
This cash-only neighbourhood favourite is always packed, with a near-constant queue of hungry punters that spills out of the door and onto the high street. But it’s well worth the wait. Once you wangle a seat, you’ll be treated to a flurry of fantastic South Korean and Japanese dishes for less than 15 quid. The Yukgejang is the perfect winter warmer, a spicy stew made with tender beef and served with rice for less than £10. You could pop in here alone, but most of Dotori’s dishes are designed to be shared and you’ll get even better value between two of you.
Yard Sale
Yard Sale has been rated as one of London’s best pizzas for good reason (Photo: Yard Sale)
Yard Sale is not really a restaurant that needs an introduction. The trendy, no-frills pizzeria chain started life in Clapton, and has since opened outposts in north and south London. It’s an excellent option for groups, since the enormous 18-inch pizzas will feed at least three or four hungry visitors. Don’t expect the usual flavour combinations either, crowd-pleasers include “The Sloppy G” made with spicy ground beef, red onion and guindilla chillies and “The TSB”, with tender stem broccoli, pine nuts and plenty of garlic.
By Allie d’Almo