LDNGuide
Where To Eat Lunch In Soho
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Remember when ‘Soho lunch’ was a euphemism for two bottles of red, extra truffle on that, and a 3pm black cab back to the office? No. Neither do we. The daily grind may be a reality for most of us, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find lunch in Soho that’s equal parts tasty, good-value, and fun. Whether you’re looking for something to grab and eat furiously over Twitter, or somewhere that’s going let you and a mate leave satisfied within an hour, these are our favourite places to go for lunch in Soho.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Koya’s bar has long been a broth-filled refuge among the mania of Soho and the udon specialist is still one of the best lunch spots anywhere in London. A bowl of atsu-atsu rarely goes down anything other than spectacularly, come rain, wind, or shine, and a chicken kara-age donburi goes down similarly satisfyingly. Everything hovers around the £15-£20 mark, though if you bring a friend you can share a couple of the small plates too.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
There aren't many restaurants as idiosyncratic as Miznon but, despite this Israeli spot's barely decipherable menu, it’s pretty straightforward when it comes to lunch. Grab a seat at a counter and focus all of your attention on their legendary pittas. You’ll get a steaming hot falafel or charred and caramelised cauliflower-stuffed pocket, laden with tahini and pickles, for £10. Others, including those regional London specialities (cottage pie or fish and chips) cost a little more. Regardless, sitting at the counter, with a pita the size of a volleyball in hand, is very much what you should be doing.
In a city full of rising costs and villainous landlords, the consistent value and deliciousness of Noble Rot’s set lunch menu shines through. The Greek Street restaurant is a yellow-lit, velvet-clad space that harks back to long lunches of Soho old. How long said lunch goes on is up to you. The daily changing, European-leaning two-course set menu is £22 (£26 for three)—and you can eat anything from poached chicken with aioli to apricot tarte tatin— while the wine list is much, much longer.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Labelled on Google Maps as ‘Best Falafel In London’ and with a queue that suggests it might just be right, this Egyptian falafel spot in Berwick Street Market doesn’t shy away from setting expectations high. And you’ll understand why after taking a bite into the gloriously huge pitta. Overfilled with three flattened falafels, fried aubergine, cubes of fried halloumi, pickles, tahini, and chilli sauce—this is a lunch for someone who’s Hungry with a capital H. It’s crispy, wholesome, and so generously stuffed that you won’t need your usual mid-afternoon snack.
A restaurant where snails are flambéed in pastis is our kind restaurant, especially when there’s a crystal chandelier involved as well. L’Escargot is Soho’s oldest French institution and it’s the closest quick and easy gets in this part of town, while still being 100% Soho. It’s a classic place with lots of velvet drapes and lots of butter. It makes for a classy but still casual lunch, especially when there are prix fixe options available. The pastis is optional. But, at the same time, it isn’t, if you know what we mean.
Put that sad supermarket sandwich down. At Tongue & Brisket you get a proper wedge of food between your bread. Yes, they’ve got your sarnie classics (see roast turkey, smoked salmon), but others you’re definitely not going to find at M&S (see ox tongue, chicken schnitzel, chopped liver). What you really need to know about is their salt beef sandwiches. We’re talking soft rye bread, a pickled cucumber, a doorstop of salt beef, and enough mustard to make your eyes water. This is the place if you want a sandwich that’ll keep you full through to dinner.
The Soho outpost of this casual Vietnamese cafe is just as reliable as its Shoreditch sibling. Their bánh mìs are always tasty—the classic, roast pork, or roast duck are our go-tos—but the meat and rice dishes are similarly good. It’s a meal that suits quick lunches as well as prolonged ones, solo ones, or social ones.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Golden Union is a quintessential London chippy. Homemade mushy peas? Check. Battered sausage? Yes. Cod the size of a horse’s head? Absolutely. Golden Union is a very solid spot to spend an hour. The chairs are comfy, the tables most definitely aren’t made from the remnants of a child’s slide, and there are even some of those ultra cool neon signs to appease your inner Tracey Emin fan. For under £20 you can have some tasty fish and chips, or the battered king prawns if you’re feeling adventurous/treasonous, plus a cup of tea. Lovely.
Yalla Yalla Soho is a great spot when you feel like ordering a few more mezze plates than are realistically needed, and maybe getting hummus on your chin. Their menu of Beirut street food has something to please everyone. There are lots of vegetarian options, chilli cherry caipirinhas for that person who got promoted, and freshly squeezed pomegranate juice for that warrior who normally spends their lunch hour at Gymbox.
At first, Ugly Dumpling might not sound like your thing. A cheeseburger dumpling, who are you? But their dumpling remixes—from salmon and summer salsa, to mushroom and truffle—are great when the sight of another caesar salad might just send you over the edge. We might think it was all a little gimmicky if it wasn’t all so good-natured and fun. This is a great spot for a takeaway or a Friday lunch that ends in marshmallow and Nutella dumplings.
The Kati Roll Company is a small spot on Poland Street that you might miss if you’re rushing away from the Oxford Street hordes, but it’s worth tracking back for. Their wraps are some of the best we’ve had. Whether you’re eating in or taking away, or opt for one of their many vegetarian rolls or something a bit more meaty like beef tikka or shami kabab, they’re not going to set you back much money and will keep you going until the end of the day.
There are a lot of legendary restaurants in Soho but there’s only one legendary vegetarian restaurant here, and that’s Mildreds. This place managed to make delicious plant-based food—everything from veggie pies to tofu jerk—stick in the ‘80s, when people seemingly existed on a diet of red meat and straight booze. It’s not the only branch these days but we’ve got a soft spot for the original.
