The Borough Market, London’s oldest and most popular food market, is a beacon for fresh produce and international foods. A two-minute walk from the London Bridge Underground Station, the Borough Market dates back about 1,000 years. It covers about 4.5 acres of land and is one of the largest food markets in England.
The market is run by a board of volunteer trustees to ensure the profitable market also benefits the community. One thing that ensures this is having no food waste, as the “Plan Zheroes” volunteers collect surplus food from the vendors to give to local charities. Since 2014 they have given away more than 250,000 meals.
Friends craving different foods can select from more than 100 stalls, shops, bars and restaurants. When walking into The Borough, an array of aromas fill the air, from hot chicken soups, slow-roasted pulled pork sandwiches, fresh-pressed juices, and chocolate-covered strawberries to industrial-sized woks of paella, risotto, or macaroni and cheese. The market offers a wide variety of international foods, including Thai, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Spanish, French, Indian, Iraqi, Greek, Argentinian, Japanese, and of course British, contributing to the inclusive atmosphere and the comfort that food can bring to people.
While there are dozens of amazing food options, here are some places I’ve found that are worth your money and your tastebuds.
The Black Pig
is a must-try; it’s “The Best One” sandwich is worth every penny as it is filled with a generous amount of slow-roasted pork shoulder, fennel apple slaw and mayo, topped with honey truffle parmesan and served between crispy ciabatta. This sandwich cost £12 ($15.58), which is somewhat expensive for a sandwich, but the flavor and portion size were worth the price. This sandwich definitely lives up to its name, and this is a meal worth a return market visit.
Padre’s
pork carnitas tacos are some of the best I have ever tried in any country. It is £9.50 ($12.33) for three of the same filling and £9.95 ($12.91) for three different fillings. The fillings include pork carnitas, chicken, cauliflower, beef suadero, chorizo rojo and crispy potato. I ordered all pork tacos and was not disappointed in my single-flavor choice as I could taste the juicy meat with the cilantro and lime which gave me a savory, flavorful aftertaste. The service was fast too; I was served within five minutes.
The chicken shawarma pita sandwich from the Israeli stall Shuk is filled with shawarma-marinated chicken, garlic toum, tomatoes, pickles, croutons and harissa oil in a soft pita roll. This did come as a big enough portion that I couldn’t finish it, despite my huge appetite. This item is £10.50 ($13.63), not a bad price for the portion size. The slush lemonade for £5 ($6.45) was too sour for my tastes, but some like a more sour-than-sweet drink.
For people who have a sweet tooth, dozens of stalls serve sugary treats such as small candies, fudge, pastries, cookies, cakes, custards, mincemeat and fruit pies.
If you like cooking your own food and looking for fresh ingredients, vendors sell fresh produce, meat, cheeses and spices.
The Borough Market is a must-see when visiting London as so many interesting food choices will satisfy your cravings. It’s is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. This market does get crowded fast so I recommend coming early on a weekday and being prepared to eat your food standing up as seats get taken up fast.
