When most Americans think of British food, they think of beans for breakfast and fish and chips (with mushy peas, of course).
While those foods are popular and play an important role in London life, one of the first things that Citrus College students noticed when settling into their new homes in London for the semester was the wide variety of different cuisines and food options available around the city.
Citrus student Raquel Acosta was excited to scope out restaurants, including places serving Turkish and Lebanese food, which she’s never had before while living in California.
“It’s a lot more diverse than even what you would find in Los Angeles,” Acosta said. “I’m having to really keep tabs on everything I want to try.”
Many students, including Emily Stevenson, have quickly become big fans of artisan bakeries such as Gail’s, Paul, and Bread Ahead, which have become London staples in recent years as the city’s demand for freshly baked sourdough bread and French patisserie has grown.
“It’s so easy to grab coffee and a pastry before class and there’s always something new to try,” Stevenson said. “There’s a time and a place for Starbucks, but this is mostly not it.”
Another major player in the food culture of London is curry. Chicken tikka masala is “widely considered the national dish,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica, and is one of the most well-known examples of British-Indian fusion cuisine.
Acosta recalls having dinner with several other Citrus students during their first week in London at Memories of India, a North Indian restaurant in Kensington.
“I had the chicken korma and it was so delicious,” Acosta said. “I immediately wanted to go back, and I definitely will sometime later before the semester is over.”
The American Institute for Foreign Study staff have recommended that students with a few hours of free time who are looking for something to eat head to Brick Lane in London’s East End, which is known for its curry houses stretching as far as the eye can see. It’s also home to Brick Lane Market, one the best known of London’s dozens of street food markets and food halls.
Other popular locations to grab a quick bite and enjoy the busy and colorful atmosphere include Seven Dials Market, a trendy spot in a converted 19th-century cucumber and banana warehouse; Borough Market, one of London’s oldest food markets, claiming medieval roots; and Camden Market, which is on the picturesque Regent’s Canal.
Vegetarian and vegan food of all kinds is also hugely popular in London. Chain restaurants and small family-owned businesses alike will typically have a few options available for customers who don’t eat meat.
“It definitely makes it easier to go out with a group,” Stevenson said. “There’s less compromising and more of a sense that everyone is included.”
Sharing a meal with classmates has been an important bonding experience for many Citrus students throughout their first few weeks in London, with just as many late-night runs made for pizza and burgers as fish and chips, Jamaican beef patties, onigiri and takeaway curries.
