The UK’s top 10 best cheap eats revealed by TripAdvisor – including a cheese toastie restaurant and falafel shack

PLACES that offer quick bites to eat can sometimes compromise on great taste, good service and cheap prices. 

But 10 food establishments in the country have managed to achieve all these things, one of which is Frankies At The Beach and Rye Rugby Club, Rye, East Sussex. 

The food hut, located just down the road from popular East Sussex attraction Camber Sands, has been crowned winner of Tripadvisor’s UK Quick Bites category in its Travellers‘ Choice Awards Best of the Best Restaurants 2024.

Tripadvisor chose its winners by looking at the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings for restaurants from travellers over a 12-month period.

Frankies offers wide variety of burgers and hot dogs, from a stilton cheese bacon burger to a foot long frankfurter hot dog, and customers have raved about the quality of food, customer service and cheap prices. 

One person who visited in June this year wrote on the review website: “Frankie’s offer an extensive range of really high end delicious burgers at very reasonable prices. Huge choice including one of the best vegetarian burgers we have ever eaten. 

“Very friendly owners. Highly recommend.”

Other eateries that also made the list can be found in London, Kent, Manchester, Liverpool and York.

2. Pizza Union, Spitalfields, London

Pizza Union specialises in making pizzas super fast, with its traditional pizza oven cooking pizzas in just three minutes.

There are many different pizza flavours to choose from, including a classic Margherita and a Formaggi with three types of cheese. Prices start from £5.95.

And if you’re after something fancy to drink, they do frozen margaritas and frozen raspberry mojitos for just £5.50.

3. Please Sir! Broadstairs, Kent

Please Sir! may be small in size but it describes itself as having Kent’s number one smash burger.

A smash burger is a burger made by pressing a ball of ground beef onto a hot griddle or skillet to create a thin patty with a crispy exterior and juicy interior. 

There are nine burgers to choose from, including the Splash burger, which has American cheese and a pot of beef dripping gravy, and a Hot Honey Chicken burger.

Prices start from £9.95 and rise depending on how many patties you want.

4. Sausage Shack, Manchester

Sausage Shack can be found in the heart of Manchester, and as the name suggests, everything on its menu contains sausage.

There are sausage breakfast baps, sausage waffles, hot dogs, sausage burgers, sausage loaded fries, and even sausage salads.

Nothing is more than £10 on the menu, but you may be tempted to load up on sides, which you’ll be surprised to learn don’t contain sausage.

5. Notorious BRG, Canterbury

Another burger establishment taking a spot on Tripadvisor’s list is Notorious BRG.

Its vegan menu is the same size as its meat menu, and you can expect nothing but decadence.

The Notorious P.I.G burger for example has a local sourced beef patty, shredded BBQ pork, mature cheddar, house made slaw, garlic mayo, lettuce and tomato.

Burgers start from just £8.95.

6. Northern Soul Grilled Cheese, Manchester

Claiming to be the UK’s first grilled cheese restaurant, Northern Soul is best known for its “pull”.

The pull describes the way the melted cheese separates and pulls apart slowly.

There are grilled cheese sandwiches with all types of fillings on its menu – kimchi, mac ‘n’ cheese, fried chicken, chicken with buffalo sauce, ranch slaw and pickle, and steak.

If a classic grilled cheese sandwich is what you’re after, they do that too.

Prices start from £8.50.

7. Middle Feast, York

Middle Feast is a Lebanese restaurant hidden amongst the hustle and bustle of York city centre.

It has an extensive menu with starters, grilled meats, shawarmas, mezzes, and desserts.

A plate with chicken, chips or rice, fresh crispy salad, authentic pickles, warm, khubz bread and a choice of sauce is only £12.95.

8. Magic Falafel, London

Magic Falafel is located in the centre of Camden, one of London’s biggest tourist hotspots, but its prices are still considered affordable.

Its menu is simple – choose between a falafel pitta or a falalfel Magic Box.

A falafel pitta is a fluffy pita filled with freshly chopped salads, homemade hummus, crispy falafel, tahini, and pickles on the side if you want them (from £9.50).

A Magic Box is made to order with the selection of your favourite salads served with homemade hummus on the side topped with chickpeas (from £11.50).

9. Yanni’s Traditional Fish & Chips, Liverpool

Customers say Yanni’s Traditional Fish & Chips is special because it offers large portions and friendly service.

Its prices are an absolute bargain – a large fish is just £4.80, large chips £1.80, and peas £1.20.

One customer who visited in August this year wrote on Tripadvisor: “Best fish and chips in Liverpool the curry is to die for Sandra and Yanni are fantastic spotless you will not be disappointed.”

10. Goddards at Greenwich, London

Taking the final spot in the top 10 is Goddards at Greenwich.

The family-run restaurant has been serving pie and mash there since 1890, and its recipes have remained unchanged.

Its traditional minced beef pie and mash is just £5.80.

If you’re feeling brave you can try pie, mash and eels for £9.50.