Best restaurants for cheap meals in the UK - as chosen by Michelin chefs

Throughout 2024 we're asking Michelin-starred chefs to pick their favourite cheap eats - a meal for two for less than £40 - in their part of the UK. We'll add to this list every week with a new chef...

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Sarah Haywood from the one-star The Coach, in Marlow: "Definitely The Butcher's Tap and Grill in Marlow (also a Tom Kerridge pub), a great spot to pop in for some pub snacks or a fantastic burger, or for something a little bit special you can choose a cut from the butcher's counter like a pork tomahawk or T-bone steak. The chefs will cook it exactly how you like it!"

CORNWALL

Bradley Monk from the award-winning One Fish Street in St Ives: "Roundhouse in Penzance. Joel makes the most incredible focaccia sandwiches at this little spot in Penzance. The lightest focaccia you will try, with just the right level of saltiness. Next is Blas in St Ives. While being well known for their burgers - which are also delicious - it's the rotisserie chicken I'm recommending. Little Palais in St Ives is stretching the budget slightly, but it's totally worth it as it's utterly delicious. The cocktails are sublime, the cheeseboard is by far the best in the area, and the ever-changing selection of small plates are always divine. The view from the window table doesn't hurt, either."

DEVON

Simon Hulstone, from Michelin-starred The Elephant in Torquay: "Jun Jaow Thai restaurant in Torquay. We can be fed well for £40 with authentic Thai food in a family-run restaurant. I am partial to the Thai flavours from many trips and slowly building up my chilli tolerance. Jun Jaow is as close as I can get to some local Thai cuisine."

HUMBERSIDE

Gareth Bartram is head chef at Winteringham Fields, Lincolnshire's only Michelin-star restaurant: "The Hope and Anchor, South Ferriby is a fantastic pub on the south bank of the river Humber. We always go for the home-cured charcuterie board and the burger made from the trim from their whole cow project is incredible. If me and my wife manage to convince the grandparents to look after the kids, it has to be Hearth in Hull. The restaurant and bakery is an amazing addition to the Hull dining scene with Ryan Telford cooking the majority of the menu over hot coals."

LONDON

Sameer Taneja, executive chef at one-starred Indian restaurant Benares, in Mayfair: "The Kati Roll Company in Soho is my go-to eatery for Kolkata-inspired meat and vegetable wraps that are absolutely delicious. My wife and I have been regular visitors since before our kids were born, and I have fond memories of this little place. It's always a treat to enjoy their excellent spicy wraps, a bottle of beer, and good old Bollywood music."

Tom Brown, from Pearly Queen and the Michelin-starred Cornerstone in Hackney, east London: "My all-time favourite cheap eat is Max's Sandwich Shop, which has an amazing reputation - their classic 'Ham, Egg 'n' Chips' sandwich is undoubtedly the best. I'm big on my football, and where it's located in Finsbury Park, it's a great spot to hit before Arsenal. My other choice for a cheap eat is a spot called House of Momo. They do a variety of fried dumplings served with delicious Nepalese curries - a personal favourite of mine is the cheese and vegetable momo. The food is divine. It's big portions - the value for money is insane."

Meedu Saad, head chef and co-owner of Kiln in Soho - which as well as being in the Michelin Guide, was crowned the UK's best restaurant in 2018: "Durak Tantuni, in Haringey. This place specialises in tantuni, a meat wrap that originates from Mersin in the south of Turkey. It's finely diced lamb boiled and then lightly fried with spices, topped with fresh tomatoes and parsley before being wrapped in lavash and served with a monster plate of pickled chillies and lemon wedges. Haringey Corbacisi. A no-menu restaurant specialising in daily made soups and stews at very reasonable prices. My personal favourite is a soup by the name of kelle paca, which is a sheep's head soup in a broth topped with garlic and ghee. Yipin China, based in Highbury and Islington and specialising in Hunanese dishes and techniques. They have a great selection of offal dishes and sour soup - one of my favourites being white fish and mustard greens."

Jeff Tan, a Michelin-starred chef who now runs Viet Food in Chinatown: "I will recommend having Dim Sum with Chinese Tea for lunch which represents both culinary and cultural significance in Chinese tradition. The three restaurants that I recommend are Orient London, Bun House and Golden Dragon. Moreover, Orient London and Golden Dragon will be around £40 in terms of budgeting while Bun House is less than £40."

SCOTLAND

Tom Kitchin, chef-owner at The Kitchin in Edinburgh: "I really enjoy The Fishmarket at Newhaven, down by the Newhaven harbour in Edinburgh. They offer classic fish and chips, done incredibly well, which you can either enjoy in the restaurant or to take away."

SOUTH YORKSHIRE

Dan Conlon, head chef at Michelin Guide recommended Rafters in Sheffield: "Paesani. This is a family run, traditional Italian restaurant serving classic wood fired pizzas using authentic ingredients. My go-to's are nocellara olives for, then the new contadina vegetarian or the San Daniele. Nottingham House (the Notty House) is a down to earth pub serving pies, chips and mushy peas - a great selection of homemade pies at very reasonable prices, good student vibe. The steak and stilton, and the chicken and sausage stuffing are my go-to's. Urban choola is a long-established curry house in Sheffield, going from strength to strength.It's not your run-of-the-mill curry - they have a distinct and inventive style."

STAFFORDSHIRE

Great British Menu champ Tom Shepherd, from Michelin-starred Upstairs by Tom Shepherd in Lichfield, picks his favourites in the city: "The Patty Freaks - Great burgers, super tasty, filled with all the good stuff, a big selection of different toppings, cooked to order and they do some delicious sides too - from loaded fries to chicken wings and tenders. Bore Street Bakery - Not only are the owners Nathan and Rosie a pair of absolute legends, but they can also bake! The pastries, fancies and savoury breads here are absolutely delicious, people queue past the door of the restaurant every single morning, it's heaving from 9am, their pastry 'knots' are incredible, and the coffee is good too. Poms - a firm local favourite serving some delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch items - all their bread is sourced locally from Silvertree Bakery (I used to work with the owner, Kirk) and they make the most amazing sandwiches, eggs benedict and salads, a definite go-to if you're in Lichfield."

WALES

Mark McHugo, head chef and owner of Michelin Green Star restaurant Chapters in Hay-on-Wye, Powys: "Daphnes in Presteigne - they serve great pizza, delicious wines and brilliant seasonal salads and starters. Then, in the newly renovated Castle in the middle of Hay-on-Wye, the cafe there serves really great lunches - plus Sunday lunch in the winter months, and their breakfast is pretty good too. It is the perfect quick stop off with great service and tasty dishes."

WEST MIDLANDS

Simon Carlo, from the award-winning Meat and One Veg blog: Yikouchi - Whilst teaching English in Beijing, James fell in love with, and subsequently learned to cook, Sichuan food. The menu is short and nothing is over a tenner. Their fried chicken in chilli oil is legendary, whilst the fish fragrant aubergine is arguably the best vegan dish in Birmingham. WokChi - a Cantonese that never fails to deliver. The menu is approachable, if slightly anglicised, and far too cheap. There isn't a dud on the menu, though barely a week goes by when I don't visit them for the Singapore style rice with roast pork, chicken, and prawns. Shababs - the last bastion of the Balti Triangle is stronger than ever. It's hard to look past the chicken balti; theirs is semi-dry with caramelised edges from the rapid cook. The table naan has to be seen to be believed.

-sky news