Cheap Eat Soho

Right the title speaks for itself and I shall not ramble. There you go – all the cheap ones I have recently come across in and around Soho.

MD SANDWICH

Canape-looking open-top “German” sandwiches priced at £1 per piece. Handsome toppings on soft white bread. All made at the premise. While one quid won’t get you caviar, you can still indulge in the look of it. I’d say, don’t take MD too seriously. I had the crab(stick), the caviar with egg and the roast beef with horseradish sauce. Not bad flavouring. I can see some thought process put into it. Quite a departure from Pret-a-Manger opposite but won’t get you as filled up. Personally I think it’s more suitable for office parties than grab ‘n go lunch.

If you’re not into sandwiches, they also do Special of the Day savoury strudel.

BAOZI INN(?)

Can anybody confirm if this little boiled thingy place owned by Baozi Inn? It is right next to the restaurant and gives away plastic bags with the Baozi Inn trademark. The sign says “Beijing Street Food”. This anonymous hole in the wall sells vegetables and fish balls on skewers. All priced at 90p. They are snacks not meals. Not the greatest quality or the largest portion of food you’ll find. Fish balls, for example, there seem to be four half-ball pieces. These skewers are dunked into a caldron of bubbling spiced chilli broth for a few minutes. This broth I must say is quite intense in flavours as everything is boiled in it and the broth itself becomes the best kind of stock. For your skewers, you can opt for extra chilli power dust and chopped coriander. I’d say quite lovely in autumn or winter.

If you’d like something more substantial to go, you can also grab the buns from Baozi Inn. Quite nice.

YALLA YALLA

Their sign says “Beirut street food”. This little Lebanese cafe tucked between peep shows and porn dungeons is nowhere near the glorious magnitude of Beirut Express. Atmospheric setup killed by nonchalant service. All the rolls – Shawarma included – are pre-wrapped and toasted. Served with garlic cream and chilli sauce. How good? Imagine Starbucks pannini but with Lebanese fillings. I had a lamb Shawarma. Dry lamp. Limp vegetable fillings. I am not keen!!

Yalla Yalla also does a separate freshly prepared menu which I was not informed when I was there. Good selection of Middle Eastern sweets but uninspiring in flavours.

BIBIMBAP

Bibimbap for a heavier kind of lunch. A small cafe with a hell lot of Polaroid images of their happy customers on the wall. That’s some effective visual testimonials. Their specialities are the bibimbap which usually feature many kinds of cooked vegetable in aromatic sesame oil with a meat topping of your choice. All served in a hot and heavy stone bowl. My beef bibimbap (£9.45) was a spectacle. An almighty bowl of food. Good balance between the fluffy rice and the delectable toppings. Usually go for an extra of raw egg. Pop in and stir to cook. A dollop of chilli sauce. Gosh – this is my kind of heaven. I also like their “Nutritious” toppings (£7.95) including many exotic nuts (ginko, chestnuts, etc.). Flavour and quality wise, I must say I am impressed. The ribbons of beef are of decent quality. Plus, the execution is far more superior than another express Bibimbab Cafe in Bloombury. That said, side dishes at Bibimbap, such as pan fried dumplings (Mandoo), were so so..

Before and .. after the mixing!!

That’s it. Will come back with more compilation of Soho Cheap Eat

Enough said,

My head rating for MD’s, Baozi Inn, Yalla Yalla and Bibimbap says, “6, 6, 6 and 8″.

My heart rating in the same order says, “5, 7, 5 and 7″.

MD SANDWICH

38 William IV Street
London
WC2N 4DD

Tel. 020 7240 0622

BAOZI INN

25 Newport Court
London
WC2H 7

Tel. 020 7287 6877

YALLA YALLA

1 Greens Court
Soho
London
W1F 0HA

Tel. 020 7287 7663

www.yalla-yalla.co.uk

BIBIMBAP

11 Greek Street
London
W1D 4DJ

Tel. 020 7287 3434

www.bibimbapuk.com