London

Well Kneaded, Battersea
A repeat runner-up, it’s the vintage van selling sourdough pizzas across south-west London and working with social enterprises to employ disadvantaged youth. Look out for a bricks and mortar operation soon.

The Lounge Cafe, Wembley
A full English for under a fiver, warm service and a community spirit make this caff one of the capital’s favourites.
113 Chalkhill Rd, HA9 9FX; 07990 506609

Feest at the Greenhouse, Newington Green
This cafe is known for hearty fare with strong vegetarian options, made with produce from its own allotment.
49 Green Lanes, N16 9BU; 07789 504145

East

Lussmanns, St Albans
Modern bistro cooking with a focus on MSC fish. The set menu is terrific value at two courses for £14.50.
Waxhouse Gate, AL3 4EW; 01727 851941

Brick Pizza, Norwich
Norfolk’s pizza obsessives do one thing and do it well – 36-hour fermented dough, salumi from Italy, English mozzarella, local veg – and prices start at a fiver a pie.
39 Market Pl, NR2 1ND; 01603 620661

CoCoes, Swaffham
Locals watch the changing blackboard at this hotel café for favourites including kedgeree, homemade patés, and daily bread and cakes (including vegan and diabetic). Then they perhaps pick up a local cheese to take home.
Strattons Hotel, 4 Ash Cl, PE37 7NH; 01760 723845

North

Steam Yard, Sheffield
They do savoury (think buttermilk biscuit with jalapeño cheddar) but it’s the changing coffee roasts, coffee-pecan kronuts and ice-cream sandwiches that generate the biggest buzz.
Unit 1-2, Aberdeen Court, 97 Division St, S1 4GE; 0114 327 1270

Crazy Pedro’s, Manchester
“No table service; no worries” – just pizza (£3 a slice) with toppings from traditional to pleasingly insane (katsu sauce), plus nachos and plenty of tequila.
55-57 Bridge St, M3 3BQ

The Bees Country Kitchen, Chorley
Come to this market for the hearty home-style lunch – chicken dansak, chilli pork, rice pudding – then take another one away to heat up for dinner.
Unit 22, Chorley Covered Market, Market Place, PR7 1BH

South

BeFries, Brighton
They do chips (double fried; three portion sizes) and sauce (ketchup, curry, satay, sambal, multiple mayos) and that’s about it. That’s enough.
46 West St, Brighton BN1 2RA; 01273 253570

Tin Kitchen, High Wycombe
At lunch, seasonal “hot” and “plate” options come in around £7 and inventive sandwiches (roast peach, pancetta and gorgonzola toastie) for under a fiver.
2 The Quadrangle, HP13 7QR; 07794 742223

The Gorilla Kitchen, Brighton
Lucky commuters travelling on Tuesday and Thursday evenings stop for the eponymous pizza (chopped garlic, oregano, chilli, basil, mozzarella and tomato sauce), the spicy, meaty Vesuvio and other pizzas in the classic vein.
London Road Station, BN1 4QS; 07415 060498

Midlands

A Rule of Tum Burger Shop, Hereford

Loyal customers queue for burgers made with local produce, including beef from near-celeb farmer Tom Jones, Hereford Hop cheese and neighbouring Welsh lamb.
32 Aubrey St, HR4 0BU; 01432 351764

The Cod’s Scallops, Nottingham
With three locations, the people of Nottingham are never far from sustainable fish (baked or beef-dripping fried), chips and all the sides.
311-313 Mansfield Rd, NG5 2DA; 0115 708 0251

Original Patty Men, Birmingham
OPM bring hip-hop-inspired fast-food puns with Cheezy-E burger, ODB loaded fries and Boneless Nuggz ’n’ Harmony chicken.
9 Shaw’s Passage, B5 5JG; 0121 643 2546; original pattymen.com

West

Fisherton Mill Cafe, Salisbury
Acclaimed puddings (and soup and open sandwiches) at this gallery cafe making its fifth appearance on this list.
108 Fisherton St, SP2 7QY; 01722 500200

Canteen, St Agnes
Two seasonal lunch items (one vegan, one not), created every morning are an astounding £5 each; fresh bread, cinnamon buns, cakes and coffee satisfy at other times.
9 Wheal Kitty Workshops, TR5 0RD; 07432 641941

The Green Bird Cafe, Bath
This pretty daytime cafe near Royal Crescent is especially loved for its breakfasts.
11 Margaret’s Buildings, BA1 2LP; 01225 487846

Wales

Plum Vanilla Cafe, Narberth
With a relaxed atmosphere and food not tied to any style, this Pembrokeshire cafe is known for its salads, Vietnamese-style summer rolls and cakes cooked by Plum and served by Vanilla (they’re sisters).
2A St James St, SA67 7DB; 01834 862762

Gower Seafood Hut, Swansea
A converted horsebox where Med inspiration elevates Swansea Bay and Gower-coast fish beyond usual chippie fare – fritto misto, crispy chilli prawns, and cockles that come “popcorn” or with white pepper ’n’ vinegar.
Promenade Terrace, The Mumbles, SA3 4DS; 07944 821737

Pizza and Peint, Llanberis
Hungry hikers at Gallt y Glyn hostel looking to keep the prices down are happy that mains come with a free drink.
Gallt y Glyn, LL55 4EL; 01286 870370

Northern Ireland

Wolf and Devour, Belfast
The success of their burgers, ribs and sweet potato fries with lime and chilli mayo has seen the formerly itinerant grillers set up shop in Ballyhackamore.
346 Upper Newtownards Rd, BT4 3EX; 028 9065 6701

Ocho Tapas, Portrush
From patatas bravas to albondigas, all the classics feature on great-value set menus – three dishes for £9.95 at lunch.
92-94 Main St, BT56 8BN; 028 7082 4110

The Bay Tree, Holywood
Come for the cinnamon scones, but first breakfast on bacon and banana toasted sandwiches, or try the paté and soup for lunch.
118 High St, BT18 9HW; 028 9042 1419

Scotland

Illegal Jack’s, Edinburgh
Burritos, quesadillas, nachos, tacos: old-school Tex-Mex is in favour as Jack’s makes its third appearance here.
44-45 St Patrick Sq, EH8 9ET; 0131 629 2722

East Pizzas, Edinburgh
Scottish sourdough bases (chickpea as a gluten-free option) and largely organic toppings sourced within 30 miles of Leith.
7 Commercial St, EH6 6JA, 0131 629 2430

Ting Thai Caravan, Edinburgh
These former street-food stars deliver a thrilling menu of flavours that goes far beyond green curry and pad thai.
8-9Teviot Pl, EH1 2QZ; 0131 225 9801