SAVOUR & SIP
ELISHA EATS BUDGET BITES EVERYONE’S FEELING THE SQUEEZE AT THE MOMENT – BUT ELISHA YOUNG (AKA @ELISHA.EATS ON INSTAGRAM) HAS PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR ENJOYABLE MEALS OUT AT MORE AFFORDABLE PRICES
Q: Going out to eat feels like a bit of a luxury at the moment. Can you recommend anywhere that’s affordable, but still offers something different? A: Great food doesn’t have to come at a high price. Actually, some of my favourite places to eat in Cambridge are on the more affordable side. It’s easy to underestimate the perks of street food. But it’s served fast, steaming hot, from a convenient location – and you can eat it on the go. For the highest concentration of street food in one place, turn towards Cambridge Market Square to explore stalls that range from coffee and cake to Chinese dumplings, Thai noodles, Venezuelan arepas and mac ‘n’ cheese. Another benefit of eating in the Market Square is that there are plenty of benches dotted around for you to perch on, which is especially handy if you’re not keen on juggling a handful of food as you walk around the city. And there’s such a variety of choice, you’re sure to find something you’ll like. If in doubt, pick the stall with the longest queue – locals usually know what’s up! For specific recommendations, my top three are Azuma, Hallouman and Jianbing House. The former serves Japanese and Malaysian food, with an extensive menu that includes ramen, Hainanese chicken rice and laksa. My dish of choice is nasi goreng: perfectly seasoned stir-fried rice packed with prawns and topped with a crispy fried egg. As the name suggests, Jianbing House serves jianbing: a Chinese street food similar to a crêpe, stuffed with
BOWLED OVER Full of flavour, but gentle on the wallet, try this pork belly delight from 1+1 Rougamo
and arepas (grilled corn flour patties). There’s also Amélie Flam-kuche, which – despite the confusing name – has a great selection of pizza-adjacent flam-kuche with inventive toppings. Finally, if you’re in the mood to try something different, you can experience reasonably priced northern Chinese dishes at 1+1 Rougamo. Located on Regent Street, the restaurant has huge bowls of noodles for less than £10 each, as well as roujiamo, which look similar to burgers but are crispy, satisfying and flavourful. And no cheap eats article would be complete without mentioning Noodles Plus on Mill Road. This neighbourhood favourite is best known for its xiao long bao soup dumplings: delicate wrappers surrounding a centre of rich, umami broth and juicy pork. But locals are acutely aware of the excellent food and low prices – make sure you’re prepared to queue if you decide to pay this place a visit!
can vouch for their deliciousness, though they’re a challenge to eat gracefully. That’s not even mentioning foodPark, a street food collective that pops up at many locations throughout the week. Traders include Guerrilla Kitchen, Pimp My Fish,
Buffalo Joe’s, Steak & Honour and Pizza Mondo. Catch the trucks at locations like the Cambridge University Library, the train station, Eddington and the Science Park. But you don’t have to be exposed to
mouth-watering fillings. However,
For the most street food in one place, turn to the Market Square
you can also pick up Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, crispy scallion pancakes and Wuhanese doupi, plus veggie options. If neither of those appeal, Hallouman offers
the elements to get a bargain. The Grafton is home to a hub of great eateries offering food that’s excellent value for money. I particularly enjoy La Latina Bustaurante, where you can try tostones (fried plantain slices), empanadas (small stuffed pastries)
satisfyingly crispy fried halloumi in a variety of inventive dishes. The menu changes regularly, but classics include halloumi fries with pomegranate molasses, homemade soup with sourdough and a halloumi burger. I’ve had the tacos – and
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