London isn’t cheap to eat out in. A simple lunch can cost £15. A dinner for two with wine? That’s £60 easily. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to pay full price. Thousands of Londoners eat well for less every single day - not by skipping meals, but by using vouchers and apps smartly.
Why London restaurants give away discounts
Restaurants in London are desperate to fill tables. Especially on weeknights, between 4-7 PM, or on slow Sundays. They’d rather serve you a £25 three-course meal for £12 than have the table sit empty. That’s why they partner with apps like DineOut, Too Good To Go, and Time Out Deals. These platforms pay restaurants a small fee to list their discounted meals. The restaurant gets customers. You get a great meal for half the price.The top 5 apps for eating cheap in London
- DineOut - Offers 50% off at 300+ restaurants across London. Works Monday to Thursday. Just book through the app, show the voucher at the door. Popular spots like The Ivy, Pizza Pilgrims, and Dishoom all join in. You’ll need to sign up for free, and you’ll get a £10 welcome credit.
- Too Good To Go - This one’s for surplus food. Restaurants, bakeries, and even supermarkets sell unsold meals at the end of the day for £3-£5. You pick a nearby spot, choose a "Surprise Bag" (you don’t know what’s inside until you collect it), and grab it in the last hour before closing. I once got a full roast dinner with Yorkshire pudding and custard for £3.50 from a pub in Camden.
- Time Out Deals - More than just vouchers. They have daily lunch deals under £10, £15 dinner specials, and even free drinks with mains. Their app updates every morning with new offers. I’ve had £12 three-course meals at places like Bao and Hawksmoor Steakhouse using this.
- HappyCow - Not just for vegans. It shows vegan and vegetarian spots with daily deals. Many plant-based places in London offer 20-30% off midweek. Try Vegan Nights in Shoreditch - their £10 lunch menu includes jackfruit tacos and cashew cheesecake.
- OpenTable - Yes, the booking app. But if you book via OpenTable, you often get £10-£20 off your bill. Look for the "Save with OpenTable" badge. It’s not always obvious, but it’s there on 40% of London restaurants.
How to use vouchers without getting scammed
Not all deals are created equal. Here’s what to watch out for:- Check the fine print - Some vouchers exclude weekends, alcohol, or desserts. Others only work for lunch, not dinner. Read the small text.
- Book early - The best deals sell out fast. I’ve missed £15 steaks at Hawksmoor because I waited until 5 PM to book. Set a reminder for 8 AM on Monday when new deals drop.
- Don’t go for the cheapest - A £5 "Surprise Bag" from Too Good To Go might be a stale sandwich. Look for places with 4.5+ ratings. High ratings = better quality leftovers.
- Use multiple apps - Don’t stick to one. DineOut for dinner, Too Good To Go for snacks, Time Out for lunch. Rotate them. I save £300 a month just by switching between them.
When to eat out to get the best deals
Timing matters more than the app. Here’s the real schedule:- Monday to Thursday lunch (12-2 PM) - Most restaurants offer 25-50% off. Try The Ledbury’s lunch menu - £28 for three courses, normally £65.
- Wednesday evenings (6-8 PM) - Quiet night. Many places drop prices to lure people in. I’ve had £10 pizzas at Franco Manca and £12 pasta at Pasta Evangelists.
- Sunday lunch (12-3 PM) - Not as cheap as weekdays, but you’ll find "buy one, get one free" deals on main courses. Perfect for families.
- After 9 PM - Too Good To Go kicks in. Most places start collecting orders at 8:30 PM. Show up by 9:15 PM with your phone ready.
Real savings: What you can actually eat for under £15
Here are actual meals I’ve had in the last month using these tricks:- £8.50 - 2 sushi rolls, miso soup, and green tea at Sushi Samba (via DineOut)
- £5 - 4 croissants, 2 pastries, and a latte from a bakery in Notting Hill (Too Good To Go)
- £12 - Bolognese, garlic bread, and tiramisu at an Italian trattoria in Soho (Time Out Deal)
- £14 - Steak, fries, and a pint at The Harp (OpenTable discount)
That’s four meals under £15. In London, that’s a miracle.
Pro tips from locals who eat out for less
- Turn off notifications - Don’t get bombarded with deals. Only enable alerts for your favorite areas. Otherwise, you’ll get 20 push notifications a day.
- Join loyalty programs - Even if you use vouchers, sign up for restaurant emails. They send exclusive offers to subscribers. I got a free dessert at Dishoom just for signing up.
- Go with a group - Many deals are per person, not per table. Bring friends. Split the bill. More people = more discounts.
- Use your bank’s app - Some banks like Monzo and Starling have partner deals. I once got £10 off at Wagamama just because I paid with my Monzo card.
What doesn’t work
Don’t waste your time with:- Facebook groups - Most are outdated. A "£5 curry deal" posted in July won’t be valid in December.
- Printed coupons - Few restaurants accept them anymore. They’re outdated and hard to verify.
- "All you can eat" specials - These are usually low-quality food with hidden charges. Skip them.
Final thought: Eating well doesn’t mean spending more
You don’t need to be rich to enjoy London’s food scene. The city’s restaurants are built for volume. They want you to come back. And they’ll pay you to do it - in the form of discounts, surprise bags, and free desserts. Use the apps. Know the timing. Don’t overthink it. The best meal I’ve had in London this year cost me £3.50. And it was unforgettable.Are restaurant vouchers in London worth it?
Yes, if you use them right. Apps like DineOut and Time Out Deals offer real discounts at top restaurants. The catch? You need to book in advance, check the terms, and avoid peak times. Most users save £10-£25 per meal.
Can I use multiple vouchers on one meal?
No. Most restaurants only allow one discount per table. But you can use different apps for different meals. For example, use DineOut for dinner and Too Good To Go for a snack later.
Is Too Good To Go safe to use?
Absolutely. All food is freshly prepared and stored properly. The "Surprise Bags" are from restaurants that would otherwise throw food away. Over 10 million bags have been sold in the UK with zero food safety incidents.
What’s the best time to book a deal?
Monday morning at 8 AM. That’s when most new vouchers drop. Popular restaurants fill up within minutes. Set a phone alarm and be ready.
Do these apps work outside central London?
Yes. While central areas have the most options, apps like Too Good To Go and DineOut cover zones 2-6. Areas like Brixton, Peckham, and Croydon have strong participation. Just filter by location in the app.