I Tried the Most Viral Foods at Borough Market — Honest Ratings

isa1212
Apr 12
3 min read

Updated: Apr 27

By Isa | IsaUnpacked

Borough Market has been on every London food list for years, and for good reason. The second you walk in, you're hit with this wall of incredible smells coming from every direction fresh bread, sizzling meats, melted cheese, roasted coffee. It's a lot in the best possible way.

I actually travelled up from Bournemouth for this trip, and getting here was surprisingly easy. I took the train straight to London Waterloo, then it was just one Tube to Borough Market, no complicated changes, no stressful navigation. If you're coming from outside London, don't let the journey put you off. It's super accessible and totally worth the day trip.

Now, I wanted to put some of the most hyped foods to the test and give you my honest ratings, so you know exactly what's worth your money (and your stomach space) when you visit. Let's get into it.

Mac and Cheese — Bath Dairy

Rating: 7/10

Starting strong with the viral mac and cheese from Bath Dairy. You'll probably spot it from the queue alone this stall is always busy. I went for it with both the truffle oil and crispy onions on top, and honestly that made such a difference.

On its own, the mac and cheese was good but maybe just a little dry. With the truffle oil though? So much better. It adds this rich, earthy flavour that ties the whole thing together. My advice: always say yes to the extras.

The Sandwich — The Black Pig

Rating: 8/10

Next up, the famous sandwich from The Black Pig. This thing has a reputation and I needed to see if it lived up to the hype. The flavour was really good layers of slow-cooked pulled pork piled high with all the trimmings.

The parmesan on top was definitely the best part, adding this salty, crispy edge that elevated the whole sandwich. If I'm being picky, the pulled pork was slightly on the dry side, but overall? Still a solid choice and I'd get it again.

Chocolate Strawberries

Rating: 8/10

Let's be real, is it even a Borough Market video without the chocolate strawberries? These are everywhere on social media, and they're just as photogenic in person. Are they overpriced? Yes. But I have to admit, the strawberries themselves were some of the juiciest I've ever had. The chocolate coating was rich and thick, and the whole combination just works.

One tip, though: eat them straight away. The chocolate hardens really fast once you're walking around, and they're so much better when everything is still slightly warm and melty.

Doughnuts — Bread Ahead

Crème Brûlé: 9/10 | Pistachio: 6/10

Bread Ahead is another Borough Market icon, and I grabbed two doughnuts to compare: crème brûlé and pistachio.

The crème brûlé was easily the winner. The custard filling was smooth and creamy, and then you get that hard caramelised sugar on top that gives it this incredible texture contrast. Sweet, crunchy, soft, gooey, all in one bite. That one gets a very deserved 9 out of 10.

The pistachio was... fine. It was nice enough, the flavour was there, but it just didn't make me want to go back for another one. If you're only getting one doughnut (as if), go crème brûlé every time.

Apple Crumble — Humble Crumble

Rating: 10/10

And now for the biggest surprise of the day. I almost walked past Humble Crumble, but something told me to stop, and I'm so glad I did. I got the classic apple crumble with custard, and this was hands down the best thing I ate all day.

It was warm, gooey, perfectly sweet, and just so comforting. The kind of food that gives you a hug from the inside. The crumble topping had that golden, buttery crunch, the apple was soft and spiced just right, and the custard brought it all together. If you try one thing at Borough Market, make it this. I'm not even being dramatic, easy 10 out of 10.

The Final Verdict

Borough Market lives up to the hype. Not everything is perfect, and some things are definitely overpriced, but the quality of the food across the board is genuinely impressive. My biggest tip? Go hungry, pace yourself, and don't skip the places that don't have the longest queues. Sometimes, the best bites are the ones you almost miss.

Here's my quick ranking for anyone who wants the cheat sheet: