Where To Find The Best Street Food In Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the dark and medieval capital of Scotland and an amazing place to visit. You may not know that most of the Harry Potter books were written and filmed in this city, and that the famous Edinburgh Castle is built on a volcano. Edinburgh is home to some of the best and biggest festivals in the world as well as over 110 parks, making it the UK's greenest city.

The town is home to some incredible historic sites, fun attractions and delicious street food! In Edinburgh, you will find adorable cafes and fine dining restaurants serving amazing Scottish dishes that you just have to try. This city is home to some delicious dishes that can't be found anywhere else, and you won't want to miss the fun food related festivals that go on here every year. While you are out tasting the award winning food in town, keep your bags safe at an Edinburgh luggage storage spot.

The Best Street Food Vendors in Edinburgh

You can find so much amazing food around Edinburgh and it can be hard to know where to start looking. There are some places that are a must-see for food connoisseurs like The Pitt Market and the Edinburgh Farmers Market. One of the city's top attractions is the Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight, which is a multi-day celebration of local cuisine and Scottish food workers. No matter where you go you can find some mouth watering meals, but listed below are some that you can't miss trying.

Chicken Skoop

Chicken Skoop is a well-known pop up street food restaurant that appears in different locations in Edinburgh, like the Leigh Walk Police Box. They are known for their unique dish of a waffle cone filled with chicken which tastes even better than it sounds. This is a top place for trying Scottish street food that can't be found anywhere else.

Union of Genius

This food truck has been located in George Square outside of the Chrystal Macmillan Building since 2013. They are known for selling soup of unique flavors including ginger, butternut, lime, pear or hot chicken banana matoke. Other meals include chili and vegetarian frittata as well as tortilla chips with cheese and sour cream. You can eat here on Mondays to Fridays from 11 am to 4 pm.

Harajuku Kitchen

Harajuku Kitchen is a quaint Japanese bistro serving amazing meals. Some of the best choices here include the Japanese Steamed Rice, Miso Soup, Mixed Seafood dishes and their tasty sushi and dumpling choices. This is a great place to find fish, mollusks and mussels, and they also have several choices of wine, sake, beer and Looseleaf Tea.

Antojitos

This is another food truck serving great street food in Edinburgh. They specialize in vegan Mexican cuisine like tacos and quesadillas. You can find this street food vendor sitting on Clerk Street by The Dog House or at various locations around the city. They sometimes make appearances at The Pitt Market and are a local favorite for signature Mexican meals.

Wanderers Kneaded

Wanderers Kneaded is a food truck serving tasty pizza with both traditional and unique recipes. They have the perfect seafood lover's Surf and Turf meal with pesto, mozzarella and prawns wrapped in bacon. Other favorites include uniquely named menu choices like To the Moon & Back and Never too late to Break Bad. They are often parked at Meadows Place.

Radge Chaat

Radge Chaat is a newly opened street food truck in Edinburgh and has quickly grown a fanbase. They serve foods like pakora and samosas cooked by Tony Singh, who is a celebrity chef, and his brother. They are open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12 pm to 10 pm, but might close sooner if they sell out. Try to get there early at lunchtime as they get busy quickly.

Lynne's Scrumptious Snax

Have a late night out in Edinburgh last night? No matter what time of day you venture out, this snack bar on wheels is a great place to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are situated in Hermiston Gait and serve a wide range of food including vegan and vegetarian options. Grab a chicken curry dish, Wellington Burgers or their signature Haggis Explosion. They serve American-style foods as well as British and Scottish street food.

Kaptain Karaage

At Kaptain Karaage you will find a selection of tasty Japanese cuisine. Some of their popular dishes include the Kobayashi Dog which is named after the world champion hotdog eater, their Furikake Fries, Karaage Chicken meals and Ice Cream Mochi for those with a sweet tooth. You can also try their signature house sauces. They are open Wednesday to Saturday and are found on West Tollcross south of Edinburgh Castle.

Snax Café

One of the best snack shacks in Edinburgh is Snax Café. They have a small restaurant serving delicious breakfast dishes and also a food truck that they take to catering events. This café serves award winning coffee, hash brown bites, veggie sausages and brunch options, or you can try their humble burger for lunchtime meals. Find them on West Register Street or in the Meadows by Edinburgh University.

Bonnie & Wild's Scottish Marketplace

Found inside the new St James Quarter is the first Food Hall ever made in Edinburgh. Here you can find some impressive independent producers from all around the country serving their best food and drinks. The marketplace is a great spot to go to taste Scottish street food and to spend time socializing. Take a look at all of the street food stalls and try some of the local's favorite meals all in one venue.

Where to Find the Best Edinburgh Street Food Spots

You can find food trucks, restaurants and cafes all around Edinburgh, but if you want to find different foods all in one place you should go to these locations. These markets host independent producers selling cooking ingredients like meats, fish and bread as well as places to buy pre-made meals like burgers, chili or pizza. Some of the markets even have live music and entertainment, making it an ideal spot for social gatherings and family outings.

Edinburgh Farmers Market

This is an outdoor farmers' market that is open weekly. Here you can find locally sourced food like meat, vegetables, cheese, beer and baked snacks. The goods sold here are sustainable, delicious and will taste great in a dish. There is also an on-site coffee van to enjoy, but make sure to bring your own reusable bags if you are planning to do a lot of shopping. You can find the Edinburgh Farmers Market at Castle Terrace.

The Pitt Market

The Pitt Market is a highly recommended location for live music and street food. There is lots of delicious food here, and the entertainment makes it a great place to relax and spend time with friends. The market is open on weekends during the spring and summer and is also a good place to try cocktails and drinks. Found on Pitt Street, its new roofed seating section allows you to spend hours here enjoying the food and energetic atmosphere.

Leith Market

If you want to find home cooked bread and cheese, try the Leith Market at Dock Place. They also sell locally sourced soap here and it is one of the great street food markets in Edinburgh for vegans and vegetarians. It is a lively place to be on a sunny day and a nice place to take a walk. If you are still hungry, you can find nearby restaurants and cafes at the shore and Commercial Quay.

Stockbridge Market

A nice place to buy food and drink with an authentic taste is at the Stockbridge Market. This location has street food stalls that are favored by both locals and tourists with shops selling individual ingredients for cooking, dishes or treats if you just want a snack. This area can get busy but is a fun place to grab lunch. It is open weekly on Sundays in the square on Saunders Street.

Grassmarket

The Grassmarket is found near Edinburgh Castle and hosts a large selection of vendors and traders of different types. They serve bread, cakes and sweet candied nuts, or you can eat meals like arepas or paella. They have more than just food here and some stalls sell knickknacks like music records 0r books. You can try the Scottish street food here every Saturday.

Street Food Festivals in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Foodies Festival

This is the biggest festival of its kind in the UK and one of the country's favorite celebrations for food lovers. The Edinburgh Foodie Festival usually happens in early August and is a place where you can find some of the best street food Scotland has to offer as well as live entertainment and competitions. These events host MasterChef cooks, Michelin Star chefs and local businesses that you can watch make amazing meals in real time at The Chefs Theater. Younger attendees will have fun at The Kids Cookery Theater, Kids Zone or Crafts Tent, and if you are hungry try participating in a chili eating competition.

Edinburgh Vegan Festival

This festival is held near the center of the city and hosts some great demonstrations and talented speakers. Some of the event's main attractions include vegan food tasting at the multiple pop up food stalls where you can try chocolate, cakes, cheese and takeaway food all made without using any animal products. Animal sanctuaries also make an appearance and some animal-friendly clothing can be bought here too.

Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight

At Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight, citizens come together to celebrate the locally grown products made around the country. The passionate and talented farmers bring life to Edinburgh's cuisine, and every year both old and new businesses gather to show pride in their work and bring to light the importance of the Scottish food industry. Some of the common guest companies include members of the North Highland's artisan smokehouses, some of Fife's buffalo farmers or cheesemakers from Arran.

Edinburgh Food Festival

This festival is free to enter and should not be confused with the Edinburgh Foodie Festival. This celebration takes place at the George Square Gardens. It first began in 2015 and is a five to ten day event full of fun and great Scottish street food.

Guest appearances include some of Scotland's best meat and vegetable producers as well as workshops and demonstrations put on by some award winning chefs. An estimated 35,000 people showed up to the event in 2019 to try the meals from the various street food stalls that served everything from fish, burgers, pizza and sweet treats like gelato or pastries.

Try the Scottish Street Food in Edinburgh

There is no doubt that Edinburgh has some tasty dishes, whether you are hungry for seafood, pizza, burgers or something else. You can eat smoked haddock from one of street food restaurants, try the food from a buffalo truck or dine at one of the other award winning eateries. With so many street food markets to choose from, you can find dishes that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

If you are looking for something to do on a Saturday, consider checking out the weekly farmers' markets where you can buy meats, bread, cheese and other local produce to make your own delicious meals. If you happen to be in town during one of the city's food festivals, make sure you stop by to try the authentic Scottish cuisine.