The UK street food market is on fire right now! With more and more street food vendors popping up across the country every year, there’s never been a better time to embrace exciting flavours and a remarkably open marketplace. However, while the market is worth billions (estimated at £3.6bn in 2017), it’s a constantly evolving and highly competitive industry. 

There are over 7,000 street food trucks operating in the UK across a wide range of venues, offering a variety of international cuisines – it takes industry awareness to stand out and emerge as a major player. This blog breaks down the UK street food market in 2024, touching on the most relevant trends in street eats and the industry that serves them up. 

What Does UK Street Food Mean Today?

As we used to know, UK street food was simply an alternative to typical fast food, few and far between with the odd burger van or kebab truck positioned on roadsides to feed hungry workmen. However, as the world shrank and international cultures began to bleed together, the street food movement started to take the shape we know and love. 

In the aftermath of COVID-19, a time when many traditional restaurants had to close their doors, many established business owners and new entrepreneurs took to the roads to bring reimagined takes on various cuisines to the masses. With 2,000 vendors in 2018 and 7,000 in 2023, it’s clear that the UK street food movement is on the rise. 

Does Street Food Have to be on the Street?

Institutions like market space Digbeth Dining Club and pizza shop Homeboys prove that street food doesn’t even need to come from vans anymore, going from strength to strength in brick-and-mortar setups. UK street food is as much about the DIY spirit behind the food as it is about hitting rubber to the tarmac. 

Consumer Street Food Trends in 2024

So why is British street food so hot right now? Because it actively addresses consumer needs and wants – namely, affordability and quality. Street food vendors tend to offer high-quality, specialised offerings at prices closer to that of fast food than gourmet cooking. 

Street Food as Lunch

Studies indicate that street food has taken a rightful place within the pantheon of British Lunchtime, with statistics showing just how much this format has captured the public’s imagination. 

• 50% of UK consumers buy from a street food van at least once a week.
• 64% are willing to spend more than the average daily lunch on street food.

The Festival Scene

Street food is very popular in the festival circuit, with hundreds of brands doing the rounds through different music festivals across the country’s summer. 

• 6.5 million people attended UK music festivals in 2022.

Gen-Z and Street Food

It’s also notable that street food catering is more to Gen-Z consumers' tastes, with their tastes leaning more adventurous than generations prior.

• 32% of Gen-Z are passionate about trying new foods and flavours.
• 50% of Gen-Z want to eat more unique meals from different cuisines. 
• 83% of the street food market is powered by people under 40. 
• There are currently over 15.8 million Instagram posts with #streetfood

Trending Dishes

With the business side considered, it’s also important to understand what sorts of foods are trending in the UK street food realm. 

Tacos: Arguably the king of street food, soft Mexican or Tex-Mex tacos have been hugely popular among foodies for years. The spiritual home of the taco truck might be Los Angeles, but they’re appearing more and more around the UK. 

Bao Buns: Bao buns have only been around in the UK for a little over 10 years, but they’re becoming a major player in the country’s overarching food scene! While they’ve made their way into supermarkets and restaurants, thousands still prefer to grab their bao from the low-key local spots! 

Burgers: It doesn’t get more traditional than this in the UK – burger vans have been an institution in this country since shortly after the Second World War. While there are still plenty of traditional burger spots in the UK, it’s also notable that gourmet offerings are growing in popularity in the street scene. 

Pizza: Quality Pizza is actually relatively new to the UK street food scene. While there have been hundreds of pizzerias in the country for a very long time, it’s only in recent years that premium Italian and Italian-American pizza options have become widely available from trucks and stalls. 

Korean & Japanese Fried Chicken: A common theme in street food is exotic takes on traditional dishes – with Korean and Japanese (Karaage) fried chicken both popular examples of this. These foods take the textures and flavours we know and love and put them into overdrive. 

Seafood Sandwiches: Seafood sandwiches, also known as Poboys in their native New Orleans, are gaining momentum in the UK. Brands like Poor Boys lead the charge on selling US-style sub sandwiches loaded with fried shrimp, crab, or lobster salad.

Indian Street Food: The Great British Curry House is ingrained into British Culture – Chicken Tikka Masala is the UK’s favourite dish! But now, more traditional Indian street food dishes are making their way to our market. Items like Pani Puri, Samosa, and Momos are becoming increasingly popular. 

While these foods are trending, the beauty of street food is that there’s always a gap in the market. With fusion options and new discoveries appearing all the time, there are so many directions that you can go with a street food truck. 

Key Market Venues

London street food is the most active scene in the country, with the city boasting a wealth of markets, however, it’s clear that the movement is traveling across the country. The table below sums up the country’s most popular markets for food.

The Most Popular Street Food Markets in The UK

Market	City	Avg Monthly Search Volume	No. of Instagram Posts	No. of TikTok Posts
Borough Market	London	301,000	555,509	11,800
Broadway Market	London	33,100	138,238	1,290
Seven Dials Market	London	60,500	10,554	1,295
Harewood House	Leeds	40,500	45,391	482
Boxpark Shoreditch	London	27,100	18,411	1,156
Brixton Village Market	London	2,400	57,099	708
St. George’s Market	Belfast	22,200	32,166	336
Mackie Mayor	Manchester	33,100	13,243	120
Maltby Street Market	London	22,200	27,244	159
Baltic Market	Liverpool	18,100	19,910	427

While London dominates this list, some other popular examples include St Nicholas Market in Bristol,  Stockbridge Market in Edinburgh, Dockyard Social in Glasgow, and Digbeth Dining Club in Birmingham.

Beyond markets, there are plenty of other spots that street food vendors can operate, including:

• Pop-up malls (e.g. Boxpark)
• Music festivals
• Food and drink festivals
• Weddings and corporate events
• Parties
• Street-side and lay-by stalls (generally requiring a special license)

With these statistics and so many available venues, it’s clear that street food is becoming a vital element of the UK’s culinary market. 

Business Considerations for UK Street Food Entrepreneurs

If you’re considering starting up a UK street food van, it’s essential to be aware of the start-up costs along with the potential earnings that you could make. Brick-and-mortar restaurants are expensive and highly risky to invest in – street food vendors are much cheaper while still having the potential for huge profits. 

Start-Up Costs 

If you’re new to street food markets and venues, it’s important to consider how much you’re able to invest. Various brackets come into play when starting a new street food venture.

<£5,000: This sort of investment is great for people getting their start, with the kinds of things available including: 

• Small, second-hand trailers, great for industrial estate trading. 
• A trailer-based baked potato oven. 
• A new gazebo and basic catering gear
• A brand new hog roaster! 

£5,000 – £10,000: This kind of investment takes things up a notch or two, being a perfect start for people trying to move to the roadside or events, opening up: 

• A new small-mid-size trailer good for markets and small events
• A second-hand van conversion for roadside cooking
• A second-hand sandwich snack truck
• A second-hand ice cream van
• A second-hand kiosk for a licensed pitch or a town centre
• A refrigerated vehicle for delivering buffets (perfect for catering)

£10,000 – £20,000: If you’re serious about moving into the UK street food scene as a player, this is the kind of investment you can make. Spending this much will get you: 

• A new, mid-range trailer for larger shows and busy events
• A new, large trailer for markets or a new, small van conversion for roadside trading
• A new kiosk for semi-permanent town centre pitches
• A premium second-hand ice cream van

£20,000 – £50,000: At this stage in the game, you’re already looking to be a big money player, with this investment setting you up for basically any setting, with things like: 

• A brand new premium trailer for large shows and events
• A new top-of-the-range kiosk with high-quality coffee machines etc.
• A brand new sandwich delivery truck
• A delivery or vending franchise in multiple locations

£50,000+: At this point, it might be time to get off the street and move to brick-and-mortar! Otherwise, it’s time to get a MASSIVE van. 

This is the kind of industry that gives back what you put in, but it’s important to remember even the smallest investments are not devoid of risk. Do plenty of personal assessing before you put money down!

Where is UK Street Food Heading?

With the consistent growth of the 21st century, it’s clear that the UK street food industry has wheels on the ground with no plans of slowing down. But what are some shifts that we might see in the coming years?

The Rise of Delivery 

Street food vendors utilise delivery platforms like Deliveroo and Uber Eats to broaden their service offerings. As the market grows, we’re only going to see more grassroots vendors offering delivery from their flagship stalls. 

Sustainable Packaging

As delivery rises, it will be matched with the increased use of sustainable packaging methods. Biodegradable, upcycled, and mult-use options are on the rise in hospitality, with street food being no exception to the rule. 

Culinary Fusions

As has been the case since the initial food truck boom, we can expect to see exciting foody fusions and culinary combinations of cuisine coming from the UK street food scene. With people sharing their cooking insights with the world, there’s no limit to the combos we could see soon. 

Where to Learn More?

If you’re eager to learn more about UK street food from an industry perspective, there’s no better place to visit than Street Food Business Expo! This show will feature business exhibitions, seminars, and award ceremonies, dedicated to businesses pushing the boundaries in street food. Rather than focusing entirely on restaurants, this show is about the technology, equipment, and services that allow restaurants to run smoothly – perfect for new arrivals to the industry. 

For more insights, register for FREE tickets today, or visit our blog page now!