The Best Places for Fast Food in Edinburgh, Scotland

Found on Bristo Place, close to the university, theatres and visitor attractions, Elfalafel serves fresh, halal food made on the premises using family recipes. There’s a daily salad bar with 15 options and 10 sauces to slather over them. The bohemian Arabic takeaway and restaurant is famous for its spinach falafel with natural original spices, but also popular are the burgers, shawarma and kebabs. A midweek lunch, including falafel in pitta, chips and a drink, is just £4.50.

Dirty may be new to the Edinburgh foodie scene, but it’s already earned a stellar reputation among locals. It’s based in the culinary hotspot of Leith and specialises in wagyu burgers loaded with lashings of pickle, bacon, cheese and sauce. It’s not the cheapest option, with a basic Dirty Smash Burger priced at £10, but this is reflective of portion quality and quantity. Pescatarians can opt for a fancy lobster roll with Dirty fries.

Hearty hog roasts are now available at three locations across the city’s tourist trail, due to the success of this local pulled-pork brand. Created by two Berwickshire farmers with a passion for pigs, the first Oink shop launched on Victoria Street in 2008. The menu is simple: pick your size, bread, stuffing and sauce (a medium-size roll is £5.40). Or get your gluten-free hog in a box, minus the bread.

This is where Scottish and Mexican food meet. Fill your wrap with Bonnie Burrito’s signature Irn-Bru pulled pork, haggis, steak, chicken or veggies, add in some Latin sides and choose from mild to fiery sauces (try the Scotch bonnet if you’re feeling bold). Bonnie Burrito’s street-food van has been a landmark of Lauriston Place for half a decade, with two casual restaurants popping up in Gorgie and Newington more recently.

Opened in 1975 by the Crolla family (who are originally from the hilly Italian village of Picinisco), L’Alba D’Oro is located in Edinburgh’s affluent New Town. It was named the best fish and chip shop in the UK by The Times in 2014 and has four stars from the Scottish Tourist Board. Here you can order Cristal champagne alongside your chip supper and select everything from monkfish and pollack to sea bass and halibut (produce comes from local fishmonger George Armstrong’s of Stockbridge). L’Alba D’Oro’s like-for-like prices are competitive with other nearby chippies.

Pizza is a fast-food staple, and at this intimate eatery, it’s served with a dollop of kitsch. Sci-fi lovers will relish the Star Wars/retro gaming theme in the decor and menu. Close to Haymarket Station, the takeaway and restaurant arrived in 2018 and quickly gained a loyal following with its oven creations and friendly service. It’s also a charitable choice, with featured pizza sales matched and donated to homeless and disadvantaged people in the community. Eat for under a tenner, or £5 on weekdays.

Situated in the Old Town close to Waverley Station, this friendly little takeout has been around since the 1980s and has an old-world feel. It offers lots of vegetarian, vegan and allergy-friendly options, with a multitude of cold and hot toppings from which to choose, as well as salads and snacks. A large potato (or tattie, as they’re known in Scotland) with one filling is £6.50 and will set you up for a day of sightseeing.

Catering for those who are hungry and in a hurry, Soul Sushi offers great-value grab-and-go boxes, nigiri, salads, soups, katsu curries, gyoza and poké bowls, all freshly made daily. The multi-award-winning takeaway’s concept of healthy, affordable Japanese food was inspired by the owner’s travels around Australia. For a real bargain, stop by the Newington shop half an hour before closing, when all remaining food in the chiller is sold with 50% off the price.