Edinburgh is a city where history, culture, and culinary innovation combine to create a dynamic street food scene. This includes traditional Scottish dishes like fresh seafood and haggis to global flavors that have found a new home in Edinburgh.

With such a rich tapestry of culinary experiences, there are tons of great street foods to plan for on your next Edinburgh food tour.

Culinary Experiences in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s street food scene offers a delightful fusion of traditional Scottish fare and innovative international flavors to create a truly unique culinary destination. Local food vendors offer more than just classics like haggis, deep-fried delights, and fish and chips. There are also tons of other creative dishes from all around the world.

This includes things like locally sourced seafood tacos, and Edinburgh’s street food trucks offering fried delights. Some of the city’s best restaurants offer takeout street food experiences to include in a walking tour.

Edinburgh also has communal dining areas that let you enjoy a wide range of foods. Bonnie & Wild is an international food hall that lets you sample flavors from all around the world. Meanwhile, the lively Granton Promenade offers a laid-back atmosphere for enjoying street food while taking in the views of Edinburgh’s waterfront.

Best Street Food Markets in Edinburgh

If you’re asking yourself “where can I find the best street food in Edinburgh?” You’ll likely find the answer at one of the following.

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Photo credit: The Pitt Market

The Pitt Market in Edinburgh’s Leith area is a lively hub for food trucks, craft beer, and live music. This vibrant street food market typically only operates on weekends and special occasions where it transforms an industrial yard into a bustling hot spot with hungry, thirsty locals and tourists.  

Signature foods at the Pitt vary as vendors rotate. Some of the more common, popular dishes you often find include halloumi fries, steak frites, and gyoza, each prepared fresh on-site. 

Stockbridge Market is a vibrant weekly experience offering a diverse array of local produce, artisanal foods, and handcrafted goods. It’s typically open on Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm. So, you do have to plan your itinerary accordingly, but the effort is well worth it.  

Signature foods you’ll often find at Stockbridge Market often include freshly baked bread, gourmet cheeses, and an assortment of international street foods. This includes popular favorites like sweet potato rosti and handmade dumplings.

Bonnie_&_Wild_Edinburgh

Photo credit: Bonnie & Wild

Bonnie & Wild in the heart of Edinburgh’s St. James Quarter, is Scotland’s first food hall, offering a bold range of international dishes. It brings together a collection of Scotland’s finest food vendors under one roof, giving you the chance to try local delicacies and international dishes in one communal area.

Leith Market is a bustling farmers’ market that operates every Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. The first Saturday of each month features a ‘Vegan Quarter,’ highlighting vegan-friendly products alongside the usual lineup. It’s at Dock Place which provides a picturesque backdrop while you shop through the staggering array of fresh produce, street foods, and handcrafted goods.

The vendors at Leith Market are very friendly, as the whole place has a community-oriented vibe. There are tons of amazing international street food vendors offering Indian, Japanese, French, and Scottish foods. It’s also a great place to buy fresh fish, meats, bread, vegetables, fruits, and cheeses, that you can cook with back in your vacation rental kitchen. 

Must-Try Street Food in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is full of great street foods, sweet treats, and savory specialties you can enjoy while touring this historic city.

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Fish and chips is the classic Edinburgh street food that everyone should try at least once or twice. Some chip shops serve it the traditional way, with deep-fried cod or haddock, along with a generous portion of French fries.

Just note that the classic condiments here are vinegar and mayonnaise. Ketchup is rarely seen in Edinburgh chip shops. If you have some white bread and leftover French fries, you could make yourself a “chip butty” sandwich like the locals do.

plate_of_scotch_eggs_Edinburgh

Scotch eggs a generation ago were seen as a low-class peasant food. However, it has been reinvented as a tasty street food served throughout Edinburgh. It’s essentially a hardboiled egg, enrobed in spiced sausage meat, then lightly breaded and fried. You sometimes see them as appetizers or pub fare, or a protein-rich street food you can enjoy on a walking tour.

person_eating_macaroni_pie_Edinburgh

Macaroni pie is a lot like American homestyle macaroni and cheese. Except it’s baked into a pastry shell that’s reminiscent of a British pork pie. This makes it easy to eat out of hand for times when you’re looking for a convenient, belly-filling street food with a taste of home.

There are also many global dishes scattered throughout Edinburgh’s street food scene. This includes things like Asian-style soup dumplings, tacos, and pizza. They’re a great opportunity to sample the cuisine of other countries in the middle of a Scottish vacation.

plate_of_haggis_bonbons_Edinburgh

Haggis bonbons are an increasingly popular way to introduce people to a taste of one of Edinburgh’s most iconic dishes. They’re bite-size and usually deep-fried, which makes them tasty and easy to eat on the go.

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Burgers are scattered throughout Edinburgh from homogenized chain restaurants to gourmet meat patties adorned with Scottish toppings. They’re a chance to sink your teeth into the comfort food flavors of home, while you’re on the go.

tacos_and_burritos_Edinburgh

Tacos and burritos with American Tex-Mex flair have started showing up in Edinburgh. Many times, vendors will reimagine them with Scottish twists and local ingredients that will give you a new understanding of what Mexican cuisine can be.

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Stovies are a mix of potatoes, onions, and meat, to create a hearty comforting street food. It’s the sort of thing you look forward to on a walking tour of Edinburgh on a crisp day.

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Cullen skink is a rich, creamy smoked haddock soup that used to be more common pub fare. These days vendors and pubs with takeout offer it reimagined as a street food in an insulated disposable cup. 

Sweet Treats from Edinburgh’s Street Food Scene

Edinburgh’s street food scene isn’t all hearty savory dishes, there are tons of sweet treats and desserts that can fit perfectly into a culinary food tour.

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Tablet is made with butter and condensed milk. This gives you a tan candy with a velvet grain similar to fudge without any sort of chocolate component. 

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Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert made from raspberries and toasted oats, then topped with fresh whipped cream.  Sometimes it’s infused with a touch of scotch whiskey. Edinburgh’s street vendors are famously known for offering it in generous portion sizes.

deep_fried_mars_bars_Edinburgh

Deep-fried Mars bars are a somewhat recent trend that chip shops offer as a tasty street food dessert. It’s the sort of thing you want extra napkins for to keep the melted chocolate from staining your clothes.

bowl_of_churros_Edinburgh

Churros have also made their way from the Spanish-speaking world to the street food scene of Edinburgh. They’re great for eating out of hand on a walking tour, or dunking when you’re sitting in a food hall. 

Tips for Enjoying Edinburgh’s Street Food

Timing is important when trying to make the most out of Edinburgh’s street food scene. Many popular markets like Stockbridge Market and The Pitt Market are most lively during weekends or have limited hours on the weekdays. Showing up early helps avoid big crowds and lets you enjoy the freshly made dishes.

Social media can also help you discover hidden gems in Edinburgh’s street food scene. Many vendors announce pop-ups, special dishes, and micro-events through Instagram and Facebook. So, following them can lead you to some of the city’s best-kept culinary secrets.

Scheduling a food tour is also a great way to get a quick taste of what’s best in the city. Eating Europe has local guides in Edinburgh that can help you find the best street food and secret gems. They help you understand the history and the constantly evolving food scene so you can hit the ground running as you explore Edinburgh’s cuisine.

Sources:

Eating Europe. (n.d.). Sicilian cheese. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/sicilian-cheese/

Eating Europe. (n.d.). Palermo. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/palermo/

Eating Europe. (n.d.). Sicilian appetizers. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/sicilian-appetizers/

Eating Europe. (n.d.). Sicilian food. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/blog/sicilian-food/

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