Now that I have been in London for almost 2 months, I have a much better idea of the Meal Deal offers at many of the major stores and can give a rundown of each offer:
Tesco 2 pounds – Cheapest of the Meal Deals, but what is included in the meal deal is limited. Sandwiches are minimal, but pastas are decently filling if not satisfying. Decent selection of sides/drinks as long as they do not run out.
Sainsburys 3 pounds – Better sandwich selection/quality than Tesco; it is kind of the midrange for Meal Deals. Selection for side, however, is maybe even more limited than Tesco. Also baguettes and wraps not included in the Deal.
Boots 3.79 pounds – The best value of all the Meal Deals, albeit the most expensive. Can choose any drink, side, and main from the shelf. This means that if you get an Innocent fruit smoothie (1.95 lbs), a good sandwich or salad (2.80) lbs and your choice of side (yogurt, carrot sticks, fruit pack, carrot cake, etc.) you save almost 2 pounds with the Meal Deal. Definitely a quality/quantity issue here – you could almost buy 2 Tesco Meal Deals instead if you are willing to sacrifice your taste buds.
Subway 2.29 pounds for the Sub of the Day – Sub of the Day is usually a good lunch option as well. Some of the Sub of the Days aren’t very good so you have to know what day to get it. I personally prefer Wednesdays (Turkey and Ham) and Thursdays (Italian BMT). The good thing is you can choose what you want in it. I usually find myself paying an addition 2 pounds to make it a footlong when I don’t eat breakfast.
There are countless other options for eating inexpensively in London that aren’t meal deals – Pret a Manger, Eat, Sticklers (actually I think they have a meal deal), Greggs, Wasabi, Food and Wine stores, etc, but meal deals offer good value as they include a drink and a side that would normally cost at least a little more if bought individually. You may have to indulge once in a while though – after eating a few of these meal deals consecutively, you will most likely get to the point where you NEED something of higher quality.
