London's hottest fast food

As we give up dining out to save on cash, takeaway fast food is cropping up on our weekly menus instead. Domino's Pizza, KFC, Greggs and McDonald's have all reported an increase in trade as our economy hits rock-bottom. Fast food might suddenly feel like a treat, but, if you are going to "order in" you may as well get a treat that is well made and full of flavour. Here are some of the best places to get traditional takeaway in London, without ever crossing the threshold of an American chain.

LIP-SMACKIN' CHICKEN
Papine Jerk Centre
Dragon's Den success Levi Roots's restaurant offers a tastier and healthier alternative to the greasy meat served up at late-night fried chicken shops, a market that still lacks a quality version. His south London restaurants are always packed out.
The cooking: Papine uses coals and a traditional Caribbean drum pan, made from half an oil drum, to get the authentic jerk chicken flavour.
Where: Papine Jerk Centre, 8 Lavender Road, SW11, 020 7924 2288, www.papinejerk.com
Cost: £5 for jerk chicken served with rice and peas or plain rice and a choice of salad or coleslaw.

BEST BURGERS
Haché
This outlet prides itself on being the home of burger connoisseurs by being a little bit innovative with flavours but keeping to the best-quality raw ingredients.
The cooking: Haché uses 100 per cent prime Scotch beef steak and serves the burgers on ciabatta buns with rocket, beef tomato, red onion and home-made mayonnaise.
Where: 24 Inverness Street, NW1, 020 7485 9100; 329-331 Fulham Road, SW10, 020 7823 3515; www.hacheburgers.com
Cost: from £6.50 for an Au Naturel up to £12.50 for a Steak "Le Grand", with a double steak burger and any topping from goat's cheese to guacamole and kidney beans.

FINE FISH AND CHIPS
Fryer's Delight, Fish Bone
Northerners like to believe London is devoid of a decent chippy, but Fryer's Delight in Holborn and Fish Bone near Regent's Park prove them wrong.
The cooking: Fryer's will strike a note with the purists who like everything fried in beef dripping, while Fish Bone cooks the fish to order either grilled or coated in matzo meal and fried in peanut oil.
Where: Fryer's Delight, 19 Theobald's Road, WC1, 020 7405 4114; Fish Bone, 82 Cleveland Sreet, W1, 020 7580 2672
Cost: cod and chips is £5.90 at Fryer's Delight, £4.90/£7.40 at Fish Bone.

PERFECT PIZZA
Franco Manca
The sourdough pizzas get consistently good reviews. The menu is short and simple and at a high of £5.60 the pizzas are outstanding value.
The cooking: the bases are made from a slow-rising (20-hour) sourdough, the ingredients are all organic and the pizzas baked in a wood-burning oven.
Where: 4 Market Row, SW9, 020 7738 3021, www.francomanca.co.uk
Cost: from £3.90 for a tomato, garlic and oregano pizza up to £5.60 with organic chorizo and mozzarella.

PREMIUM PIES
Square Pie, manzes
Modern pie-eaters should opt for Square Pie while traditionalists can sample a bit of old-time London with pie, mash and jellied eels at Manzes.
The cooking: Manzes' pies are baked fresh each day in traditional stone ovens. Square Pie swears by using no artificial additives.
Where: Manzes, 87 Tower Bridge Road, SE1, plus Peckham and Sutton, www.manze.co.uk; Square Pie, Spitalfields Market, E1, and branches across London, www.squarepie.com
Cost: £2.95 for pie and mash and £2.30 for jellied eels at Manzes. £6.99 for a classic pie, mash, peas and gravy at Square Pie.

BEAUTIFUL BURRITOS
Chilango
The doors first opened at the end of 2008 to a rush of hungry City workers. Build your own burrito from chicken, steak, pork or peppers and onion.
The cooking: tortilla chips are made fresh on site, vegetables are sourced from local markets but the best chillies are imported from Mexico.
Where: 142 Fleet Street, EC4, 020 7353 6761, www.chilango.co.uk
Cost: £5.40 for a chicken burrito, £4.90 for vegetarian, £5.90 for steak and pork, plus 80p for a dash of guacamole.

WHOLESOME HOTDOG
Kurz and Lang
The Germans know a thing or two about a hotdog and Kurz and Lang has a wide choice from the simple pork bratwurst to a beef rindwurst or a currywurst.
The cooking: straightforward grilling, cooked to order. The meat is sourced directly from Germany and all the wursts are gluten-free.
Where: 1 St John Street, EC1, 020 7993 2923, www.kurzandlang.com
Cost: £6 for a Classic Wurst-Meal including any wurst, sauerkraut, potato cubes and bread or a roll.