A local’s guide to street food spots at Edinburgh Fringe 2025

Alandas is a local legend — starting with fish and chips in East Lothian before becoming one of Edinburgh’s most-loved gelaterias. Their stand outside George Square Gardens features 16 flavours, from classics to the slightly outrageous (whisky caramel, cherry cheesecake, rum & raisin). Cones start at £5, or go big with a triple scoop for £7.50.

What’s the verdict?

We tried three scoops (for research, obviously). The whisky caramel was the standout: warm, malty, and ridiculously moreish. Lemon meringue was unexpectedly nostalgic — think Mr Kipling’s Easter lemon cakes in gelato form. And the Belgian chocolate was smooth, rich and exactly what you hope chocolate ice cream will be. The portion size alone makes this one of the best-value sweet treats. (Find our full review in our Assembly Folk & Food Festival street food guide.)

We could not stay away — we had to go back. This time we went for a two-scoop tub: that irresistible whisky caramel again (still flawless), paired with espresso. The espresso gelato is intense and bold — a gorgeous contrast to the sweetness and subtle smoky depth of the whisky caramel.

…we also tried the Rafaello in a double cup — yes, it’s real! It’s super coconutty, not too sweet, and packed with chewy bits of actual Rafaello.

Alandas are well known for their gelato these days (see above), but fish and chips is their OG—an Edinburgh (East Lothian) institution since 1991. Expect queues all summer long.

This year, Haggis and Chips will set you back just £10. Or you can go super fancy with their soft shell crab burger (£15) or half a freshly caught Eyemouth lobster for £20. Make it a supper (add chips) for another £5.

If we feel a bit fancy during the Fringe, we’ll report back on how the posh options stack up.

What’s the verdict?

We decided to splash out on some food from Alandas other unit on George Street before heading to Footballers’ Wives: The Musical — a cracking 80 minutes of deliciously improper, extravagant, comedic musical fun (review here).

We went for one of the posh options: the soft shell crab burger with chips (£20). It was a genuine wow moment when it arrived — golden crab, legs and all (seriously, check out our picture). The crab was super crunchy, with its natural sweetness shining through beautifully. The sauce brought a lovely smoky depth with just a hint of spice, the perfect complement. A squeeze of lemon tied it all together. We’d recommend it with or without chips.

We also gave their crispy buffalo cauliflower a go — served with chips for £14. The cauliflower smelled incredible and had real richness and depth of flavour.

And we can’t not talk about the chips. These are proper chippy chips, just begging for a sprinkle of salt (which you can add yourself). You also get to choose a sauce — we went for the garlic mayo, and it was shockingly good. So full of flavour we actually went back for more.

Cargo—occupiers of repurposed shipping containers since 2016—serve up burgers, hot dogs, baked potatoes, poutine and more.

This year, you can get a 5oz Angus smash burger for just £10, and fries for £3.50. Over at Cargo Spud, choose your spud and topping—from £7.50 to £10. A proper feed, at a decent price.

As far as we can tell, Panquake only seems to appear in August—so if you want to try them, don’t hang about. This year, savoury options start at £9.50, and a plain lemon crêpe will set you back £7.50.

We hope to try a crêpe sometime soon—check back for our verdict.

Amigos are new to us—they hail from Falkirk. Serving up Mexican street food outside one of the entrances to Assembly George Square Gardens in their brand new turquoise shipping container.

Tacos, quesadillas, and nachos, with beef, chicken or pork. Prices from £11–£14.50.

They weren’t open when we passed by on the opening day of the Assembly’s Folk & Food Festival (before the Fringe kicks off)—we’ll report back if we get the chance to try them.

Edinburgh-based and operating out of a vintage horsebox, Moskito serve up Spanish tapas with a twist. The menu’s eclectic—from patatas bravas or a Spanish chippy, to vegan churros and ice cream.

Neighbour to Moskito, this little bar is serving up red or white sangria by the pint—yes, it comes in pints—for £10.

What’s the verdict?

We went rogue with the Agua de Valencia — orange juice, cava, vodka and gin in a half pint. Slightly sad in a plastic cup… but taste-wise? Very good. Bitter, boozy, refreshing. We’d personally add fizz, fruit, and ruin it completely — but as it stands, it’s a great summer discovery.

Full thoughts in our Assembly Folk & Food guide.

Chick + Pea are back with their world-famous falafel. Their falafel or halloumi pittas are just £10.50, and their hummus plate (also your vegan option) comes in at £10.

Opening day, no queue—so we finally got the chance to try them this year!

What’s the verdict?

We went for the classic falafel pitta: falafel with hummus, crispy fried potato, salad, and spicy zhoug. We had to wait a minute (or five) — they were making it fresh (yay). It tasted it. The falafel were bright green and full of herby flavour. The pitta was excellent — fluffy, flavourful, lightly salted, and held up without turning to mush.

That said, it was a little dry overall. The potatoes and falafel were slightly overcooked, and the zhoug — though tasty — wasn’t the best match. We’d suggest going for one of the wetter, saltier sauces to really bring it together. Still, generous portions and solid value.

Full verdict in our Assembly Folk & Food Festival guide.

It’s pies by Jarvis Pickle! Based in Eyemouth, these award-winning pie-makers (countless British Pie Awards) are a fixture at Edinburgh’s festivals—and regulars in our street food guides. We’re still thinking about that vegan mushroom, chestnut & truffle pie from the Christmas market…

Back at the Fringe with a more substantial stand, they’ve brought a broad menu: go small with fries, a scotch egg or olives from £6, or classic with a pie and side (mash, fries or fancy mushy peas) for £12.50. We’ve got our eye on the Beef Shin and Ox Cheek—watch this space.

We hear Kebabbar are related to Chick + Pea—so do their chicken kebabs come wrapped in that same excellent pitta bread? We certainly hope so. We’re keen to try this out ASAP for that reason alone.

All kebab pittas are £11.50, with vegetarian and vegan options available.

This is your pizza option at the Assembly George Square Gardens. A small menu of wood-fired pizzas starting at £10.

What’s the verdict?

We went for the classic margherita for £10. Just a five-minute wait while it cooked fresh in the wood-fired oven.

The pizza was incredible—layered with flavour. Smoky from the crust, fresh and zingy tomato, creamy mozzarella. It’s what you want pizza to be… and it usually isn’t.

We’d already eaten a lot on day one of the Food Festival, but we demolished this between the two of us—if left us in a sleepy, relaxed, pizza-filled heaven.

After Fringe week one, we did a comparison to our long-term favourite Fringe street food pizza makers, Pizza Geeks. And it looks like Paddle & Peel has stolen their crown — or at worst, is sharing it with the geeks.

This vendor appears out of nowhere each summer. A cute red and white polka dot stand with a simple menu: dumplings or popcorn chicken, £6.50 each.

What’s the verdict?

We’ve been curious for a while — and the very affordable £6.50 price point finally pushed us to give them a go. We ordered both items on the menu, and everything was cooked to order.

The vegetarian dumplings were super crispy and vibrant green, though the filling got a bit lost under the punchy sauces (which we recommend). The popcorn chicken had a great texture but needed more seasoning — it only really came alive when dipped in the dumpling sauces. On its own? A bit underwhelming.

Find our full review in our Assembly Folk & Food Festival street food guide.

We haven’t seen Coop before. Their specialities are fried chicken and lobster (not together).

The smoked lobster roll with herb salad sounds beautiful—but at £18, it’s a lot for street food?

We hadn’t seen Ting Thai before—but as the name suggests, this is beautiful Thai food. Their three mains are pad Thai, massaman curry, and khao mun gai tod, starting at £9.90. A selection of snacks and sides are also available.

To our shame, we’d never visited either of their award-winning Edinburgh eateries (Teviot Place and Lothian Road) before, but that will now change. They won ‘Best Thai Restaurant Scotland’ in 2024 – it was obviously well deserved.

What’s the verdict?

We went for the khao mun gai tod—we didn’t have a clue what it was, but that’s half the fun. It’s battered chicken with ginger, chilli, coconut, cucumber, sauce, and jasmine rice. Sound delicious? It was. Crunchy, sticky chicken with the most flavourful, fresh zingy sauce—ginger, sesame, and gently warming rather than spicy. We’d have happily eaten a bowl of jasmine rice with just that sauce. And at £9.90? Hard to believe it costs so little.

We also tried the bubble prawns—mostly because the name piqued our curiosity. And that’s saying something, because Mrs QR hates prawns (texture = no thanks). These were a revelation. Two skewers of super sweet, super crunchy, succulent prawns—no rubber bouncy balls here. A real wow moment. They came with a sweet chilli and mango dipping sauce that was heady with garlic. Would eat again. A lot. And at £5.50? We can.

We can’t miss out the chap serving us, Rob —super personable, great chat, magnificent moustache and properly friendly. His recommendation? The pork belly massaman. Another reason to go back.

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When we visited during the Assembly Food & Folk Festival, just before the Fringe launched, their slushie machine wasn’t up and running yet. So we came back on a very late Saturday night during the Fringe to give them a try — the Ting’s Mai Thai slushie and the Spicy Margarita, both £8.50.

These were incredible, and total opposites. The Mai Thai is all almond undertones, coconut, and pineapple — pure tropical bliss. It doesn’t taste like alcohol at all, more like the best mocktail you’ve ever had… which makes it dangerously easy to drink. As a lover of anything lime and tequila, the margarita was my (Mrs QR’s) favourite. Punchy, fresh, and vibrant — like your favourite margarita (sans salt), but with a gentle heat that builds. Ting Thai are simply amazing.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or confused by all the food at the festival(s)—stop. Go to Mac Love. It will all be fine.

A festival stalwart, Mac Love brings cheesy joy to your life from £9.50. A top pick for Mrs QR every year.

The name pretty much says it all. Three hot donut (we’ll forgive the American spelling) balls for £5, from a highly mysterious vendor that only appears in August, then vanishes until next year.

What’s the verdict?

We finally did it—we tried the donuts. Three for £5, cooked fresh just for us (yay).

They arrived coated in loads of cinnamon sugar and tasted like the best apple pie. (You absolutely do not need sauce.) Crispy on the outside, fluffy inside. They melt as you eat them—beautiful. 

They even provide forks so you don’t end up wearing the sugar. 

Resident trader at Edinburgh’s Pitt Market in Granton (Thurs–Sun if you’re looking outside of the Fringe), Buffalo Truck are specialists in buttermilk fried chicken burgers. They’re multiple-time winners of the People’s Choice at the Scottish Street Food Awards — enough said, the people have spoken.

This year, they’re offering four chicken burgers, all at £11. Expect buttermilk fried chicken thighs (no dry chicken here!) served in a brioche bun. There’s four choices of sauce and garnish, with options ranging from a classic with black garlic mayo and house pickles, to a honey-chipotle version where you can even choose your spice level.

You’ll also find two types of fries: sea salt (£4) or truffle-parmesan (£5—great value, if you ask us).

The Cubano, or Cuban sandwich, is a pressed sub-style sandwich from Florida (or so the story goes) — roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. We’re picturing this as the less peppery cousin of the pastrami and swiss.

Cubanos are serving three riffs on the classic: the traditional version at £11.50, or a Tampa-style upgrade (£12) that adds crispy salami into the mix. There’s even a vegetarian option with a fresh and fruity twist — mojo jackfruit and pineapple for £11.

It doesn’t stop there: there’s a pared-back kid’s Cubano for £5.50, and gluten-free bread is also available. Cubanos really do think of everything.

Regulars at the Christmas Market, Wholly Waffles are the UK’s first caramel waffle bakery — and they’re bringing this Dutch treat to the Fringe this year. Look for the “Dutch Stroopwafels” sign, then watch in awe as the waffles are pressed and toasted right before your eyes. It’s genuinely mesmerising. A freshly baked waffle is £6.50, with your first topping for £1 (and just 50p for a second).

What’s the verdict?

These were one of our highlights from last year’s Christmas Market (check out our guide here). Watching the team expertly toast the dough to crenellated perfection before slicing and filling it with molten caramel is a mouth-watering delight. The resulting crispy discs might lack the chew of a traditional stroopwafel softened over coffee (the perils of asking this Dutch person their opinion on a stroopwafel…), but they’re still absolutely delicious — especially with Biscoff.

Looks like it’s time to find out how a stroopwafel fares in the ‘blazing glory’ of the Scottish summer!

Carlo’s been running The Peruvian since 2017, driven by a need to recreate the dishes he grew up with. The menu is full of bold, comforting flavours — and a few British Street Food Award wins later, it’s safe to say he’s onto something. A favourite of ours from Edinburgh Street Food (ESF) — check out our guide here.

Famous in Edinburgh for their bold Mexican flavours with a Scottish twist, Bonnie Burrito has landed just north of Bristo Square.

The menu follows a classic build-your-own format: choose regular (£10.50) or large (£12.50), then pick your filling — fajita chicken or peppers, haggis or veggie haggis, or their signature Irn-Bru pulled pork — plus toppings and a sauce (they’ve got a handy spice-level guide too).

Breakfast burritos are available from 10–11am for just £7.50.

And don’t miss the nachos: £2 for plain, £4 for cheesy, or £7.50 for fully loaded. An absolute steal.

Returning for another year, Hawt Dawg remain invisible on the internet — but easy to find at the Fringe (north of George Square, Underbelly side). They’re slinging bratwurst (aka hawt dawgs), burgers and fries.

Bratwursts come loaded with sauce, cheese (unless you go vegan), crispy onions, jalapeños and gherkins. A classic dawg is £9, the vegan version £9.50, and the cheese-stuffed Emmental dawg comes in at £12 (intriguing!).

Burger are pricey. A simple cheeseburger is £10, but their triple cheeseburger hits £15 — steep, especially when Fat Patty’s offer a triple for £11.50…

If the name doesn’t give it away, they’re all about the heat. It looks like the same menu as last year — with their signature salt and chilli chicken and chips for £12.

The rest of the menu is completely vegan and gluten free! There’s katsu kauliflower (£10), katsu curry fries (£7.50), salt & chilli chips (£7.50), or keep it simple with skin-on fries for just £4.

A well-loved Edinburgh name, Slumdog serves up desi-style curries and other delicious-smelling dishes. They’ve got two restaurants in the city, plus a regular street food spot on Little King Street — and now, they’re serving at George Square.

This is a bumper coming out of a tiny unit. There are pakoras from £5.99, three kinds of samosas from £5.73, and chaat (yay!) for £6.25. Chips come every which way — plain, masala, honey chilli, cheesy, curry-sauced, or fully loaded — ranging from £4 to £9.

Curries are the heart of it: £10.99 gets you a portion (with rice or chips) of chana masala, tadka daal, bhuna chicken, butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, korma chicken or dhansak chicken. And if you somehow wanted more, there are wraps for £7.99.

It’s a lot — but it’s Slumdog, so it all sounds (and smells) pretty delicious.

Normally found at Edinburgh Street Food (check out our guide here), the legendary Bundits have headed outdoors — you’ll now find them inside Underbelly’s George Square Gardens.

Bundits do a smashing bao. They’re a resident at ESF (check out our guide here), and we make a point of trying any special they put on. These are handmade buns — and they even flavour them: the beef short rib (£8.25) comes in a fragrant herby bao.

There are three more bao to choose from: whole prawns in a crunchy panko shell with sweet chilli sauce (£7.25 — a dream for this newly converted prawn lover); Korean fried chicken (halal, btw) with Asian slaw (£7.50); and a vegan shiitake mushroom option with carrot pickle, crispy onions, and truffle vegan mayo. If that’s not indulgent, we don’t know what is — and it’s only £7!

They’re also selling their magical tater tots for just £4, with your choice of sauce: gochujang, chilli sauce, roasted garlic mayo, sweet chilli or BBQ. All sauces are vegetarian, and the gochujang and garlic mayo are vegan. We strongly recommend the gochujang — our favourite ESF dish is their cauliflower absolutely smothered in it. It’s everything you want it to be.

Once you have fallen in love, head over to ESF to try that cauliflower. You won’t regret it.

Scottish Street Food Award finalists Soulfull are back for the Fringe — and their attention to detail is immediately clear. Take a proper minute to read their menu (both sides).

Most dishes come layered with hummus, green salad, red cabbage, honey harissa, yoghurt sauce, and homemade courgette pickle — there’s clearly real love here.

You can opt for a Levantine flatbread filled with chicken shawarma, halloumi, vegetarian falafel or vegan falafel — all for £12.50. Or skip the bread and get the same toppings loaded onto fries, also £12.50.

There’s also the souldog in a brioche bun with crispy onions for £9. And we also spotted Cajun fries on offer for £5.

Edinburgh’s go-to fried chicken spot, Chix have a restaurant on Dalry Road and a permanent unit at Edinburgh Street Food (check out our guide here). But for us, it all started at George Square Gardens — where we first stumbled across their chicken tenders and waffle fries one late summer night and fell fully in love.

This year, they’re back with an awesome unit decked out in graffiti art and great lighting — and a menu that’s epic.

You’ve got your fried chicken sandwich (regular or spicy) for just £9. Tendies also come in both varieties for £8. But the real temptation? Their loaded tendies — all yours for just £10. Choose from indulgent flavour combos like Cool Ranch, Cali Bacon, Indonesian, Korean, Sticky Teriyaki, and Garlic Parmesan (which comes with lemon & garlic mayo). Priorities have been set.

And yes, waffle fries are on the menu — from £4 — with extra dips available for £2 if you want to get saucy.

They weren’t lying when they chose the name Chicken & Fries! It’s exactly what’s on offer — and in plenty of tasty variations.

The menu centres around around chicken tender meals — four crispy chicken tenders with fries, ranch dressing, fresh garnish and fries. The only decision? Choose your flavour.

For £12.50, pick from Frank’s OG hot sauce, garlic & parmesan, smoky BBQ, or a veggie/vegan option. Salt & chilli comes in at £13.50 — with Chinese spices and a rich curry sauce.

There are also chicken tender wraps with salad and ranch for £8.50. And if you’re after something simpler, fries start at £5 and standalone tenders are £7.50.

We confess — we were almost too charmed by this cheerful yellow truck to take note of the prices. But here’s the rundown: you get six vegan churros, coated in plain or cinnamon sugar, for £7.50. There are five dipping sauces to choose from — Nutella, Biscoff, pistachio, milk chocolate, or white chocolate — all £1 each. Coffee ranges from £3–£4 for a regular, and tea is £3. A sweet and simple offering.

We’re big fans of Mac Love. In fact, we’d go so far as to say: if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the other choices, lean into the mac — you can’t (and won’t) be disappointed.While there’s no vegan option, there’s still plenty of choice. The signature Mac Love (£9.50) is vegetarian, topped with their indulgent three-cheese sauce, crispy onions, and parmesan. The five other options — all £10.50 — range across bold flavours: Mexican, blue cheese, black pudding, and truffle (thankfully not all at once).

What’s the verdict?

Mac Love is our safe space.

A both informative and ambiguous name all at once.

This is a pricier offering by Fringe standards: three varieties of gyros — chicken, halloumi or both — wrapped in a pita with salad, Greek garlic yoghurt and fries, priced between £12 and £15. There’s also the “Fat Greek” for £15, though we’re not quite sure what sets it apart from the others.

Sides (or snacks depending on your pov) include five halloumi fries with salad and sauce for £8, and seasoned fries (£5).

No vegan or gluten free options available.

Outside the main entrance to Appleton Tower is Stckd Street — a super-shiny trailer with bold pink signage. This vendor is a bit of a mystery: their QR code wouldn’t scan, their Instagram has lots of followers but no images, and the Edinburgh University Students’ Association press release claims they have the best bao buns in the UK. Clearly, there’s a gap in our street food education here.

The menu is, unsurprisingly, centred around bao buns — eight in total, ranging from £8–£9. You can get any bao with chips and a drink for £12.50, which feels like a decent deal. They’ve also got loaded fries and a couple of other sides. Apologies that we didn’t catch more specifics! One thing we did notice: they’re halal, making them only the second vendor we’ve seen at the Fringe with that clearly advertised.

While we can’t speak to the details of the dishes or how they taste, there were some amazing smells coming from here on a very late Saturday night…

Pizza Geeks’ incredible hand-made Neapolitan-inspired pizzas come with a variety of classic toppings, and such names as the ‘The Mario’, and ‘The Chorizard’ – spot the theme? The crusts are to die for, the saucing spectacular.  

Pizza Geeks incredible hand-made Neapolitan-inspired pizzas come in at £10–£12.50 for your own 9-inch personal pizza. The crusts are pillowy perfection, and the sauce is spectacular. Toppings range from classics like The Mario (mozzarella and basil) to bolder picks like The Chorizard — a fiery combo of chorizo and black pudding. Spot the theme?

They also offer sides: two types of fries (from £4) and mac and cheese “bytes” for £6.50. Vegan cheese is available at no extra charge (unless you’re adding vegan pepperoni), and gluten-free bases can be swapped in for an extra £2.

Wondering where they are? Head towards the back and go down all of the stairs. Quest complete, enjoy loot.

What’s the verdict?

We’ve loved Pizza Geeks for years. They were our go-to street food pizza for years – though Paddle & Peel’s delicious wood-fired pizzas means they will hvae to split the crown.

This year, we tried one of Pizza Geek’s sides for the first time — eight mac and cheese bytes for £6.50. Golden, super crispy, with a squidgy centre. We paired them with garlic mayo at first, but the cheese inside is quite mild, so it got a bit lost. All was well once we swapped to the chilli mayo — it’s got a lovely background smokiness that really brings out the flavour of the bytes.

The Dalek bread (£8), sadly, was a little underwhelming. We couldn’t taste any rosemary oil in the base (we honestly wondered if there’d been a dough mix-up). The mozzarella, though, was cracking — oozy and gloriously stretchy. Dipping it into the garlic mayo gave it the flavour boost it was missing without that rosemary hit. Our lesson: don’t overcomplicate your Pizza Geeks order!

The main event for us was the Johnny Blaze pizza at £11.50: that zingy tomato sauce lovely chewy Pizza Geeks crust. The heat level is just right, but what really makes it sing is the red onion — just lovely. It gave us that nostalgic chip shop spicy pizza vibe, only with a much better crust.

Mimi’s are everywhere at the Fringe. A modern Edinburgh institution, Mimi’s began in Leith in 2010 and now has a host of shops and outlets across the city. Back in 2020, Hollywood producers were so charmed by the original café that they picked it to star as Vanessa Hudgens’ dream bakery in The Princess Switch: Switched Again.

At Pleasance Courtyard, you’ll find them tucked away in the Kidzone (just to the right of the main entrances), with a bumper menu of drinks and snacks. They’re offering everything from hot coffee and Eteaket tea to iced lattes, starting at £3.20 for a double espresso. There are savoury bites (crisps, sausage rolls at £4, pies at £5) and a huge array of sweet treats from £3.50 — including scones, pastries, cupcakes, traybakes and brownies. Pro tip: you can get the brownie warm, with cream, and chocolate sauce.

And if that wasn’t enough, they’re also serving up scoops of Lucas, Edinburgh’s best-loved ice creams, for £3.50.

A true Edinburgh success story, Harajuku Kitchen started as a stall at Stockbridge Market and now runs an award-winning restaurant in Bruntsfield (complete with an AA Rosette). They also have multiple street food outposts — including a permanent spot at Edinburgh Street Food (check out our full ESF guide here).

They’re no strangers to the Fringe either. This year’s offering is a focused four-item menu centred around their epic udon noodles — big, chewy, and topped with beansprouts, courgette, carrots, pickled ginger, and spring onions (yum). You can also get five pieces of karaage fried chicken for £8.50, or the noodles served vegan for £9, with tofu for £12, or with KFC for £12.50.

What’s the verdict?

Last year at the Pleasance Courtyard, Mrs QR was basically sustained by Harajuku’s udon noodles with karaage chicken. This year, she introduced Mr QR to the noodles with KFC (Karaage Fried Chicken) — and he was suitably impressed. We even got an extra side of KFC to avoid any fights.

The chicken is wonderfully juicy, with a deliciously crunchy coating — though maybe just a smidge more oil than we’d like. These are flavours you recognise, but in a way you could never quite replicate at home.

The noodles are sesame-soy savoury heaven. The garnishes — grated carrot, courgette slices, pickled ginger — are essential to cut through the richness. The sesame and ginger notes are to die for, deeply moreish, and the whole thing is so umami you could happily eat it for days.

You know they’re popular when there are more than ten batches of noodles lined up on the hot plate — ready and waiting because they know people are going to order.

In 2024, Mint felt like the street food of the Fringe — everywhere you looked, someone had one of their colourful flatbread wraps in hand.

Their menu is simple: za’atar chicken (a fragrant Middle Eastern spice blend with herbs, sesame, and sumac) or their crispy halloumi for £9.50 — or go all in and get both for £11.

What’s the verdict?

Last year, we tried the halloumi flatbread wrap: crispy, salty halloumi with tzatziki, tomato, rocket, pickled cabbage, and a vibrant herby dressing. It was beautifully assembled — though once you get past the photogenic top layer, the filling was a little sparse, leaving things a bit… soggy. Still, the flavours are great, and the halloumi was something to remember.

We’re looking forward to another go this year.

Deliciously simple grilled cheese sandwiches — Total Meltdown are back for their third Fringe. If last year’s anything to go by, you can expect both dairy and vegan options, all served on golden sourdough. Add-ons included chilli jam and carvery ham!

Continually one of the most budget-friendly street food spots, this year’s menu starts at just £6 for either mature cheddar or vegan ‘cheese’. Or it’s £12 if you go all in — say, with the Cubano: a monster melt of cheese, roast pork, carvery ham, gherkins and mustard.

Not only is there an entire vegan menu, but gluten-free bread is also available (outlined by hand on their menu ❤️). We love them for this.

One of the vendors new to us this year — we believe they hail from Portobello — Smash & Stack feels focus on British beef.

An upmarket-burger-van vibe, their four burger options start at £10.50: a classic cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, truffle burger (there’s your upmarket twist), and a halloumi burger. Fries come standard or dressed up with truffle and parmesan.

The meaty, woody, earthy aroma drifting from their unit is seriously tempting — and their sesame pretzel buns look seriously good.

What’s the verdict?

We went for the burger with truffle mayo, parmesan and pickles, served in their sesame pretzel bun for £12. It’s a good size and not super messy. The bun had a lovely salty, nutty flavour. The edges of the burger were beautifully caramalised and crispy — your first and last bites are especially satisfying. We don’t usually like pickles (well, Mr QR doesn’t), but here they were lovely and cut through the richness of the mayo and parmesan.

We weren’t sure about the premium price point going in, but by the end, we were fully convinced. And honestly, we’d buy that truffle mayo by the jar — it’s full of flavour without being overpowering.

Not strictly a food vendor, but worth a mention — they seem to be the only coffee outlet at Pleasance open past 8pm. Coffees start at £3.50, with iced lattes also on offer. In need of a stronger hit? They’ve got Red Bull too, for the same price.

Pastries are available from £3.50, and for true Scottish snack credentials, they also stock Taylors crisps.

So, not strictly street food… MOTH make some of the most delicious cocktails in a can — no skills required, just pop the tab and enjoy. They’re premium and they feel it (you’ll understand as soon as you buy one and hold the can). Mrs QR has sunk more than a few while working in London.

All cocktails are £10, with eight options: classics like Margarita, Piña Colada, Cosmo and Mojito, alongside newer flavours we haven’t seen in our local shops yet — Passionfruit Martini, Spicy Margarita, Espresso Martini and Paloma.

Their bar setup, however, suffers the same issue as last year — it’s so minimal-effort that it often looks closed. It just doesn’t bring that exciting cocktail bar energy…

What’s the verdict?

Our write-up already makes it clear: we’re biased towards MOTH. It’s safe to say we love them.

Scotland’s original “chick in cone” — freshly baked waffle cones filled with buttermilk fried chicken — is an ingenious idea, and we were keen to finally give it a go this year.

£11 gets you one of three chicken-filled cones (each with a different sauce), or a veggie version with crispy cauliflower and Korean BBQ. The same sauce options also feature in their chicken burger lineup, also £11.

Not enough for you? Their loaded fries (£12.50) pile up fries, your choice of chicken or cauliflower, and that saucy goodness. There are also nuggets, fries and a selection of dips.

Special notes: Much of this menu is gluten-free — with the Korean BBQ sauce being the primary exception. The chicken is also halal. Bravo.

What’s the verdict?

We’ve been excited to try some “chick in cone” for a while — they look deliciously awesome. We went for the Cone Thugs n Harmony: small pieces of (theoretically) crispy buttermilk fried chicken coated in Korean BBQ sauce, topped with spring onions, chilli flakes, and black & white toasted sesame seeds. A beautiful sight to behold.

The cone itself is superbly practical for street food — it lets you eat something sticky without becoming a sticky hot mess. And it’s tasty, slightly sweet and a great texture. The garnishes add visual flair and a nice pop of freshness too.

But sadly, the main event, was a let down. The chicken pieces were small, dry and chewy, and lacked the crispiness we’d hoped for. The sauce didn’t have much depth or heat — we didn’t really get any “Korean” from it.

The real issue? The sauce pooled at the bottom of the cone, soaking through the waffle. It quickly became a wet mess — and, in the end, we had to abandon it entirely or risk wearing the vibrant sauce.

Our recommendation, if you’re keen to try a “chick in cone”, ask for less sauce — or better yet, just opt for a burger or loaded fries, which looked like the safer (and less wet) bet.

Returning this year, Naughty Corner Kitchen are one of those enigmatic Fringe street food vendors we can’t ever seem to find anything about online.

They specialise in salt and chilli: chicken (£12.50) or chips (£7.50), with skin-on fries available solo for just £4. You’ll also find dumplings on the menu — pork or veggie — served with a zingy ponzu sauce, all for just £7.50.

Fire Bowl are back for another year at Underbelly’s Bristo Square. This is fluffy rice bowls (£11) where you pick your protein – beef, pork belly, or crispy tofu – and your heat, the sauce, from lime mayo to bulgogi. These bowls do look rather enticing. They also have crispy veg gyoza (£6.50) and fries (from £5) if you’re looking for a smaller tasty snack.

The Kebab Lab are a newcomer to Bristo Square this year — and one of those elusive vendors we can’t track down online (we suspect they’re not the Kebab Lab from Burnley… but who’s to say?). Their pared-back menu centres around toasted flatbreads with salad, garlic and chilli sauce, and your choice of chicken, falafel, or halloumi for £11.50. Sides of chips start at £4.50.

Fat Patty’s has been a fixture at Edinburgh Street Food for a few years now (check out our guide to ESF here), and this Fringe they’ve brought their signature smash burgers to Underbelly’s Bristo Square.

We have to confess… we’ve never actually tried Fat Patty’s. Just stared longingly at their burgers and fries as they’ve gone by. 

Here you can opt for a single, double, or triple smash burger, topping out at £11.50. And especially for the Fringe, they’re offering a £10 lamb smash patty with aubergine relish — which sounds absolutely sublime to us. They’ve also got loaded fries, including their legendary Buffalo Blue for £8.50.Sadly their vegan options are not available here, for that, you’ll need to visit their ESF outlet.

With four locations in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow — plus 64k Instagram followers — Civerinos are doing something right. At their George Square Gardens festival stall, it’s pizza by the slice: from £5.75 for a classic Margherita to £7.50 for “The Civerinos” (think Italian sausage, pepperoni and herbs).

What’s the verdict?

Service was cheerful and the slice arrived quickly. We went for “The Civerinos” — their flagship — which promises Italian sausage, double marinara, pepperoni, rosemary, buffalo mozzarella, and garlic oil. The sausage was tasty and piquant, but the sauce was dry, the pepperoni forgettable. More importantly, the mozzarella was cold and added at the last second — it was not cooked. Maybe the flavours would shine through if it wasn’t lukewarm, but at £7.50, it’s a big price for a slice that didn’t quite land.
Sadly, we just don’t get the hype.

Based in Stirling and set up in 2023, Prime Street Food is the work of chef and trained Scandi baker Scott Gibson — who now makes the kind of food he loves. The focus here is bao buns, tacos, and loaded fries (with a couple of options for each), starting at £12.50. There’s also specialty coffee and baked goods if you’re after a lighter bite.

What’s the verdict?

We ended up here after Civerinos, simply seeking food that was actually hot — and got exactly that. We ordered the Chippy Fries (£5), and they were spot on: crispy outside, soft inside, cooked in beef dripping to order and tossed in salt while still warm. Served by Scott himself, who takes serious pride in even the most straightforward item. If this is the baseline, we’re predicting a very good feed from the rest of the menu.

Established in 2025, Burger Head are new to us — and to the street food scene.

Operating from a cute horse box right in the middle of the action, they offer a straightforward menu of smash burgers (£10.50–£11), fries (from £4.50), and milkshakes (£5.50–£6). A vegan burger and milkshake option is also available, which we always like to see.

Edinburgh Gin is one of Scotland’s best-known craft distilleries, producing award-winning gins since 2010.

In St Andrew Square, their bright blue flowery van is hard to miss — and we were genuinely excited to see it roll up. Mrs QR hadn’t been mad keen on Edinburgh Gin in the past (the liqueurs are too sweet, fine for the occasional prosecco but nothing more). But after doing their tour at their new home in The Arches, we’d changed our minds completely. It was fabulous — lots of different varieties to taste, and we learnt how transformative a clever tonic and garnish pairing is. We bought a job lot of miniatures to take home and continue our experimenting.

What’s the verdict?

Sadly, what’s on offer here doesn’t live up to the brand’s best self. The menu is pared back to three liqueur-based cocktails and a slushie — not a single classic gin and tonic in sight. We ordered two: the Rubi Spritz, made with their signature rhubarb and ginger liqueur, and the Hugo Spritz, featuring elderflower. (We skipped the raspberry option — that liqueur is just so sweet!)

The drinks themselves were…okay. The Rubi needed a proper squeeze of lemon to come alive, while for the Hugo, we removed the mint bush garnish and added a good squeeze of lime. These small tweaks made a big difference — but no one told us that. And that’s really the issue here: there’s no guidance, no care, no sense of helping people get the best from the product. We were also surprised to see them using London Essence tonic, given their gins are intended to be paired with Fevertree. 

This setup lacks the small-batch feel and thoughtfulness we loved at The Arches. And frankly, they badly need to add a proper G&T to the menu. Multiple people asked for one while we sat (it turned out they do have actual gin in there!).

We haven’t seen Wanderers Street Food around before. At this burger joint, you can expect smashed burgers, haggis, and skin-on fries. It sounds like a solid shout for a sunny day in the Gardens. Prices range from £5.50 to £13.

Lebanese street food favourites Lazeez are here in a pared-back dark blue unit, serving their full menu: falafel, halloumi, mezze boxes, rosemary fries and more.

What’s the verdict?

A popular choice among our friends — though we did have a slightly off experience recently at the Assembly Folk & Food Festival. You can read our full verdict here.

A stalwart of the Edinburgh street food scene, Wanderers Kneaded serve up 10-inch personal pizzas from a wood-fired oven. There are five pizzas on the menu (starting at £10), including the classics: margherita, pepperoni (with optional hot honey), and ham & mushroom. There’s also a special Mound edition topped with haggis and a white mushroom pizza that sounds excellent. If the smell is anything to go by, you’re in for a treat.

Of course, there’s no beer garden without beer, so we couldn’t not mention the drinks offering here. There’s a dedicated Lost Orchards cider bar, with apple and dark berry options — plus a cider slush cocktail if you’re feeling experimental. You’ll also find a dedicated Innis & Gunn bar serving their signature Scottish beers, and a larger bar covering everything else.

An honourable mention for one of Edinburgh’s favourite gin makers (sorry, Edinburgh Gin) — Pickering’s call Summerhall home, and they’ve made the most of it, with big signage and plenty of Fringe presence. Their Gin Jolly Tour runs Wednesday to Sunday, with four daily start times from 1:30 to 5:30pm. You’ll get a full G&T, try four gins neat, and take home a miniature — all for just £25.

We haven’t done this tour ourselves, but we did recently do the Edinburgh Gin tour and loved it. And we trust Pickering’s. So no hesitation from us — this sounds like a brilliant Fringe treat. If nothing else, it will set you up for heading back out into the Fringe chaos.

Ròst have a menu for real foodies. Sure, there are some street food staples — fried chicken burgers (£12), loaded fries with smoked brisket (£13 and gluten free), and even a posh hot dog with sauerkraut (£11).

But their vegan option is one of the standouts: crispy pierogi (Polish dumplings) stuffed with vegetarian haggis and served with a plum and chilli sauce — all for just £9. Another highlight? Crayfish tails with skin-on fries, paprika mayo and lime (£11), which is also gluten free. Not many street food vendors are offering dishes like this.

Looking for a snack or a side? Skin-on fries are £5 with salt and oregano, or £7 with cheese.

Not strictly street food — but since they’re putting on pizzas especially for the Fringe, it would be madness not to mention it!

The menu starts with a classic margherita for £11.50 (also available vegan). Their pepperoni (£12.50) comes with a twist: a maple sriracha drizzle. At the same price, you’ll find the roasted peppers and pesto option — another one you can get vegan, and it sounds like a proper summer winner to us.

And then there’s the wildcard: the Rad Pizza, their weekly special, for £14.50. A high price point, but we’ll reserve judgment since we don’t know what’s on it.

Fries are from £6.

A classic burger van setup — though we’ll say this, the smell was most excellent.

A double cheeseburger with all the trimmings in a brioche bun comes in at £12. There’s also a crispy chicken version for £11, or a vegan burger with spicy mayo for £10.

Fries are £4.50, or £6.50 with cheese — or go all in with their Smash Fries (with cheese) for £9.50. There’s also a lovely kids’ option: chicken goujons and fries for just £7.

One of our ESF favourites, SoftCore (check out our ESF guide here) have popped up at the Circus Hub in collaboration with Soft Serve Cartel — and the result is a seriously tempting soft serve offering.

Flavours include vanilla and/or chocolate, pistachio and/or strawberry, and vanilla and/or pineapple. Pick your pairing, choose tub or cone, and you’re in for £5.50. Add-ons include sauces and toppings like cookie chunks, crushed meringue and freeze-dried strawberries

What’s the verdict?

We love SoftCore (again, see our gushing in the ESF guide). This time we went for vanilla and pineapple with caramel sauce. As always, the ice cream was cracking — the pineapple especially was a standout: rich, sweet and tangy with something of a roasted vibe to it. The cone, of course, was crunchy and delicious.

But… that caramel sauce. While the flavour was a little off, the real issue was the mess. It dripped down our hands, into our nails, onto our clothes and even into our shoes. It was everywhere. And even after several wet wipes, the stickiness stuck around. It was a warm day (Edinburgh’s 20°C counts!), which no doubt made things worse — but unless you’re fully committed, we’d say skip the sauce or go for a tub. (Unless you have some kind of sticky sauce fetish — no judgement.)

We’re willing to admit this isn’t strictly street food — but the breadth and detail of Uplands Roast’s menu means they absolutely deserve a mention. This is Vietnamese specialty coffee… plus some other serious deliciousness.

Standouts include their proper hot chocolate (£4.80), made with real Belgian chocolate and topped with marshmallows — vegan version available! Their mocha also uses Belgian chocolate and their signature Vietnamese coffee base. Or try the Vietnamese iced coffee (£4): double espresso sweetened with condensed milk.

And get this — no extra charge for alternative milks. You’ve got whole, semi-skimmed, oat, almond, coconut and soy all on offer.

Classic coffees are available too, and they’ve got an extensive tea selection for just £2.80. If that’s not enough to tempt you, they also sell baked goods… so yes, we’re counting them as a street food vendor after all.

A shiny silver van you can’t miss — and one of the best value food spots at the Fringe this year. Gourmet sausage rolls are just £4 each, or grab any 3 for £10. Absolute bargain.

They’ve also got chips for £3, or a sausage roll and chips meal deal for £6. And for dessert? Luca’s ice cream for just £3.

Not a street food vendor, no — but they’re nestled among a bunch, and their adorable tiki setup more than earns them a spot in our guide. Expect classic cocktail slushies like piña colada and strawberry margarita, perfect for a Fringe cool-down. They’ve also got classic cocktails and sharers (starting at £50) — definitely on the pricey side, but they do sound pretty epic, pornstar skull anyone?

We pass their Little King Street spot all the time — and it’s by far our most-purchased street food item ever. At £6 for a giant, delicious arancini, you really can’t lose.

A permanent fixture on Little King Street, we’ve also spotted multiple Lazeed stands popping up across the city—their baby blue trailers are unmissable, and very popular among our friends and acquaintances. Known for their Lebanese street food, they serve up falafel, halloumi, mezzes boxes and more.

What’s the verdict?

We’re fans of Lazeez, so we thought it would be a safe bet to snack on their rosemary fries while figuring out our plan of attack for our first afternoon at the Assembly Folk & Food Festival in July.

For £5, you get rosemary fries with a chilli sauce and a garlic sauce. The smell was strong and delicious—proper rosemary aromatics.

But we were a little disappointed. They needed salt, and despite being cooked to order, the batch was uneven—some fries were piping hot and tasty, others lukewarm and not fully cooked through. The rest of the menu is definitely a safer bet. So, maybe skip the fries?

Consistently popular local purveyors of desi-style curries and other delicious-smelling dishes. Consistently busy, though we’ve yet to break the Cala Cala spell and head to their kiosk!

Some of the best bao buns in the UK? Apparently so. As with Slumdog, we’ve never managed to break the Cala Cala spell long enough to try them…

At the top of Middle Meadow Walk, on Lauriston Place, you’ll find Tupiniquim — a green converted police box that’s been serving up gluten-free Brazilian flavours since 2010.

Their legendary savoury and sweet crepes are made fresh to order, with prices starting at £8 for the “fake pizza” — mozzarella, herb-rich tomato sauce, and fresh basil. On the premium end, there’s the steak pancake (£14.20), stuffed with slow-cooked pulled beef brisket, onions, tomatoes, spinach, and mozzarella. Sweet crepes range from £6 to £9.80, and if Banoffee Baileys doesn’t catch your eye, we don’t know what will…

New to the menu: gluten-free waffles! There’s a savoury tapioca cheese bread waffle (£7), and six sweet ones, including a Cranachan-inspired flavour. Yes, really.

Tupiniquim is all about fresh, natural ingredients and joyful cooking. Watch your food being made or take a quiet moment in their small seating area. A little taste of Brazil — and a proper self-care treat.

What’s the verdict?

Mrs QR has been a fan of Tupiniquim for years — it used to be her go-to post-orthodontist treat. Most recently, we tried the Pumpkin a la Papai (£11.80): roasted butternut squash and sweet potato, with tomatoes, spinach, avocado, and plenty of stretchy mozzarella. The crepe itself is always a highlight — soft with a slight crisp, folded into a perfect pocket that holds all that generous filling together beautifully. So much flavour — warm, comforting, and fresh all at once.