There’s something about street food. Delicious, top-quality food, but without the fuss and formality of sitting down to a meal in a fully-fledged restaurant. We’ve gathered a list of what we consider to be the best food vans and stalls in the city, from burgers to bao, which prove that food served out of a truck is every bit as good as food served under a roof.

For something other than the classic pizza-burger-burrito street food fare, try The Bowler’s incredible meatballs. Founded in 2011, their menu offers the ultimate selection of meatballs and vegballs – beef, chicken, pork, lamb, or chickpea, spinach, ricotta, black bean and chipotle – you won’t be spilt for choice.

They also serve up some superb sides and breads  – pittas, brioche and potato buns, sliders and subs. You’ll have to track them down on their website – their distinctive van can be found across various festivals, markets and can even be hired!

Head over to The Bowler  to find all their trading locations

A gyoza-centric food truck founded in 2012 by husband and wife duo Ben and Xochi, Rainbo now serves it’s incredible Japanese food across its three permanent sites at Boxpark Shoreditch, Spitalfields Market and Canary Wharf, as well as from its food truck which can be found at festivals and markets across the city.

Their servings, ranging from bao buns to dumplings to katsu, are fresh and delicious; they also do mouth-watering Japanese Fried Chicken.

Find Rainbo at Boxpark, Shoreditch, E1 6GY, Spitalfields Market, Lamb Street, E1 6EA, or Wharf Kitchen, Canary Wharf, E14 5NY

For ribs cooked right in the market, head to The Rib Man. Rib meat rolls go for £7 and backs from £8, and they are both top quality and absolutely delicious.

Try also their incredible selections of sauces to take home. Make sure to get there on a Sunday before they sell out – which happens quickly!

Find The Rib Man at Brick Lane Market

Not technically food trucks, but nonetheless incredible street food found at some of the city’s best street food markets. Black Bear Burger now have two sit-in locations – a shipping container at Boxpark Shoreditch, and a restaurant in Brixton Village.

Their burgers, of course, are the showstoppers – the classic Black Bear Burger sports a beef patty, cheese, bacon, onion jam and garlic mayo, and they also have incredible fried chicken, brisket or vegan options. The sides are also super – brisket spring rolls, chicken nuggets, wings.

Find Black Bear Burger at 11-13A Market Row, Brixton, SW9 8LB, or 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, Hackney, E1 6GY

Air-dried Wagu beef is not something you might expect to see atop a humble slice of pizza, but Homeslice has ventured there, keeping it company with truffle crème fraiche, cipollini onions and salsa verde.

We told you this place was fancy. Other pizzas on their menu feature spiced lamb, savoy cabbage, sumac yogurt and pickled Spanish chillies, or the ‘You Goat’a Be Kidding Me?’ which sports goat salami by Cobble Lane Cured, Goats Curd, BBQ Burnt onions with soy and chilli, fresh mint and pesto.

But while their toppings are daring and bold, Homeslice is far from pretentious; you can order a slice of their top three pizzas for just £4 or £5, with other flavours going at around £22-30 for the whole pie, which could easily serve 2 or 3 people.

Pizza at its core is a simple concept – dough, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese combining to make a glorious invention that has lasted centuries.

So why dress it up in a fancy restaurant with knives and forks? Sud Italia serves pizza as good as any restaurant’s out of its several mobile food vans, complete with wood-burning ovens, and it does not disappoint.

With six staple slices on the menu, you can’t go wrong – but we recommend the ‘Ndjuja pizza topped with spicy pork sausages and onions. All ingredients are imported directly from Italy for a fresh, authentic taste.