By Amy Glasgow @theglasgowdiet
We’re extremely lucky in Glasgow that in the West End alone, there are so many incredible eateries to choose from. So much so that actually choosing where to dine can be quite overwhelming. Which ones are good? Which ones will let you down? I’m here to help! Each month, I’ll bring you my top five spots for a specific category or type of cuisine. Now that some of us have started returning to the office, even if only occasionally, we don’t always have time to prep lunch in advance, besides, sometimes you want a treat, right? Here are my favourite spots to grab a delicious lunch on the go.
This hole in the wall bakery might be known for its freshly baked bread and cakes, but it also runs daily house-made sandwiches that make for an incredible midweek lunch. You can pre-order via their website, or you can pop in and see what’s available on the day.
If you’re looking for something simple, there’s almost always fresh sausage rolls, like BBQ pork and cheddar, pork and gochujang, or even kurrywurst. If you’re more in the mood for a sandwich, you are in for a treat. Made with their own focaccia, the fillings change regularly, but you’ll often find their turkey sandwich on offer. A focaccia filled with house roast turkey, mortadella, Napoli salami, bacon mayo, tomatoes, house pickles, red onion, Swiss cheese, shredded lettuce and house ranch. I mean… need I say more?!
If you’re in the mood for something a little bit lighter, my go-to would have to be Sushi Riot. Located on Clarence Drive, this family-run sushi spot makes all their sushi fresh every morning from the highest quality seafood.
You’ll find all the classics like salmon or tuna nigiri, maki rolls and plenty of vegetarian options too. One of my new discoveries and obsessions is their Inari, or beancurd nigiri. It’s a great balance of sweet and savoury – best enjoyed with some pickled ginger. Although I think my personal favourite would have to be the Dynamite or the Spicy Chicken Maki.
As well as sushi, they offer a range of house made Japanese snacks like chicken yakitori, chicken karaage, edamame, seaweed salad and more. The staff there are wonderful too – if there’s something you’re after that is not on the shelves, let them know and, if they have the ingredients, they’ll make it up fresh on the spot for you.
The new kid on the block, Homemade is already making a name for itself with its incredible, and HUGE, sandwiches. The menu is small but mighty, with just a few sandwich options to choose from, each as mouth-watering as the last.
Take, for example, the aptly named ‘The One with the Pear’ – balsamic pear, rocket, fresh mozzarella, fried crispy chicken, Parma ham and a chilli honey drizzle all inside a toasted baguette.
There are often specials on the menu as well. Just last week, a new sandwich was added to the menu to reflect the rare sunny skies! Rare roast beef, lime mayo, rocket and house made chimichurri on a toasted baguette. If that doesn’t say summer, I don’t know what does!
In the mood for a taste of Greece? Then I strongly suggest you head to Kelvin Way and get yourself a gyro from MacTassos food truck. A bit of a Glasgow institution these days, the MacTassos team have been flinging out super delicious and budget friendly Greek gyros for years now, and it’s not hard to see why they’ve been such a success. I think it’s a good sign as well that almost every time I visit the West End spot, there are quite a few Greek students queuing up to grab their lunch too.
In case you didn’t know, gyros are a popular Greek street food consisting of a Greek pita bread filled with marinated and grilled chicken and/or pork, fresh tomato, red onion, tzatziki and fries. They are absolutely delicious and make such a great on-the-go lunch. Plus, they are only £4.90 per gyro, and let me tell you, the portion sizes are HUGE. It is such good value for money and I guarantee you won’t be left hungry.
My go-to is the mixed gyro, which is a mixture of pork and chicken, and I always treat myself by adding some grilled halloumi for £1. When in Greece, right?!
This Italian deli is quickly making a name for itself in Glasgow for its incredible produce, stunning cakes, and selection of grab-and-go lunch options. There are both veggie and meat options in sandwich and salad form, from panzanella to classic caprese salads.
My top choice has to be the chicken, n’duja and chilli cheese toastie. To be honest, anything with n’duja in it automatically gets my vote! If you’re not a fan of the heat though, you can opt for the cooling roast chicken, basil pesto, rocket and mozzarella sandwich.
While you’re in the deli, you should definitely grab yourself something sweet too. There are a range of cannoli flavours on offer as well as patisserie items, dessert pots and fresh pastries. The Sfogliatella would be my top pick – layers of crisp pastry filled with either lemon, white chocolate, dark chocolate or pistachio. Yes please!
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