Roast To Go

The new office keeps bringing me back to Borough Market, which I say is a pretty darned good thing. I’d had a look at Roast to Go on a few occasions, and today I didn’t have enough time to walk around the entire market so I jumped straight in. There was a little queue, but nothing all that bad and they asked what people were ordering ahead of time so they could prepare it.
I ordered the beef with horseradish. I know, I know, everyone rates the pork belly with crackling, but I just don’t like pork belly (make bacon people, it’s better!) and I’ve never liked pork crackling. I was really pleased with my choice — I had a funky bit of fat in the first bite, which was unfortunate, but I was greatly relieved that the rest of it was perfectly fine. Did I say fine? I meant it was really quite good.
The beef wasn’t overcooked, and the horseradish wasn’t insanely strong (i.e. it wasn’t dyed green and called wasabi). But let’s talk bread. This is particularly good here — when I saw it was some sort of baguette-​type thing, I thought it would be more like a French baguette. You know, soft but crunchy on the outside and quite firm with some chew to it. Although this looked like a baguette, that was where the similarity ended, as it was almost like a baguette/​brioche hybrid. It probably has a proper name, but this is the best I can do to describe it.

I had done some research ahead of time and knew about Roast before getting to Borough Market. They have a nice restaurant overlooking the market, but you can get a taste of Roast at their to-​go stand without having to dine-​in, which is what I did. Truth be told, I was trying to find the duck confit sandwich stand, but was unsuccessful since it was sooo crowded and I felt like I was being shuffled down the same aisle over and over again. I probably should’ve looked for it harder though because the sandwich I got at Roast To Go was just okay in my opinion.
I ordered the pork sandwich with crackling and applesauce (£6.50) and I wasn’t that impressed. It was a bit dry and needed more applesauce. They are generous with the pork though so that’s a plus. However, if I ever find myself at Borough Market again, I’ll probably pass on Roast and try a different place for lunch.

Ok, ok, ok. I’m a convert. That crispy pork belly sandwich with Bramley apple sauce is, indeed, the best thing in all the land. All. The. Land.

The pulled pork trend is dead. Along with those pulled puns. Roast to go used to be my default sandwich, a fitting reward for anyone brave enough to Borough through the market (last pun, I swear.) the restaurant upstairs is pretty fantastic, particularly the scallops. But the thing that both propels and constrains each tier of Roast is the very traditional menu. The pork and beef are excellent, but I’d like to see some variation after coming here for years. The quality is a little varied, bare in mind — if you’re going here for a scotch Edd sandwich (you’d be mad not to) make sure you get in early as the yolk gets overcooked by the end of the day.
Massive points for flavour and value for money. Less for excitement and shelf-​life.

The reviews do not lie!!! This sandwich is simple, but delightfully addicting. The pork is cooked perfectly, the crackling is strangely satisfying and the applesauce pairs perfectly with the perfectly cooked pork belly.
Only tip: the over abundance of pork cut in thick chunks can make some bites a bit dry. Ask for extra applesauce on the side and you’ll be in heaven.
You can’t buy drinks at the stall so bring your own!

I recommend a lunch stop @ Roast stand (right near their restaurant) as they have the most amazing Pork and Apple rolls on sale!!! and even have a loyalty card scheme in place for free rolls once you have enough stamps like Café Nero and many other shops do.

The pork belly with crackling and apple sauce is probably one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. The pork belly was in thick chunks (not thin slices) and super tender. Crackling is amazingly addictive.
Beef topside sandwich with with horseradish cream was also amazing! Beef was tender.
Both were a bit pricey at £6.50 but well worth. Speaking as an American tourist of course.

Dear Piggy,
I could not help as I walked on by to do that second glance of that succulent belly of yours. Forgive me as I could not help but drool over that crispy skin. Your soft tender fat melting into your meat. Oh how you rightfully lather yourself in applesauce and squeeze yourself between thin bread. Yes you wear the bread! Not the bread wears you!
Promise me to always remain crispy and tender! I will keep on returning to you for as long as I can.

Trust me– you will never eat a better sandwich. Its between bread & therefore a sandwich, but its actually a spectacular meal. This is Roast to go, the «takeaway» arm of the much praised and highly rated Roast restaurant above it. The kitchen is the same, the quality is the same, and the quality is spectacular. They only do a few things: Topside of beef, rib of beef, pork belly with crackling, «salt» beef, fish fingers and roast chicken. They are all great, BUT HAVE THE PORK BELLY!!! Honestly. Trust me. Awesome bread is slathered with freshly made Bramley applesauce, serious hunks of moist, delicious slow-​roasted pork belly placed therein and all is topped by the most amazing crackling. You will think this is absolutely one of the best things you’ve ever eaten. The beef sandwiches are slathered with horseradish, just the right amount of sharpness and are similarly bountiful and delicious. The roast chicken is aromatic with rosemary, fresh, succulent and delicious. The hot «salt beef» is some of the best corned beef you’ll ever taste. The quality of the fish finger sandwich, with amazing tartar sauce and/​or vinegar will leave you speechless. The sandwiches are about £6, easily big enough for two, and a steal.
They do scotch eggs too for £3; sausage rolls for £1.50; other assorted English delicacies on a rotating basis for similar prices. They do breakfast until 11am: Field Mushroom and Fried Egg Butty (English for sandwich) with huge organic black mushrooms cooked in ridiculously generous thick slices to a special recipe with butter, Worcestershire Sauce and salt and pepper. Utterly delicious, especially with an absolutely genuine farm fresh egg. For £2.50. The Bacon Butty (£2.95) is made with the special recipe bacon cured by Roast’s next door neighbors in the market, Sillfield Farm in Cumbria and you can have it with one of those farm eggs for another 55p. The maple cure is and distinct delicious.
The stand closes at 3pm. If you come close to closing time, you often get all kinds of extras, sometimes an entire sandwich for free. They save nothing cooked for the next day. The lines, especially on weekends can be daunting. But persevere. You will be glad you did. Borough Market is picnic heaven. There are communal tables, a churchyard, and gardens too. Listen to the evocative roar of trains in the distance and workers shouting at each other and tuck in, as the English say. You really should see Borough Market while you’re in London. Its evocative, authentic and beautiful.
See my pictures at

Roast To Go has one of the best sandwiches in the world: the pork belly sandwich with apple sauce. I have reviewed it on the Roast page, I think, but it’s worth mentioning again here JUST HOW AMAZING it is. They hack off a slab of meat & crackling enough to feed 3 people and slap it in a bun and give it to you for a mere £6.50. One of the best value meals in London as well. Split one of these and a Kappacasein cheese sandwich with a friend and you will feel greasily happy for the rest of the day and possibly forever.
ps salt beef sandwich not bad either!

If I find myself at Borough Market, I always have to get a sandwich from Roast to Go. Worth the queue. Dodge the nearby paella peddler and duck confit sandwich stand and line up at Roast to Go.
The pork belly and crackling sandwich is my usual go-​to. Huge chunks of soft, creamy pork belly and crispy crackling on a soft bun with a slather of apple sauce. Fridays and Saturdays they also have rib of beef sandwiches with rocket and horseradish that are equally as delicious. Sometimes I like to change it up and ask them to slather horseradish on my pork belly sandwich instead of applesauce.

This place is delicious! I always get the pork in a roll. The pork is so moist and cooked perfectly. It comes with a nice big chunk of crackle for some delicious crunch. The bread has always been fresh and the apple sauce goes perfectly. It’s simple, delicious and cooked to perfection. There’s really nothing more I can say!

I quickly Unilocaled for something on the South Bank that was near my hotel and RTG was the first thing that came up and had a ton of good reviews. Of course, I felt the need to add my two cents.
You win, Unilocal; you’re right. This place is solid. For £5, you get pork belly with a sheet of cracklings, a smear of apple sauce, and just a little closer to heaven. I don’t even like cracklings but I this was delicious and I didn’t mind fighting the texture to get it past my teeth. My vanity is extreme enough to stop me from going in twice a week if I had the chance, so if you’re thinking about the calories: f*ck em; this sandwich is worth it.

Roast To Go is the takeaway arm of the main Roast restaurant upstairs at Borough Market. I’m a handy cook and I’ve always balked at paying the prices demanded in the main restaurant for, well, a roast, which I can book perfectly capably back home
However, I was prepared to give the takeaway a go though I had usually been put off by the long queues. However, on a recent visit to Borough Market, I spied that there was no one in the queue and quickly nipped in
Once I had looked in the window of the counter holding the meat and saw the crispy crackling surrounding the pork belly joints, there was no need to even think about what to order
It’s a generous portion. The bun is filled with a healthy amount of meat and apple sauce and topped with crackling. The meat had a good hit of rosemary flavour but a little on the dry side, which was a little surprising as I had got to the stall early in the day when the meat should have been freshly cooked and not dried out under the heat lamps yet
Only other shame is that there wasn’t extra crackling when I requested some but then again, everyone would want some, wouldn’t they?

Once you have tried their roasted pork belly sandwich you will make this a fixed destination when in London. Situated in the middle of Borough Marked (Underground station «London Bridge») you find this little gem. It is the marked booth for the upscale restaurant «Roast» that also deserves a try.
If there is any food that can be highly addictive, its their pork belly sandwich. and it should be on your list of 10 things to eat before you die.

So I go at 10:50 and there’s nobody near but the chef.
So I asked if he was open. Yes. But only breakfast fare.
So I asked if that was over in 10 minutes, as lunch began at 11, and he said yes.
And I said I’d return.
And I did return. At 11:05. But I didn’t expect that he’d have gotten ready by then. That’s when he pulled out a giant slab of roast pork, cut a significant piece, pulled out a big bun, slathered it with a funky applesauce, then combined it all and delivered it to my hands. All in maybe 50 seconds?
The result: A pork Torpedo. What an amazingly simple but profound sandwich, There’s so much crackling (fried skin) that it’s almost tough to eat, but I resolved that by tearing off the tough strips and eating them as a side.
Then all your left with is the simple trio of roast pork, soft bread and a delish sauce made from Bramley apples. As I ate mine at a table in the communal park of Borough Market, I saw pangs of jealousy on people’s faces, pure amazement in the eyes of passing children, and I do believe a few Jews and Muslims renounced their faith and headed to Roast To Go.

Swinevana? Porkfection? Piggy happiness?
Definitely pork candy.
As if the Borough Market weren’t wonderful enough, there exists this… this sandwich! Everything that pork should be about. Succulent, tender, with the most tasty, crunchy, salty crackling around the outside. I would take a bath in this pork.
I think this sandwich impregnated me.
The beef is excellent, too, and I enjoyed it. But the pork made me so excited I needed to change undergarments.

The absoute best pork belly sandwich I’ve ever had, and I think I’ve eaten enough pork belly sandwiches in my life to know what’s what. Don’t your dare think about getting this without the cracklin. You’d be a fool, and I don’t know why they even give you the option to ruin your sandwich by skipping it.
If you are at Borough Market and are looking for a great sandwich but aren’t so worried about the health of your arteries, you can’t go wrong here.

Thought I couldn’t possibly handle a pork belly sandwich after a double chorizo sandwich… I was wrong. The porkbelly meat was kind of bland compared to the fatty smoky chorizo I just had, but the cracklings. Oh the cracklings! I still get teary-​eyed thinking about them. In one mouthful, you get the crunch of the crispy outer layer of the skin, chew from the gelatinous underside of the skin (god I love that stickiness), and pure unadulterated porkyness from the fat. Finished all the cracklings, or should I say the cracklings finished me?!
And then I had to take a nap.

A fantastic place for to-​go sandwiches at Borough Market. The pork belly and apple sauce sandwich is AMAZING. The skin was crispy and the pork was oh so very lean and fall-​apart tender. Arguably one of the tastiest (and probably least healthy) sandwiches you can get. It’s perfect for lunch and getting a to go meal enables you to eat while you wander around the extensive food stalls at the market.
They have other sandwiches for sale, but it appeared that everyone in the very long queue went with the pork.