Oink is Edinburgh's undisputed king of the hog roast roll — a tiny shop on Hanover Street where slow-roasted pork is carved in the window and stuffed into rolls with crackling, apple sauce, and haggis. It's fast, cheap, and unapologetically messy. You'll see a queue at lunch, and it's worth every minute.
Whole pigs roast in the window and land in a roll with crackling, apple sauce, and haggis for under £7 — Edinburgh's most satisfying cheap lunch.
Arrive before noon or after 2pm to skip the lunchtime queue that often stretches down the street — they open at 11am and close at 5pm sharp.
Edinburgh's best hog roast roll — cheap, fast, and addictive
Oink does one thing and does it exceptionally well: hog roast rolls. The Hanover Street branch is a small, no-frills shop where you can watch whole pigs slowly turning in the window — a sight that pulls you in from across the street. The menu is simple: choose your size (small, regular, or large), pick your toppings (crackling, apple sauce, haggis, or all three), and you're handed a roll stuffed with generous, juicy pulled pork in under a minute. The crackling is the star — salty, crunchy, and addictive. Add haggis if you want the full Scottish experience; it sounds odd but works brilliantly with the pork.
At around £5-7 for a roll, it's one of the best-value lunches in the city centre. The queue at peak lunchtime can stretch down the street, but it moves fast — the staff are efficient and used to the rush. The rolls are messy to eat (embrace it), and there's minimal seating, so most people take theirs and find a spot on Princes Street Gardens or a nearby bench. Open 11am to 5pm daily, which means you can grab an early lunch or a late afternoon snack. If you're visiting Edinburgh, skip the overpriced pub lunches and come here instead. Locals know this is the best cheap eat in New Town.