I visited the UK's newest food market that launches today - two stalls were amazing

Market Place Food Hall in Leicester Square will become the largest food market in Central London when it opens today. Last night, I attended its launch to sample the range of 16 global vendors, and I was not disappointed. 

As soon as you walk in, you'll find Bread Ahead serving up doughy pizzas and its trademark doughnuts, alongside fried chicken vendors, tacos, and pad thai. But don't neglect the food spots hidden behind the Bar, offering up spicy jerk chicken wings, sliced tender steak layered atop beefy chips and the infamous Yorkshire burrito.

The 'fish' tacos at Club Mexicana looked so delectable we lined up immediately, but after realising the 'to-fish' meant it was tofu disguised as fish, I was more than dubious.

I shouldn't have been so dismissive - the texture was surprisingly flaky, and while it doesn't compare to the original, I had to admit, the toppings made it tasty and fresh.

The Bread Ahead margarita pizza was a hit; however, the crust took up too much of the slice for me. What I loved is that you can drop into the food market, grab a slice and go, because it's hard to find good quality pizza sold by the slice in England. To show how tasty it looked, a bouncer even jokingly asked for mine when I was taking it one for the road. 

The stars of the show were a duck bao bun served up by Inamo Sukoshi and the Argentine steak by Strip Steak Bar. 

The duck was tender and unctuous, the sauce was rich and sweet, and the bao was fluffy and not too sticky. Everything worked perfectly, and I would have devoured about three in a row if it had been socially acceptable.

Then came the steak. The peppercorn sauce wrapped the steak and chips in a velvety, creamy blanket with a kick. The steak itself was perfectly pink and so tender it practically fell apart in your mouth. The chips were salty and meaty, and this would be my meal of choice if I were to return to the market.  

The one drawback is that the market could become very busy, being slap-bang in central London, but what else would I expect? I think it would be perfect for families with fussy eaters or large groups of friends with different appetites when visiting the capital.

Plus, the first floor's extra seating offers a quiet escape from the bustling food hall downstairs. With the comedy club, Belly Laughs, set to open within the venue, it could be a night out all in itself.

The food hall opens today, December 11, on Leicester Square in London.