Which Are The Most Affordable Restaurants In Melbourne?

Eating out every meal can get expensive, especially if you're a student in Melbourne on a tight budget.

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From breakfast to dinner in Melbourne, you may choose from a wide variety of cuisines.

Don't eat any more instant ramen. Melbourne may be one of the world's most expensive cities, but it's easy to find cheap restaurants if you know where to search.

Here are some of our go-to low-cost options to help stretch your dollar further. Gozleme, bagels, gyoza, falafel, and more are all available for your dining pleasure.

Top 22 Affordable Yet Delicious Gems In Melbourne

If you're like me and find that your schedule does not, unfortunately, accommodate the Melbourne Sunday Brunching Tradition (or, more accurately, your wallet does not), and you're running out of reasons to tell your friends why you can't come out and eat an acai bowl that costs $20 – look no further.

We have produced a list of the Top best budget restaurants in Melbourne; these are restaurants that do not compromise on taste despite their low prices. In the long run, your savings account will be grateful to you for this decision.

Yamato Japanese

Yamato Japanese is a traditional Japanese eatery tucked into a quiet corner of Chinatown.

This little eatery has all the hallmarks of a traditional Japanese izakaya, from the cute decor to the cheerful Japanese servers who speak perfect English and the aroma of wonderful greasy bar food wafting through the air. Everybody's favourite sushi rolls, as well as curry rice bowls and ramen, are on the menu, along with a lot of other options.

Indulging in some Shabu Shabu (A$15.80/pp) from this cosy restaurant is a terrific way to warm yourself on a chilly Melbourne day.

• 28 Corrs Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
• Mon to Thur: 11.30 am – 2.30 pm, 5 pm – 10.30 pm
• Fri: 11 am – 2.30 pm, 5 pm – 10.30 pm
• Sat and Sun: 5 pm – 10.30 pm

Little Rogue

This small café is similarly hidden away in an alley outside Melbourne Central. It is a hidden gem that many people only learn about through word-of-mouth referrals. Despite its proximity to the ever-busy Swanston Street, Little Rogue offers a respite from the city's bustle.

The Matcha Latte (small for A$4.30, big for A$6) and Iced Matcha (A$6.50), which are also available in a large takeaway bottle for pleasure in the comfort of your own private space, are popular among its young visitors.

It's easy to see why these are popular because they're not excessively sweet, allowing the fresh bitter and earthy flavour of the matcha to shine through. Begin your weekend right with a coffee and a cake combo.

• 12 Drewery Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
• Mon to Fri: 7.30 am – 6 pm
• Sat and Sun: 9 am – 6 pm

Sushi Hotaru

A lot of busy Melburnians grab some sushi for lunch. If you're looking for a place in Melbourne to get the popular Japanese food on a conveyor belt, Sushi Hotaru is one of the few options.

If you're sick of the same old hand rolls, Sushi Hotaru is a local favourite because of its straightforward ordering system, sushi train, and affordable fare.

• Midcity Arcade, 118/200 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
• Mon to Sun: 11.30 am to 10 pm

Brown Bagels

Brown Bagels are a fun, low-stress option for breakfast or lunch.

For breakfast, you can get a pastry and a cup of coffee, or you can try one of their gourmet bagel sandwiches, some of which have a Korean touch.

• 25 Equitable Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
• Mon to Fri: 7.30 am – 3.30 pm

Dodge Padang

Dodee Padang, a laid-back Thai restaurant located directly next to Brown Bagels, is a popular hangout for nearby college and office students and workers.

The road outside is a poor choice for seating; instead, go down the stairs to a more spacious location. Pad Thai with Chicken (A$10.90) and Pad See Ew with Beef (A$10.90) are two of the most popular items on the menu, but they also provide a variety of noodle dishes that may be customised in a number of ways, including the type of noodle used and the level of heat.

• 353 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
• Mon to Sun: 6.30 am – 1 am

Cj Lunch Bar

The unpretentious CJ Lunch Bar can be found right on the busy Hardware Lane, and it's known for its affordable and hearty Korean lunch specialities, including dons and Bentos.

Cheese Chicken Bulgogi (A$17.50) is a crowd pleaser and features a mountain of chicken marinated in spicy Korean sauce.

• 391 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
• Mon: 11.30 m – 10 pm
• Tues to Sat: 11.30 am – 9 pm
• Sun: Closed

Roule Galette

Roule Galette, a quaint French creperie, is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Flinders Lane, not far from the world-famous Flinders Street Station.

When you walk into the creperie, you can choose to sit outside or in the warm and welcoming interior, where you can watch the cooks make crepes to the melody of French songs. The crepes are warm, delightfully soft and crispy and come in both sweet and savoury varieties.

• 237-241 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
• Mon to Thur: 7.30 am – 8 pm
• Fri: 7.30 am – 9.30 pm
• Sat: 9 am – 8 pm
• Sun: 9 am – 5 pm

Don Don

Don Don, a chain of inexpensive restaurants popular with Melburnians, serves up quick and affordable bowls of Japanese rice in a variety of locations across the city.

There is the Teriyaki Don (A$7.70) and the Beef Curry Don (A$8) to pick from. If you're a student looking for a quick meal that isn't greasy fast food, theirs is the place to go.

Although this establishment may not look like much from the outside, customers know that their meals will be prepared quickly, and they will be satisfied with the service they receive at Don Don's. To end their four-day McDonald's binge, college students on a tight budget can get a Japanese-style box for about $10 here.

• 198 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
• Mon to Sun: 11 am to 9 pm

Red Sparrow Pizza 

Red Sparrow's all-vegan, gluten-free pizzas will make your mouth swim even if you're not a "save the animals" activist since they don't use the typical, stringy disappointment that is vegan mozzarella. Red Sparrow is a must for all you cash-strapped vegans (and non-vegans, too) because of its welcoming atmosphere, affordable prices, and excellent service.

Works 

Works, which can be found on Swanston Street between RMIT Building 80 and Melbourne University, is a popular eatery with students and CBD professionals. This eatery, which specialises in reasonably priced and generously portioned Thai street cuisine, will supply you with the fuel you need to tackle the day without emptying your wallet.

Shandong Mama

This restaurant, run by Ying Hou and Meiyan Wang, is located in a Bourke St arcade and has seafood and other delicacies reminiscent of the Shandong Peninsula fishing village of Yantai. Even though everything on the menu is delicious, seafood is what makes Shandong famous (the fish dumplings are a must-try), and even if you're on a tight budget, you can still enjoy this hidden gem for only $17 for ten dumplings.

La Tortilleria

The genuine Mexican fare served up at La Tortilleria will make you feel like taking a nap, and given the reasonable costs at the restaurant, you won't feel guilty about dozing off.

The Borek Bakehouse

The Borek Bakehouse in the Central Business District sells its original brews for $3.50, which are brewed fresh and may be ordered with or without yeast. This price is significantly lower than that of typical Melbourne coffee. Which would you rather have—warm, gooey bread to help you get through the day or lousy coffee? You decide.

Roti Road

This Malaysian restaurant is recognised for the compelling roti-making show that is offered by the chef. The quality and price of the menu are almost as good as the chef's freestyling Chinese pop. The restaurant has locations in Footscray and Maribyrnong.

8bit’s 

In a warm and inviting atmosphere, the decor of 8bit, which is located at the intersection of Swanston and Bourke Streets, pays homage to the arcade culture of the 1980s. You'll get that nostalgic diner vibe with their soft bun burgers, hotdogs, and milkshakes, all at pricing that is lower than the market average before inflation hits the economy.

Kalimera Souvlaki Art

Kalimera Souvlaki Art is an absolute must for diners who are looking for reasonably priced and genuine Greek cuisine, despite the fact that this restaurant is not located in the central business district (CBD).

Hank in Carnegie

The Korean-owned restaurant is the place to go if you are seeking inexpensive, nutritious Korean food as if it were produced by a Korean grandma on the streets of Seoul. The lunch special at the restaurant costs only ten dollars. Hankki in Carnegie is an absolute requirement for any and all of you strapped for cash students who are looking for good value for your money.

Pepper Lunch.

Pepper Lunch is the place to go if you're feeling a little anxious about who (or how) is preparing your lunch. They take great pride in their transparency. At Pepper Lunch, which is popular with both students and workers in the CBD, you are responsible for cooking your own dish; therefore, if it tastes a touch too charred, the fault is entirely yours.

Very Good Falafel 

At Very Good Falafel in Brunswick, for the low, low price of $8.50 for a falafel pita, you can experience the sublime joy of having a pita that has been freshly prepared, warming your soul. Adaptable to any kind of dietary regimen without the customary supplemental expenditure.

The Dan O’Connell Hotel

The Dan O'Connell Hotel has got you covered with their $2 bean tacos, even if you're trying to stretch your budget to its limits. This happy hour special runs from 5:30 to 9:30 pm and offers beef tacos and tiny enchiladas for only $3. After dinner, it's the perfect time to kick back, relax, and maybe even shoot some pool at this laid-back establishment.

Five & Dime Bagel Company

Five & Dime is highly renowned in Melbourne for its bagels that won't blow a hole in your wallet, thanks to the fact that they use traditional baking processes in their specialised bagel oven.

Don Tojo.

Only a few minutes stroll away. It is simple for any student at the University of Melbourne to stop by Don Tojo on Cardigan Street for a speedy dinner (especially if they do not like to travel back to the Central Business District during their short break), as the restaurant's location is very convenient. Remember that time is money, and use it wisely.

Fantastic Strips In And Around Melbourne

NEED a recommendation for a great restaurant, bar, or dessert shop?

Stop being mystified.

We have done the legwork for you and put together a short guide to four of Melbourne's most well-known food lanes.

Gertrude St, Fitzroy

Peckish? Dehydrated? This trendy street offers a wide variety of dining and drinking options, from upscale restaurants to laid-back bars. According to Megan Miller, the following are some of the very best.

Belle’s Hot Chicken

150-156 Gertrude St

The hipster hangout where the best crispy chicken is served in Nashville style. Pick your level of heat, from mild to super hot, and then use it on wings, boneless tenders, or dark meat.

When your hands get too greasy, just wipe them with the provided wet wipes. The use of chilli powder is not limited to meat; it is also applied to fish, oysters, and mushrooms. Aaron Turner, the former manager of the popular Loam on Australia's Bellarine Peninsula, is a co-owner of the business.

Lumberyard At The Workers Club

51 Brunswick St (corner of Gertrude St)

The interior north now has access to British barbeque thanks to this cafeteria inside the nearby Workers Club pub, which is decorated to look like a log cabin. Think smoked meats like brisket and lamb ribs, as well as celeriac, and for the purists, there's always black pudding. Listening to jazz and blues on the stereo helps set the mood and provides a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of nearby Fitzroy.

Mighty Boy

59-61 Gertrude St

This charming little restaurant adds an Asian twist to classic American breakfast and lunch fare. Choose the baked eggs with Thai sausage, the pad thai noodles with chicken or tofu, the roti wraps with pulled lamb shoulder, or the 200 rice paper rolls with duck or pork and prawns that are lovingly prepared each day by the mother of the restaurant's owner, Mark Peou. The lunch menu includes each of these dishes.

Mighty Boy offers an incredible deal on everything, with no item costing more than $14. Enjoy your meal, weather permitting, at one of the pedestrian seating areas while watching Gertrude Street go by.

Builders Arms Hotel

211 Gertrude St

This 1853 establishment features a bistro in the front and a bar in its rear, the upscale Moon Under Water dining hall in the back, and the brand new events area, The Bowery. It is an element of the empire of chef Andrew McConnell and is situated at 55-57 Gertrude St.

Charcoal Lane

136 Gertrude St

The doors have been wide open since 2009. Charcoal Lane is an initiative of Mission Australia and the William Angliss Institute of TAFE, and the Accor hotel chain to provide on-the-job hospitality training and education to Aboriginal children.

The menu for the 50-seater is accented with native ingredients, including strawberry gum, wattleseed, lemon myrtle, wallaby, kangaroo, and emu. The saltbush lamb is cooked twice and is a customer favourite.

Trippy Taco

234 Gertrude St

Trippy Taco first appeared at the Earthcore outdoor event in 2002, and in Collingwood, it opened in 2006 on Smith Street. It moved to this location in 2011. Mexican vegetarian food with the tofu Asada burrito being the most popular dish.

Students, professionals, local business owners and their families, as well as the expected hipsters, make up its clientele. Local hero Bert Newton and US fitness guru Richard Simmons have served as the establishment's unofficial mascots since its inception, and owner Simon Fischer (above) hopes that they will both pay a visit.

Victoria Ave, Albert Park

An account claims that this elegant Victorian-era strip is just yards from the seaside and has a laid-back atmosphere with cafes, diners, and eateries to entice all of your taste senses.

Vicasia

95 Victoria Ave

Many of the regulars at Ken Yuen's previous restaurant Asiana, located only two blocks away, were familiar with him. Yuen's food is primarily traditional Cantonese, despite being presented in a modern way. Aside from the pumpkin pancakes, two of the restaurant's most well-liked dishes are the coconut scallops and the roast duck with plum sauce.

The Petty Officer

113 Victoria Ave

Regards for beans can be found at The Petty Officer, JUST as it can be seen at its older sibling, Hawthorn's Axil coffee roasters. They find their own beans, roast them, and provide different single-origin selections every day. Get an egg and Turkish bacon bun with relish to eat on the go, or if you have more time, sit in for an avocado smash with mint, feta, pepitas, and cilantro to enjoy over a more leisurely period of time.

Kamel

19 Victoria Ave

An aromatic haven by the water, this bayside restaurant is known for its contemporary spin on traditional Middle Eastern and North African mezze dishes. Share plates are the norm in this warm and fragrant gathering place. Even if it means leisurely morning mealtimes. Kamel provides flavour to the "witching hours" of 5-7 p.m., early family meals, informal snacks, and gatherings in chambers inspired by The Arabian Nights.

Jock’s Ice Cream

83 Victoria Ave

Jock made a joke about threatening to kill if he revealed the recipe for his wildly successful ice cream flavours. Outside the small store, which has become a local institution, there are often long lines. A traditional dessert is a hokey pokey, but you can also try the limited-edition blood plum sorbet and cinnamon-fig ripple.

D.O. C

135 Victoria Ave

Located in a historic building, this artisan pizza is known for its authentic Italian cuisine and welcoming atmosphere. Tend to taste the San Daniele prosciutto dish with black rice and farro salad on the side; it's part of the D.O. C family, along with its siblings in Carlton and Mornington. Some of Italy with the comforts of home.

The Vincent

111 Victoria Ave

The Vincent is now wide awake thanks to a remarkable refurbishment. The menu is an ever-changing selection of seasonal modern European dishes inspired by traditional pub fare. On Tuesdays, locals may have surf and turf; on Wednesdays, the renowned burger and brew; and on Thursdays, they can enjoy tacos and movie screenings.

Conclusion

Melbourne is one of the world's most expensive cities, but it's easy to find cheap restaurants if you know where to search. Gozleme, bagels, gyoza, falafel and more are all available for your dining pleasure. Yamato Japanese is a traditional Japanese restaurant tucked into a quiet corner of Chinatown. Cj Lunch Bar French creperie Roule Galette serves crepes to the melody of French songs. Don Don is a chain of inexpensive restaurants popular with Melburnians.

The Borek Bakehouse sells its original brews for $3.50, which is significantly lower than that of typical Melbourne coffee. 8bit pays homage to the arcade culture of the 1980s with their soft bun burgers, hotdogs and milkshakes. Roti Road is recognised for the compelling roti-making show that is offered by the chef. Kalimera Souvlaki Art is an absolute must for diners who are looking for reasonably priced and genuine Greek cuisine. This Malaysian restaurant is recognised for the compelling roti-making show that is offered by the chef.

The Korean-owned restaurant is the place to go if you are seeking inexpensive, nutritious Korean food as if it were produced by a Korean grandma on the streets of Seoul. Stop being mystified.We have done the legwork for you and put together a short guide to four of Melbourne's most well-known food lanes.Gertrude St, Fitzroy Belle's Hot Chicken is a hipster hangout where the best crispy chicken is served in Nashville style. Lumberyard At The Workers Club is a cafeteria inside the nearby Workers Club pub. Mighty Boy adds an Asian twist to classic American breakfast and lunch fare. The 1853 establishment features a bistro in the front and a bar in its rear.

This 1853 establishment features a bistro in the front and a bar in its rear, the upscale Moon Under Water dining hall in the back, and the brand new events area, The Bowery. The menu is accented with native ingredients, including strawberry gum, wattleseed, lemon myrtle, wallaby, kangaroo, and emu. An account claims that this elegant Victorian-era strip is just yards from the seaside and has a laid-back atmosphere with cafes, diners, and eateries to entice all of your taste senses. An aromatic haven by the water, this bayside restaurant is known for its contemporary spin on traditional Middle Eastern and North African mezze dishes. Kamel is known for its contemporary spin on Middle Eastern and North African mezze dishes.

Content Summary

• Despite its proximity to the ever-busy Swanston Street, Little Rogue offers a respite from the city's bustle.
• If you're looking for a place in Melbourne to get the popular Japanese food on a conveyor belt, Sushi Hotaru is one of the few options.
• The unpretentious CJ Lunch Bar can be found right on the busy Hardware Lane, and it's known for its affordable and hearty Korean lunch specialities, including dons and Bentos.
• Hankki in Carnegie is an absolute requirement for any and all of you strapped for cash students who are looking for good value for your money.
• Very Good Falafel in Brunswick, for the low, low price of $8.50 for a falafel pita, you can experience the sublime joy of having a pita that has been freshly prepared, warming your soul.
• Charcoal Lane is an initiative of Mission Australia and the William Angliss Institute of TAFE, and the Accor hotel chain to provide on-the-job hospitality training and education to Aboriginal children.
• Trippy Taco first appeared at the Earthcore outdoor event in 2002, and in Collingwood, it opened in 2006 on Smith Street.
• Jock made a joke about threatening to kill if he revealed the recipe for his wildly successful ice cream flavours.