Best Cheap Eats in Melbourne

Put down the instant ramen. Melbourne might be one of the most expensive cities in the world, but if you know where to look, affordable lunches and dinners are everywhere.

We’ve gathered our sub-$10 favourites to help make your dollars last that bit longer. Take your pick from gözleme, bagels, gyoza, falafel and more.

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Good Times

The pasta spot where drawing on the table is encouraged. If that’s not your thing, the $9 pasta, $9 Negronis and $9 carafes of wine might be.

214 St Georges Road
Fitzroy North VIC 3068

Half Moon Cafe

Egyptian falafel and a friendly neighbourhood atmosphere.

13 Victoria Street
Coburg VIC 3058

To's Bakery

The most expensive bahn mi is $6.

122 Hopkins Street
Footscray VIC

1090 Burger

The signature burger is a $10 umami bomb.

181A Swan Street
Richmond VIC 3121

Purple Peanuts

A CBD worker favourite, thanks to its cheap salads and sushi.

620 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC

Nhan Ngai

Fresh but cheap bahn mi and cold rolls.

178 Swan Street
Cremorne VIC 3121

Five Points

There's a handful of filled savoury bagels under $10, including tuna and sweetcorn.

Shop 1 540 Little Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Beatbox Kitchen Brunswick

For smaller appetites, the $6 cheeseburger is a complete meal.

682 Sydney Road
Brunswick VIC 3056

Gorilla Grill

How about a $10 Chimp burger with beef, cheese, pickles and onions?

36 Edgewater Boulevard
Maribyrnong VIC 3032

Wings of Glory

On Wing It Wednesdays, wings are a ridiculous $1 each.

253 Clarendon Street
South Melbourne VIC 3205

Very Good Falafel

$10 for a falafel plate. Boom.

629 Sydney Road
Brunswick VIC 3056

La Tortilleria

The Gringa (al pastor pork with melted cheese and pineapple between two tortillas) can be had for $9.50.

72 Stubbs Street
Kensington VIC 3031

Goz City

Go for a pide for $7 or a borek finger for $5.

Madame Brussels Lane 50 Lonsdale
Melbourne VIC 3000

A1 Bakery

$9 here will net you the A1 special – a zaatar pizza base with tomato, onion, black olives, capsicum, beef sujuk, spinach, Danish feta and haloumi. In fact, nearly everything on the menu is under $10.

643-645 Sydney Road
Brunswick VIC 3056

Huff Bagelry

Bagels and coffee for lunch?

112 Koornang Road
Carnegie VIC 3163

Neko Neko

Score a serving of the quinoa-and-chickpea gyoza for $8.

83 Smith Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065

Kalimera Souvlaki Art

The $9 signature pork souvlaki stuffed with chips and salad is all you need.

41 Chester Street
Oakleigh VIC

Seoul Soul

All hail the $10 kimchi pancake.

323-325 Victoria Street
Abbotsford VIC

Juanita Peaches

The Colonel's not the only one doing affordable popcorn chicken.

12 Edward Street
Brunswick VIC 3056

Smith & Deli

A vegan-friendly destination with impressive sandwiches under $10.

111 Moor Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065

Hotel Jesus

$2 tacos on a Tuesday – until sold out.

174 Smith Street
Collingwood VIC 3066

Friend or Pho

For all things Vietnamese, including a banh mi for $9.

3 Ballarat Street
Yarraville VIC 3013

Tuck Shop Take Away

A trio of nostalgic jaffles to choose from, all under $10.

273 Hawthorn Road
Caulfield North VIC 3161

I Love Pho

Slurp through a generously sized bowl of pho for $10.

264 Victoria Street
Richmond VIC 3121

Leonard’s House of Love

Go for the eggplant tenders or the mushroom burger for just $10.

3 Wilson Street
South Yarra VIC 3141

Naked For Satan Downstairs

Famed for its $2 pinxtos.

285 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy VIC

Hakata Gensuke Hawthorn

Special fried chicken for $5.

Tenancy 4 860/862 Glenferrie Road
Hawthorn VIC 3122

Wonderbao

How many $2.70 barbeque pork bao until you're full?

Shop 4 19-37 A'Beckett Street
Melbourne VIC

Baker D. Chirico

Try the pissadiliere, a mini pizza-like bake topped with all kinds of tasty bits.

149 Fitzroy Street
St Kilda VIC 3182

Burger Project

A grass-fed Cape Grim cheeseburger for $9.90? Believe it.

2 260 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Lucky Coq

Bimbo's sister is just as generous with its pizzas.

179 Chapel Street
Windsor VIC 3181

Don Don

The queues are worth the wait for these cheap, filling donburi bowls.

198 Swanston Street
Melbourne VIC

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