Last month, a dear friend messaged the group chat asking where she could get a bowl of pasta for under $40. “Easy!” I thought. I checked menus, then checked again and, while under her budget, the best I could do was 35 bucks – and I wanted to do better.

Of course, sometimes you’re looking for a luxurious serve. Other times you’re after a perfect no-frills table at Bar Italia. But sometimes you’re looking for a cheaper bill, moodier setting and maybe a nice wine list too.

So, I’ve done the legwork on this city’s best bang-for-your-buck pastas – first for my pal, and now for you. Here are some of the best bowls under $30, plus a few that only just break the budget.

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The Shop & Wine Bar, Bondi

The homely Bondi dining room’s got a standout deal: a glass of wine and a bowl of pasta for $25. It takes over on Tuesdays and Sundays from 4pm, and could offer a silky serve of vodka rigatoni or a saffron-spiked lamb ragu with casarecce.

Berkelo Kitchen, Terrey Hills

The team behind the northern beaches’ star bakery just opened a charming dining room. On Wednesdays it’s $30 for your choice of pasta (or pizza) and a glass of wine or a beer. The house-made tagliatelle with prawns and chilli, maybe? Or the buttery potato-filled ravioli? Both excellent options.

Cafe Freda’s, Darlinghurst

The brightest Sydney corner for a drink (hello, $10 happy hour Negronis) is making Wednesdays and Thursdays the best days to dine out. It’ll cost you 30 bucks for an ever-changing special: pasta with a glass of house wine. Expect bowls of cacio e pepe rigatoni, lumache with cavalo nero and olives, or sometimes even a risotto.

The Dolphin, Surry Hills

Throughout winter at this Crown Street boozer, a bowl of pasta is 25 big ones and your glass of wine’ll cost you 10. And each week is different. Fettuccine alfredo till the end of July, then it could be carbonara, gnocchi alla gorgonzola or maybe tortiglioni alla vodka. Available all day.

Busta, Manly

Layer up on Tuesday nights and head into this northern beaches fave for a $20 slab of lasagne. It’s BYO too, so grab a bottle from your stash before you head out (or stop in at the very good Winona Wine next door).

Menzies Bar, CBD

Eight-week pasta series The Hits returns to the ground floor of Shell House for another year. Each week is dedicated to one bowl of pasta for $25, with $10 wines if you fancy too. This week it’s spaghetti vongole, and next is braised pork maccheroni. But there’ll be bucatini cacio e pepe, spaghetti and meatballs, and risotto nero with clams down the line too.

Plus a few more just over $30:

Bart Jr, Redfern

Everyone is family on Tuesdays in these homely Redfern digs. Choose from one of two pastas – like rigatoni alla norma (with a generous heap of buffalo ricotta) or lasagne – and a glass of red or white, and only hand over $35. It’s well worth your time to start with a $15 Negroni, and definitely add on the garlicky focaccia with fermented chilli butter.

Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Bondi

It’s another Tuesday night dedicated to many-layered beauties, in another beachside dining room. There are layers to start (lasagne) and layers to finish (tiramisu). The $32 lasagne at the iconic Bondi spot breaks our budget, but the layers of Wagyu beef shin and Comté bechamel are truly luxe and therefore worth a mention.

Marta, Rushcutters Bay

If it’s Thursday and you’re in Rushcutters, you should nab a seat at Marta for the $33 bottomless menu. Yep, bottomless. Those pastas will keep coming till you’re too full to go on – and there’ll be pizza and some excellent sides, too. The staff will choose what you get, but the menu’s all hits so that’s okay.