Melbourne’s Best Cheap Eats
PIZZA
El Coco
Tucked in the heart of the city is a bar with a casual and relaxed environment offering table tennis, giant Jenga and various board games. El Coco not only serves up mojitos with a splash of music, but they also make $6 pizzas all day, every day. There are 14 gourmet pizzas to choose from, and each comes on its own wooden board.
El Coco, 120 King Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, +61 3 9620 5641
29th Apartment
On Wednesdays, step into the New York-inspired 29th Apartment for ridiculously cheap pizzas. After 8 p.m., with any $5 drink purchase, you can grab a pizza for only $1 extra. That’s dinner and a drink for a total of $6 – you’d be mad not to take them up on that offer.
29th Apartment, 29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, +61 3 9534 0485
Bimbo Deluxe
If you’re looking for a cheap meal on Brunswick Street, then head to Bimbo Deluxe where they serve $4 gourmet pizzas at selected times each day. There are over 20 varieties to choose from, and they even have a selection of dessert pizzas for only $6.
THAI
Soi 38
Pop-up store Soi 38 have settled down in the city and are spooning out $10 noodle bowls. Choose between boat noodles with beef or pork; Tom Yum noodles with giant pork and prawn wontons; or the braised duck noodle soup.
Soi 38, 38 McIlwraith Place (under the Wilson carpark), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, +61 0490 396 382
BangPop
After 12 p.m. on Tuesdays, BangPop on South Wharf dishes out Melbourne’s best Pad Thai for $9.90, which is a complete bargain considering the dish will cost you $15.90 on any other day.
TACOS
The Dan O’Connell Hotel
Celebrating Taco Tuesdays, The Dan O’Connell Hotel is where you’ll find the cheapest tacos and enchiladas in Melbourne starting at $2. There are also chicken tacos available for $3.
Beach Burrito
Bring your skateboard along, skate the bowl and enjoy Beach Burrito’s $3 tacos every Tuesday. From pulled pork to Halloumi, the tacos here are packed with flavour. If you can’t make it on a Tuesday, then don’t sweat it as you can pick up a taco any other day for only $5.
Beach Burrito, 232 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, +61 3 9416 4863
DUMPLINGS
Maeve Fox
On Fridays during happy hour at Maeve Fox, you’ll be treated to $1 dumplings with vegetarian, prawn and chive and roast duck options available. For a few dollars extra, you can choose the Wagyu beef dumpling, BBQ pork buns or the chocolate dumplings.
Maeve Fox, 472 Church St, Richmond, Victoria, Australia, +61 3 9427 1233
BURGERS
Burger Project
With two locations in Melbourne – St Collins Lane and Chadstone – Neil Perry’s Burger Project is not only conveniently located, but they also have not one but three burgers under $10. Try their Cheese, Classic, or American Cheese, all of which use quality ingredients and emulate Rockpool Bar & Grill’s gourmet burgers.
Father’s Office
Father’s Office have a whole heap of late-night deals from Wednesday to Saturday, including their Double Fried Chicken Burger for $8.50. They also flip a $9 Beef, Apple and Beetroot Burger at night.
8Bit
Munch down the 8Bit With Cheese at the quirky burger joint 8Bit for only $9.50. The burger comes with beef, tomato, lettuce, red onion, pickles, mustard, cheese, ketchup and 8Bit’s special sauce. The arcade-inspired diner is located in both Footscray and Swanston Street.
8Bit, 8 Droop St, Footscray, Victoria, Australia, +61 9687 8838
Mr. Scruffs
Every Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., Mr. Scruffs cuts the prices on the menu in half, meaning that among other things, you can get a burger for only $5. Take Culture Trip’s recommendation and order the beef burger.
Mr. Scruffs, 60 Smith St, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia, +61 3 9995 3881