cheap eats

Sydney, the bustling capital city of New South Wales, is known for its stunning harbour, iconic landmarks, and diverse dining scene. 

While the city is renowned for its high-end restaurants, it’s also home to some of the amazing cheap eats in Australia. From juicy dumplings to mouth-watering sandwiches, there’s something for everyone. 

Whether you’re a budget-conscious traveller, student or a local looking to save some cash, you won’t have to sacrifice flavour or quality. 

In this article, we will take you on a culinary journey through some of the best cheap eats in Sydney, offering recommendations for delicious and affordable food options that won’t break the bank. 

So get ready to explore the city’s thriving food culture and discover some cheap eats in Sydney!

El Janaah

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📌 Location: Various eg. Newtown, Blackburn, Bankstown, Granville, etc.

📖 Menu: Charcoal Chicken, Fried Chicken, Burgers, Rolls, Traditional Lebanese

☎️ Phone: 1800 491 838

✉ Contact: https://eljannah.com.au/ 

⏰ Opening Hours:

Mondays – Sunday (10am – 11pm) 

🍽️ Cuisine: Lebanese

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.4/5 (from 6200+ reviews)

El Jannah had a humble beginning in Granville suburb (New South Wales) in 1998 and since has become a popular place for cheap eats among locals, students and every budget eater alike.

They are specially known for their Charcoal Chicken and garlic sauce. You can grab a ¼ chicken meal that includes their famous charcoal chicken, garlic sauce, mixed pickles and warm lebanese bread for under $15. That sounds insane, right? But yes, you can get all this for less than that.

Apart from that, they have burgers, rolls, chips and a traditional lebanese menu as well that costs less than $15.

If you are vegetarian, then you can get a falafel roll under $10 as well. 

Sinjeon Liverpool St

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📌 Location: 128 Liverpool St, Sydney NSW 2000

📖 Menu: Topokki, Kimbap, Noodles and Soup

☎️ Phone: 0432 028 981

⏰ Opening Hours:

Tuesday – Sunday (11:30 am–3 pm, 5–9 pm)

Monday – Closed

🍽️ Cuisine: Korean

⭐ Google Reviews: 3.9/5 (from 75 reviews)

Sinjeon is a popular destination among budget eaters in the Sydney CBD. You can try various types of Korean delicacies for under $15. 

Some of the popular items include The original Topokki, Kimbap and K-noodle soup and Ramen.

You can enjoy quick and cheap meal for under our budget of $15 right in the middle of Liverpool street in the city.

Mrs Chan’s Kitchen

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📌 Location: 631-635 George St, Haymarket NSW 2000

🔴 Menu: Noodles, Soup, Stir fry, Rice

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday- Sunday 11am- 12am

✉ Contact: https://charliechans.com.au/

🍽️ Cuisine: Thai

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.1/5 (from 834 reviews)

Try authentic street style Thai in the middle of Sydney’s famous Chinatown. The restaurant menu offers many Thai food favourites like Stirfry, noodles, soups, rice with plenty of meat and seafood selections to choose from.

The restaurants also features a bar serving huge range of cocktails till late night. Lots of items on the menu including street style noodles are under $15. Most of the menu items are under $20 which makies thai restaurant a budget crowd pleaser in the city.

Mr Chen Beef Noodle

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📌 Location: Prince Centre TG5 Quay Street Enter via, 8 Thomas St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia

🔴 Menu: spicy wonton, pork and chip dumplings, grilled sweet pancake, beef Noodle soup

☎️ Phone: +61 2 8084 4917

🔵 Website: https://www.facebook.com/mrchenbeefnoodles/ 

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 10:30am – 10pm

Saturday – Sunday 10am – 10pm

🍽️ Cuisine: Chinese

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.5/5 (from 517 reviews)

💙 Facebook Reviews: 4.6/5 (From 10 reviews)

🖤 Zomato Reviews: 4.7/5 (From 87 reviews)

Mr Chef Beef Noodle is a well-loved restaurant located in Sydney, renowned for its mouth-watering Chinese noodle dishes and tender, slow-cooked beef. 

This cozy and casual eatery offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, making it the perfect place to enjoy a satisfying meal of under $15 with friends and family. 

Whether you’re in the mood for a bowl of savoury beef noodle soup or a plate of spicy stir-fried noodles, Mr Chef Beef Noodle has something for everyone. 

With its commitment to using only the freshest ingredients and traditional cooking methods, it’s easy to see why this restaurant has become a local favourite. 

Mappen

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📌 Location: Shop 11/537-551 George St, Sydney NSW 2000

🔴 Menu: Ramen, Noodles, Rice, Soup, Tempura

☎️ Phone: (02) 9283 5525

🔵 Website: https://mappen.com.au/ 

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday (11am to 9pm)

🍽️ Cuisine: Japanese 

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.4/5 (from 1,027+ reviews)

Mappen is a popular budget self-serve Japenese restaurant in the Sydney CBD. You can enjoy plenty of options including Ramen, Rice bowls, Japanese curry, Udon, etc.

Most of the regular sized items are under $15. Some of the  popular menu items include: Ramen Mappen, Koro Mappen, etc.

There are limited number of vegetarian options on the menu as well. 

Mamak

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📌 Location: 15 Goulburn St, Sydney NSW 2000, 

🔴 Menu: Satay, noodles & desserts

☎️ Phone: (02) 9211 1668

🔵 Website: https://www.mamak.com.au/ 

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 – 2:30 & 5:30 – 10:00 |

Saturday & Sunday 11:30 – 5:30 & 5:30 – 12:00

🍽️ Cuisine: Malaysian

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.2/5 (from 4,400+ reviews)

Mamak is a popular establishment known for its Malaysian cuisine in the heart of Sydney’s Chinatown. 

The restaurant serves Roti Canai, Satay Skewers, Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng and drinks like Teh Tarik.

You can enjoy these dishes for cheap with many of them falling under $15 budget line. Our favourite will be Roti Canai with curry dips and sambal sauce (chilli).

Hot Star Large Fried Chicken

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📌 Location: 96 Liverpool Street, Sydney NSW 2000

🔴 Menu: Large fried chicken, crispy chicken bites, squid, chicken wings and drink combo

🔵 Website:  https://hotstarchicken.com.au/

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday 5pm – 9pm

Tuesday – Sunday 11am – 12pm 

🍽️ Cuisine: Taiwanese

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.2/5 (from 169 reviews)

💙 Facebook Reviews: 4.7/5 (From 47 reviews)

Hot Star Large Fried Chicken is a must-try restaurant in Sydney for anyone who loves juicy, crispy fried chicken. With its under $15 affordability and vibrant atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to grab a bite with friends or family. 

The specialty of the restaurant is its large fried chicken, which is juicy and succulent on the inside and crispy on the outside. 

The menu also features a range of other delicious dishes, such as hot and spicy wings, squids, and salads, making it easy to find something to satisfy your cravings.

Shift Eatery

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📌 Location: Shop 4/241 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

🔴 Menu: Smoothies, Bagel, Toasties, 

✉ Contact: shifteatery.com.au 

⏰ Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 8am – 3pm

🍽️ Cuisine: Vegan

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.8/5 (from 800+ reviews)

Located in Surry Hills, Shift Eatery is a vegan deli that offers a range of sandwiches, bagels, salads, and baked goods, all made without animal products.

There are plenty of vegan choices for under $15 in the eatery including all day breakfast, toasties and poke bowls. 

The cafe have an option to dine-in and takeaway with exceptional reviews on google from customer’s raving about the food and service. This one is a must try.

Black Ginger Restaurant

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📌 Location: 89 Enmore road Newtown 2042

🔴 Menu: rice paper grill pork rolls, king pawn rice paper rolls, lemongrass chicken rolls, vegetarian spring rolls

☎️ Phone: 0468 889 809

✉ Email: [email protected]

⏰ Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 5pm to 10pm

Monday: Closed

🍽️ Cuisine: Vietnamese

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.2/5 (from 175 reviews)

Black Ginger is a popular cheap eat vietnamese restarurant in the Sydney area. 

The restaurant serves various menu items like Pho, vermicelli salads, fried noodles, stir-fry and rice items.

There are plenty of options that meet the budget limits of $15 when choosing menu items in this restaurant. 

Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches

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📌 Location: 4.05, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta NSW 2150

🔴 Menu: ham sandwich, salad sandwich, hot falafel, lemon pepper chicken

☎️ Phone: (02) 9169 0838

✉ Email:  [email protected]

☎️ Opening Hours: Mon to Wed: 10am-8pm

Thurs to Fri: 10am-9pm

Sat: 11am – 9pm

 Sun: 11am-8pm

🍽️ Cuisine: Mexican

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.4/5 (from 372 reviews)

Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches is a popular restaurant located in Sydney that specializes in serving delicious hot sandwiches. With a menu that features a wide variety of options, including classic ham and salad sandwiches, gourmet creations, and vegetarian options, there is something for everyone at Harvey’s. 

The restaurant prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients, from the meats and cheeses in the sandwiches to the bread, sauces, and toppings. 

In addition to the delicious food, Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches also offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it the perfect place to stop for a quick lunch or to catch up with friends over a delicious meal. 

Harvey’s is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a $15 affordable hearty sandwich in Sydney to power you through the day or a comfortable place to relax and unwind.

Out Of The Blue Clovelly

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📌 Location: 2/272 Clovelly Rd, Coogee NSW 2034, Australia

🔴 Menu: classic burgers, fish and chips, Greek salad, potato salad

🔵 Website: www.outoftheblueclovelly.com.au

⏰ Opening Hours: Mon/Tues: Closed

Wed/Thurs/Fri: 4:00pm-8:00pm 

 Sat/Sun: 11:30am-8:00pm

🍽️ Cuisine: American

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.5/5 (from 642 reviews)

💙 Facebook Reviews: 4.7/5 (From 90 reviews)

Out of the Blue Clovelly is a popular restaurant located in the beautiful suburb of Clovelly in Sydney, Australia. If you’re looking for a dining experience that combines fresh, seasonal ingredients with a relaxed, coastal atmosphere, Out of the Blue is a perfect choice. 

With an affordable menu that showcases the best of local seafood and produces, Out of the Blue’s dishes are crafted to provide a truly authentic taste of Sydney’s stunning coastline. 

From their famous fish and chips to their succulent potato salad, there’s something to satisfy every taste bud. Looking for a romantic dinner for two or a family gathering? The friendly and attentive staff will ensure your visit is unforgettable.

Chatkazz

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📌 Location: Shop 4-6/14/20 Station St E, Harris Park NSW 2150

🔴 Menu: Curries, Sandwich, Bread, Snacks, Rice, Pizza

✉ Contact: https://www.chatkazz.com.au/ 

⏰ Opening Hours: Tueday – Friday 11am – 10pm

Saturday – Sunday 9am – 10pm

Monday – 5pm – 10pm

🍽️ Cuisine: Indian

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.1/5 (from 6,300+ reviews)

Located bit further out of the city, this Indian eatery is a must visit place for anyone looking for street food style Indian snacks.

They have huge menu covering north and south indian food items like Curries, Dosa, Chaat, Uttapam and western choices likes Sandwiches, Pizza and chips.

All the items on the menu are vegetarian and lot of items comes within the budget of $15. There is a dedicated section for the vegan food lovers as well.

Pastizzi Cafe

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📌 Location: 109 King Street, Newtown, New South Wales, 2042

🔴 Menu: Avocado Peta, Caesar salad, Spinach & Ricotta, minced beef and herb

☎️ Phone: +61 2 9519 1063

✉ Email: [email protected]

⏰ Opening Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday: 8am-5pm

  Thursday to Friday: 8am-10pm

  Sat: 8am – 11pm

  Sun: 8am-6pm

🍽️ Cuisine: Maltese/Italian

⭐ Google Reviews: 4.6/5 (from 1771 reviews)

💙 Facebook Reviews: 4.7/5 (from 473 reviews)

Pastizzi Cafe in Sydney is a warm and welcoming eatery that specialies in serving authentic Maltese cuisine. If you’re looking for a taste of something new and delicious, Pastizzi Cafe is the perfect place to go. 

The menu features a wide variety of dishes, including traditional Maltese pastries, caesar salad, and hearty main courses, all made with fresh and high-quality ingredients. What sets Pastizzi Cafe apart from other restaurants is its commitment to showcasing the rich culinary heritage of Malta and their affordable meals of under $15. 

Each dish is expertly prepared by the experienced kitchen team, and the cafe has a cozy and inviting atmosphere that makes it the perfect place for a casual lunch, a romantic dinner, or a family gathering.

That’s all for cheap eats in Sydney.

If you want to see cheap eats in other cities as well, check our guides on:

• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Adelaide
• Perth
• Canberra