The 10 best cheap eats in Canberra

Wide, stretchy, slurp-worthy noodles drenched in chilli oil, topped with meat gravy and crunchy bok choy? Yes, please. And all for under $20? We’ll take another bowl for lunch tomorrow too. You’ll want to arrive hungry because Biang Biang’s flaky pastry pockets stuffed with spicy potato, cumin beef or pork are equally addictive.

A good old toastie is as cheap and cheerful as it gets, with Melted’s golden bread delights starting at just $7 for one filled with gooey cheese. This Fyshwick toasted sandwich emporium uses only the highest quality ingredients from local Canberran businesses, including Three Mills Bakery and Balzanelli Smallgoods. For $10 or less, you can sink your teeth into toasties piled with double egg and bacon; cheese and vegemite; or pesto, tomato, feta and mozzarella. And if you’re feeling adventurous, the mi goreng noodle toastie with chilli jam and fried eggs is all yours for $12.

$14 for 14 dumplings? That’s almost too good to be true. Grab a few mates and head to this city centre dumpling spot to sample a variety of their hand-wrapped delights. Our favourites are the crispy pan-fried chicken dumplings ($15.80), soupy Shanghai pork dumplings ($15.80), and boiled prawn and pumpkin dumplings ($16.80). Oh, and did we mention, it’s BYO?

Situated smack bang in the heart of Canberra's City Walk, Flavours of Ethiopia is the perfect spot for a casual workweek lunch or a quick grab-and-go. For just $14, you can mix and match any three mains, from pumpkin and red lentil curries to hearty beef stew or chicken tibs. Each dish comes with rice or injera bread, and you might as well whack on a $2 samosa.

The burger kings at Mookie have been flipping epic burgers worth crossing town for since 2017. While they’ve just opened a brand new digs in Tuggeranong, the menu remains much the same. You can stick with classic Angus or southern fried chicken burgers (both $14), or try one of their Japanese-inspired burgers, like the Lil Tokyo loaded with yakitori grilled chicken, kewpie slaw and creamy sesame sauce ($15.50). Why not upgrade your burger to a meal with french fries or potato gems and a large soft drink for just $7 extra? 

You won’t find a more wholesome place to settle down for lunch than The Canberra Food Co-op – a not-for-profit, community-run café and bulk wholefoods shop, located on the rim of the Australian National University (ANU). On weekdays, the café serves a fully vegan and gluten-free lunch special, cooked up by its talented chefs and volunteers. At just $10 for students and $12.50 for the general public, it’s one of the cheapest and best-value lunches in Canberra. During the ANU semester, The Food Co-op also runs Thursday night dinners where you can enjoy live music with hand-rolled tacos, vegan doughnuts and house-brew,ed masala chai for $14.

Au Lac is Canberra’s answer to the vegetally challenged, serving up comforting Southeast Asian flavours that give this vegan restaurant serious street cred. For the ultimate cheap feed, order two fresh Vietnamese rice paper rolls for $7.90, or opt for some crispy spring rolls, deep-fried wontons or san choy bao for just a dollar more. There are also satay skewers, eggplant fritters and soy ‘duck’ pancakes just above the $10 mark, with larger salads, noodle soups and stir-fries all for under $20. 

With locations in Braddon and Woden, this funky Japanese-inspired fusion joint is a great spot for fun drinks and affordable bites. Yaki Boi’s weekday express lunch menu is an absolute steal, featuring chicken burgers, curry don, poke bowls and mushroom carbonara – all for less than $15. You’ll also want to get around their daily specials, including $10 chicken burgers and chips on Tuesdays, ten cent wings on Wednesdays and $12 cocktails on Thursdays.

Tucked away in Mawson, this modern Lebanese bakery is a morning walk through Beirut with its fresh bread and the classic olive oil, sumac and za’atar trio. All up, there are more than 25 manoush flatbread toppings to pick from, ranging from $4.50 to $18. If you’re dining with friends, fill the table with affordable small plates, like hummus, mixed veggies, grilled halloumi and shakshuka. Sounds like a feast we can get behind without breaking the bank.

Holy guacamole: we can’t stop thinking about the tacos from this groovy Mexican bar in Garema Place. You can mix and match three tacos for $15, with fillings like crispy mahi mahi, smoked beef short-rib, pulled chicken and fried cauliflower. Even better – visit on Taco Tuesday where they’re just $4 all night long. PS: We hear Loquita’s Margaritas are some of the best in town, and they’re just $15 during happy hour from 5-7pm.