You don’t need a stash of cash to eat well in Melbourne. Backpackers rejoice – here are our pick of 20 cheap eats, all under $10!
Shanghai Street
Cuisine: Chinese
Address: 146 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Why: Amazing fresh dumplings.
Price: $7.20 – $9.80
Delhi Streets
Cuisine: Indian
Address: 22 Katherine Place, Melbourne
Why: Great Indian street food.
Price: Street Chaat $7 – $8, wraps and burgers $9 – $9.50
5 & Dime
Cuisine: Bagels
Address: 16 Katherine place, Melbourne
Why: Amazing bagels and spreads.
Price: $3.50 – $6
B3 Cafe
Cuisine: Sandwiches, soups and rice paper rolls
Address: Shop 1, 487 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Why: Fresh sandwiches, soup, rice paper rolls, coffee and desserts.
Price: Sandwiches $4.50 – $6.50, soup $3 – $6, rice paper rolls $2 each, cakes $1 – $3
Crossways Food for Life
Cuisine: Hare Krishna
Address: Level 1 & 2, 123 Swanston St, Melbourne
Why: All you can eat! Different lunch and dinner each day.
Price: $7.50
Crisp
Cuisine: Healthy modern salads
Address: Shop W2, Southern Cross Lane, Between Bourke, Little Collins & Exhibition
Why: Middle Eastern salad with falafel, mint, currants, cucumber, tomato, Spanish onion, and cos lettuce.
Price: $9
Kalamaki
Cuisine: Greek Street Food
Address: 389 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Why: Souvlaki with pita.
Price: $10
Paperboy Kitchen
Cuisine: Modern Vietnamese
Address: 320 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Why: Traditional roll with BBQ chicken, Asian Slaw, Carrot-Daikon Pickle, Sriracha-Mayo and Coriander.
Price: $9.50
Ferdydurke
Cuisine: European
Address: Levels 1 & 2, 239 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Why: Deli dogs. Franks served on a long brioche bun with different toppings. On Tuesdays enjoy hot hand rolled polish donuts. 3 for $5 or 1 for $2!
Price: $2 – $8
Wonderbao
Cuisine: Chinese
Address: 19-37 A’Beckett St, Melbourne
Why: Braised pork belly gua bao with pickled mustard, coriander and crushed peanuts.
Price: $4.20
American Doughnut Kitchen
Cuisine: Dessert
Address: Queen Victoria Markets
Why: Warm jam donuts.
Price: 90 cents each or 6 for $5
Borek Shop
Cuisine: Turkish
Address: Queen Victoria Market
Why: Borek. Cheese and spinach. Lamb. Potato and vegetables.
Price: $3
The Grand Trailer Park Taverna
Cuisine: American
Address: 87 Bourke St, Melbourne
Why: Waffle Stack filled with Nutella parfait, freshly whipped cream, fresh strawberries and drizzled with Nutella Sauce OR try the peanut butter version!
Price: $10
Fancy Hank’s BBQ Joint
Cuisine: American
Address: 465 Queen St, Melbourne
Why: Beef and pork ribs, brisket, pulled pork and ‘beer can’ chooks all cooked using traditional pit smokers for up to 16 hours.
Price: $9 – $10
Thaiger
Cuisine: Thai burgers
Address: Shop 16, The Walk Arcade, 8 Causeway Lane, Melbourne
Why: Burgers of all kinds!
Price: $8 – $10
Shortstop Coffee & Donuts
Cuisine: Donuts
Address: 12 Sutherland St, Melbourne
Why: Amazing and weird donuts.
Price: $5
Sushi Burger
Cuisine: Japanese burgers
Address: 167 Exhibition St, Melbourne
Why: Because sushi burgers are a thing.
Price: $6 – $8
Mamak
Cuisine: Malaysian
Address: 366 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Why: Roti’s are yummy.
Price: $6 – $7.50
Banoi
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Address: 807 Bourke St, Docklands
Why: Spring rolls, rice paper rolls and Banh Mi.
Price: $7 – $9.50
Grain Store
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Address: 517 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Why: Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and milk.
Price: $10
YHA is the biggest budget accommodation network in Australia. With more than 70 hostels around the country, there is a YHA ready to welcome you wherever your wanderlust might lead.
