The Iglu Guide | Blog
10 Cheap Eats in Sydney
Sydney is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. But you don’t have to spend big to eat big. Here are 10 of the city’s best budget-priced eateries.
- Pho Pasteur: Vietnam’s national dish, the humble pho, is a hearty rice-noodle soup usually served with beef, chicken or pork spruced up with basil, mint and bean sprouts. One of the best – and cheapest – places to get it is Pho Pasteur at 709 George Street, Haymarket with prices set around $12.
- Tamana’s: Since 1991, Tamana’s North Indian Diner at 196 King Street, Newtown, have dished up curries, naan breads, dosas and chaats to eat in or take away at very reasonable prices. Try a chicken tikka wrap for $9 or three meat curries with rice for $11.
- Harry’s Café de Wheels: Serving pies, pasties and hot dogs to locals and tourists from a caravan parked in front of the Woolloomooloo Navy Dockyard since 1945, Harry’s is the most famous and best-loved fast-food shop in Sydney. Chunky-style meat pies topped with tomato sauce, mushy peas, mash or gravy start from $4.
- Kings Cross Hotel: Recently reopened following an extensive refurbishment, the Kings Cross Hotel on the corner of Darlinghurst Road and William Street serves traditional pub food like burgers, bangers and mash and nachos. The $12 dinner specials offer especially excellent value: barbecue ribs on Tuesdays, tacos on Wednesdays and chicken schnitzel with chips on Thursdays.
- Beach Burrito Company: At 252 Campbell Parade, and various other locations, this Texmex-style restaurant offers million-dollar views of Bondi Beach at cheap, cheap prices. Try a quesadilla – a flour tortilla stuffed with cheese and fillings like chilli con carne, tempura fish or tofu with vegetables – served with corn chips, salad, guacamole and sour cream for $14.
- Sushi Train: Why stuff yourself with burgers or fried chicken after seeing a movie at the City Cinema Centre when you can eat healthy and delicious raw fish? Sushi Train at 505 George Street (and nine other locations around town) sell nigiri, California rolls, sushi and sashimi for an incredibly low $3.30 a dish!
- Hoh Won: The influx of international students at University of New South Wales, Kensington, has led to an influx of budget-priced Chinese restaurants in the area. Hoh Won at 143 Anzac Parade, will cook you six crispy spring rolls with dipping sauce for $9, shantung chicken with rice for $12 plus shredded beef and any more Chinese specialties for less than $15.
- Chat Thai: Thaitown is a neighbourhood of Thai video stores, grocery shops and restaurants bordering Chinatown. One of its most popular and most affordable haunts is Chat Thai at 20 Campbell Street. Satay sticks with peanut sauce are only $2, green papaya salad is $10, while roasted duck with egg noodles costs $15.
- The Burger Joint: There are few cheaper and tastier ways to fill your belly than with a big old burger. Burger Joint at 393 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, will sell you a burger with a grilled beef patty, sauté onions and a selection of sauces for $7.50. Add 50 cents for tomatoes or lettuce, $1 for avocado or mushroom, $1.50 for cheese or $2 for bacon.
- Supermarket: All these places are great, but if you’re living on a tight budget, forget about take-away shops and cafes and get down to the Coles Supermarket at the Broadway Shopping Centre. From fresh fruit and vegetables, to chicken, fish and meat, dairy foods and packaged goods, as well as prepared meals like curries and sandwiches, this is one the best-priced food stores in Sydney.
Image: Courtesy of Tourism NSW
