The City:
Cheap eats

18 JANUARY 2023

A week to go before payday and you're counting pennies? High-end taste buds on a student budget? Or perhaps you’d like to treat yourself to a Friday lunch out but don’t want to break the bank?  Whatever the case, great food at wallet-friendly prices has an undeniable appeal. Whatever the case, great food at wallet-friendly prices has an undeniable appeal. We’ve tasted and tested these budget-friendly eateries, takeaway joints, cafes and bistros in The City that will fill your belly without emptying your savings account.

Breakfast bargains

Are you a breakfast-on-the-go kind of person? Visit The Bagel Boys on George St or Adelaide St for a BRAT bagel filled with crispy bacon, rocket, aioli and tomato for $10.50 or head to Raw Energy for a refreshing acai bowl for only $15.90.

Cheap Asian eats

The City is filled with delicious Asian eateries, ready to exchange your lunch money for a delicious bite. Our recommendations? We’ve got plenty! Take advantage of $1 dumplings on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Steamed on Turbot St, eight steamed xiao long bao pork dumplings for $11.80 from New Shanghai or Nagahama ramen for $15 from Hakataya Ramen. Test your spice levels with spicy Korean cakes from Charmy Food & Bottle Shop for $13 or the spicy and sour soft pork bone soup for the same price from Kinn-Imm in QueensPlaza. Choose to keep it simple with $4.80 plates of sushi from Sushi Edo on Elizabeth St, sushi selections starting at $2 from Sushi Hub at George St, Albert St, Uptown and Post Office Square or the Mr Pow signature bowl for $14.90 from Malolo Poke on Creek St.

Big meals, small prices

Looking for something a little more substantial? For $11, grab an M.C. Cheesy mac ’n’ cheese toastie with maple bacon from Melt Brothers in either Post Office Square of Uptown Food Court or the Brooklyn cheeseburger for $13 from Red Hook in Gresham Lane. Enjoy taco fries with friends for only $18 at Irish Murphy’s on George St, or indulge in the delicious Tzimmy classic pita wrap with house tzatziki for $13 at Zeus Street Greek.

Lover of chicken wings? Fly into Nene Chicken in Uptown for its Korean chicken drumsticks duo lunch box and salad for $13.95, Embassy Bar & Kitchen for 1kg of maple chilli wings for $15 or Buffalo Bar for $14 saucy wings.

Save on sweet treats

The City is jam-filled with spots to get your sweet fix. Start your day the right way and snag the Nodo doughnut and coffee combo for only $8.90 from 8am to 10am daily or spread your doughnut-loving bites throughout the day and pick up five gluten-free doughnuts from G-Free Donuts every Wednesday at Brisbane City Markets. There’s more than just cheap doughnuts in The City, grab a chocolate and almond croissant for $6.90 from Coffee Anthology or take home a selection of macarons for only $3 each from Le Bon Choix. Go on, you’ve earnt it! 

Friends enjoying a drink at Riverbar.