Frugal Feasts: The Best Cheap Eats in Adelaide

As much as we all love to be wined and dined at the fanciest of Chef Hats and fine dining restaurants, sometimes it’s the small hole-in-the-walls serving up slices on paper trays that really hit the spot. Whether you’re grabbing a speedy lunch, a bite to eat before a show or simply want some good food without the price tag.

Savvy Adelaideans know that some of the best eats in this city are also some of the cheapest (and most cheerful), from juicy handmade dumplings, piping hot pizzas, and authentic Thai dishes. No matter the cuisine, you're guaranteed a meal that delivers on price and taste.

These are the best cheap eats in Adelaide serving up delicious food that won’t break the bank.

Sit Lo

Sit Lo quickly gained popularity among Adelaide locals, for its servings of all things fresh and tasty, as well as being a certified purse friendly cheap eats option. Their two sleek and stylish venues boast excellence from the inside out with a delicious assortment of handmade bao buns and mouth-watering banh mi for $10 or under. From tofu and sautéed shiitake mushroom to panko fried chicken, these hearty Vietnamese rolls are a cheap and cheerful lunch staple that will keep you full until payday, but there's also the tempting option to upgrade to a loaded noodle or salad bowl from $14, with add-ons including steamed Asian greens, extra meat and all the saucy goodness. 

Bank Street, Waymouth Street, UNISA City West

Francesca's Pizza & Sandos

The secret is in the sauce at this brand spanking new pizza joint in Glenelg. From the team behind beloved Hey Bianca, Francesca's is winning all of our spend to save respect with their $10.95 margarita pizza wallet (pizza portafolio) and under $16 sandos. This is not just any pizza pocket – it's a tasty treat that's as convenient and cheap as it is delicious and satisfying. Their secret sauce gets added in alongside parmesan, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella and a drizzle of olive oil. Simply perfect - and simply put, it's one of our favourite new cheap eats in Adelaide.

728 Anzac Highway, Glenelg

La Popular Taqueria 

La Popular Taqueria offers delicious and affordable Mexican street food, making it a go-to spot for budget-friendly eats. Friendly and vibey, this Port Adelaide favourite is dishing out ridiculously tasty tacos, for $12 or less. The pulled pork cochinita taco, served with hot habanero sauce and pickled onion; grilled chicken taco, with salsa roja, coriander and onion; and braised mushroom tacos are the real steals here, coming in under $11. 

225 St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide

Motherlode 142

This boozy fried chicken shop in the heart of Adelaide has been stealing hearts since its inception - but fortunately, not all of our money! There are actual real bargain dishes to be had here, from their bottomless fried chicken (or fried cauliflower) and waffles night coming in under $30 to their signature chicken burger and signature nuggets sitting pretty at $15 a pop. The honey sriracha chicken tenders are also a must, delivered to your table as a set of two or three. Comfort food doesn't always come with a comforting price tag these days, but the team at Motherlode 142 are here to disprove that.

142 Hindley Street, Adelaide 

Crown & Anchor | Midnight Spaghetti

We all know that this stalwart pub is home to cold, affordable pints and great live music - but did you know that Midnight Spaghetti, one of our favourite Italian spots, sits invitingly upstairs with one of the best cheap eats in Adelaide offerings? 

It's a brilliant spot that knows how to do family night, right. Every Wednesday, head on up post-pint for $15 pastas and drinks specials. Treat yourself to a side of Sicilian olives or their delicious focaccia, topped with your choice of Gruyere cheese or Ortiz anchovies. Buon appetito!

196 Grenfell Street, Adelaide 

Adelaide Pho

With no website or much social media presence, this little hidden gem stays well and truly hidden online, but in real life, Adelaide Pho is a constant go-to for those who want a cheap meal that doesn't compromise on flavour. Sitting on Waymouth Street, stop in for a loaded and warm bowl of delicious Vietnamese Pho for around $20, made the authentic way with the broth cooking for over 24 hours to draw out the heartiest of flavours. If pho isn't your thing, you can get three rice paper rolls for $11.50.

199 Waymouth Street, Adelaide

Smiley's Tuckshop

When you find yourself needing some extra sustenance during a shop at the Adelaide Central Market, Smiley's Tuckshop is delivering the goods that won't send you broke. Cooking up fresh bacon and egg rolls, simple toasties and premium coffee to market goers, there's also a few nostalgic treats on the counter - Killer Python lolly, anyone? The combos are what seal the deal, with a pie or pasty with a can of drink for $8, a bacon and egg roll and a coffee for $15, or a ham and cheese toastie and a coffee only setting you back $10 - we love a good bargain!

Stall 11, Adelaide Central Market, 44/60 Gouger Street, Adelaide

Lucia’s Pizza and Spaghetti Bar

If you’re not necessarily rolling in dough, then you might want to check out Lucia’s Pizza and Spaghetti Bar. Set within Adelaide’s famous Central Markets, this bustling little Italian joint brings a genuine piece of Italy to the heart of the city and straight into our hearts. Frugal foodies flood in for their freshly prepared paninis, homemade pasta and sauces, and of course, their signature deep pan pizzas – all of which will give you change from a twenty. While pizza is most certainly a breakfast dish in our eyes, the team here also do some banging brunch plates that are also worth checking out. No matter the dish you decide on, it's bound to be one of the best cheap eats in Adelaide. 

Shop 1-2 Central Western Mall Adelaide Central Market

Star Dumplings

Versatile, filling and just downright tasty, dumplings are the holy grail of cheap eats. In the heart of Chinatown, Star Dumplings is no frills, no fuss, and deliciously authentic. With the majority of dishes sitting around the $8-10 mark, settle in and order up a feast of steamed dumplings stuffed with a variety of fillings including pork, chicken and prawn, seaweed and pork and vegetarian. The purse friendly feeds don’t stop there, as they also offer stir-fried noodles, rice dishes and sizzling chef's specials including beef and black bean with rice at under $15. Take it from us, the garlic prawns are a must.

27b Moonta Street, Adelaide

Kin Kin Thai Eatery

If you have a craving for Thai food, Kin Kin Thai Eatery will serve you well, and just so happens to be one of our go-to venues for cheap eats and cheerful vibes. The food is top-notch, with the kitchen pumping out an extensive range of favourites across salads, curries, stir-fries piled high with noodles and mains complete with succulent prawns, meats and seafood. Fresh, zippy flavours feature in dishes like green papaya som tum salads and tom yum fried rice, with the loaded dishes sitting around the $20 mark. It's one of the best value cheap eats Adelaide has to offer!

4/242 Hutt Street, Adelaide

Burgertec

When the cravings for a good old-fashioned burger kick in, it’s hard to look past Burgertec and their many locations across Adelaide. Using fresh quality ingredients across the board, each burger has a hearty, homemade feel. From $7 Cheeseburger Tuesdays, where the clue is in the name as to what you get, to $15 lunch combo specials where you can choose between their O.G cheeseburger or hot chick, their impressive line-up of daily specials will keep you well-fed and watered while saving you some serious coin. We also can’t fault the creamy buffalo dipping sauce that is dangerously moreish. If burgers are your bread and butter, this is the cheap eats in Adelaide for you. 

Various locations across Adelaide

Okami

Refusing to compromise on quality or quantity, Okami invites you to feast on their cheap eats offerings to your heart’s content, with all you can eat sushi for just $39.80 per person. There are multiple sittings available daily, with diners getting two hours to work their way through the all-inclusive menu which features the likes of prawn gyoza, chicken karaage, sushi, sashimi and udon, as well as their menu of miso soup, vegetable spring rolls, skewers, wings, fried rice and salads. Top it all off with a dessert of creamy signature Japanese green tea ice cream or a mini matcha taiyaki, because why not?! Heads up, you might want to wear your stretchy pants for this one.

287-291 Glen Osmond Road, Glenunga & Shop 5/297 Montacute Road, Newton

Parwana Kitchen

Prepare yourself for a sensory explosion, without an explosive price tag, at the outstanding Parwana Kitchen. They have perfected a menu of succulent dishes over the years, including the dough based Mantu steamed dumplings and Ashak fried dumplings, both at just $23 a plate and coming with lamb mince, yoghurt and garnishes, and their signature Banjaan Borani, an eggplant simmered in fresh tomato sauce and topped with garlic, yoghurt and mince at just $20. This cheap eats Adelaide restaurant is available to enjoy for lunch or dinner at their Henley Beach Road location or on certain evenings at Plant 4 Bowden.

Sitchu Tip: If you’re inspired by these cheap eats, you can recreate them at home thanks to the Parwana Book of recipes.

124b Henley Beach Road, Torrensville

Brighton Metro Hotel

No matter the weather, it feels as though the sun is always shining at the Brighton Metro Hotel, due especially to the generous food and drink offerings available. Snag yourself some cheap eats at Charlie’s Diner with their all you can eat buffet starting at just $28.95 per adult for lunch on certain days, and their $37.95 dinner. The Sports Bar and Beer Garden menu has excellent happy hour deals including their daily $7 pints and house wine along with $8 spirits and spritz happy hour deal. If that wasn’t enough cheap eats happiness for you, their 2 for $25 cocktail specials available Friday through Sunday will surely seal the deal. We’ll drink to that!

466 Brighton Road, Brighton

Gunbae Chicken and Beer

Giving you exactly what it says on the tin, Gunbae Chicken and Beer will feed you lovingly hand-crafted Korean fare with all the sides. Get your cheap eats in Adelaide served hot from their tasty tapas or dinner for two menu at just $43, with mandoo, original boneless chicken, slaw and pickled radish, or from the Feed Me set menu. For a minimum of 3 people at $43 per person, enjoy four smaller plates and a signature boneless chicken tasting board complete with four sauces and sides.

If you want to be in charge of your own menu, you can also select from the various small plates options or the bigger portions of perfectly crunchy Gunbae fried chicken, complete with sauces and sides.

11-29 Union Street, Adelaide

New India Restaurant

For authentic Indian cuisine at reasonable prices, head to New India on Hindley Street. It has been a local favourite for cheap eats in Adelaide for years, and it's still as good now as it was when it first opened. Bold, aromatic flavours weave their way through a diverse selection of tandoor meats and fragrant curries, plus delicious snacks and sides like onion bhaji, hot samosas and the always refreshing mango lassis. With his decades of experience spanning across the globe, Head Chef Gopal’s menu is rich in authentic flavours and delivers quality restaurant food without the hefty price tag.

167 Hindley Street, Adelaide

If you’re hungry to discover more of Adelaide's food scene after making your way through our favourite cheap eats Adelaide, then be sure to check out some of our favourite new restaurants worth booking into, and the best pubs in Adelaide that will keep both your stomach and purse happy.