Frugal Feasts: The Best Cheap Eats in Canberra

Canberra may not be a city synonymous with budget dining, but that’s not to say more affordable options don’t exist—you’ve just got to know where to look!

From Vietnamese hidden gems to some of the best Japanese cuisine in the city, there are lots of excellent spots that are sure to keep your tummy and your wallet happy and full.

Read on to discover the unassuming eateries that deliver quality feeds at friendly prices with our list of the best cheap eats in Canberra.

CBD Dumpling House

Delivering bang for your buck, a plate of steaming dumplings is always a good idea, and CBD Dumpling House makes some of the best in town. With plates of fresh dumplings for less than $20, it’s easy to get carried away.

From boiled pork and prawn and hot and sour dumpling soup to pan-fried chicken or vegetable dumplings, every preference is catered to at this wallet-friendly spot. And, with vegetarian and gluten-free options, everyone can enjoy the feast, making this a great pick for a group dinner that doesn’t break the bank.

Canberra Centre, 26 Narellan Street, Canberra

Verity Lane Market Hall

When you don’t want to spend big but need a little inspiration on cuisine, head to Verity Lane Market Hall, one of the best markets in Canberra for a bit of everything at reasonable prices.

Perfect for a casual lunch (or a fun date night) in Canberra, this is a buzzing food hall filled with vendors serving mouth-watering cuisines from around the globe. From plates of Korean fried chicken at Seoul Chicken to authentic Italian pizza from Pizza Artigiana, this is a trip around the world, without the hefty price tag and our go-to when we want a cheap and cheerful meal.

50 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra

Yarralumla Turkish Halal Pide House

There’s usually a small crowd milling about outside Yarralumla Turkish Halal Pide House, and for good reason. This takeaway joint is fast, tasty and best of all, inexpensive.

The huge menu caters to a few dietary requirements, so you’ll find something to suit every taste. Choose from pides (naturally), kebabs, gozlemes, burgers, snack packs, entrees and desserts. Many dishes are vegetarian and a few are vegan-friendly, too!

The lamb kebab, sucuklu pide (with Turkish salami) and kabak mucveri (fried zucchini balls with yoghurt sauce) are all excellent, but the banquets are really where it’s at. You get a bona fide feast with dips, bread, rice, skewers, pide and more for just $22.50 per person.

Shop 1/47 Novar Street, Yarralumla

Kita

The best part about this affordable spot in Canberra? It’s the place to be after hours, with food available until 5am every day. Yes, really.

Kita offers up a menu filled with Indo-fusion meals, from small bites like lumpia, otak-otak and satay ayam to bigger dishes like nasi goreng, laksa, a Kita burger and a weekly curry special.

The perfect spot to head for a late-night feed when you’ve worked up an appetite on the dance floor, in our opinion.

59 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah

Ms Ba Co

Ms Ba Co is a great place in Canberra to grab quick and delicious Vietnamese dishes, from pho and banh mi to noodle dishes and bowls and fresh spring rolls.

We love the banh mi—particularly the crispy pork belly version—but the bun (rice vermicelli bowl) with lemongrass beef, the chicken curry and the vegan fresh spring rolls with tofu are all top-notch too. Be sure you order a Vietnamese iced coffee to go with your food for a truly authentic feed.

There are two Ms Ba Co locations in Canberra: one in Majura Park and one in Civic. So, whether working in the city centre or finding yourself out east near the airport, a superb Vietnamese meal is always within easy reach.

4&6/108 Bunda Street, Canberra City

Shop 39/18-26 Spitfire Avenue, Majura Park

Dickson Asian Noodle House

Dickson Asian Noodle House is in Canberra’s Chinatown, a bustling strip on Woolley Street in the northern suburb of Dickson. The precinct isn’t huge, but the eateries here are all very good, and, mostly, very cheap!

Dickson Asian Noodle House is a particular highlight with an incredibly extensive menu covering traditional cuisines from Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and China. Our favourite dishes include the range of hot laksas, the Laotian beef larb and the Pad Thai—all of which are fairly priced.

Dickson Asian Noodle House also lets you BYO booze if you’re looking to save even more money, so we’ll cheers to that!

Shop 4/29 Woolley Street, Dickson

Ramentic

There are plenty of good ramen spots in Canberra, but Ramentic can’t be beaten. Not only is the ramen superb, but it’s also budget-friendly!

Choose from traditional or spicy tonkatsu (pork bone) broth, lighter chicken or miso broth, or vegetarian mushroom broth—all garnished with toppings like slow-cooked pork, egg, wood ear mushroom, bamboo shoots, spring onions and corn.

Beyond the ramen menu, the vegetarian and pork gyoza, lotus chips and Japanese spring rolls are worth trying.

Shop 134/24 Lonsdale Street, Braddon

Now that we’re successfully tightening the purse strings with the best cheap eats in Canberra, how about saving some money on booze, too? Here are our guides to the best happy hour specials in Canberra and the best wines under $20.