Frugal Feasts: The Best Cheap Eats in Canberra

The city isn’t exactly 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 in the city, there are lots of excellent spots that definitely won’t break the bank.

Read on to discover the unassuming eateries that’ll keep you, your tummy and your wallet happy with the best cheap eats in Canberra.

Fekerte’s Ethiopian

Catching a movie at Palace Electric or staying at Ovolo Nishi? Make sure you head to Fekerte’s Ethiopian, which is also located in the NewActon precinct.

Vegetarian dishes incorporate root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, pumpkin) with various herb and spice blends, while meat-eaters can choose from chicken or beef cooked in both spicy and mild sauces. Alternatively, you can mix and match and create your perfect dish. The menu is fairly compact, but everything is really, really good.

No matter what you order, you can choose between rice and injera as a side. We recommend going with the latter; this unique fermented flatbread is truly unlike anything else you’ve ever eaten.

2 Phillip Law Street, Acton

Turkish Halal Pide House

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

The menu is huge, so you’re bound to find something to suit every taste as well as some dietary requirements. Choose from pides (naturally), kebabs, gozlemes, burgers, snack packs, entrees and desserts. Many are vegetarian and a few are vegan, 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.

Shop 1/47 Novar Street, Yarralumla

Ms Ba Co

Ms Ba Co is the great place to grab quick and delicious Vietnamese dishes, from pho and banh mi to noodle 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.

There are two Ms Ba Co locations in Canberra: one in Majura Park and one in Civic. So, whether you’re working or playing in the city centre or 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 situated 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 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, 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 and dishing up some of the best cheap eats in Canberra.

Choose from traditional or spicy tonkatsu (pork bone) broth, lighter chicken or miso broth, or the 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 also well 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.