Sydney on a Budget: 8 Cheap Eats Locals Actually Swear By
Sydney has a tourist food problem. The sit-down restaurants on the harbour charge 35 dollars a main, the cafes near the Opera House want 7 bucks for a flat white, and the rooftop bars charge 25 dollars for a cocktail before tax.
None of it is what locals actually eat.
If you are hunting for the best budget restaurants in Sydney, you need to step away from the water. Here is where to find the best cheap eats Sydney has to offer for under 20 dollars a meal.
1. Spice Alley (Chippendale)
Located at 18-20 Kensington Street, Spice Alley is a covered laneway of six Asian food stalls glowing under yellow lanterns. Expect to pay 14 to 18 dollars a bowl. They take both cash and card. Through 2026, they are running special 10-dollar dishes on a rotating menu to mark their tenth anniversary—hands down the best dining deal in the city right now.
2. Marrickville Pork Roll
The banh mi everyone in Sydney has a strong opinion about. The original is at 236A Illawarra Road in Marrickville, but they have newer outposts at Darling Square (Haymarket) and Circular Quay. It costs about 9 dollars. The Marrickville location is cash only and has a queue out the door at lunch, but it is absolutely worth the wait.
3. Mamak (Haymarket)
Located at 15 Goulburn Street, this is the spot for Malaysian roti and curry. It runs about 15 dollars a plate. Everything is made fresh, they don't take bookings, and the queue moves quickly. The roti canai is what they are famous for.
4. Chat Thai (Thaitown)
They have multiple locations, but the original is at 20 Campbell Street. You can get a massive meal for around 20 dollars that any Thai person will tell you is the real deal. Plus, it is open late if you need a midnight feed.
5. Chinatown Food Courts
If you want authentic, affordable food Sydney CBD, head to the Eating World food court on Dixon Street or the Sussex Centre on Sussex Street. The rule here is simple: pick the stall with the longest line of locals. You can get a massive, full meal for 12 to 16 dollars. It is consistently better than half the fancy sit-down restaurants in the area.
6. Supermarkets After 7 PM (The Cheat Code)
Nobody mentions this in standard food guides, but it is the ultimate backpacker cheat code for cheap dining Sydney. Both Coles and Woolworths discount their fresh food (bread, sushi, ready-to-eat meals, and salads) by 30 to 50 percent in the last hour of trading. Scoring a 25-dollar sushi platter for 11 bucks is entirely normal.
7. Korean BBQ in Strathfield
It requires a quick train ride out of the city centre, but you can find all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ spots for around 25 dollars a person. The exact same spread would easily be a 60-dollar experience anywhere else in the city.
8. Neighbourhood Pubs
If you are looking for Sydney pub food deals, look out for weeknight counter meals. Most standard neighbourhood pubs do an 18 to 22 dollar steak or chicken schnitzel with chips. It is not glamorous, but it is consistently the best value sit-down food in the city.
The Takeaway
The pattern is the same every time: the further you walk from the tourist strips, the better the food and the lower the price. Always walk inland.
By the way, if you are staying at any of our four Azzurro pod hotels, you get breakfast AND dinner included every single night. That is honestly half the reason we wrote this list—we know our guests care about their budget. Save your money for experiences, eat dinner with us, and use this guide when you are out exploring.