Asian cuisine

The most obvious of them all! It can be quite easy to find cheap, quality Asian eats in Brisbane. For dumplings and Chinese, try New Shanghai, Little Red Dumpling or Fat Dumpling. For Japanese, try Sushi Kotobuki or Taro’s Ramen. For Vietnamese, try Trang Restaurant or Little Saigon Grill. For Indian, try The Indian Kitchen, Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine or Punjabi Palace. For Korean, try Korilla BBQ Restaurant or Maru Korean Restaurant.

All American

Burger joints are opening all over Brisbane and are the perfect spot to stop for a cheap meal. Try Remy's, Ben’s Burgers, Fritzenberger, Fat Angel Sports Bar and Grill, Grassfed or Red Hook. If you prefer to nibble on wings, head to Big Roddy’s Rippin’ Rib Shack, Buffalo Bar or Archive Beer Boutique and Bistro. For hot dogs, try 5 Dogs Hot Dogs or Brat Haus and for bagels, you can’t go past The Bagel Boys. 

European gems

West End is known for its Greek heritage, and the food heuroere is both good and well priced. Get mains for less than $30 at Little Greek Taverna or Lefkas Taverna. For tasty and affordable Italian, try The Verve Italian Steakhouse or Italian Street Kitchen. The Brisbane German Club is a great place for cheap German food – like a face-sized chicken schnitzel with vegetables and potato mash from $26. It is so large you could share it with a friend. 

Breakfast spots 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a filling and delicious meal to set you up for the day. For a quick and cheap breakfast, try Wrapture or Yolk, or indulge in something sweet at The Pancake Manor. 

Markets 

Markets are a great option for those wanting to eat cheap and have variety. The Brisbane City Markets in The City every Wednesday and Thursday are a great opportunity to grab produce, plus pick up lunch and fresh juice. Eat Street Northshore and Boundary Street Markets both offer a twilight market of food stalls with every cuisine you can imagine. Eat Street Northshore is set inside shipping containers with live music, bars and more. 

Seafood 

For some of the best and cheapest fish and chips in Brisbane, head to The Fishery or the Clayfield or Hawthorne Seafood Markets. Fish Kitchen & Market, Sea Fuel and The Barra Boys also have a number of cheap and delicious options. 

Mexican 

From fajitas and burritos to quesadillas, tortillas and other mouth-watering delicacies, Mexican food is a great option for a cheap bite, especially if you can track down a Taco Tuesday bargain. For quick and easy, try La Mexicana at Howard Smith Wharves. Or for a delish dinner, head to El Planta, El Torito or Mucho Mexicano. 

Sweet tooth 

Fortunately, sweets are often on the cheap, but where can you get the best treats? For the best Italian gelato or ice cream, try La Macelleria Gelateria or Lick Ice Cream. Grab a doughnut, cronut or brownie from Flour & Chocolate. A decadent treat from I Heart Brownies – strong competitors for Brisbane’s best brownies – will set you back about $5 (and worth every cent!). You can’t go past the stunning sweets when picking up a salad from Botanica.

Delicious dining 

If you’ve got fine-dining tastebuds on a budget, you can still treat yourself to a delicious dinner without breaking the bank. Local faves include Beccofino, Julius Pizzeria, Hop & Pickle British Gastro Pub, Happy Boy, Mama Taco and Bird’s Nest Yakitori Bar. At these places, you will get the atmosphere and quality, with most mains under $25.