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Best Cheap Eats in Perth for Savvy Spenders
Although the inflation rate is gradually decreasing, many remain struggling, as it’s still above market expectations (9News). The cost of living also continues to increase, with a 1.5% rise between June and September last year (ABS).
That’s why everyone is still on the hunt for ways to tighten their belts. For many, myself included, this meant steering clear of fancy restaurants and gravitating towards the comforting embrace of budget-friendly eateries.
Luckily, Perth doesn’t have a shortage of delicious yet cheap eats! Here are a few of our favourites around the city.
Back Bar at Hylin
Location: Hylin, 178 Railway Parade, West Leederville
Website: https://www.backbarhylin.com/
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours: Wednesday to Saturday: 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Price: $10 to $26 for food, $5 to $68 for drinks
After tackling the daily grind, unwind at the quirky and cosy Back Bar in Hylin. With weekly deals that will make your wallet happy and you even happier, this is the ultimate spot for those who need a good refreshment!
Wednesdays are for tasty $12 chicken parmies, while Thursdays are reserved for the ultimate burger showdown, with $12 options fit for both meat lovers and vegetarians. Our favourites, though, are the tender and juicy $15 Friday night steak sanga.
You can score these budget-friendly meals by ordering at least one drink. Their signature Lemoncello Spritz has quite a refreshing, zesty kick, perfect for ending a stressful work day.
Pro Tip: The inside of the bar can get really noisy and overwhelming as the night progresses, so consider taking one of the alfresco seats if you want a more peaceful dining experience.
Toastface Grillah
Location: Wolf Lane, 7/329 Murray St
Website: http://www.toastfacegrillah.com/
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Price: $4 to $13 for food, $3 to $8 for drinks
Tucked away in Wolf Lane, Toastface Grillah has been slinging mind-blowing, melt-in-your-mouth toasties for quite some time now. Think gooey cheese, crispy bread, and unexpected flavour combos for as low as $5!
Their classic cheddar cheese sandwich, a steal at just $5, features delicious, crispy white bread, perfect for a light meal. Pair this up with either an iced coffee ($6.5) or a hot cappuccino ($4 to $5.5), and you’re in for a great breakfast.
For lunch, we recommend the It’s Gravy Baby, filled with tender pulled beef, rosemary gravy, crispy potato straws, and cheese. Priced at only $13, it’s a filling, hearty toast that perfectly balances savoury flavours and textures.
Pro Tip: Toastface Grillah also has locations in Northbridge and Scarborough. They’re often less busy than the one in Murray Street, so you can head there if you’re near.
Authentic Bites Dumpling House
Location: 3/145 Newcastle St, Perth
Website: http://www.authenticbites.com.au/
Contact details: 0423 310 599
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM; 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: $3.5 to $17.5 for food
If you’re hankering for some mouthwatering Chinese dumplings without breaking the bank, head to Authentic Bites Dumpling House in Newcastle, where the daily long line outside the restaurant speaks for itself.
Their famous xiaolongbao (soup dumpling) dishes have the authentic Chinese flavour you get from street vendors in China, so don’t miss out on them. Their other menu items are also wallet-friendly, all under $20.
With each bite of their steamed juicy pork xiao long bao, you get that savoury broth and tender pork filling, making it one of our favourites. And with eight pieces for just $15.5, both your tummy and wallet will be more than satisfied.
Pro Tip: Arrive early, even before they open, or come during non-peak hours to avoid wait times. The queue can get really long, especially during lunch and dinner.
Pinchos Bar De Tapas
Location: 112-124 Oxford St, Leederville
Website: http://www.pinchos.me/
Contact details: (08) 9228 3008
Operating hours:
Monday: 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Tuesday: 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Wednesday and Thursday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Price: $2 to $36 for food, $5 to $65 for drinks
Pinchos Bar De Tapas looks a bit more fancy than you’d think for a cheap eating spot, but don’t worry because it won’t break your wallet (unless you drink too much booze!). With food items priced as low as $2, there’s something for everyone here!
Their pintxos (bite-size bread with toppings), priced at $2 to $6, are the perfect pair for their delicious sangria. The pintxo anchoas (anchovy pintxos) have just the right amount of saltiness for their sweet sangria, making them among our favourites.
If you want something more filling, the tapas meals are amazing. Try the crowd’s favourite, patatas bravas, which features fried paprika potatoes, or the ever-so-yummy and beefy albondigas (meatball soup).
Pro Tip: Visit between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM or 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM if you want cheaper meals and booze. They offer meals ranging from $12 to $19.90 and $6 drinks.
Viet Hoa
From @jansfoodiaryy
Location: 1/349 William St, Perth
Website: http://www.viethoa.com.au/
Contact details: 08 9328 2127, [email protected]
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Price: $8.8 to $52 for food, $3 to $8.5 for drinks
One of the busiest restaurants on William Street, Viet Hoa has built a solid following in Perth after serving fine meals for almost 40 years. It has built an excellent reputation for serving delicious Vietnamese food in generous portions at an affordable price.
Be sure to try their pho tai (beef soup), which is a great introduction to their menu and Vietnamese food in general. It’s rich in herbs and aromatics, which makes the broth more fragrant and the beef slices richer in flavour.
If you don’t mind spending over $20, $22 to be exact, try our favourite shaking beef dish. It’s very juicy and buttery, with a sweet and salty flavour that’s a bit addicting, to say the least.
Pro Tip: The restaurant is BYO, so you can bring some booze if you want. But if you’re not really in the mood, they have a long list of juices, milkshakes, and teas.
Taka’s Kitchen
From @leana_eats
Location: 150-152 Barrack St
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Taka-Japanese-Cuisine/
Contact details: +61 8 9221 4771
Operating hours:
Monday and Tuesday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Price: $8 to $15 for food, $25 to $48.90 for party platters
Offering bloody good Japanese food, jaw-dropping low prices, a casual atmosphere, and fast service, Taka’s Kitchen is one of the best spots for students or workers who need a filling meal at a bargain.
The menu mainly comprises rice bowls, noodles, and katsu dishes, all of which cost less than $16 per meal. Even their sushi platters, containing 30 to 44 pieces of sushi rolls, don’t cost more than $40.
Their beef teriyaki dish is one we’d never be afraid of recommending. The beef may not be as high-quality or tender as the other fancy restaurants in the CBD, but the teriyaki sauce sure makes the meal taste like it costs more than its $15 ($11 for small) price tag!
Pro Tip: The place gets crowded during lunchtime, so it is best to arrive as it opens. Although you’d still find a seat if you arrived at noon, they might run out of sushi.
Bark
Location: 502 Hay St, Subiaco
Website: http://www.barksubiaco.com.au/
Contact details: 0474 532 870
Operating hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Tuesday to Friday: 7:00 AM to Late
Saturday: 4:00 PM to Late
Price: $6 to $14 for lunch, $7 to $34 for dinner
Bark is an Australian-themed cafe and bar in Subiaco that offers some affordable yet delicious Australian staple foods. Whether you want a Conti roll with your beer or a sandwich with your coffee, Bark won’t make your bank account cry.
The classic Conti roll is definitely our favourite and go-to for a filling lunch. It’s packed with salami, mortadella, cheese, olives, tomato, pickled peppers, and rockets, and it’s quite hard to believe it’s only $11.
Every Friday, they offer a special menu at affordable prices. The cheeseburger I had here once had a really juicy patty, and I’m still waiting for it to return to the menu until today.
Pro Tip: Want some wine and beer? Bark hosts happy hour from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM and offers a $2 discount on tap beers and wines.
Komatsu
Location: G12, 6/34 William St, Fremantle
Website: https://www.komatsu-freo.com/
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours:
Tuesday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Friday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Price: $12.50 to $16
There’s nothing quite like the comfort Japanese ramen can bring, especially during cold weather. So if you’re craving this comforting and fulfilling dish, head to Komatsu in Fremantle and sip to your heart’s content without worrying about the bill!
The Japanese restaurant offers a range of ramen for only $16 and less! It also has soba (buckwheat noodles), udon (thick wheat flour noodles), Japanese fried chicken, dumplings, and tako balls, all still under $16.
Komatsu’s pork ramen from all the ramen and noodle dishes we’ve had here, so it’s a safe bet if you’re not sure what to order. The broth was rich and flavourful, with a slightly creamy and tangy taste, which you can very much taste from the chewy noodles.
Pro Tip: If you have $8 to spare, order the fried chicken with your ramen. They go well with one another, especially when you dip the chicken in the broth!
El Publico
Location: 511 Beaufort St, Highgate
Website: https://elpublico.com.au/
Contact details: 0418 187 708, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Wednesday: 5:00 PM to 9:45 PM
Thursday: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Friday: 4:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Saturday: 4:00 PM to 11:30 PM
Sunday: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: $8.5 and up
When it comes to good food, you can never go wrong with Mexican food. And El Publico in Highgate does not just Mexican food really well, but also cocktails!
Try their delicious beef short rib taco for only $9. The juicy short-rib beef adds a savoury touch, while the creamy avocado and sweet onions balance out the flavours perfectly.
If you want to try some cocktails or beer, the mushroom tostada is the best pair. Their beef balls, which they call mogo mogo, also match well with beer, but they’re $19, so you might have to give up the tacos if you want them.
Pro Tip: Book a table in advance if you’re planning to have dinner here. It’s quite popular, so you might end up waiting for other diners to finish before you can sit if you don’t have a table reserved.
Lima Cantina
Location: 130 Oxford St, Leederville
Website: https://limacantina.com.au/
Contact details: 0430 006 073, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Wednesday and Thursday: 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM; 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM; 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM; 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM; 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM; 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM; 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: $7 to $39
Known as the Gastronomical Capital of the Americas, Lima has lots of good food to share with the world. Luckily for those in Perth, Lima Cantina is bringing authentic Lima cuisine to Leederville for a low price only!
The beef empanada is a must-try for anyone visiting Lima Cantina. The balanced flavour of the savoury beef, slightly spicy rocoto (Peruvian chilli) mayo, briny olives, and sweet sultanas made the dish one of my best $9 purchases ever.
If you’re dining with someone else, try the causa de pollo, a shredded chicken dish served with mashed potato, yellow Peruvian chilli, lime, avocado, and boiled egg. It’s $26, but it’s meant for sharing, so you can split the bill on it.
Pro Tip: Arrive before they open for dinner if you want to sit inside. There’s pretty limited space inside the restaurant, and you can’t pre-book an indoor table, so you have to get there early to get a spot.
The alfresco seating is also great, but it can get chilly at night.
