There's lots to love about Perth, but cheap eating is not really the first thing that comes to mind. These days a basic meal out with your mates can easily cost you upwards of $50 to $70 by the time you throw on a drink or two.
The good news is, you don't need to stop eating out altogether to save some coin. We've compiled a hit list of top spots to suit even the tightest of budgets.
So here you go, friends. Go forth and be thrifty. Here are the best cheap eats in Perth.
Taka’s Kitchen
Perth
No matter what anyone says, Taka is absolutely never going out of vogue. It’s always been a solid cheap eat favourite, and if they keep pumping out their extremely serviceable sushi and rice-based dishes at an almost unbelievable pace and price, it always will be. We’re talking crispy and delicious karaage chicken with rice, salad and a miso soup for as little as $9.50. Crazy!
Old Lane Street Eats
Northbridge
While it might be a bit quieter than some of the other bustling Chinese restaurants in Northbridge, the food at Old Lane Street Eats is as delicious as it is cheap and copious. Do not miss out on the Roti John, which consists of sloppy (in a good way) minced beef, egg, onion and Sriracha in a bun. Other favourites are the marmite chicken bao and the tasty Pad Thai which comes out encased in an omelette, you’ve got to try it for yourself. And yes, it’s BYO.
Ruin Bar
Northbridge
Image credit: Ruin Bar | Instagram
A vibing beer yard with an attached pizzeria is always going to be a great spot for a knock-off pint and bite, but it can easily blow your weekly budget. Not on Wednesdays at Ruin Bar, though. They slash 50 per cent off those woodfired beauties, so you're only paying $12 to $14 for a whole (and genuinely very good) pizza, with cheap jugs and other drink specials going too. If Wednesday nights aren't your thing, they also do a nine inch pizza and pint deal for $16 every Sunday.
Churra's
Northbridge
Another cheap eat to make space for in your diary has to be the steak sangas from South American butcher, Churra's. Every Saturday from 10am til 3pm, these legends take the BBQ to the street, making epic sandwiches to order filled with sausage, picanha steak and pork leg alongside salsa and house mayo for just $14. Arguably the best sandwich in Perth for less than $15? Yes, please.
Tra Vinh
Northbridge and Girrawheen
Vietnamese gem, Tra Vinh, is home to (in our opinion) the best pho tai in town, and you can get a generous bowl full of the steaming, brothy goodness for around $17, with heaps more options under $15. We also just wanna shout out how gosh darn quick the food comes out here—you could easily be in and out within 30 to 45 minutes depending on how much chinwagging you're doing and whether someone decided to BYO wine for the occasion.
Funky Momo
Vic Park
Image credit: Funky Momo | Instagram
If you're into lotsa plump, juicy dumplings on a shoestring budget, Funky Momo in Vic Park is the spot. They specialise in Nepalise dumpings (momos) and knock out these awesome 16 or 35-piece mixed platters with salad and dipping sauce for $25 or $35. These hearty little parcels are surprisingly filling so you can easily split the 16-piece one between two and call it a night. If you prefer to do your own thing, there's also a $15 combo meal that comes with 12 dumplings, salad and a soft drink. Not bad at all.
Komatsu
Fremantle
Kamatsu is the new spot from the crew behind the Freo Market's most popular ramen joint, Dosukoi. While their new digs are a little more modern, they've got the same affordable menu, with a variety of bowls starting at just $12.50. Pick between toppings like prawn dumplings, Japanese fried chicken, soft sliced pork and fresh leek, alongside your choice of soy, miso or salt broth.
Ohnamiya
Applecross
Ohnamiya might just be Applecross' best kept secret. The tiny Japanese joint on Kearns Crescent offers up a charming homestyle Japanese dining experience that won't break the bank, with an epic range of set meals and donburis to choose from, along with curries, super fresh sashimi, sushi rolls and more. When in doubt, the classic karaage chicken rice box is always a winner and comes in under $15.
Back Bar By Hylin
West Leederville
Image credit: Back Bar By Hylin | Instagram
Back Bar By Hylin is making weeknight dinner decisions waaaayyyy easier with its great value meal deals. Go for a $12 parmi with chips and salad on Wednesday. A $12 burger with chips and salad on Thursday. Or a $15 steak sandwich with chips and salad on Friday. Veggie options are available for each one too. The only catch is you need to buy at least one drink, but you were going to do that anyway, weren't you?
Toastface Grillah
Perth CBD, Northbridge and Scarborough
Definitely one of the only places left in Perth where you can get lunch with a tenner, Toastface Grillah has been doing damn delicious, ultra-cheesy toasties for a while now. The Classic will set you back just $5, but if you're hungry for more, the most you'll pay is $13 for something substantial like the It's Gravy Baby, filled with pulled beef, rosemary gravy, crispy potato straws and cheese.
Grand Lane Fish House
Perth
You might think you’ve found Perth’s best tacos, but have you tried the ones at Grand Lane Fish House? Grand Lane Fish House is tucked down Grand Lane (duh) and dishes out lovingly made fish and chips, fisherman’s boxes and the all-important fish tacos. These tacos are a (very) decent size, the fish inside is fresh and chunky, and you get two for $10.50. The owner is a passionate Brit, and he’s bringing a taste of the UK to the CBD lunch crowd, so you can get goodies like HP sauce on your chips too.
Little Beans Gourmet
Canning Vale
Image credit: Lean Beans Gourmet | Instagram
An absolute haven for vegans all over Perth, Little Beans does super affordable (and outrageously good) vegan plates for around $17 to $20 a pop. From mock chicken katsu curry to nasi lemak with veggie rendang, there's plenty of hearty meat-free Asian feeds on offer—with different dishes depending on the night.
Qin's Beef Noodle
East Vic Park and Northbridge
When comfort is on the cards, only a bowl of Qin’s Lanzhou noodles will do. The hand-pulled noodles are made to order at your chosen thickness and width and served in an enormous bowl of seriously slurp-worthy broth all for around $16 to $17. Whether you go spicy or a simple beef broth, it’s like a warm hug in a bowl. Throw on unlimited noodle refills and it's no wonder this spot sent Perth into a spin when it first opened in Vic Park—with people queuing around the block just to try Perth's first authentic Lanzhou beef noodle. Now you don't even have to head to the burbs, you can get Qin's iconic noodles in the heart of Northbridge too.
Pinchos Bar De Tapas
Leederville
If you’re looking for somewhere a bit more upmarket that still won’t break the bank, Pinchos Bar De Tapas should be your first port of call. Grab some pintxos (around $2 to $7 a piece) before sharing some embutidos (Spanish cured meats) and tapas. If you order as you go and take things slow, you'll find you fill up pretty quickly so the bill is never as bad as you think it will be... if you don't drink too much booze, that is.
Authentic Bites Dumpling House
Northbridge and Karrinyup
Image credit: Authentic Bites | Nancy Hanna
Nowhere cheap has ever tasted so good. Authentic Bites Dumpling House has a line out the door almost every day for a reason, and it’s not just the sub-twenty-dollar menu. Get dumplings of literally any kind here, and wash them down with one of their delicious noodle soups (preferably one with dumplings in it).
Viet Hoa
Northbridge
This place is one of the busiest restaurants in Perth, and upon scanning the menu it is not hard to see why. Aside from the delicious noodle soups, vermicelli, rice and meat dishes at Viet Hoa being some of William Street’s best, the prices are almost jaw-droppingly low. Grab your friends, some BYO drinks, and make a night of it.
Govinda’s Hare Krishna
Northbridge
Backing it up with something that’s actually nutritious, $10 will buy you no holds barred access to a delightful smorgasbord of vegetarian Indian food at Govinda’s Hare Krishna. There’s no reason not to love this place.
Filos & Yiros
Highgate
Image credit: Filos & Yiros | Instagram
It’s hard to imagine a better cheap and satisfying meal than that which you can get at Filos & Yiros. Just thinking about their yiros will make your mouth water; that succulent lamb bathed in tzatziki and loaded with chips, thick-cut tomato and onion to keep things zingy. It’s melt in your mouth, drizzle down your fingers delicious and it’s only 14 bucks. The chicken version is equally delicious and only $13.
Ikhwan Cafe Perth
Perth
Speaking of smorgasbords, you can't go past the Malaysian buffet nights at Ikhwan Cafe on Pier St in Perth. The food is fire and you can pay what you feel, so basically it's an absolute steal.
Mack Daddy’s New York Slice
Mount Lawley
There’s a lot of pizza to be enjoyed in Perth, but few that really layer on the cheese and turn up the grease factor in true New York style. Mack Daddy’s is holding it down at the southern end of Beaufort Street; you can grab an enormous pizza that’ll easily feed two for as little as $30 or a giant slice for as little as $8.
Need more inspo? Check out Perth's best happy hours and meal deals.
Main image credit: Taka Kitchen | Elle Borgward