Restaurants

52 Of The Best Cheap Eats In Auckland

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A number of delicious-looking Korean dishes which you can feast on for cheap.

Whether payday is a distant memory or you simply don’t want to spend your life savings on a meal, don’t go running for those two-minute noodles just yet. There are plenty of cheap eats in Auckland that are minimal on coin but maximum on deliciousness, and Urban List's rounded up the cream of the crop for you to feast on.

These wallet-friendly Auckland restaurants will leave you full, satisfied, and with money in the bank. So, without further ado, here are 50 of the best cheap eats in Auckland, for $20 or less. 

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Hazy Tiger

22 Durham Street West, Auckland CBD

It’s impossible to miss the giant neon-lit tiger bathing as you wander up Durham Street West. The glowing cat signals a departure from your daily—cross the threshold and you’ll find yourself in Hazy Tiger, a trippy wonderland of Korean eats and sip-worthy libations. The menu has three sections—$8, $11, and $16 tapas-style dishes—all of which you’ll want to embrace fully (and not just because they’re easy on the wallet). Despite the small pricetag, the portions are generous, and you can easily have a solid feed here without the bill skyrocketing making it not only one of the best Korean restaurants in Auckland but also one of the best cheap eats. 

Poké House 

Commercial Bay | 206 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD | Westfield Newmarket | Sylvia Park | 110 Grafton Road, Auckland 

When you're craving a vitamin-packed hit of freshness, Poké House (from the same people who brought us Itameshi) is a reliable go-to and with most of their bowls clocking in under twenty bucks, it more than qualifies for one of the best cheap eats in Auckland. As an added bonus bowls are prepped quickly so there's no risk of running late to your next meeting. We love that all their sauces are made in-house so if you've got any dietaries, it's super easy to navigate. Our fave: the teriyaki tofu hot bowl on brown rice.

Hambagu

483 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland

Your body is a temple, we get it. And that's lucky because the Japanese-style burgs at Hambagu make for a rather transcendental offering for the stomach. Plus, they're cheaper (but far more delicious) than some of the more mainstream burger brands and do dietaries very well indeed. Almost the entire menu comes in under $20 a pop. Slam grilled steak strips, caramelised onions, and fresh lettuce between nori-topped rice 'buns' and your wallet will be a mere $15.90 lighter. Tack on a side of nori fries if you hit gold (i.e. discover some coins down the side of the couch).

Folds Patisserie

297 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland

Specialty lattes and beautiful sweet treats can be yours for less than twenty bucks.
Image credit: Folds Patisserie | supplied

You can eat actual art for less than $20. Yep, Folds Patisserie is a treasure trove of pretty, colorful cakes and savouries spotlighting South East Asian flavours you might never have heard of but it'll be love-at-first-bite, we assure you. Grab a coffee, matcha or ube and taro latte, plus a Swiss roll, cheesecake or other sweet treat for less than $18 and, thanks to generous portion sizes and a whole lot of beautiful coconut, you'll likely be full for the rest of the day. Did we mention they've got stacks of gluten-free cakes? Have at it. 

Broke Boy Taco

964 New North Road, Mount Albert, Auckland

There are tacos and then there are Tacos, if you catch our drift. And Broke Boy Taco is the latter. Fortunately though, housing a trio of these freakin' fantastic tortillas won't make you broke. Single tacos are $7 a pop, which means you could get a pair plus a can of cola for about $17 or opt for a plate of three plus consome for $20. 

Gloria's

Commercial Bay Ground Floor/7 Queen Street, Auckland CBD

A freakin’ stacked sandwich, ready for devouring. And so cheap you’ll weep with joy.
Image credit: Gloria's | Instagram

If you're in need of a feed between the hours of 9.30am and 3pm, Gloria's does unreal foccacia sandos, like, you-won't-believe-how-stuffed-these-are level unreal. Scoop a sando loaded with butternut, burratta, and green sauce with radicchio and radish for $18, a practically heaven-sent hunk of zataar and hot honey focaccia for $16.50, or, from 11am, swap $13 for a spicy vodka pizza slice decked out in mozzarella, parmesan and basil. We'll have you know it's worth shelling out the extra $2 for a dipping sauce—treat that crust.

Meet Balls

41 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD

Okay, if you haven't taken a bite out of Meet Balls yet, we need to have a serious discussion about your priorities. Namely, drop whatever you're doing and get yourself a ball, stat. Packing a massive protein hit, you can ball up (not sorry) with a beef and pork original, beef and onion, pork and leek, chicken and black sesame, or black bean-based vegan ball for the downright noble sum of $14.50. A tteok-galbi burger is yours for the ridiculously good price of $16. Or put their intriguing sides on rotation, bolstered with extra veges, and live the dream. Think: seaweed rice balls, chilli-sauced rice cakes, sweet and sour radish, and kimchi. 

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WoodSpirit Turkish Pide

Broadway Food Company, 20 Broadway, Papakura, Auckland 

A boat-shaped Turkish pide stuffed full of cheese and veges from WoodSpirit, one of the best cheap eats in Auckland.
Image credit: Woodspirit | supplied

All of WoodSpirit’s Turkish pides are $20 or less and most of them are actually in the $17 range. Yep, you can feast on their lahmacun spicy lamb mince and pomegranate molasses flatbread, mince and cheese pide, cheeky bacon and egg number or vegetarian or vegan iteration and still get change from a crisp green bill. And if you’re just in it for the cheese, nab their mozzarella offering and chase it with house-made Turkish baklava.

Burgernaut

597 New North Road, Morningside, Auckland

Fact: a visit to Urbanaut's dedicated burger kitchen, Burgernaut, is money well spent. The burgers here are some of Auckland's best—made in the American smash style—and will set you back as little as $14 (that's heading into burger chain territory). Spend wisely, and you can even get a side to go with. As for the sweet view—a working brewery—that's for free.

Dulcie

33 King Edward Parade, Devonport, Auckland

If your hanger happens to be the shape of a scone (or four) make a beeline for Dulcie and order any number of classic scones ($6 a pop) served with lashings of vanilla cream and house-made jam or ricotta and raw honeycomb. Dreamy. Or, if you’re in more of a savoury mood, get your mitts on a couple of smoked cheddar scones ($6.50 each) slathered with whipped butter. 

Perch

23 Galway Street, Britomart, Auckland CBD

A bamboo steamer of red dumplings in a red sauce from Perch, one of the best cheap eats in Auckland.
Image credit: Perch | supplied

It was a dark day when the iconic dumpling hot spot Xuxu Dumpling Bar closed its doors, but Perch has since risen from the ashes and we’re so pleased, which is exactly what your wallet will be when you enjoy a round of dumplings. Their spinach, chard, fried egg and shiitake morsels will set you back $16, and their prawn & pea shoot crystal dumplings with XO chilli oil can appear on your plate for $18. Alternatively, you could order a plate of cold Sichuan-style noodles with soy, black vinegar and chilli for the absolute steal of $12.

Mr Hao

365 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland

Mr Hao is always a good time, but especially outside the hours of 6 and 9 pm. That's because this mouthwatering spot is slinging assorted noodle dishes for as little as $8 (that's for the scallops with vermicelli, FYI) as well as BBQ tiger prawns, scallops and oysters for $2, $1 and $2 respectively. Tag on an iced tea cocktail or Mr Hao lager for $5 if the budget allows.

Carmel Israeli Street Food

67b France Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland

For legit Israeli street food that's as kind on your wallet as it is on your tastebuds, check out Carmel Israeli Street Food. This ex-food truck is your one-stop shop for what we swear are the best damn pitas around (soft, fluffy and so full of ingredients, they look as stuffed as we feel after eating them; $18-19), along with some seriously good rugelach. Your visit may or may not involve waiting in a queue, but that's just confirmation of how good this grub really is.

No1 Pancake

Unit 6, 18 Airbone Road, Rosedale, Auckland & 33-45 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland

A gooey beef and cheese-stuffed pancake. Image credit: No1 Pancake | Facebook

No1 Pancake is an Auckland icon, serving up mouthwatering Korean pancakes, or hotteok, from their bustling kitchens in Albany or Takapuna (they relocated here after spending more than 15 years in the CBD). Packed with tasty fillings and cooked 'til crisp, we dare you to find a more hearty meal this cheap (everything on the menu is under $10). Their potato and cheese pancake is legendary, and mere pocket money at $8.90.

Pici

Shop 22, St Kevin's Arcade, Karanagahape Road, Auckland 

One of the jewels in the crown of the Karangahape Road foodie scene, you can score Pici's legendary cacio e pepe or their spaghettini with peperonchini for $18. Alternatively, if you're in the mood for something sweet you could dig into any of their desserts, or, and we're being a bit cheeky here, you could even nab a plate of their cheesecake ($12) with a side of refreshing orange sorbet ($8). Delish. 

Sumthin Dumplin

18-26 Wellesley Street, Auckland CBD; 12 O'Connell Street, Auckland CBD; Shop F3, 500 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs, Auckland; 6 Patteson Avenue, Mission Bay, Auckland & 170 Wairau Road, Wairau Valley, Auckland

The gold standard for dumplings in Auckland, it never ceases to surprise us that such deliciousness comes so cheap (read: everything under $20). We're rather partial to Sumthin Dumplin's premium beef offering (basically cheeseburgers in dumpling form)—$13.80 for a half dozen or $18.80 for 10.

Hapunan

316 Main Road, Huapai

Gloriously golden spring rolls and well-stuffed bao buns.
Image credit: Hapunan | Instagram

Like so many incredible eateries these days, Hapunan started life as a food truck. Now you can get your fix of drool-worthy Filipino on the reg thanks to their brick-and-mortar eatery in Huapai. From their 'lumpia' pork sausage-stuffed spring rolls ($13) and 'dinakdakan' fried chicken bao buns ($14) to the belly-filling adobo del diablo (creamy coconut chicken on slaw and rice, $18), this is as thrifty as it gets.

Big J's Takeaways

4/1 Melton Road, Mount Wellington, Auckland

Despite their name, Big J's prices are really rather small. In fact, we consider it ridiculous that we can get some of the city's best-tasting burgers—with fries and a bottle of pop, even—for under 20 bucks. This includes options like their crispy chicken (golden crumbed chicken breast with smashed avo, shaved red onion and house relish), classic cheese (a prime beef pattie decked out with sauteed onions, house relish and cheddar cheese), or morning dory (battered dory with shaved red onion, homemade tartare sauce, a soft-fried egg and house relish)—or load up on grilled cheese sandos from $5.50 a square. 

Wang Wang Spring Pancake

704 Dominion Road, Mount Eden

Hidden along the foodie highway that is Dominion Road, Wang Wang Spring Pancake is the epitome of cheap and cheerful. These guys are slinging delicious, delightfully-thin Chinese pancakes that you can fill with whatever meat, vegetables and other goodies your heart desires, while their dumplings also come highly recommended.

Good Dog Bad Dog 

Commercial Bay, Harbour Eats, 7/21 Queen Street, Auckland CBD; Suite 4/1179 Great North Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland; 178-182 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland & 240 Ormiston Road, Flat Bush, Auckland

A seriously stacked hot dog, one of the best places in Auckland to score a cheap eat.
Image credit: Good Dog Bad Dog | Instagram

With four locations across Auckland and an affordable menu to boot, Good Dog Bad Dog was a shoo-in for this list. Starting from $12.50, their next-level hotties are an absolute steal. Grab a classic dog and something on the side (we're thinking mac 'n' cheese or tater tots, $11 and $12 respectively).

Lucky 8

161 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

If you're looking for a good time out in Ponsonby that won't cost next month's pay packet, you definitely need to check out Lucky 8 where everything on their menu costs a princely $8.88, and yes, that includes next-level food like skewers, noodles and more and innovative cocktails. Say what. There's a reason this place is always pumping and always a vibe. See also: Jungle 8

Kai Eatery

7 Mercari Way, Albany; Commercial Bay, Level 2, 7 Queen Street, Auckland CBD; Container Store, 1 Rutland Street, Auckland CBD; Milennium Centre, 604 Great South Road, Ellerslie; Smales Farm, Q4 Building, 74 Taharoto Road, Takapuna

A person holds a piece of fried chicken that is literally the size of their face. Image credit: Kai Eatery | Facebook

Fried chicken the size of our face? That's definitely something we'd be happy to part cash with. And we can do so for as little as $17 at Kai Eatery, where XL Taiwanese-style fried chicken is the name of the game. Channeling the steamy, humming atmosphere of a Taiwanese night market, in  fried chicken form, this is value-for-money incarnate. 

Selera

487 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland CBD

Selera's laksa is world famous in Auckland, and not just because it tastes incredible... it also comes in hot at $20 (the plain laksa, that is). However, this Malaysian fave also has a host of other well-priced dishes for you to get amongst, from wonton soup ($18) and chicken satay skewers ($16 for 4) to curry puffs ($9 for 3) and fish curry ($10). Yum.

Mar & Tierra

Auckland Fish Market, 22 Jellicoe Street, Freemans Bay, Auckland CBD

A lush-looking chorizo-stuffed arepa. Image credit: Mar & Tierra | Instagram

If you're in the mood for arepas and empanadas, you've come to the right place. Mar & Tierra, which has an outlet in Auckland's Fish Market, is dishing up solid South American fare and better yet, it won't break the bank. We like their cazuela bowls which come with rice, beans or salad, pickled vege, spring onion and coriander for the sweet price of $19.50. 

Fat Puku's Smashed Burgers

1/492 Queen Street, Auckland CBD

Smashing their way to low prices is burger newbie, Fat Puku's. Fun fact: their restaurant is named after a cat. You can pick up their signature Fat Puku burg'—a juicy smashed beef number topped with cheddar cheese, homemade pickles and other goodies, served on a soft potato bun—for $15.90. 

Satay Noodle House

183 Great South Road, Papakura, Auckland

A bowl filled to the brim with noodles, broth and other goodies.
Image credit: Satay Noodle House | supplied

When we discovered that almost everything on the menu at cult South Auckland eatery, Satay Noodle House was under $20, it was like all our Christmases had come at once. Choose from a long list of fried rice, noodle soup and stir-fried noodle dishes and of course, their signature satays. Spend your money right, and you could also nab some of their famous homemade wontons while keeping under the $20 mark.

Mr Zhou's Dumplings

3130 Great North Road, New Lynn, Auckland & 839 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland

The only thing we love more than dumplings is dumplings at an incredible price. Enter Mr Zhou's, only one of Auckland's best dumpling establishments which is bringing us handcrafted parcels of deliciousness in a long line of flavours including the hugely popular pork, chives and prawn, at $11.35 for 10. Don't forget their combination fried noodles and chicken fried pancakes, both available for under $20.

Sneaky Snacky

184 Karangahape Road, Auckland

A glazed doughnut burger stuffed with a beef pattie, melted cheese and more.
Image credit: Sneaky Snacky | Facebook

Sorry, not sorry for adding another burger joint to this list. We're talking about Sneaky Snacky, which you'll find in all its aorta-clogging glory on Karangahape Road. These aren't just any burgers, mind you—they're served on doughnuts instead of buns (yes, you read that correctly) and are so magnificently messy you'll be given disposable gloves to wear while you eat 'em (again, you read that correctly). You can't put a price on food this good (though really, their burgers start from around $16).

Gochu

Level 2, Commercial Bay, 1 Queen Street, Auckland CBD

Hear us out. While not everything on the menu at Gochu meets the criteria for this list, there's one dish that does. And not just any dish—their infamous spicy pork milk bun with beurre blanc dipping sauce, which costs $15 and is so incredibly rich, it could almost pass as a meal. Alternatively, you could order a round of their cheap and cheerful snacks—grilled pork belly ssam ($7), and a fried chicken slider with Gochu mayo and Korean pickled cucumber ($8).

Ramen Takara

272 Ponsonby Road, Auckland & 4 Anzac Road, Auckland

A steaming hot bowl of tan tan ramen.
Image credit: Ramen Takara | supplied

So, you like ramen? Of course you do. How 'bout ramen for bargain-basement prices? Hello, is that even a question? Best head along to Ramen Takara then, where their authentic Japanese noodles will cost you $14 at its best, and $20 at its most. And if you DON'T rate ramen, fear not—they have gyoza, don, harumaki and countless other delights for under $20.

Better Burger

45 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland; 22 Custom Street East, Auckland CBD; 286 Mount Wellington Highway, Auckland; 500 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs, Auckland; Town Centre Blcok FJ, 23/240 Ormiston Road, Flat Bush, Auckland; The Kitchen Collective, 9A Akatea Road, Glendene, Auckland

One of the best cheap eats in Auckland has to be Better Burger. You can grab a cheeseburger for as little as $12 or upsize to a combo (with fries and a drink) for around the $20 mark—score.

Mithaiwala

265 Karangahape Road, Auckland; 685 Sandringham Road, Sandringham, Auckland; 159 Great South Road, Manurewa, Auckland

Thali is an Indian and Nepalese platter-style dish made up of a bunch of small (and delicious) bowls. Opt for the Rajasthani Banquet at Mithaiwala and feast on three curries, three naans, rice, sweet gulab jamun, pickle, lassi and papad for less than $20.  

Mighty Hotdog

47 Chancery Street, Auckland CBD; 705 Manukau Road, Royal Oak, Auckland; 131 Pepler Street, Pakuranga, Auckland & pop ups in Sylvia Park Shopping Centre, Botany Town Centre, Ormiston Town Centre & 

Heaping sauce onto your Mighty Hotdog is a right of passage on Auckland's cheap eats scene.
Image credit: Mighty Hotdog | Urban List Wono Kim

When your wallet’s near empty and hunger pangs strike, your salvation awaits sporting aviators and a superhero cape. Of course, we’re referring to none other than Mighty Hotdog. Snag an original chicken banger for $7, a spicy ramen crust on half and half for $9.30, or giant dog for $8. Quite possibly the best bang for your buck in Auckland. 

Spicy Potato Noodles

251 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 

Drop into Spicy Potato Noodles for a hot bowl of soup packed with seaweed, tofu slices or meat, pakchoi and quail eggs. This iconic Chinese street food dish features a whopping portion of delightfully chewy potato noodles and will set you back around about $15 although this is likely to feed you twice (serving leftover realness, yo) or be happily split between two hungry bellies. 

Uncle Man's

215 Kepa Road, Mission Bay, Auckland; 100 Halsey Street, Auckland; 652 Great South Road, Manukau City Centre, Auckland & 277 Karangahape Road, Auckland

Malaysia is known for having incredible food and the dishes from Uncle Man's are absolutely on point, and with almost everything on the menu mostly clocking in at $20 or less, it's a haven for cheap eats. A steaming hot plate of kuey teow noodles ($20) always hits the spot, or opt for the Malay-style fried rice with egg, prawns and chicken ($19.50).

Chinoiserie

4 Owairaka Avenue, Mount Albert, Auckland

A special fried kumara bao topped with cucumber slices and pickled onion. IN the background are slightly blurry, colourful meals and a pint of beer.
Image credit: Chinoiserie | Facebook

We don’t think we’ll see a day when gua bao go out of fashion and while we’re spoilt for choice with great eateries serving bao-tastic renditions, Chinoiserie’s still one of the best—both in quality and price. Their satay-sauced tofu, at $14, is the bomb dot com. Seriously—it’s so tasty you won’t even care we just used a super cringe reference. 

FishSmith

200 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland

FishSmith has put a Herne Bay stamp on fish and chips and made them just that li'l bit fancy—but still without the expensive price tag. Our go-to is their fishbox (from $19.50) which includes a fish of the day, perfectly crispy double-fried potato chips, coleslaw and sauce. We like your style, FishSmith.

BannSang

1C/47 High Street, Auckland CBD

If you love Korean food (you do), look no further than BannSang. Serving some of the best Korean eats in Auckland, a fantastic range of dishes can be yours for just $20. Think: spicy kimchi soup with tofu and pork belly; cold noodles with spicy radish, cucumber, egg and sliced beef; and stir-fried glass noodles in homemade soy sauce with your choice of protein. Alternatively, if you're appetite's a little smaller, you could knock back a serve of tteokbokki spicy rice cake and fish sausage ($16) or a plate of fried or steamed mandu dumplings ($16). 

Cassia 

SkyCity, 90 Federal Street, Auckland CBD

The flavour bomb pani puri at Cassia, one of the best cheap eats in Auckland.
Image credit: Cassia | Facebook

Sometimes you just want to feel fancy, even when your wallet says a hard no. For those times, head to Cassia and dig into their 'bites' menu. Order as many pani puri as your spare change will allow ($5 each). You probably won’t feel full afterwards but your taste buds will be singing as they get to revel in the fresh, zesty explosion of mint, chickpea and potato in that crunchy shell.  

Revive

24 Wyndham Street, Auckland CBD

Cheap doesn’t have to mean fried for the gods. Plant-based feed, Revive, is brimming with a super tasty and nutritious ever-changing menu that doesn’t cost a leg (or, you know, your arteries). $19.90 will score you two of their game-changing salads and their hotpot of the day with rice, or you can scoop up a salad box for as little as $14.90. They also do stellar end-of-day discounts too for when you want to be extra thrifty.

New Flavour Restaurant

537 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland

Dumplings have a special place in the heart of every Aucklander. New Flavour serves up some of the best (and cheapest) in town. Their seemingly endless dumpling menu is priced at around $16-17 for a serving of 20 delicious morsels, $18 for Xiao Long Bao. The Auckland fave also serves delicious noodles, rice and Chinese-style pancakes.

Mr Taco

75C Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD

A spread of the most drool-worthy looking tacos. Image credit: Mr Taco | Facebook

Find what is arguably the city's tastiest Mexican at Mr Taco. Their tacos come in a range of drool-worthy flavours like chipotle chicken, al pastor and birria beef that are literally bursting at the soft-shell seams, and best of all? You can nab three for just $16. As you’d expect, they also do quesadillas ($15-18), burritos ($15-18), nachos ($18) and the all-important churros ($8).

Eden Noodles Cafe

105 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland; Shop 3/18-26 Wellesley Street East, Auckland CBD; 424 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland; Commercial Bay, Level 2/7 Queen Street, Auckland CBD

Eden Noodles Cafe is the go-to cheap eats hub when it comes to spicy dumplings (from $7) and dan dan noodles (about $15). Limited capacity increases the odds of you having to wait in line to get your Sichuan fix but patience is key, my friend—these bowls of slurpy goodness has earned a reputation for being the best noodles in Auckland. A word of warning: Eden Noodles spice scale packs a punch—you’ve got to be able to handle the heat.

Saigonz

105/40 Beach Road, Auckland CBD

Everything on the menu at Saigonz is around $17 or less (mostly less)—that’s hella reasonable given it’s all traditional fare bursting with flavour. With banh xeo (rice flour pancake), lemongrass chicken or tofu on rice, spring rolls on vermicelli, the iconic pho soup and crunchy bahn mi, summer rolls, a game-changing vegetarian salad and more, choosing what to have will be the hardest thing you do all day.

The Federal Delicatessen

86 Federal Street, Auckland CBD

The street dog at Federal Deli.
Image credit: The Fed | Facebook

Ahhh poutine, that hot, gooey, cheesy hug in fried form. Luckily for us, the good people at The Fed do a killer one. At $10.50 for a small, $18 for a large and an extra $6 to add pastrami, you might even be able to justify indulging in one of their heavenly slices of pie to finish. Alternatively, order up the legendary NYC-style street dog pictured above, which at just $14 is sure to deal with your hunger AND leave change in your pocket.

Belly Worship

547 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland

Lychee pork has been a staple of Fujian, the southeastern coastal province of China, for over 300 years and Belly Worship serves one of the best versions of this beloved dish ($20). Better yet, they do a vegan version too (also for $20), or you could go for their lemon vegan chicken in a Chinese burrito pancake for just $18.

Le Paris French Eatery

Elliott Stables, 39-41 Elliott Street, Auckland CBD

Sometimes you don’t have the ka-ching ka-ching but you still want to feel sophisticated—the perfect time to head to Le Paris. Sweet crepes will set you back a mere $7-14 and the savoury crepes (made with buckwheat flour) will set you back $13-19, or $20 for the duck spéciale. We love La Nordique—a buckwheat flour crepe filled with smoked salmon, chives, cream and lemon. It’s super filling and costs a magical $16.

Piefee

349 Karangahape Road, Newton, Auckland

A coffee sitting in a chocolate-coated, sprinkles-topped pastry cup with a swan pattern on top.
Image credit: Piefee | Facebook

Next-level sausage rolls, doughnuts and yes, pies (they once did a bacon French toast number), are the order of the day at Piefee, along with your favourite internet-breaking hot drink served in a biscuit pie cup, the Piefee (pie+coffee). Complete with sprinkle rim and chocolate coating, they might even pop a unicorn on top if you ask nicely. Any of these delicious goodies can be yours for less than $10.

Sensational Chicken 

11A Mount Street, Auckland CBD; 507C Great South Road, Otahuhu; 10/25 Anzac Road, Browns Bay, Auckland

You can’t have cheap eats without kebabs, and we sure like a good one. At Sensational Chicken, $10 will get you a lamb kebab, $12 a Hawaiian Vege Burger, and $10 cajun chicken on rice. Now that’s cheap. 

Bird On A Wire

Commercial Bay, Level 2, Auckland; Ponsonby Central, 136/146 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland; 40 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland

A classic baguette at Bird On A Wire, one of Auckland's best cheap eats.
Image credit: Bird On A Wire | Facebook

We’ve been a fan of Bird On A Wire since they first sprang into existence some years ago. Their menu, which originally revolved around chicken and tofu seems to be exponentially expanding and now also offers mouthwatering salad bowls and all-day breakfast. A good place to start is their $14 classic baguette—tofu, free-range eggs or pulled chicken with tarragon mayo, and cos lettuce. Gluten-free baguettes are also available. 

Zool Zool

405 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland CBD

When it comes to cheap eats, Zool Zool is most definitely cool. This Mount Eden fave is slinging bowls of steaming hot ramen on the cheap, so empty your pockets and fill your belly. Their chicken paitan noods, vegetable sesame broth, and shoyu bowl come in below the $20 with several more dishes at $20.

Auckland Indian Sweets & Snacks

24 Avenue Road, Otahuhu, Auckland; 852 Dominion Road, Mt Roskill, Auckland & 64 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill

While not technically a restaurant, Auckland Indian Sweets & Snacks is a treasure trove for cheap eats. The cabinets and shelving are lit up with bright pops of colour from every flavour of barfi (a dense milk-based sweet) and the savoury snacks—pakora, vada, steamed idilli with tamarind sauce and more—are sure to satisfy. Grab a curry, load up on sides and kick back in your lounge with your very own Indian picnic.  

Looking for more foodie deals? Check out: 

Main Image credit: Hazy Tiger | supplied. 

Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy, or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.

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