When you’re trying to stick to your budget resolutions, are a frugal penny pincher or are just trying to avoid living on instant noodles before payday, eating out can be expensive and impractical. Lucky for you, the Sunshine Coast is rich with restaurants boasting some seriously killer deals that won’t break the bank.
If you’re looking for finger-lickingly good spots to make your new regular when you’re low on funds, check out our seriously drool-worthy lineup of 11 of the Sunshine Coast’s best cheap eats in 2023. Go forth and be thrifty.
Taps Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba
Did you know you can get twice-voted best wings in Australia for just 50 cents a piece? If you head on down to Taps Mooloolaba on a Wednesday you can get yourself these wings all day with any drink purchase. It’s a minimum of 10 wings, so all it will cost is one fiver. There’s seven tasty flavours to wrap your chompers around and with a huge selection of tap beer that changes every week, this deal will have you going back again and again.
Dirty Moes
Mooloolaba
With its famous slow-cooked meats and great atmosphere, Dirty Moes gets an even bigger seal of approval from us for serving up epic loaded Nachos for $17 on Wednesday nights, then double back on Thursday night from 5pm for their cheeky $17 burger and fries combo which is nothing if not generous.
If you've already indulged in their famous brisket, try the Sloppy Moe with three beef patties, brisket, cheese, bacon, mustard, mayonnaise, tomato sauce, spicy BBQ sauce and onion rings. Drool.
The Good Bar
Mooloolaba
The Good Bar loves a great midweek deal. Every day of the week at lunch time you can grab one of their 'good' burgers and a beer for just $19 and any 'great' burger in the same deal for $23. On a Wednesday you can grab a large basket of wings for $18 and on a Thursday you can double down on the goodness with two burgers for the price of one, so you don't have to be frugal alone.
La Canteena
Maroochydore
If you’re near Ocean Street on a Sunday, skip in to La Canteena for some of the cheapest eats deals around. Open from midday on a Sunday, this funky Mexican joint boasts live tunes from 4pm and their famous ‘Insane In The Lane’ Sunday meal deals from $5. The ever-changing special deals are some of the best around, with delicious street food, killer cocktails and slurp-worthy sangria taking centre stage.
Drift Bar
Bulcock Beach
Drift Bar may be known for their waterfront views of the Pumicestone Passage and live music weekends, but they’re also a sneaky little spot for cheap eats. On Mondays you can grab Barramundi, chips and salad for $20, Tuesdays is $20 carbonaras, Wednesday is $20 rump steak, chips and salad and Sunday is $15 dollar pizzas. Walk in there almost any day of the week and you’ll be leaving with a full belly and no regrets.
Umami Ramen
Maroochydore
Raid the piggy bank and fulfil your ramen cravings at this authentic ramen joint located in the heart of Maroochydore. The first dedicated ramen shop on the Sunshine Coast, nothing on Umami Ramen’s menu costs more than $19 (bar one Mooloolaba prawn-topped ramen) and their rich and creamy tonkotsu pork broth brings hungry patrons in droves. They also appeal to the vegetarian and vegans souls amongst us with their vegan ramen made with four types of mushrooms.
Miss Moneypenny’s
Noosa Heads
Offering $2.50 oysters and $12.50 seasonal spritzers every weekday from 3pm to 5pm, why aren’t you spending every afternoon at Miss Moneypenny’s? Their oyster and spritzer sessions are the place to be after knock off and are perfect if you’re looking for something a bit special without dipping into your savings.
Your Mates Brewing
Warana
Join the parmy army, and get one in you every Thursday night at Your Mates Brewhouse. For just $19, you’ll get one of the best parmigianas on the Sunshine Coast. They also offer up a vegan eggplant parmy. If that wasn’t good enough already, pay Your Mates Brewing a visit any Tuesday night for an $18 dollar burger and chips deal.
Down that with the backing track that is trivia and then return Wednesday to score 1kg of wings and a jug of beer for just $35, or keep it simple and devour 1kg of wings for $20. Hands down, this brewery is one of the best cheap eats on the Sunshine Coast in 2023.
The Beach Bar & Grill
Mooloolaba
We love a good pizza as much as the next person and that’s why your best bet to help keep the budget intact is to wait until Friday, and then hit The Beach Bar & Grill for their $15 pizza nights which run from Friday to Sunday from 3pm to 5pm. You'll have five flavours to choose from, so there’s no chance you’ll go home hungry.
If that hadn’t already secured The Beach Bar & Grill’s spot as one of the Sunshine Coast’s best cheap eats, pay them a visit on a Wednesday night and score a loaded burger, chips and a pot of beer for the sweet price of $22. Now that’s what we call a bargain.
Paradise Arcade
Noosa
Home to a massive range of tequilas, mezcals and cervezas behind their bar, and tacos, burritos and tostadas in the kitchen, Paradise Arcade is THE spot for a good Mexican experience in Noosa. An overall affordable menu which includes $8.50 tacos, 2 for $18 tostadas and $22 burritos in both their wrapped and bowled forms, you can plant yourself firmly in their colourful restaurant and not worry about the economics of eating out for once.
Kings Beach Bar
Kings Beach
Have we got a lineup for you. Wednesday: $18 homemade pastas. Thursday: $6 tacos. Friday: $12 burgers. Saturday: $20 rice bowls. Say less. Sat right on the water at Kings Beach, Kings Beach Bar are serving up affordable meals all week and there’s live music on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays if those prices weren’t enough. If the repetition of meal prep is starting to wear on you, you know where to find us.
Coffee Cat
Kings Beach
Kings Beach Bar has some competition, because right next to them is Coffee Cat. If you’re not feeling the aforementioned meals, try two-for-$15 bao buns on Fridays and 10 for $10 wings on Saturdays. Coffee Cat takes over the role of live music hosts these days, so your cheap meals are paired with sweet, sweet tunes all week.
Are you feeling like you need to quench your thirst after all this cheap feasting? Pull up a stool at the Sunshine Coast's best breweries you need to have a drink at.
Image credit: La Canteena, Dirty Moes, Paradise Arcade,Your Mates Brewing & Lumea Photography