Sometimes you spend money. And then keep on spending money. And then you get hungry. We’ve all been there. It’s not fun.
Sure, your wallet may be empty but we guarantee your stomach will be full (of happiness) after these seriously good cheap eats. We like to think of this as Sydney’s most affordable food safari.
Here are 15 of Sydney’s best cheap eats under $10.
Pork Rolls At Marrickville Pork Roll
Marrickville
The original royalty of the pork roll heads all the way out to Marrickville Pork Roll. For only $6 a piece, munch on some of the juiciest pork and freshest fillings you’ve ever tried. But be warned, the lines get a tad long due to how popular this spot is, so you know it’s a must-try.
Bruno Crepe At Love Crepe
Drummoyne and Pyrmont
Love Crepe is not about skimping on the sweet treats. With a massive selection of gelato starting from $5.50 and DIY sweet crepes, Love Crepe is your treat for the winter weather. But honestly, you haven’t tasted heaven if you haven’t tried the $10 Bruno crepe, mixed with Nutella, banana and biscuit.
Truffle Mac N’ Cheese At The Horse
Surry Hills
Head upstairs to the rooftop deck at The Horse and take in the fairy lights while ordering up a bowl of truffle mac n’ cheese for only $9. Believe it when the servers say, with the amount of truffle in this one, you’ll only need a small serving.
Beef Pho At Fast Pho
Ultimo
Located in the heart of Chinatown, you won’t be strapped for choices. Only setting you back $9, Fast Pho’s beef pho will warm you up instantaneously. The quick service and epically proportioned meals are just what will keep you coming back time and time again.
Hot Chips Roll At El Jannah
Various Locations
The Lebanese eatery kings of Sydney, El Jannah always do their patrons a solid when it comes to the pricing. The standout feed here looks like the epic hot chips roll packed with the potato-y good stuff, garlic sauce, tomato sauce, crunchy coleslaw and green pickles.
Chicken Schnitzel Burger At Out Of The Blue
Clovelly
Out of the Blue is a staple takeaway burger joint in the Eastern Suburbs churning out some of the best damn feeds around. Hit the chicken schnitzel stack (sitting at $9) which is loaded with OTB’s iconic garlic mayo, beetroot, lettuce, tomato and carrot.
Italian Sausage Pizza At Frankie’s Pizza
CBD
If you’re in the mood for grungy rock and greasy pizza, then Frankie’s Pizza is your go-to destination. You can grab any of their pizzas from $6 a slice but we suggest the Italian sausage with mushrooms, mozzarella, shaved parmesan and truffle paste. It’s a no-brainer.
Xiao Long Bao At New Shanghai
Various Locations
Of course, the best dumplings in Sydney were going to make this list. If you’re looking for the absolute warmth that any Chinese food can provide, New Shanghai’s xiao long bao at $9.90 a pop is the dish to order. That hot, soupy dumpling will explode in your mouth.
Giant Cookie At Flour Drum
Newtown
Flour Drum is at the quietest end of King St, and deserves a whole tonne of attention for their sweet treats. If you have $8 lying around and are desperately craving a warm, gooey giant chocolate chip cookie, then you’re in luck. These legends bake cookies bigger than our faces each day and the regular flavour is M&M and choc chips, but we’ve recently witnessed chocolate brownie and white choc chip.
Noodle Soup At Gourmet Noodle House
Berala
Majority of the feeds on Gourmet Noodle House’s mammoth menu is under $10 so, you’ve just scored big time here. Try some of the best and greasiest spring rolls in Sydney for $6 a plate and then slurp down a bowl of crispy chicken rice noodle soup at $9.80. You can’t won’t find this authenticity anywhere else.
Sandwiches At South Dowling
Darlinghurst and Alexandria
This family-run favourite amongst the locals is exactly what you’re in need for when a cheap office lunch is on the cards. South Dowling boasts massive sandwiches, where most of them rack in at $8 and are created with fresh ingredients with service so fast you won’t have time to blink.
Gozleme At Gozleme King
Various Locations
For the ultimate warming meal, Gozleme King is here to help you out. Order up their classic feta cheese gozleme for a cool $8 if you’re feeling a more savoury approach. But if you’re sweet taste buds are popping off, the banana buzz dessert gozleme hits it hard for only $7.
Cheeseburger Tacos At El Camino Cantina
The Rocks and Manly Wharf
The most popular Tex-Mex establishment in Sydney, El Camino Cantina has cheap as heck tacos on their menu. For only $6 a piece, grab their cheeseburger taco with ground beef, queso, lettuce and mustard aioli. Or, for your plant-based friends, the mushroom street taco with chipotle coleslaw, mushrooms, yoghurt and scallions is a heavy-hitter at the same price point.
Creamy Pumpkin Pie At Lentil As Anything
Newtown
This vegan and vegetarian venue changes their menu daily, but here’s the catch, you get to decide what you pay. Lentil As Anything accepts donations that will head towards their operational costs, so a crisp tenner should do the trick for something like the creamy pumpkin, lentil and zucchini pie.
Toasties At Dutch Smuggler
CBD
Toasties are the pride and joy of CBD favourite Dutch Smuggler. Known for packing these babies to the brim, there’s a huge sling of warm breakfast sambos under $10 to get around but the real MVP is the mi goreng noodle toasty built with a fried free-range egg, cheddar and magic sauce for $9.50.
Check out the best of spots to eat on King Street.
Image Credit: Caitlin Hicks | Dutch Smuggler