A huge part of moving to a new city is exploring the restaurant and foodie scene! Sydney is home to some of the best cuisines and eateries, in fact, we’re spoiled. As a student however, discovering this can be a little jarring due to living life on a student budget – we’ve all been there, and we get it. However, we’re here to tell you this no longer should be a set back! You can totally explore Sydney’s fantastic food culture on a budget. The city is diverse and rich in eateries from all different parts of the world. We want to help you enjoy some top cheap eats in Sydney for students!
Lucky Kwong
Lucky Kwong is a relatively new establishment located in Eveleigh – opened by renowned and loved Chef, Kylie Kwong, this restaurant is a must visit! The best part of all is this delicious and unique menu has nothing priced above $28! It’s a fabulous place to go with a group of mates for lunch with its casual eatery vibe. The menu consists of a delicious blend of asian fusion delights at an affordable price – for us it’s a non-negotiable!
El-Jannah
El-Jannah isn’t referred to as Legendary Charcoal Chicken for nothing! It’s menu truly is legendary, and is loved right across Sydney. If you love all things chicken, then this is the place for you! The menu consists of tasty chicken burgers, fried and charcoal chicken meals as well as traditional Lebanese meats. El-Jannah is an easy option for lunch, and won’t ever let you down. The menu and meals are affordable, and they differ in size, so depending on your hunger levels there will be a tasty option for you.
Bill & Toni’s
Who doesn’t love Italian food, and we believe it tastes even better when it’s affordable! We do think Sydney is spoiled for choice when it comes to Italian restaurants, however, if you’re a student on a budget, Bill & Toni’s in Darlinghurst is a great option. It’s a versatile eatery, with the downstairs level serving breakfast and sandwiches and upstairs is the restaurant serving dinner. The menu has all the classics, everything you love, and at really affordable prices. A great restaurant for any time of the day!
Mr Chen Beef Noodle
Mr Chen Beef Noodle in Haymarket is a Sydney staple – popular for good reason! This establishment is located in the heart of Chinatown, the menu is absolutely delicious serving amazing traditional Chinese food. All ingredients are fresh and made to order. The best part about Mr Chen is the affordability. The restaurant serves 30c dumplings from 5pm – 10pm everyday! Also, it’s BYO! Sounds like a match made in heaven.
The Sunshine Inn
The Sunshine Inn in Redfern is quickly becoming a favoured friendly neighbourhood pub. It’s unique as its menu is almost entirely plant based, and delicious, and relatively affordable – winning! The cocktails have been specially created, and are tasty! The Sunshine is a fun place to go with a group of mates on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, enjoy some yummy vegetarian meals and some funky cocktails!
Hello Auntie
If you love Vietnamese food, then you must go to Marrickville and visit Hello Auntie. Its delicious and vibrant menu filled with authentic, traditional Vietnamese meals you can easily share and enjoy with a big group of friends. We suggest going here for dinner on a weeknight or weekend night for a cruisy and yummy feed. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and even a bottomless brunch option! We know this will be one of your new favourites.
We’ve only given you a snippet of the top cheap eats in Sydney for students. If you’re interested, also check our article about healthy and cheap eats in Melbourne. We suggest exploring the suggestions we’ve given, and also doing some of your own exploring, and uncovering some unknown cheap eats around the city. It’s not only a great way to get to know Sydney better, but we know you’ll have some fantastic meals along the way.
The Switch
