The 9 best cheap eats in Canberra

Tucked away in Mawson, this modern Lebanese bakery is a morning walk through Beirut with its fresh bread and the classic olive oil, sumac and za’atar trio. All up, there are more than 25 manoush flatbread toppings to pick from. If you’re dining with friends, fill the table with affordable small plates, like hummus, mixed veggies, grilled halloumi and shakshuka. Sounds like a feast we can get behind without breaking the bank.

Order the: Zaatar flatbread with oregano and sumac.

Price: Flatbreads range from $4.50 to $18

Wide, stretchy, slurp-worthy noodles drenched in chilli oil, topped with meat gravy and crunchy bok choy? Yes, please. And all for under $20? We’ll take another bowl for lunch tomorrow too. You’ll want to arrive hungry because Biang Biang’s flaky pastry pockets stuffed with spicy potato, cumin beef or pork are equally addictive.

Order the: Biang biang noodles topped with chilli.

Price: Pastries from $4, noodles from $13.80

A good old toastie is as cheap and cheerful as it gets, with Melted’s golden bread delights starting at just $8 for one filled with gooey cheese. This Fyshwick toasted sandwich emporium uses only the highest quality ingredients from local Canberran businesses, including Three Mills Bakery and Balzanelli Smallgoods. For $10 or less, you can sink your teeth into toasties filled with ham and cheese or tomato; cheese and Vegemite; or pesto, tomato, feta and mozzarella. 

Order the: Mi Goreng noodle toastie.

Price: Toasties from $8

Grab a few mates and head to this city centre dumpling spot to sample a variety of their hand-wrapped delights. Our favourites are the crispy pan-fried chicken dumplings, soupy Shanghai pork dumplings, and boiled prawn and pumpkin dumplings, all coming through at under $20 for 12 pieces. Oh, and did we mention, it’s BYO?

Order the: Crispy pan-fried chicken dumplings.

Price: Dumplings from $15.80

Holy guacamole: we can’t stop thinking about the tacos from this groovy Mexican bar in Garema Place. You can mix and match three tacos for $15, with fillings like crispy eggplant, smoked beef short-rib, pulled chicken and fried cauliflower. Even better – visit on Taco Tuesday where they’re just $4 all night long. PS: We hear Loquita’s Margaritas are some of the best in town, and they’re just $15.50 during happy hour from 5-7pm.

Order the: Popcorn prawn taco (and a Spicy Marg).

Price: Tacos from $7

You won’t find a more wholesome place to settle down for lunch than The Canberra Food Co-op – a not-for-profit, community-run café and bulk wholefoods shop, located on the rim of the Australian National University (ANU). On weekdays, the café serves a fully vegan and gluten-free lunch special, cooked up by its talented chefs and volunteers. At just $10 for students and $12.50 for the general public, it’s one of the cheapest and best-value lunches in Canberra. During the ANU semester, The Food Co-op also runs Thursday night dinners where you can enjoy live music with hand-rolled tacos, vegan doughnuts and house-brewed masala chai for $14.

Order the: Lunch special and a chai tea. 

Price: Meals from $12.50 for the public ($10 for ANU students)

Au Lac is Canberra’s answer to the vegetally challenged, serving up comforting Southeast Asian flavours that give this vegan restaurant serious street cred. For the ultimate cheap feed, order two fresh Vietnamese rice paper rolls for $7.90, or opt for some crispy spring rolls, deep-fried wontons or san choy bao for just a dollar more. There are also satay skewers, eggplant fritters and soy ‘duck’ pancakes just above the $10 mark, with larger salads, noodle soups and stir-fries all for under $20. 

Order the: Fresh rice paper rolls, or if you're feeling hungry, the laksa. 

Price: Rice paper rolls from $7.90, main dishes from $18.90.

Situated smack bang in the heart of Canberra's City Walk, Flavours of Ethiopia is the perfect spot for a casual workweek lunch or a quick grab-and-go. For under $20, you can mix and match any three mains, from pumpkin and red lentil curries to hearty beef stew or chicken tibs. Each dish comes with rice or injera bread, and you might as well whack on a samosa.

Order the: The mix plate with beef, lentils and mixed vegetable curries. 

Price: Mains from $11, mix plates from $16

The burger kings at Mookie have been flipping epic burgers worth crossing town for since 2017. While they’ve changed locations to a new shop in Tuggeranong, the menu remains much the same. You can stick with classic Angus or southern fried chicken burgers, or try one of their Japanese-inspired burgers, like the Mr Miyagi, loaded with char siu pork belly, sesame slaw, pickles, pork crackling and Kewpie mayo. Why not upgrade your burger to a meal with French fries or potato gems and a large soft drink for just $7 extra? 

Order the: Classic burger with Angus smash pattie, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and Mookie sauce.

Price: Burgers from $15