Cheap eats in Helsinki: best budget restaurants and affordable food spots

What is it? A bagel bar and restaurant tucked away in a courtyard off Yrjönkatu, with just the right hint of secrecy.

Why we love it? Half the charm of Yeastie Boi is finding it. Hidden in an inner courtyard, it channels proper New York vibes from the outset – especially once you spot the neon sign glowing in the dark, guiding you in like a beacon.

The bagels more than live up to the setting. You can swing by purely for food, but it works just as well as a bar: the filled bagels come paired with thoughtful beer recommendations, making this as good for a casual drink as it is for a carb fix.

Time Out tip: The no-frills bagel with cream cheese is a steal at €5 and makes the perfect light snack.

Annankatu 29b, Kamppi. Open Tuesday to Saturday from lunch until late. Expect to pay €12–€13.50 for filled bagels.

What is it? A cosy noodle restaurant in Kamppi, decked out with playful, comic book–style murals.

Why we love it? Noodle Master is easily the most stylish of Helsinki’s budget-friendly noodle spots. It’s relaxed enough for a casual dinner yet polished enough for a low-key date – provided you’re not afraid of accidentally splashing sauce down your shirt. Then again, maybe that’s the perfect litmus test for true romance.

The noodles are handmade on site, and you can taste the difference. Service is warm and unfussy, and for under €15 you’re treated to a bowlful of flavours that transport you straight to China.

Time Out tip: Our go-to order is the Sichuan Dandan Spicy Noodle (€14.90). The nutty depth and tongue-tingling Sichuan peppercorns make it impossible to stop until the bowl is wiped clean.

Eerikinkatu 20, Kamppi. Open daily from lunch through dinner. Expect to pay just under €15 for a noodle dish.

What is it? Budget-friendly, seriously tasty charcoal-grilled shish kebabs at Kontula shopping centre.

Why we love it? In Helsinki, there are two addresses where you can eat astonishingly well for astonishingly little: the rundown Kontula and Puhos shopping centres. The interiors tend to be no-nonsense (borderline bleak), the menus refreshingly straightforward (shish kebabs from a charcoal grill), and the focus firmly on flavour over frills.

Tikke Kebab stands out thanks to its salad table – small in range but impressively high in quality. The shish options come three ways: classic, garlicky or spicy. The waiter usually nudges you towards the plain version. 'I don’t like garlic,' he’ll shrug, by way of explanation.

For a mere €11 you’ll get access to the salad table, two minced meat skewers, a large naan and grilled vegetables. It’s the kind of meal that leaves you full, happy and wondering how it can possibly cost so little. Or why is the food everywhere else so expensive?

Time Out tip: If you’re after something slightly more polished, try Antalya nearby.

Ostostie 43, Kontula. Open daily from lunch until dinner. Expect to pay €11 for a portion that will more than fill you up.

What is it? Tacos and margaritas go hand in hand at Tacoya, one of Helsinki’s best – and unquestionably most affordable – spots for proper tacos.

Why we love it? Tacoya started life as a summer taco stand at Hietalahti market and now operates year-round from a laid-back brick-and-mortar space on Lapinlahdenkatu. Scratched tables and colourful plates give it an unpolished, lived-in charm that suits the food perfectly.

Mexican cooking thrives on bold flavours and simplicity, and that’s exactly what you get here. The clear winner is the birria street tacos (three for €12.50), served with a rich birria broth for dipping. One bite, one sip, and you’re sold. Add a margarita on a Friday night and you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled onto a backpacking trip in Mexico – no long-haul flight required.

Time Out tip: Kick things off with a small portion of nachos (€8.50) to share. It’s the perfect way to set the mood before the tacos land.

Lapinlahdenkatu 25, Kamppi. Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

What is it? A tiny café serving excellent coffee and Japanese sandos – those famously fluffy, neatly trimmed sandwiches.

Why we love it? Café Tampopo feels reassuringly authentic – which makes sense, given it was founded by the team behind Sake Bar & Izakaya (our pick for one of Helsinki's best bars. The sandos are built using pillowy shokupan-style milk bread, specially baked for the café by a local bakery.

Inside, you’ll find properly juicy fillings such as chicken katsu – crisp, golden breadcrumbed cutlet tucked into impossibly soft bread. These aren’t dainty tea sandwiches; they’re generously sized and substantial enough to count as a full meal. There’s something undeniably delightful about being able to pop into a Helsinki café and order this kind of Tokyo-inspired comfort food.

Time Out tip: Follow your visit with a film next door at Cinema Orion. This art deco beauty is one of the city’s oldest and most atmospheric cinemas.

Eerikinkatu 15, Kamppi. Open from morning until evening. Closed Sundays. Expect to pay €13.50 for a sando.

What is it? A long-time Kallio favourite, Harju8 is a bit of everything: café, bar, restaurant and natural wine spot rolled into one.

Why we love it? Set on the edge of Harjutori square, Harju8 works at pretty much any hour of the day. The atmosphere alone is reason enough to drop by – warm, gently buzzy and effortlessly cool without trying too hard.

The mostly vegetarian, sharing-style dishes are so reasonably priced that it almost feels wrong not to order food every time you visit. This isn’t gourmet, Michelin-chasing cooking, but that’s beside the point. It’s honest, satisfying and, at these prices, more than good enough. You do wonder why no one else has successfully copied the formula: great vibes, affordable plates and zero pretension.

Time Out tip: The most addictive dish on the menu is the tofu skagen (€12), a spot-on balance of lemony freshness and creamy richness, served with perfectly crisp, golden potatoes. Fair warning: some of the other dishes can be a little hit and miss.

Harjutori 8, Kallio. Open from lunch until late. Closed Mondays.