Melbourne is one of the best cities in the world for international cuisine, with well over 100 cultures represented.
Fast food – Melbourne has a lot of Subways and McDonalds, plus KFC and Hungry Jacks (which is actually Burger King, but with a a different name), and Dominos. The biggest local chain is Red Rooster, which is roast chicken. A meal will cost around $10-$12, yet for a little bit more you can have a proper, memorable restaurant meal. Dominos starts at $5 for a pizza if it isn’t delivered. Fish and chips is popular, but again it will cost around $10.
Tipping – you can tip if you wish, but it is not required.
Cheap nights – it is very common for restaurants to have deals during the quieter Monday – Thursday period (see below).
Self-Catering
Meat is expensive in Australia, so any meat meals are best saved for a restaurant night. Very roughly, expect to spend $3 on breakfast, $5 on lunch and $5 on dinner per person, if you are self-catering.
Cheap Restaurants
Prices are for a main at the cheaper end of the menu, plus an entree or dessert.
Mukka – Indian $20
365 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Saba’s – Ethiopian $30
328 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Delhi Streets – Indian $17
33 Katherine Pl, Melbourne CBD
The Great Britain Hotel – Cheap meals Sun-Wed
(like $6 burgers, $5 steak and $10 parmas)
447 Church St, Richmond
Mesa Verde – Mexican $15
252 Swanston St, Melbourne CBD
Tahini – Lebanese $20
518 Little Bourke St, Melbourne CBD
La Tortilleria – Mexican, $5.50 tacos, menu is good value (nothing over $12)
72 Stubbs St, Kensington
Roti Road – Malaysian $18
189 Barkly St, Footscray
29th Apartment – $1 Pizza on Wednesday
(with any drink purchase – drinks are also very cheap…)
29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
Sabai – Thai $27
460 Church St, Richmond
Trippy Taco – Mexican $18
6 Acland St, St Kilda
& 234 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Bimbo Deluxe – Pizza & Burgers $15
(pizzas are only $4 most of the time)
376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Lucky Coq is their other joint, same prices, same menu
179 Chapel St, Windsor
The Cherry Tree – 2 Gourmet Pizzas $15 on Monday
53 Balmain St, Cremorne (near South Yarra)
Asian Beer Cafe – Pizza, Burgers & More $15
Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, Melbourne CBD
Lentil As Anything – Vegetarian $Pay What You Like
St Kilda, Footscray, Abbotsford, Thornbury
The Palace Hotel – $15 Sunday Roast
505 City Rd, South Melbourne
The Wolf & I – $20 Sunday Roast
120 Chapel St, Windsor
Maori Chief – $10 Fish and Chips, Pasta, Pizza and Chilli on Monday
Corner of Moray and York Street South Melbourne (walking distance from downtown)
Don Don – Japanese Curry $8
3 CBD locations, find them on Google Maps – they don’t have a website
Ferdyduke – Gourmet Hot Dog & Pot $10 (Mon-Fri)
31 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne CBD
Mr Scruffs – Half price Burgers & Nachos on Wednesday – under $10
60 Smith St, Collingwood
400 Gradi – World champion pizza for $24
99 Lygon Street, East Brunswick (they are also at Crown Casino, called Gradi)
Retreat Hotel – Thali curry and beer for $15
280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, Victoria
Itali.co – $13 pizza on Mondays, $13 pasta on Tuesdays
173 Barkly St, St Kilda
Parma and a Pot
This is a very Australian meal deal, and should be part of every tourist’s agenda. A “parma” is an Italian dish properly called chicken parmigiana, which is a breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce, ham and mozzarella. Many other versions can be found. A pot is a 275ml tap beer (half a pint).
Eureka Hotel – During the week they have days for $15 parma & pot, $15 burger & pot, or a $15 steak
Corner of Victoria & Church Streets, Richmond
Foresters Hotel – $5 parmas every night, with drink purchase
64 Smith St, Collingwood
Buddha’s Belly – Weekday specials include burger $15, steak $15 or parmas for $16 – all with chips 🙂
75 Chapel St, Windsor
The Royal Derby has the same deals as Buddha’s Belly, but their parma is huge, and all mains are $16 on Monday, and playing pool is free 🙂
446 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Brandon Hotel – Pretty much the same deals, except their $15 parma and pot deal is on Saturday
237 Station Street, Carlton North
Pacino’s – Italian $10 Parmas (no pot) & $1 Sides on Monday
300 Epsom Rd, Flemington
Birmingham Hotel – $12 parma on Tues (no pot), and $12 steak on Wed.
333 Smith Street, Fitzroy
Average food cost is $19, based on self-catering and eating out every other night. $13 for self-catering days and $25 for restaurant days.