Overview
Eating out in Melbourne is arguably a Melburnian's favourite thing to do. Even those on a budget should be able to eat at nice places. And you can! Plan your days correctly and you won't pay more than $15 for a meal again; play the system right and you can still eat like a king (oysters included). With our guide to the best culinary bargains around town, you can eat cheap (but not poorly) seven days of the week.
Monday
BURGERS AND SLIDERS - THE RAINBOW HOTEL, FITZROY
Apparently this 140-year old pub — sitting slightly out of the Brunswick street spotlight — exists in a tiny pocket of Fitzroy that inflation forgot. A fact that, on Monday nights, is reflected in the form of $12 burgers and $7 slider specials.
$29 BUFFET - CHINA BAR, CITY
China Bar buffet: it's not the height of class, but it's what I imagine heaven might look like. The $29 weekday lunch session (Monday to Thursday from 11.30am - 3pm) might not seem that cheap to the untrained eye, but to the savvy student it's an opportunity to consume one's own body weight in roast meats, seasonal stir-frys and weird Asian desserts — eliminating the need to eat for several days afterwards.
$15 BURGER AND A PINT - THE MERRYWELL, SOUTHBANK
While it may be a little too close to the Crown Complex for comfort, Merrywell's $15 burger and pint happy hour between 4-6pm provides down-on-luck punters an affordable feed — particularly after an unfortunate turn in the casino arena.
$1 PINXTOS - NAKED FOR SATAN, FITZROY
Diners pluck their own pinxtos (delicate morsels like jamon, pickled octopus or arancini balls which sit atop slices of crusty bread) from the glass cabinets at the bar, and count the number consumed at the end of the night. Somehow, the serve-yourself honesty system works surprisingly well — but then, who's seriously going to cheat when it's only $1 a serve?
FANCY LUNCH BOX - CAFE VUE, CITY
The three-piece lunch box ($18) serves up a starter, savoury and sweet, all packed up and ready for you to take back to your desk in lieu of the full Vue de Monde experience. Also available in vegetarian and gluten free lunch packs, expect prettily packaged treats like chow mein salad, broccoli with crispy garlic, chilli and yuzu, pulled pork bun, and chocolate and passionfruit sundae.
Tuesday
$10 BURGER APOCALYPSE MEAL DEAL - ZOMBIE BURGER, ST KILDA
Sure the branding might be a little aggressive, but if the zombie apocalypse ever hits, there will no doubt be time aplenty to down a couple of $10 burgers (served with fries and drink) while you watch the undead slowly converge from down the street.
$9 BURGERS - 1000 POUND BEND, CITY
People pack in to this loosely assembled warehouse space — which looks suspiciously like the lounge room of a student sharehouse — for $9 burgers and happy hour drinks every Tuesday from 4 - 11pm. Stay for the free wifi and stream a few episodes of House of Cards while you’re at it.
$15 BURGER DEAL - MARKOV, CARLTON
Burger, chips and a Brunswick Bitter will only set you back $15 on Tuesday nights at Markov. If you tend to buck the brioche trend — favouring something a bit more old school — it's here that you'll reach meaty, savoury nirvana.
$3 TACOS - THE REVERENCE, FOOTSCRAY
There is not a lot more that needs analysis here. When tacos are offered at such an inoffensive price, one accepts, whether hungry or not. It’s simply the right thing to do. Top up the Myki and make the trip to the Footscray badlands.
$5 PIZZAS - WHOLE LOTTA LOVE, EAST BRUNSWICK
It's all about the music at Whole Lotta Love. But as luck would have it, they dish up a mean pizza as well — keeping you drinking and enjoying tunes until the early hours. $5 every single day of the week.
Wednesday
$1 WINGS - TRANSPORT BAR, CITY
From 5-9pm, load up on chicken for only $1 a bird-bite. This is the kind of thing that makes hump-day a little more manageable.
$17 ALL YOU CAN EAT WINGS - FATHER'S OFFICE, CITY
Father's Office has flown under the radar for too long, written off by many as a thinly-guised booze barn. But look past the suits and student specials — this venue is a lot of fun. On Wednesdays, don a bib and tuck into All You Can Eat chicken wings for $17.
$29.50 ALL YOU CAN EAT TAPAS - THE LONG ROOM, CITY
From Tuesday to Thursday, Longroom turn their al a carte menu into an unlimited tapas feast. Order two dishes at a time, as many times as you like, until you've worked your way through the entire menu — for less than $30.
$10 STEAK SANDWICH - GLORIA SWANSTON'S KITCHEN, CITY
Lounge is known to get a little loose on the late night shift, but at lunchtime their kitchen knocks out a killer student feed. Specials vary each day;, but on Wednesdays it's the steak sandwich for a tenner.
$5 PIZZAS - CUSHION LOUNGE, ST KILDA
Partied too hard last night, forgot to eat and now your body is being uncooperative? Rookie mistake. Head to Cushion midweek, where you can down those cheeky beers with a wad of discount pizza to absorb the blow.
Thursday
$12 PUB LUNCH - CAPTAIN MELVILLE, CITY
Pub classics like parmas, fish and chips and burgers are most generously plated between 11.20am and 3pm, Monday to Thursday. For an extra $3 you can add a sneaky lunchbreak beer.
$1 OYSTERS - PANAMA DINING ROOM, FITZROY
Mother Shucker's Oyster Hour happens every night of the week between 6-7pm, where you can gorge on freshly shucked oysters for $1 per piece, and ultimately leave the restaurant both satisfied and highly aroused.
$12.50 LUNCH SPECIAL - BONEY, CITY
Between 12-2pm, duck into this revamped dive bar to dine on their daily special. On Thursdays it's a vego-friendly barley risotto with eggplant, tomato and feta.
$4 PIZZAS, DOGS AND SALADS - LUCKY COQ, WINDSOR
The Coq has been a saviour to Melbourne's financially-struggling students, artists and musicians for many years, but they've now taken things to the next level. Deals are on every day, but on Sunday you can get any pizza, hotdog or salad you fancy for just $4 from open 'til close.
$4 PIZZAS & $12 BURGERS - THE PENNY BLACK, BRUNSWICK
What better way to relax than with an afternoon sess in the courtyard on the ciders, some live music, and a few rounds of pizza with mates? At $4 a pop with free entry, you may as well skip work and make a day of it.
$1 TACOS - THE DAN O'CONNELL HOTEL, CARLTON
Making all our taco dreams come true, every Thursday The Dan churns out $1 tacos all night. Charging a super cheap price, probably in line with these little corn tortillas are worth, it's a good excuse to inhale as many tacos as you like without breaking the bank (we're looking at you Mamasita).
Friday
DIRT CHEAP SPRING ROLLS AND DUMPLINGS - HAPPY PALACE, CITY
The staff name badges may be unbelievably politically incorrect (they all say 'Nigel'), but those with a sense of humour will consider this a selling point. For everybody else, at least come for the $2 dumplings (5-6pm) and $5 boxes of spring rolls.
$3 HOTDOGS - FERDYDURKE, CITY
The happiest hours for hotdogs at this alleyway bar are between 12 and 5pm, where for $3, you can throw back classics such as the Dirty Furke (frank with cheese and chilli beans), or the Charles Bronson (frank with cider, caramelised onions, gherkins and cheese).
$7 PIZZAS - POLLY, FITZROY
For those decadent, cocktail drenched evenings when a street-corner souvlaki seems inappropriate, a gourmet pizza at Polly (like gorgonzola, fig and pancetta) should fit the bill — and from 5-11pm, that bill will only come to $7.
$1 OYSTERS - ALBERT PARK HOTEL, ALBERT PARK
Just because a venue is known for finer dining doesn't mean it's above putting on a budget oyster hour. The seafood soiree is available all day Friday, at $1 a shucked treat.
$7.50 LUNCH DEAL - YIM YAM, COLLINGWOOD
Having set up shop in four locations throughout Melbourne so far, this Thai restaurant group most recently opened up in Collingwood, where they’re offering $7.50 lunch specials every day of the working week.
Saturday
$5 FRIED CHICKEN PO BOYS - HORSE BAZAAR, CITY
Firing up the fryer from 8pm on Saturday nights, Horse Bazaar complements the live music and art projection by pumping out po boys for only $5 a serve.
DIRT CHEAP DUMPLINGS - CAMY SHANGHAI, CITY
Revel in the charmingly rude service as you devour mountains of steamed pork parcels — best enjoyed with a group of mates and bottle of BYO. No matter how hard to try or how much you order, somehow it never costs more than $15.
PAY AS YOU FEEL - LENTIL AS ANYTHING, ABBOTSFORD
Often mistaken for a hippy hang-out, this socially-conscious restaurant has been providing visitors with wholesome vegetarian meals for over 13 years on a pay-as-you-feel basis. Now spread across three venues (Abottsford convent, St Kilda and Footscray), as testament to the strengths of the social enterprise industry.
$2.99 BREAKFAST - IKEA, RICHMOND
There's something terribly sterile about canteen dining, but at Ikea they at least know how to do it with maximum efficiency for the lowest possible price. Until 11am every day you can get a full hot breakfast — including scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and hash brown — from only $2.99, no home assembly required.
$5.50 ALL YOU CAN EAT - CROSSWAYS, CITY
An inner-city Hare Krishna temple providing vegetarian lunches for only $5.50 ($7.50 without a concession), where you'll be welcomed with open arms and flowing sarongs. Saturday lunch is Special Subji and rice with pappadum, lassi, date halva and custard.
Sunday
$10 BREAKFAST CHEESESTEAK - SPARROW'S PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS, FITZROY
For the uninitiated, a philly cheesesteak is an American steak sandwich combining thinly sliced beef and melted cheese in a bread roll. Of the various incarnations available, Sparrow's $10 special 'breakfast' cheesesteak — of beef, cheese, egg and hash brown — is a clear market leader.
HOURLY PARMA SPECIALS - ROCHESTER CASTLE HOTEL, FITZROY
Pay-by-the-hour parma deals ($6 at 6pm, $7 at 7pm and $8 at 8pm) are in dwindling supply in these modern times. Fortunately, the Rochester pays blatant disregard to such progression and does it anyway; in keeping with their penchant for playing 90s indie rock.
FREE BBQ - WORKSHOP, CITY
Workshop is not just that bar you find yourself in at 1am, gyrating on the dance-floor against a Columbian backpacker. It's also the place of a cheap daytime feed — and few meals are cheaper than a free BBQ (6-7pm Sundays).
LOCALS CURRY NIGHT - HORN PLEASE, FITZROY NORTH
North Fitzroy locals have been onto it for years; the local curry night buffet ($20) on Sundays allows punters to enjoy favourites from Horn’s menu, served fast and friendly and in an unlimited manner — allowing you to spend your savings on craft beer.
$3 FISH AND CHIPS - 29TH APARTMENT, ST KILDA
This is not a joke; it only costs $3 to score a fish'n'chip combo at 29th Apartment. It's only available with a drink purchase, but let’s be honest — the best time to immerse yourself in fried goods is after a session on the ciders.