Overview
For the tapped-in and savvy foodie, $20 will get you pretty far in Melbourne. So says Lisa Lorenz, one such foodie who has turned finding the city's best drinking and dining deals into a full-time job. Lisa and her husband Cam Suttie created their tongue-in-cheek Instagram account @tightarsesofmelbourne in 2022 when they realised there wasn't a singular hub of the city's happy hours and menu specials available anywhere.
"We are tightarses — plain and simple," says Lisa of their intial inspiration for the platform. "We loved going out, but noticed prices across Melbourne slowly creeping up. Now [Tightarses of Melbourne] has grown into this big, fun community where we share our finds, spotlight local venues — and prove you can still have a bloody good time in Melbourne without breaking the bank."
Lisa, Cam and their dog Taco.
Lisa and Cam have spent years researching to create their now cult cheap eats platform. "We go boots on the ground, literally walking up and down the street in different suburbs — searching online, chatting to people," she says. As a result, their newly established online directory is 750-plus venues strong, with Lisa recently leaving her full-time job in the music industry to focus on Tightarses of Melbourne full-time. "Being a tightarse doesn't mean eating bad food, or being super cheap, it just means being smart about where and when you go."
We asked Lisa for ten of her favourite meals under $20 in Melbourne right now.
Pasta and Gnocchi Night at The Tippler & Co
What's the deal: $16 pasta and gnocchi — Wednesdays, East Melbourne.
Schnitzel Sanga at Rooster Bar
What's the deal: $10.50 'behemoth' chicken schnitzel sandwich — all week, Fairfield.
Parma at The Birmingham Hotel
What's the deal: $19 parmas — Tuesday and Wednesday, Fitzroy.
Bánh Mì at Luke's Bánh Mì
What's the deal: $11 Luke's Pork 'n Pork Bánh Mì— all week, South Melbourne.
Handpulled Lanzhou Noodles at Bowltiful
What's the deal: (From) $15.80 handpulled Halal Lanzhou noodle soups — all week, CBD.
Good Burger at Good Good Burger
What's the deal: $13 beef burgers with Good Good sauce — Monday to Saturday, Maidstone.
Happy Hour Tacos at Yellow Bird Cafe
What's the deal: $4 tacos and $8 pints — 4pm—7pm Tuesday to Friday, Windsor.
Ramen and Karaoke at Izakaya by Tamaru
What's the deal: $15 ramen — Saturdays until 11pm, Fitzroy.
Half-Price Slice at Slice Shop Pizza
What's the deal: half-price pizza and $9 pints — Tuesdays, Footscray.
Steak Day at Peacock Inn Hotel
What's the deal: $17 for a 250-gram porterhouse steak — Tuesday all day, Northcote.
Still hungry? Here are some of our favourite snacks in Melbourne right now.
Images: Peter Tarasiuk