Best Value Food in Melbourne

locknuts on 13/06/2024 - 07:05

Hey OzBargain crew. I'm travelling to Melbourne at the end of this month and will be staying for about a week. I'm staying in a hotel on A'Beckett St.

I'm on a tighter budget than I used to be (like a lot of people), and was hoping to find good quality meals at affordable prices. Being winter, soups and other warm food would be great. My wife loves Pho and other asian soup type dishes. I'm bringing 2 kids as well so family deals and kids menus are a bonus.

If you know where to get the best coffee near where I'm staying I'd appreciate that too, but I can probably figure that out by asking around when I get there. Price on coffee is a distant second to quality.

Thanks in advance.

Travel

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/06/2024 - 07:46
    +2

    Master Lanzhou noodle bar - been a few years since I’ve been able to go back to Melbourne but I still dream about the n01 signature beef noodle. Great value. No reservations but.

    • JimB on 13/06/2024 - 10:19
      +2

      The #2 for me.

      It's similar to #1 but has the spicy numbing chilli.

      • jv on 13/06/2024 - 12:07
        +3

        Kim Sing near Flinders offer affordable food with generous portion. Order their famous famous chicken steak on rice (swap to fried rice for $1 extra)

    • locknuts on 13/06/2024 - 17:55

      Sounds perfect. Thanks.

  • holdenmg on 13/06/2024 - 08:53
    +1

    In Melbourne, I found other-side.au Coffee @ Shop 3/188 Little Collins St with Small $3.40 and Large $3.80.

    • jv on 13/06/2024 - 12:08
      +1

      Soi 38 is quite nice. Quite affordable in my opinion.

    • locknuts on 13/06/2024 - 17:56

      Wow. Is the coffee good?

  • jjjaar on 13/06/2024 - 09:13
    +1

    Udon Yasan on Bourke or Elizabeth. $5.30 for the base hot soup (#1). You can either upgrade the soup itself or add tempura/other options.

    • locknuts on 13/06/2024 - 17:57

      Awesome.

  • Furwinkle on 13/06/2024 - 09:20

    Does anyone know if there are ayce under $25 in Melbourne?

    • azm on 13/06/2024 - 09:28

      Under 25 could be hard to find if it’s for non-vegetarian options. Miss Korea in Nunawadding used to offer good value for money but I am not sure whether they still offer cheap buffet for $25-30

    • fatcat123 on 13/06/2024 - 09:58
      +1

      Under $25 in CBD would be the vegetarian restaurants. Woodo is doing a promo 29.90 ayce kbbq and other korean food (rice cakes, chicken etc).

  • LanceVance on 13/06/2024 - 09:25

    Crossways Vegetarian Restaurant on Swanston St. It's a Hare Krishna establishment and you can get all you can eat vegetarian curries for about $9, less if you have a concession card, kids I assume are less as well. Menu changes every day and comes with unlimited drinks & dessert, if you're done with your plate and want more just take your plate back to the counter and they'll fill it up for you. Great place with lovely people.

    Another alternative is Don Don, there's a few around the CBD, great value Japanese meals. Think Udon, Katsu etc.

    • locknuts on 13/06/2024 - 17:58

      That's crazy value. Thanks.

  • azm on 13/06/2024 - 09:25
    +1

    Brother baba Budan and Patricia coffee. Plenty of pho shops near China town. If you walk along Elizabeth street you will find plenty of udon shops.

  • KaTst3R on 13/06/2024 - 09:30
    +1

    Don Don.

    Although I think the OG Don Don when it was on Swanston St was much much better and cheaper. It used to be a very long line outside at lunch time every day.

    • NatoTomato on 13/06/2024 - 11:23
      +1

      Nah, went to Don Dons on Francis Street, and prices were up 50% to ~15$ for a karaage curry. I remember the $10.90 curries at the Swanston St one.

      • KaTst3R on 13/06/2024 - 13:56
        +2

        When I was in Uni, I remember the chicken curry don (there wasnt a karaage version back in the days) was about $8-ish. Those were the good days. But now, given the high inflation, getting any decent meal with a drink under $20 is godsend.

  • Aleigh123 on 13/06/2024 - 09:48

    Soi 38 is quite nice. Quite affordable in my opinion.

  • jv on 13/06/2024 - 09:48
    +1

    Master Lanzhou noodle bar

  • foxmulder on 13/06/2024 - 09:56

    Costco is nearby.

  • fatcat123 on 13/06/2024 - 10:05

    Impresso coffee (king x Latrobe) or brother bada budan!
    Plenty of pho places along swanston street. Master Lanzhou, hakata ramen are great noodle places. You can try out dragon hotpot too - pick your own noodles, toppings, level of spiciness etc.

  • JimB on 13/06/2024 - 10:23

    Dumplings.

    I can't say I've had great Pho in the city.

    Master Lanzhou has been mentioned a few times for very good reason.

    Also check out Victoria Market for Borek and the hot jam donuts.

    You should also treat yourself. Try Cumulus Inc, great set menu, not expensive for the quality. But I'm not sure if they have a kids menu.

    • try2bhelpful on 13/06/2024 - 11:19

      If you want to move up in price then Philippe.

      The lunch menu is down the bottom. Two courses for $65 or three for $75 includes a glass of wine. Seriously good French food.

      https://static1.squarespace.com/static/644265f8f5769311158a5…

      • JimB on 13/06/2024 - 11:33

        Cumulus Inc is a little more expensive but you can gave it for dinner for say $88 but you get so 8 dishes.

        https://www.cumulusinc.com.au/menu

        I'm sure both are great options

        • try2bhelpful on 13/06/2024 - 11:42

          Guillame is doing a few deals at Crown as well.

          I used to eat at Cumulus pretty regularly for breakfast many years ago. The food is good there.

          • JimB on 13/06/2024 - 12:11

            @try2bhelpful: Bistro Guillaume
            Menu Du Jour $55pp 2-course $65pp 3-course

            Sounds fairly good if the mains are decent e.g. beef cheeks or similar.

  • try2bhelpful on 13/06/2024 - 11:25

    What Pho places are people recommending? My favourite place closed down a while ago.

    • jv on 13/06/2024 - 12:04

      What Pho places are people recommending?

      Vietnamese ones are good…

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/06/2024 - 18:18
      +2

      Been years since I went to Melbourne (pre Covid) - but I used to go at least once a year, every year for ages. And I would always make it a point to have a bowl of pho at the start and end of the trip at Mekong Vietnam on Swanston. I bet it’s prob gone downhill over the years now (cost cutting etc like everyone else) , might be worth a go still, google reviews still look largely okay.

      • try2bhelpful on 13/06/2024 - 23:21

        Thanks

      • Emcaljoe on 14/06/2024 - 11:04
        +1

        Seconded. First started going there when a bowl was $8, last time I went a few months ago it was $17. Quality still consistent. Beef and brisket is my go to.

  • ozbaragan on 13/06/2024 - 12:03
    +2

    Kim Sing near Flinders offer affordable food with generous portion. Order their famous famous chicken steak on rice (swap to fried rice for $1 extra)

    • jv on 13/06/2024 - 12:08

      Udon Yasan on Bourke or Elizabeth. $5.30 for the base hot soup (#1). You can either upgrade the soup itself or add tempura/other options.

    • locknuts on 13/06/2024 - 18:03

      Excellent. Thanks.

  • funsize on 14/06/2024 - 13:23
    +1

    tokui sushi near melb central. $2.50 sushi….

    • locknuts on 14/06/2024 - 15:57

      So cheap.

  • mrtin on 16/06/2024 - 11:29

    Rose garden. Cheap, tasty, very quick. You even get some attitude with it, if you don't mind.

  • neil on 16/06/2024 - 22:47
    +1

    Tightarses of Melbourne have a map of all the specials around Melbourne. If you look at their stories for the day, they'll point out current specials for the day.

    • locknuts on 17/06/2024 - 05:10

      That's an awesome tip. Thanks mate.

    • try2bhelpful on 17/06/2024 - 09:54

      Thanks.

  • rubenastley on 25/06/2024 - 08:06

    Gopals on Swanston is pretty good. It's a vegetarian restaurant.

    $13 for…

    Rice with two curries
    Salad
    Dessert
    Soup
    Drink

  • JoyVee on 06/07/2024 - 18:24

    William Angliss Bistro at the end of La Trobe St near Spencer St intersection.
    You can't miss it as it has a Melbourne Tram inside the TAFE college fence. Enter the building just behind the permanently installed tram which sells coffee and cake.

    Bistro does take away as well as sit down fast food.

    It cost me $24 for entree, mains , dessert and coffee.
    There is a web site with current menu on it.

    Only available during College terms. Not holidays.

    Great bargains to be had at the Bake shop as well. Just depends on what product the students are making that day. Check hours on web site.

    Up market William Angliss Restaurant, enter from little Lonsdale St at Spencer st end. Up market food and service for about 3 courses for $40 see website for seasonal menus. Closed from End November until 2025

    • try2bhelpful on 07/07/2024 - 06:40

      Used to go there quite a bit. It is usually a good value quality meal.

  • try2bhelpful on 07/07/2024 - 06:41

    Just wondering how OP got on?

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