Penny-Pincher’s Paradise: Cheap Eats in Adelaide
Looking to fill your belly without emptying your wallet in Adelaide? We’ve uncovered hidden gems, like Okami and Miss Mai, offering budget bites that don’t compromise flavor.
Hungry for more? This article will serve all the details on Adelaide’s affordable dining scene.
New India Restaurant
– From torontocafe
Address: 167 Hindley St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8212 8212
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Wed to Sat – 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sun – 5 pm to 9:30 pm
New India’s dishes won’t break the bank, but they’ll surely hit the spot. Their onion bhaji, marinated onion fritters in a spicy chickpea batter, only costs $6.5.
And if you’re rollin’ plant-based, their chickpea curry (a steal at 10.9 bucks) will have you savoring the resto’s traditional Indian curry sauce like there’s no tomorrow.
For meat lovers, the beef madras for $14.9 is where it’s at, with diced pieces of yearling beef taking a dip in a rich South Indian coconut gravy. The drinks are also cheap, especially the Wynns’ Cabernet Shiraz Merlot, costing $9 a glass and $35 for a bottle.
Brighton Metro Hotel
Address: 466 Brighton Rd, Brighton, SA 5048
Contact Details: (08) 8471 3095
Operating Hours: Daily – 8 am to 2 am
The Brighton Metro Hotel has been holding it down since 1846, but they won’t leave your savings dry, unlike other time-tested diners. You can roll into this joint with 20 to 40 bucks in your pocket and still eat like a king or queen.
You can grab some of their cheesy garlic bread for a tenner, while their salty panko-crumbed chicken tenders will set you back 17 clams. The classic beef schnitzel is just $25, while their fancy grain-fed 300 g-striploin is priced at $38.
Cap it all off with the $12 ice cream sundae that doesn’t hold back with its salted caramel ice cream, special sauce, and choco wafers.
Star Dumplings
Address: 27b Moonta St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: 0450 703 899
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 9:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 10 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 9:30 pm
When your wallet’s running on fumes but your taste buds are begging for a dumpling feast, look no further than Star Dumpling. You can stroll in with a 10-dollar bill or 20, and they’ll have you covered.
Their crowd-pleasing steamed pork, vegan, chicken, and prawn dumplings are just $9.80. Each order will get you 15 succulent and chef-prepared dim sum.
If you’re not into dumplings, their savory and hearty stir-fry goodies are also dirt-cheap, like the stir-fried fish in spicy sauce and the hot chili stir-fried beef—both clocking in at $17.80.
Okami
Address: 287-291 Glen Osmond Rd, Glenunga SA 5064
Contact Details: (08) 8357 8999
Operating Hours:
Mon – Closed
- Tue to Thu – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Head to Okami if you’re on the hunt for a Japanese feast that won’t leave your wallet weeping. This place serves a serious smorgasbord of authentic Japanese flavors, and you can dive into their all-you-can-eat promo with just 20 to 40 bucks in your pocket.
Okami’s buffet has some high-grade dishes. We’re talking about sushi and sashimi platters, cooked tuna rolls, tempura prawn rolls, and chicken sausage skewers.
The main courses include takoyaki, beef carpaccio, chicken katsu, and prawn gyoza. And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the buffet’s signature Japanese green tea ice cream.
Sit Lo
Address: 30 Bank St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: 0456 659 841
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 11 am to 9 pm
- Sun – Closed
If you’re down to get a proper bang for your buck, Sit Lo is the name of the game. This place dishes out affordable traditional Vietnamese grub, like their $18 salad and noodle bowls—huge hits among our vegetarian foodies.
The number 1 dish on our list, though, is the $19 bahn mi. The best-selling spring rolls also have the same price, but you better come early to secure some, as they fly out the pans.
For vegetarians, you can’t go wrong with their veg fried rice at $16 and popcorn tofu at $13. The buns are must-haves too, particularly the slow-cooked pork bao and fried fish fillet bao, each priced at $7, or you can get three pieces for $18.
Gunbae Chicken and Beer
Address: 11-29 Union St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8223 2953
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 8:30 pm
- Sat – 5 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – Closed
If you’re looking for finger-licking goodness and top brews without draining your funds, Gunbae Chicken & Beer should be your go-to resto.
Their original crispy, delicately battered chicken comes in 7 pieces for 20 bucks or 14 cuts for $38. If you’re craving classic KFC (Korean fried chicken), you can snag 7 pieces for $21 or go all in with 14 tenders for $40.
And to wash it all down, they have brews like Cass Lager for 9 bucks and Asahi Super Dry and Hills Apple Cider for 10.
Miss Mai
Address: 73 Gawler Pl, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: 0481 048 225
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 11 am to 3 pm
- Sat to Sun – Closed
Miss Mai is another resto where budget-savvy foodies can savor good Vietnamese nosh without emptying their pockets.
Here, you can score traditional cold rolls at a mere 10 bucks, boasting flavors like grilled chicken, lemongrass chicken, and BBQ pork. If you want to eat healthy, their salad bowls at $15.50 will do the trick.
And don’t miss out on the pork and chicken fried rice for $16 or the crackling roast pork bread roll at 11 bucks.
Burgertec Kidman Park
Address: 376 Grange Rd, Kidman Park, SA 5025
Contact Details: (08) 7002 9521
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11:30 am to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11:30 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 11:30 am to 9 pm
Top-tier burgers typically burn a hole in your pocket, but this isn’t the case in Burgertec.
Here, you can wrap your taste buds around the $12.90 cheeseburger—a juicy ensemble of beef, cheese, veggies, and their secret sauce. If you want a classic burger, their trademark OG burger with meat and cheese will sort you out for just $13.90.
For the vegans out there, the Farmer George burger for $18.90 is a winner, featuring fried mushrooms, caramelized onions, and avocado. To sweeten the burger mania, slurp their strawberry cheesecake shake for $9.90.
Bakery on O’Connell
Address: 128-130 O’Connell St, North Adelaide, SA 5006
Contact Details: (08) 8361 7377
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 Hours
Bakery on O’Connell’s pastries cost a trifle, but they don’t lack in the flavor department.
You can sink your teeth into their sausage rolls for 5.80 bucks. Their beef brisket pie is also just $6.70, but it packs a hearty and savory flavor profile worth every cent.
Their cheese croissant plus coffee deal at $11 is a total morning game-changer. Moreover, they have more cheap morning treats, like raisin toast and wood oven toast at just $5.
Parwana Afghan Kitchen
Address: 124B Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville, SA 5031
Contact Details: (08) 8443 9001
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Wed – 6 pm to 9 pm
- Thu to Sun – 12 pm to 3 pm, 6 pm to 9 pm
Parwana Afghan Kitchen brings the mouthwatering flavors of Afghanistan to Adelaide without wiping out your savings like a typical Kabul-to-Adelaide flight would.
Our favorite is the $19 narenj palaw, Afghan-style rice topped with candied orange peelings, slivered almonds, and pistachios. You can also go for the $20 ashak, which has fried dumplings in a lamb mince sauce dolled up with garlic yogurt.
For the sweet ending, opt for the pesta shiryakh dessert for 10 bucks. This creamy delight is housemade rose and pistachio ice cream.
Kin Kin Thai
– From adelaidefoodcentral
Address: 4/242 Hutt St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 7073 0328
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Sun – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
If you have a hankering for some cheap Thai food that’s as fiery as your last breakup, Kin Kin Thai is the one you’re looking for.
Check out their spicy wonton for 14 bucks—steamed wonton dumplings packed with a pork and prawn punch and served with a smoked chili jam. If you’re all about that veggie life, the po pia tord (3 pcs) at 9 bucks is a delish Thai-style veg spring roll.
And for a seafood sensation, tord mun pla at $12 brings umami and fiery flavors. This dish is a medley of fried fish cake dollops and curry paste that’s finished with chili and peanut sauce.
Lucia’s Pizza and Spaghetti Bar
– From fullmurts
Address: Central Market, Shop 1-2 Central Western Mall, S68/44/60 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8231 2303
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue – 7 am to 4 pm
- Wed – 7 am to 3 pm
- Thu – 7 am to 4 pm
- Fri – 7 am to 8 pm
- Sat – 7 am to 2:30 pm
- Sun – Closed
Lucia’s Pizza and Spaghetti Bar is where Italian flavors shine and your wallet stays relatively intact.
Most diners go for their classic Napoletana for 17 bucks, a flavor-packed pasta covered in homemade tomato sauce. The bolognese is also popular, bringing meaty magic for just $17.
For the pizza fanatics out there, their Margherita is just $12, yet it still oozes with the flavors of tomato, mozzarella, and basil. The heartier and cheesier alternative is the prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella pizza, which you can feast on for $18.
Ying Chow
Address: 114 Gouger St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8211 7998
Operating Hours: Daily – 5 pm to 10:45 pm
Ying Chow is the spot for a Chinese flavor frenzy that’s as lively as a Beijing street market but won’t sting your wallet.
You have to try the salt and pepper bean curd, a bargain at 20 bucks and a vegetarian bite that has the perfect balance of crunch and spice.
If you want something with a bit more oomph, the Chinese red pepper beef for $23 is a Kung Pao-style sensation with mild spice levels that offers an extra kick but won’t burn your mouth.
And if seafood is your jam, have their authentic salt and pepper squid, priced at $28.
Adelaide Pho
Address: 199 Waymouth St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8212 0997
Operating Hours:
- Mon – Closed
- Tue to Sun – 11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm
Adelaide Pho dishes out pho-nomenal Vietnamese soup as tasty as it’s cheap.
It’s a true Vietnamese soupfest with its rich, aromatic, and fresh sliced beef pho and shredded chicken pho, both priced at $21.50.
If you’re keeping it plant-based, the earthy pho tofu at 20 bucks is a vegetarian dream come true. But if you’re really hungry, go hard on their pho combo, which boasts beef meatballs, beef tripe, and beef tendon.
Pondok Daun
Address: 94 Currie St, Adelaide, SA 5000
Contact Details: (08) 8212 1449
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 11:30 am to 8:30 pm
- Sun – Closed
Pondok Daun’s cheap and traditional Indonesian nosh is a must-try for all food lovers. Swing by, and you can dive into a tropical paradise with coconut rice and a whole tilapia fish at just $20.90.
Their $12.90 salty and savory fish dumplings are also worth a shot, while grilled beef ribs with rice (iga bakar) for $18.90 is a beefier alternative.
The soup here is exceptional too, most notably the hearty Jakarta beef soup (soto betawi) at $16.90. And before you leave, indulge in their ice-cold durian desserts, like the durian smoothie and ice cream.
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