The round-up: Brisbane’s best cheap eats
Rent is due and you are still a few days away from getting your paycheque – but your stomach is growling and you need to feed as soon as possible for as cheap as possible. Instead of hitting the closest drive-thru and settling for fast food, there are plenty of places around town that offer cheap eats that are damn tasty. It’s time to get creative with how you spend your dollars – stretch your money by taking advantage of the following best value for money meals (and deals) in Brisbane.
Ming Ming’s Kitchen, Wilston: Got a hankering for wings? Well you’re in luck, because Vietnamese restaurant Ming Ming’s Kitchen in Wilston Village is dishing out loads of them every Monday night. For $24.99 per person, you’ll be treated to bottomless serves finger-licking wings, with flavours including sweet chilli teriyaki, garlic fish, chilli mayo, wasabi mayo and more. Got gaps to fill? The deal also includes bottomless prawn crackers, as well as unlimited lemon iced tea for an extra $2.50 per person. This deal is for dine-ins only and bookings are essential!
The Prince Consort, Fortitude Valley: Fancy a pub feed that won’t have your wallet reeling? The Prince Consort has a week of deals worth exploring, from $15 burgers on Monday, $15 schnitties and parmis on Tuesday, $15 rump steaks on Wednesdays and $15 pizzas on Thursdays.
Montague Hotel, West End: Need a fun lunch to perk up the work week? Montague Hotel has plenty of lunch specials to check out every weekday between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm, such as $15 chicken-tender burgers, Nepalese chicken curry, margherita pizzas and more. On Tuesday evenings you and a pal can score two chicken parmis for $30, and on Friday nights the kitchen slings $10 starters (including haloumi fries, buffalo wings and arancini balls) between 4:30–6:30 pm.
Bloodhound Bar, Fortitude Valley: This delightful corner bar is known for its weekly can’t-miss specials, which include three tacos for $10 on Tuesdays and $10 wings on Wednesdays.
Harajuku Gyoza, various locations: Cheap dumplings? Count us in! Every Monday Harajuku Gyoza serves up $1 dumplings, two-for-one gyoza plates on Tuesdays and 50-cent wings on Wednesdays.
NoNo’s, Red Hill: Red Hill’s Lebanese food haven is perfect for an inexpensive lunch. Grab a falafel kebab for $8.50 and a sweet treat to go for less than $3.
Tippler’s Tap, South Bank and Fortitude Valley: Craft beer and American-style eats are what Tippler’s Tap prides itself on, but it should be pretty proud of its food deals. The South Bank location serves $3 tacos on Tuesday, $18 chicken parmigiana on Wednesday, slow-cooked pork knuckle for $25 on Thursdays and a kilo of wings for $25 on Sunday. Over at Fortitude Valley, the specials shifts to offer the wings deal on Thursday and pork knuckle on Sunday.
Bagel Boys, Brisbane City: The humble bagel is a great choice if you are a) in a hurry, b) broke and c) hungry. Breakfast or lunch, Bagel Boys has got you – no filled bagel on its menu will cost you more than $10 and a bagel with a cream cheese schmear is only $5.
Beerhaus, Bowen Hills: In addition to pouring 40 beers on tap, Beerhaus is also known for some impressive bargains when it comes to its grub. The fun starts on Sunday with a $20 Sunday roast (think crackling pork belly with all of the trimmings) and one-cent wings on Thursdays.
Yums! Chicken, Paddington and Woolloongabba: Do you feel like chicken tonight? If so, head to a place where chicken is king. Yums! Chicken offers a great special on Wednesdays – one kilo of chicken wings for $10. No matter how you calculate it, this deal is a steal.
Wrapture, West End: If you want a bargain bite that is also healthy, then wait ‘til you wrap your hands around this one. West End’s Wrapture serves tasty wraps that are nutritious and good value. The Olympus wrap (with lemon chicken) will only set you back $12, while the Zen Tofu wrap (with teriyaki tofu and wasabi mayo) is a cool $12.50.
Scarborough Harbour Brewing Co., Scarborough: Anyone that’s visited this bayside brewpub will have spied its gargantuan chicken parmigiana on the menu. Well, good news for those with a fierce hunger, you can grab a parmi with chips and slaw for just $18 on Wednesdays from 11:00 am. If you prefer something bite sized, the kitchen also slings 50-cent chicken wings available in serves of six, 12 and 24.
Red Hook, Brisbane City: Got a tenner burning a hole in your pocket but not sure where to maximise its value? On Tuesday’s inner-city burger spot Red Hook slings its Brooklyn Cheeseburger, Grandmaster Flash burger and NYC Dog for $10 a pop. Prefer wings? Red Hook serves them for $1 a pop on Wednesdays. Got a bit of extra cash or a mate to splash out with? On Thursdays you can double down with two Brooklyn Cheeseburgers and two serves of fries for $30.
Good Lookin’ Rooster, Albion: How’s this for a cluckin’ great feed? Good Lookin’ Rooster serves up a quarter chicken with chips for just $10, while chicken and gravy rolls will only cost a tenner as well. If you’ve got a few extra dollars to splash, get a serve of salad for $8.
La Stazione, Milton: Carbs for cheap? Sounds like our kind of party! On Tuesdays La Stazione whips up bowls of hearty pasta for $15, followed by $15 large pizzas on Wednesdays.
Big Roddy’s Rippin’ Rib Shack, South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley: While barbecued morsels usually aren’t on the cheap end of the dining out spectrum, Big Roddy still keeps things accessible for those tightening the purse strings. On Wednesdays both locations sling chicken wings for $1 each!
Cordelia Sourdough Bakehouse, South Brisbane: Pastries are typically a budget-friendly snack option, but at Cordelia Sourdough Bakehouse the range also includes hand-rolled bagels with avocado or cream cheese for around $6.50, grilled cheese-and-tomato toasties for $9 and a Nutella and banana croissant for $9.
Hai Hai Ramen, Paddington: It’s rare to find quality ramen in Brisbane for cheap, but the team at Hai Hai give locals two opportunities to score some bargain noods. Between 4:00–6:00 pm on Monday and Tuesday, Hai Hai serves $10 bowls of its creamy tonkotsu ramen. How good!
Bird’s Nest Yakitori, Fortitude Valley and West End: If you love a bit of char-grilled goodness, stop by Bird’s Nest for its lunch specials. Score a charcoal grilled chicken rice bowl for $12, karaage burger with fries for $15 or a katsu curry for $13.
Mucho Mexicano, South Bank, and Hawthorne: Mucho Mexicano takes Taco Tuesday seriously. Don’t believe us? These joints offer half-priced tacos (that’s two for $8.50 or three for $11.50) from 11:00 am at both locations.
Banh Mi Now, Brisbane City: This hole-in-the-wall banh mi spot serves sizeable rolls for a steal – we’re talking classic pork rolls and grilled chicken rolls for $6 and more lavish pork belly rolls for $8.
Streetcorner Jimmy, Teneriffe: Locals flock to Streetcorner Jimmy for its fantastic daily specials, which include 500g of chicken wings or tempura cauliflower florets for $10 on Tuesday, $20 pizzas on Wednesday, $25 rumps on Thursday, big schnitties for $20 on Friday, and $15 burgers and hoagies on Sundays.
The Boundary Hotel, West End: Sometimes, signing up for a membership program is worthwhile, especially at The Boundary Hotel. Members can score 40-percent off main meals between 12:00–2:00 pm and 5:00–7:00 pm every Monday, $12 burgers all day on Wednesdays, $20 parmigianas on Fridays and $15 woodfired pizzas every day between 12:00–2:00 pm.
Remy’s, Paddington: Sunday might be our favourite day of the week, if only because of Remy’s Cheesy Sundays. Buy any burger between 4:30–5:30 pm on Sunday and score a free cheeseburger to go with it.
Winghaus, Brisbane City: This inner-city chicken, burger and beer emporium has the perfect cheap eats for your weekly feasting. Between 5:00–7:00 pm Monday to Friday, Winghaus serves 50-cent classic wings and $5 side dishes (think giant pretzels, chips, onion rings, potato gems and deep-fried pickles).
Kim Thanh Hot Bread, West End: A banh mi is a quick and satisfying snack, and thankfully one of the best spots in town to secure one is the cheapest. Kim Thanh Hot Bread hawks these stuffed rolls for $7.50 ($7 if you opt for tofu).
Fritzenberger, various locations: This burger specialist is known to dish out the deals every so often, including $10 burgers on Mondays, two-for-one burgers on Tuesdays and 50-cent wings on Wednesdays.
El Camino Cantina, various locations: Looking to spice up your week? Cruise over to El Camino for its scorching deals – $2 tacos on Tuesdays, ten-cent wings on Wednesdays and half-price fajitas on Thursday. Bargains don’t get much hotter than that!
Brewski, Petrie Terrace: One of Brisbane’s best craft-beer bars is also a great spot for a bargain feed. The kitchen here serves its classic burgers for $10.99 apiece from Monday to Wednesday, rain, hail or shine!
5 Dogs, various locations: Hot dogs are a simple and satisfying snack that you can munch on the move. It’s also a great budget option, especially at 5 Dogs. A traditional dog (boasting a wood-smoked skinless American frankfurter served with onion and cheese) will only cost you around $8.
Il Posto, Paddington: Italian food typically sits on the more pricey end of the bargain spectrum, but the team at Il Posto is making its menu of Italian eats accessible with some great deals. We’re talking $17 pizzas on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, and $18 pasta nights on Wednesdays.
Baja, Fortitude Valley: We can’t get enough of taco Tuesday bargains. Every Tuesday, Fortitude Valley’s Baja is taken over by Los Tacos, a pop-up serving $6 tacos and margarita specials. These beauties are worth scrounging around for some extra loose change!
Melt Brothers, Brisbane City: Famed for its grilled-cheese sandwiches, Melt Brothers is also known as a great inner-city spot to get lunch for a good price. A classic two-cheese option will run you about $6.95, but none of its deluxe options go over $10.
The Yiros Shop, various locations: The humble yiros is a great hunger-busting option that’s also accessible when you’re scrimping. Every Tuesday, The Yiros Shop celebrates Tight Greek Tuesdays, slinging regular yiros wraps plus a soft drink can or water for just $12.
Hellbound, Fortitude Valley: The team behind this rock ‘n’ roll-inspired boozer know how to deliver an enticing deal. From 5:00 pm on Fridays you can get a Lemmy Cheeseburger and fries for $12, $25 rump steak with a beverage on Thursdays, and 50-cent wings on Wednesdays – what’s not to like?
4 Pines, Brisbane City: This inner-city boozer is a killer spot for a great-value feed. What’s on the menu? How about two-for-one steaks every Tuesday? If you don’t have a mate to share this deal with, pop in solo for 4 Pines’ $15 lunch special (including grain-fed rump steaks with beer-battered fries), which is available Monday to Friday.
Mirchh Masala, Woolloongabba: This Indian restaurant is a hidden gem kept secret by most Woolloongabba locals, but those in the know love it for its well-priced menu, featuring chole batura (spicy chickpea curry with fried bread) for $10.95, pav bhaji (mixed vegetable curry with soft bread roll) for $10.99, paneer grilled sandwich for $9.99 and thali (a platter featuring two curries, a dal, roti and raita) for $15.99.
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