There's lots to love about Perth, but cheap eating is not really the first thing that comes to mind. These days a basic meal out with your mates can easily cost you upwards of $50 to $70 by the time you throw on a drink or two.
The good news is, you don't need to stop eating out altogether to save some coin. We've compiled a hit list of top spots to suit even the tightest of budgets, including our pick of Perth's best meal deals (updated weekly) and spots that always deliver the cheap eats.
So here you go, friends. Go forth and be thrifty. Here are the best cheap eats in Perth.
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Weekly Meal Deals
$55 Fried Chicken Dinner For Two
Wednesdays at Lo, Highgate
Image credit: Lo | Claire Logan
Featuring eight pieces of fried chicken, mash and gravy, mac and cheese, slaw and buttermilk biscuits for a measly $55, newest dinner deal is a must.
$39pp Mezze Board With Wine
Thursdays at Hadiqa, Perth CBD
Image credit: Hadiqa | Ryan Cubbage
For $39pp (minimum two people), dive into one of the most gorgeous looking grazing boards in Perth and a glass of wine each at . Piled high with Mediterranean mezze goods, this might just make up for not being in Europe. Available Thursdays only.
All-You-Can-Eat Mexican For $39pp
Wednesdays at Al Pastor, Fremantle
Image credit: Al Pastor | Instagram
Wednesdays at Al Pastor are heating up with the launch of their hefty new all-you-can-eat offer. For $39pp you can go for your life every Wednesday night for 1.5 hours. Tacos, nachos, burritos, birria—the entire food menu is yours for the taking and they'll even throw the kids eats in for free for any children under 10. A few caveats: it's for two people minimum and the whole table has to take part. All food must be consumed within the venue and any drinks are additional. Reckon you can get your money's worth?
$4 Tacos
Tuesdays at El Grotto, Scarborough
Image credit: El Grotto | Supplied
Your fave beachside taqueria is back with another banging deal. This time, El Grotto is slashing the prices on tacos every Tuesday to just $4 a pop, all night from 6pm. Plus, if you come down a lil early you can soak up Golden Hour specials (on from 4pm-6pm daily) like $10 margaritas and $6 lagers.
$19 Udon Bento And $6 Schooner/Wine
Thursdays at Goody Two's
Image credit: Goody Two's | Shot By Thom
Known for their $1 dumpling nights, is no stranger to a cracking midweek steal. Their latest offering though, is the perfect way to cap off a wintery night. Coming in at $19, their Udon Bento special features a bowl of comforting soup noodles, a side of dumplings, and their popular JFC (Japanese Fried Chicken), with a vegetarian option on offer too. If you're thirsty you can throw on a $6 house wine or schooner—making the whole night just $25.
$10 Subs With Chips And $10 Wine
Wednesdays at Patio, Fremantle
Image credit: Patio | Supplied
has some ripper specials on throughout the week, mostly in the drink department (see: happy hour), but if you’re in need of a feed you’ll wanna go on Wednesday. Available in meatball, eggplant or fish, these $10 subs and hot chips are the ultimate comfort feed. Throw on a $10 house wine if you’re that way inclined.
Half Price Pizza
Wednesdays at Ruin Bar, Northbridge
Image credit: Ruin Bar | Instagram
A vibing beer yard with an attached pizzeria is always going to be a great spot for a knock-off pint and bite, but it can easily blow your weekly budget. Not on Wednesdays at , though. They slash 50 per cent off those woodfired beauties, so you're only paying $10 to $14 for a whole (and genuinely very good) pizza, with cheap jugs and other drink specials going too. If Wednesday nights aren't your thing, they also do a nine inch pizza and pint deal for $16 every Sunday.
$12 Parmis And Burgers
Wednesdays and Thursdays at The Back Bar By Hylin
Image credit: Back Bar By Hylin | Instagram
is making weeknight dinner decisions waaaayyyy easier with its great value meal deals. Go for a $12 parmi with chips and salad on Wednesday. A $12 burger with chips and salad on Thursday. Or a $15 steak sandwich with chips and salad on Friday. Veggie options are available for each one too. The only catch is you need to buy at least one drink, but you were going to do that anyway, weren't you?
$20 Lamb Gyro And Schooner
Wednesdays at Jetty Bar, East Fremantle
Image credit: Jetty Bar | Instagram
We’d argue that Jetty Bar has one of Perth’s all-time best happy hours, but this latest deal takes care of dinner too. Drop into the waterfront bar for lamb gyro and schooner for a measly $20.
$22 Birria Taco Platter
Wednesdays and Thursdays at Tommy Taco, Highgate
Image credit: Tommy Tacos | Supplied
Tomas Bidois (aka ) knows how to get your mouth watering. His birrias are next-level good, and this $22 Birria Taco Platter is basically a supercharged take featuring two well sized birria tacos, corn chips, fried chicken tenders and of course that birria sauce for all the dunks. It’s probably big enough for two, but we know you’ll want this all to yourself. Get it every Wednesday and Thursday—bookings suggested.
$30 Pasta And Wine
Mondays and Tuesdays at Lola’s, Fremantle
Image credit: Lola's | Instagram
(one of our favourite restaurants in Perth right now) may be known for its pizzas but on Mondays and Tuesdays it’s all about the pasta! They’re putting on rotating pasta specials accompanied by wines from their neighbours at H&C Urban Winery for $30. Book ahead!
$1 Wings And $15 Jugs
Thursdays at The Elford, Mount Lawley
Image credit: The Elford | Instagram
Roll up your sleeves, has $1 wings (minimum order of 5) on every Thursday night. And because you’re gonna need something to wash all the saucy wings down, there’s $15 jugs of Swan Draght available too.
$30 Pasta And Wine
Tuesdays at La Madonna Nera, Mount Hawthorn
Image credit: La Madonna Nera | Instagram
The legends at frequently feature in our favourite pasta spots around town, so the fact they’re serving up a delectable bowl of the goods with wine for $30 is pretty wild. Each week they have two different pastas (vegetarian & gluten free option always), plus, a white, orange or red wine on the boards. The specifics change each week, so you’ve got an excuse to come back regularly.
$25 Parmi And Pint
Wednesdays at The Woodbridge Hotel, Guildford
Image credit: The Woody | Instagram
is home to one of Perth’s best (if not, THE best) parmi, so trust us, you’ll wanna take up this special $25 parmi and pint deal on every Wednesday. Choose from either classic chicken parmi, veggie lovers eggplant parmi, seafood delight parmi, or spicy hellfire chicken parmi.
$30 Pasta And Wine
Wednesdays at Vinotto Bar, Swanbourne
Image credit: Vinotto | Instagram
Swanbourne wine bar, , can do no wrong in our eyes. The suburban gem punches out an impressive list of Mediterranean inspired plates from a kitchen not much bigger than your average wardrobe, with a cracking wine list to rival Perth’s best. Book a table Wednesday to enjoy their handmade pasta special of the week with a glass of something equally delicious for just $30. Dinner done.
$29 Steak Sanga And Beer/Wine
Wednesdays at The Quarter Acre Hotel, Ardross
Image credit: The Quarter Acre | Instagram
Drinks are on every Wednesday. Well, at least one beer or wine is when you order their steak sanga with chips. They also do the same deal on Mondays with their burger and Tuesdays with their parmi, so pick your favourite.
$30 Pasta And Wine
Wednesdays at The Standard, Northbridge
Image credit: The Standard | Instagram
Our fourth and final $30 pasta and wine deal comes from The Standard. The Northbridge mainstay has been serving up meal steals forever (see: Lazy Sundays), and this fresh mid-week offering is clearly meeting our carby winter dreams head on.
$30 Unlimited Buffalo Wings
Wednesdays at BrewDog, West Perth
Image credit: BrewDog | Instagram
For a big feed, round up your mates and book a spot at unlimited wing night. For $30pp you can load up on all-you-can-eat chicken or cauliflower wings for two whole hours every Wednesday. Reckon you can get your money’s worth?
$25 Roast Dinner And Pint
Mondays at J.B. O'Reilly's, West Leederville
Mondays are hard but a home-style roast dinner and a pint of tap beer or cider for $25 definitely makes it a little easier. Decked out with all the trimmings, classic Irish roast and bustling pub atmosphere will hit the spot on a cold night. Available every Monday until stock runs out.
While we’re here, we’ve also gotta give a special mention to J.B. O'Reilly's new Irish Chinese platter, available Friday nights. Coming in at $65, the weekly rotating menu will feature Irish faves like chicken curry, spice bags, sweet and sour pork and more, all served on one huge Lazy Susan to share between two to three. Not bad at all.
$25 Burger And Beer Combo
Tuesdays at The Royal, Perth CBD
Image credit: The Royal | Instagram
A burger and beer is never a bad idea if you ask us. And on Tuesdays, punches out the iconic pairing for just $25 a pop.
Half Price Pizza
Wednesdays at The Raffles, Applecross
Applecross locals know just how good half price pizza nights at used to be. So good they had to bring it back! Take a seat by the water, get some pizzas cranking and hit up the $10 cocktails.
More Cheap Places To Eat In Perth
Taka’s Kitchen
Perth
No matter what anyone says, Taka is absolutely never going out of vogue. It’s always been a solid cheap eat favourite, and if they keep pumping out their extremely serviceable sushi and rice-based dishes at an almost unbelievable pace and price, it always will be. We’re talking crispy and delicious karaage chicken with rice, salad and a miso soup for as little as $9.50. Crazy!
Old Lane Street Eats
Northbridge
While it might be a bit quieter than some of the other bustling Chinese restaurants in Northbridge, the food at Old Lane Street Eats is as delicious as it is cheap and copious. Do not miss out on the Roti John, which consists of sloppy (in a good way) minced beef, egg, onion and Sriracha in a bun. Other favourites are the marmite chicken bao and the tasty Pad Thai which comes out encased in an omelette, you’ve got to try it for yourself. And yes, it’s BYO.
Churra's
Northbridge
Another cheap eat to make space for in your diary has to be the steak sangas from South American butcher, . Every Saturday from 10am til 3pm, these legends take the BBQ to the street, making epic sandwiches to order filled with sausage, picanha steak and pork leg alongside salsa and house mayo for just $14. Arguably the best sandwich in Perth for less than $15? Yes, please.
Tra Vinh
Northbridge and Girrawheen
Vietnamese gem, Tra Vinh, is home to (in our opinion) the best pho tai in town, and you can get a generous bowl full of the steaming, brothy goodness for around $17, with heaps more options under $15. We also just wanna shout out how gosh darn quick the food comes out here—you could easily be in and out within 30 to 45 minutes depending on how much chinwagging you're doing and whether someone decided to BYO wine for the occasion.
Funky Momo
Vic Park
Image credit: Funky Momo | Instagram
If you're into lotsa plump, juicy dumplings on a shoestring budget, in Vic Park is the spot. They specialise in Nepalise dumpings (momos) and knock out these awesome 16 or 35-piece mixed platters with salad and dipping sauce for $25 or $35. These hearty little parcels are surprisingly filling so you can easily split the 16-piece one between two and call it a night. If you prefer to do your own thing, there's also a $15 combo meal that comes with 12 dumplings, salad and a soft drink. Not bad at all.
Komatsu
Fremantle
is the new spot from the crew behind the Freo Market's most popular ramen joint, Dosukoi. While their new digs are a little more modern, they've got the same affordable menu, with a variety of bowls starting at just $12.50. Pick between toppings like prawn dumplings, Japanese fried chicken, soft sliced pork and fresh leek, alongside your choice of soy, miso or salt broth.
Ohnamiya
Applecross
might just be Applecross' best kept secret. The tiny Japanese joint on Kearns Crescent offers up a charming homestyle Japanese dining experience that won't break the bank, with an epic range of set meals and donburis to choose from, along with curries, super fresh sashimi, sushi rolls and more. When in doubt, the classic karaage chicken rice box is always a winner and comes in under $15.
Toastface Grillah
Perth CBD, Northbridge and Scarborough
Definitely one of the only places left in Perth where you can get lunch with a tenner, Toastface Grillah has been doing damn delicious, ultra-cheesy toasties for a while now. The Classic will set you back just $5, but if you're hungry for more, the most you'll pay is $13 for something substantial like the It's Gravy Baby, filled with pulled beef, rosemary gravy, crispy potato straws and cheese.
Grand Lane Fish House
Perth
You might think you’ve found Perth’s best tacos, but have you tried the ones at ? Grand Lane Fish House is tucked down Grand Lane (duh) and dishes out lovingly made fish and chips, fisherman’s boxes and the all-important fish tacos. These tacos are a (very) decent size, the fish inside is fresh and chunky, and you get two for $10.50. The owner is a passionate Brit, and he’s bringing a taste of the UK to the CBD lunch crowd, so you can get goodies like HP sauce on your chips too.
Little Beans Gourmet
Canning Vale
Image credit: Lean Beans Gourmet | Instagram
An absolute haven for vegans all over Perth, does super affordable (and outrageously good) vegan plates for around $17 to $20 a pop. From mock chicken katsu curry to nasi lemak with veggie rendang, there's plenty of hearty meat-free Asian feeds on offer—with different dishes depending on the night.
Qin's Beef Noodle
East Vic Park and Northbridge
When comfort is on the cards, only a bowl of Lanzhou noodles will do. The hand-pulled noodles are made to order at your chosen thickness and width and served in an enormous bowl of seriously slurp-worthy broth all for around $16 to $17. Whether you go spicy or a simple beef broth, it’s like a warm hug in a bowl. Throw on unlimited noodle refills and it's no wonder this spot sent Perth into a spin when it first opened in Vic Park—with people queuing around the block just to try Perth's first authentic Lanzhou beef noodle. Now you don't even have to head to the burbs, you can get Qin's iconic noodles in the heart of Northbridge too.
Authentic Bites Dumpling House
Northbridge and Karrinyup
Image credit: Authentic Bites | Nancy Hanna
Nowhere cheap has ever tasted so good. Authentic Bites Dumpling House has a line out the door almost every day for a reason, and it’s not just the sub-twenty-dollar menu. Get dumplings of literally any kind here, and wash them down with one of their delicious noodle soups (preferably one with dumplings in it).
Viet Hoa
Northbridge
This place is one of the busiest restaurants in Perth, and upon scanning the menu it is not hard to see why. Aside from the delicious noodle soups, vermicelli, rice and meat dishes at Viet Hoa being some of William Street’s best, the prices are almost jaw-droppingly low. Grab your friends, some BYO drinks, and make a night of it.
Govinda’s Hare Krishna
Northbridge
Backing it up with something that’s actually nutritious, $10 will buy you no holds barred access to a delightful smorgasbord of vegetarian Indian food at Govinda’s Hare Krishna. There’s no reason not to love this place.
Filos & Yiros
Highgate
Image credit: Filos & Yiros | Instagram
It’s hard to imagine a better cheap and satisfying meal than that which you can get at Filos & Yiros. Just thinking about their yiros will make your mouth water; that succulent lamb bathed in tzatziki and loaded with chips, thick-cut tomato and onion to keep things zingy. It’s melt in your mouth, drizzle down your fingers delicious and it’s only 14 bucks. The chicken version is equally delicious and only $13.
Ikhwan Cafe Perth
Perth
Speaking of smorgasbords, you can't go past the Malaysian buffet nights at on Pier St in Perth. The food is fire and you can pay what you feel, so basically it's an absolute steal.
Mack Daddy’s New York Slice
Mount Lawley
There’s a lot of pizza to be enjoyed in Perth, but few that really layer on the cheese and turn up the grease factor in true New York style. Mack Daddy’s is holding it down at the southern end of Beaufort Street; you can grab an enormous pizza that’ll easily feed two for as little as $30 or a giant slice for as little as $8.
Need more inspo? Check out Perth's best happy hours and meal deals.
Main image credit: El Grotto | Ryan Cubbage