Sydney is an expensive city. Indeed you can’t call yourself a local if you haven’t complained about the real estate or price hikes of coffee. But while we can’t help you with the rent or the cost of living, we can with planning your next night out. There are a whole host of bars, pubs and restaurants dishing up food that’s high on taste and low on price. Keep reading for the ultimate list on the best food that Sydney has to offer under $5.
Beach Burrito Company
Tacos
Chica Bonita, Manly
Manly taqueria Chica Bonita is located down an alley, just off The Corso, where the food is as much fun as is finding the place. Also importantly, there’s none of this Taco Tuesday business. Tacos are $5 all day, everyday. They are also gluten-free. Try the Baja Fish Taco or the Pollo Asado with grilled chicken.
Beach Burrito Company, Bondi, Coogee, Cronulla, Darlinghurst, Newtown – Mexican comida for $3 on Tuesday.
Cantina Movil, food truck at locations around Sydney – $3, Tuesday. ¡Qué sorpresa!
Contrabando, CBD – Do cheap tacos on Tuesday- they’re all $3
El Topo Basement, Bondi Junction – Pulled pork tacos for only $3 on Tuesday.
The Bald Faced Stag, Leichardt – Choose between pulled pork and fish tacos for only $3 every Tuesday.
The Bucket List, Bondi Beach – Love seafood? Love the beach? Then head down to the Bucket List on Tuesday when their delicious fish tacos are only $5.
The Norfolk, Redfern – Every Tuesday night, $3 soft-shell tacos for all you carnivores, vegetarians and pescetarians.
Contrabando
Burgers and Sliders
Contrabando, City
Contrabando‘s unique menu takes inspiration from Mexico, Texas and South California. This was showcased recently when Secret Foodies hosted their Day of the Dead Party. Head over on a Monday night for $3 sliders. The smoked chilli wagyu beef cheek mini burger with yoghurt, lettuce and tomato is a treat! As is the popcorn chicken with smashed avocado, chipotle mayo, lettuce and cheese.
Crane Bar, Kings Cross
Crane Bar doesn’t only do dumplings. They also make the very tasty Crane Slider. Only $5, any night of the week. This is melt in your mouth pork belly kakuni in a steamed bun.
GoodTime Burgers, Bondi Junction
On the ground floor of The Eastern lives the American-style diner GoodTime Burgers. Their juicy, cheesy and altogether cheeky One Handed Slammer slider is only $5.
The Oxford Tavern, Petersham
The line between Aussie pub, American diner and Mexican BBQ is heavily blurred at the Oxford Tavern. But there’s no mistaking their $5 mini cheeseburgers. With pickle, ketchup and mustard, they are muy bueno!
Johnny Wong’s Dumpling Bar
Dumplings
Crane Bar, Kings Cross
Crane Bar serves up some of Sydney most delicious Japanese fusion food. Head there on a Wednesday night for $1 dumplings. Offerings are largely pork-based, think pork, spicy pork, and pork and prawn, but there is a vegetarian option for the pork-skeptics.
Johnny Wong’s Dumpling Bar, Darlinghurst
Tucked away on Level 1 of the Kinselas-Middle Bar-The Standard Bowl complex is Johnny Wong’s Dumpling Bar. There’s a great variety on offer here. Whether you like your dumplings steamed, boiled or fried, and filled with seafood, meat or vegetables dumplings, their Wednesday night $1 dumplings have you covered.
The Soda Factory
Hot Dogs
The Soda Factory, Darlinghurst
The Soda Factory’s Dollar Dogs are pretty legendary. Only $1 every Tuesday, punters can choose from 6 different hot dogs. The Al Capone with Italian sausage and marinara sauce is a killer. While the Frank Sinatra with beef and pork sausage, sauerkraut, American mustard pickles and onion rings will have you crooning. For dessert, try the Elvis Presley. Deep fried banana, peanut butter and strawberry jam, it’s heart-stoppingly good!
The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room
Oysters
The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room, City
For an extravagant-looking but budget-saving night out, head to the stunningly designed The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room on a Wednesday. Between the hours of 6 and 7 is Oyster Hour where their famous oysters are only $1. How many can you eat in 60 minutes?
Bao Dao Taiwanese Kitchen
Bao
Bao Dao Taiwanese Kitchen, Chatswood, Eastwood, Crows Nest
In Mandarin, the term ‘baodao’ refers to the old name for Taiwan, which translates to Treasure Island. There are many treasures to be had at the Bao Dao Taiwanese Kitchen chain of restaurants, but check out the bao. Each are an absolute steal at $4.50. The pork belly is divine!
Manoosh Lebanese Pizzeria
Pizza
Charlie’s Pizzeria & Bakery, Canterbury
Located in Canterbury, Charlie’s Pizzeria & Bakery could be Sydney’s best kept secret. With pizza from as low as $1.50, this place is the ultimate bargain eatery.
Manoosh Lebanese Pizzeria, Enmore
The Zaatar Bread at Manoosh Pizzeria is with thyme, sesame seeds and sumac is only $3 or 2 for $5. These bad boys pack a punch!
Donny’s Bar & Restaurant
Steak
Donny’s Bar & Restaurant, Manly
Just a short walk from Manly Beach is the cosy, New York loft-style Donny’s Bar & Restaurant. Stop by on a Tuesday night for $5 grainfed steak.
The Forresters, Surry Hills
If steak is your game, then The Forresters is your name! Head down on a Monday when the steak is only $5. For a juicy 200 gram New York Strip, it is a pretty sweet deal.
Strattons Hotel
Chicken Wings
Strattons Hotel, City
Strattons Hotel is a little slice of Britain in the heart of the CBD. But even they know that British food is perhaps not the world’s most exciting. But no drama! Every Tuesday, this pub serves their southern-style fried chicken wings for only $1. Problem solved!
Gelato Messina
Dessert
Cremeria De Luca, Five Dock
Authentic Italian gelato is at the heart of the family-run Cremeria De Luca. This business has been scooping out some of Sydney’s most delicious gelato for over 20 years. Try their version of the Sicilian pastry dessert, cannolo. For only $4, each is filled with your favourite gelato flavour or ricotta. Delizioso!
Emperor’s Garden Cake & Bakery, Chinatown
Downtown in a hole in the wall in Chinatown, Emperor’s Garden Cake & Bakery serves fresh cream puffs. There seems to be a perpetual line for these custard-filled balls from heaven. With prices like 1 for 35 cents, 7 for $2 or 20 for $5, you’ll want to fill your pockets!
Gelato Messina, Darlinghurst, Rosebery, Surry Hills, Bondi, Parramatta, Miranda, The Star
Since opening in Darlinghurst in 2002, Gelato Messina has grown into a mini empire across Sydney. With 7 stores, degustation nights, and stalls at every major fairs and festivals cross the city, they are hard to miss. But why would you want to? Using real ingredients and surprising food pairings, they have a wonderfully, diverse range of flavours. A single scoop in either a cup or cone is only $4.80. Join the queue!
Kürtősh, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Randwick, Crows Nest
The name Kürtősh comes from Kürtőskalács, which is a traditional Hungarian pastry famously known as chimney cake. Kürtosh serves this scrumptious street snacks in their four eateries around Sydney as well as a whole lot more. Their Chocolate Cones are only $3, Choc-Coconut Brandy Balls are $2 a pop and their enormous range of Chilled Slab Cakes are sold by weight at $4.50 per 100 grams. Get in on the action!
Maya Vegetarian, Surry Hills
Maya Vegetarian has been serving North and South Indian-style vegetarian in Sydney for the past 30 years. Theirs is a rich and varied menu of crispy dosas, wholesome thalis and daily specials. But the deliciousness doesn’t stop there! Your sweet tooth will love their huge range of Indian sweets. Their Jalebi is only $2, Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla and Kala Jamun are $2.50 each, and Malai Champ for $2.90. Sugar fix sorted.