Best Cheap Eats in Auckland
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Top 10 Places for the Best Cheap Eats in Auckland

Don’t want to spend a lot to enjoy great-tasting food? If so, you’re on the right page, as we’ve gathered a list of the best cheap eats in Auckland for you!

With countless eateries, Auckland is the perfect place to experience diverse cuisines that will not only satisfy your stomach but also let you save your money.

Before we go to our main selections however, we will discuss the price ranges of Auckland restaurants to help you find the perfect restaurant for your budget.

The Price Range of Top Cheap Eats in Auckland

Based on client and expert reviews, cheap eats in Auckland lie between $1 and $20.

Dining at a restaurant in New Zealand is normally costly when you’re ordering seasonal and gourmet meals, not to mention the gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.

However, it doesn’t mean that you have to spend a lot to enjoy eating in Auckland’s restaurants. You can find many eateries here that won’t let you break the bank.

Here are the price estimates of cheap eateries in the city. We didn’t count prices for drinks, of course, as these are offered at low prices and can affect our data.

RestaurantCuisinePrice range
Al’s DeliCanadian/American$3 – $20
Vultures’ LaneKiwi/American$3 – $20
No. 1 PancakeKorean$4.50 – $6
Genzui Ramen BarJapanese$5 – $14
Remedy CoffeeInternational$7 – $16
Kushi Japanese Kitchen & BarJapanese$7.40 – $72.95
Burger BurgerAmerican$8 – $22
The Shakespeare Restaurant & BreweryNew Zealand$9 – $33
Botswana ButcheryEuropean/New Zealand$10 – $50
The Bluestone RoomNew Zealand$18 – $20

As you can see from the table above, whether you’re craving local cuisine or want to go international, all of these restaurants have affordable prices.

It’s important to take note that gluten-free request and tax can bring up your bill.

The Best Cheap Eats in Auckland

Now that you’re familiar about how much cheap eats are in Auckland, let’s proceed to our list.

1)  Kushi Japanese Kitchen & Bar

Kushi Japanese Kitchen & Bar's Banner
Image from Kushi Japanese Kitchen & Bar
BEST FORJapanese cuisine
SERVICESLunch Dinner Wine & sake Menu on special
ADDRESSShop A, 22 Durham St, West Auckland CBD, New Zealand
CONTACT DETAILS09 368 4000
OPERATING HOURSLunch: Monday – Friday: 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Dinner: Monday – Saturday: 6.00 PM – 11.00 PM
PRICESSome Cheap Bites at Lunch  

Under $15  
Karaage Chicken: $11.90
Agedashi Tofu: $9.95
Green Salad: $14.95  
Kushi plate (rice, karaage chicken, sushi, salad, and miso soup): $14.95    

Some Cheap Bites at Dinner  

Under $20  
Beef Tataki: $17.95
Spicy Tuna Sashimi: $19.50  

Under $10  
Nigiri sushi (2 pcs each)  
Grilled eel unagi: $8.40
Avocado: $5.90  

Check out their menu here

Find It Here

If your craving for Japanese cheap bites, you can head down to Kushi Japanese Kitchen & Bar in the heart of Auckland.

Here, you can get flavoursome food like their Nigiri Sushi for under $10 and filling Kushi Plate with rice, sushi, salad, karaage chicken, and miso soup for under $15.

The decor is relaxed and comfortable with wooden furniture and lighted nature artworks that transport you to Japan.

For gluten-free dishes, you can simply tell the staff as you order.

Kushi Japanese Kitchen & Bar is open for lunch from Monday to Friday and dinner from Monday to Saturday.

Pros

  • Offers gluten-free options
  • Discounted parking available
  • Wheelchair accessible

Cons

  • Closed on Sundays

2)  Sri Pinang

Sri Pinang's Banner
Image from Tripadvisor
BEST FORMalaysian cheap bites
SERVICESLunch Dinner After hours
ADDRESS356 Karangahape Road, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
CONTACT DETAILS+64 9-358 3886
OPERATING HOURSMonday & Saturday: 5.30 AM – 10.00 PM
Tuesday – Friday: 11.00 AM – 2.30 PM, 5.30 AM – 10.00 PM
Sunday: closed
PRICESSome Cheap Bites at Lunch and Dinner  

Under $20  
Fried Kway Teow: $17.50
Chicken/Vegetable Curry Laksa: $17.50
Barbecue Pork Fried Rice: $17.50
Grilled Tamarin Fish: $19.50  

Under $10  
Angel Wings (Stuffed Chicken Wings): $9
Spring Rolls: $8  

You can see their menu here

Find It Here

Located in Karangahape Road (or K Road), Sri Pinang offers super-delicious Malaysian fare at affordable prices.

From crispy Roti and well-cooked Curry Laksa to vegan Nasi Goreng and Bean Sprouts and Fish, you will find a lot of variety and flavours that you will certainly love.

As for drinks, they have Malaysian coffee and tea. Besides that, they allow you to bring your own wine and beer but you’ll have to pay a small corkage fee.

Also, the owner and staff are friendly and nice, say their customers. Indeed, Sri Pinang is one of the top places for the best cheap eats in Auckland you can go to!

Pros

  • Offers gluten-free and vegan options
  • Generous portions
  • Wheelchair accessible

Cons

  • Extra $1 for gluten-free meals

Customer Reviews

Check out Ryn’s comment of the Malaysian restaurant:

“Very homely restaurant! served by the owner herself, very friendly and excellent service. we had fried kway teow and satay, huge serving & very authentic taste. a gem in the city!”

Let’s see the feedback of another satisfied customer:

“This hole in the wall restaurant never fails to provide an amazingly authentic Malaysian dining experience. The beef rendang is a must, as in the lemak rice and fat rice noodles with pork and squid. Truly amazing!! We ate like kings and took a bottle of byo wine and the entire bill was only $60!! Sooo cheap!! You will kick yourself if you don’t try this cosy restaurant! It’s even worth putting up with a trip to Auckland for! 😉 LoL.”

3)  Barilla Dumpling

Barilla Dumpling's Banner
Image from Tripadvisor
BEST FORGreat-tasting dumplings
SERVICESLunch Dinner Takeaway Online order
ADDRESS571 Dominion Rd, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand
CONTACT DETAILS+64 9-638 8032
OPERATING HOURSOpen every day except Wednesday from 11.30 AM – 10.00 PM
PRICESSome Cheap Bites at Lunch and Dinner  

Under $20  
Pork with Chives: $15
Pork Diced Prawn, and Egg Wonton Soup: $15
Noodles with Eggs and Vegetables: $14
Lamb with Cabbage: $16  

Under $10  
Spring Onion Pancake: $5
Sweet Pancake: $5  

Kindly see their menu here

Find It Here

Want to get some Chinese food for tonight? Well, we highly recommend Barilla’s Dumplings where you can dine in or take home your orders.

They have an assortment of dumplings like pork, beef, lamb, seafood, and vegetarian. All of them are appetising and delicious, and their prices don’t go beyond $20.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg as they also have stir-fried noodles, sizzling casseroles, wonton soups, and cold entrees like Sliced Beef and Jellyfish in Sauce.

Pros

  • Large portions
  • Accepts PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard credit cards
  • Wheelchair accessible

Cons

  • Very bright interior
  • Mediocre customer service

Customer Reviews

Let’s take a look at one customer’s review of Barilla’s Dumplings:

“This cheap and cheerful restaurant is well known for it’s Northern Chinese food and in particular it’s dumplings. We dropped in on a busy Saturday night and managed to get a table (they turn over fast). I enjoyed the cold hot and sour noodles, the pork and mushroom dumplings were actually soup dumplings which my children loved. Looking around other tables there are lots of different types of dumplings, other Northern dishes, and the meat stuffed buns looked good too. Big meals for cheap prices, well worth a visit.”

Also, Rachelle shared her experience with the restaurant:

“After a week of fine dining, this was the perfect place for good food and cheap! The servings are massive and the menu extensive so you will need a few visits to work your way through all the dishes.”

4)  No. 1 Pancake

No. 1 Pancake's Banner
Image from No.1 Pancakes
BEST FORKorean pancakes
SERVICESOnline order
ADDRESS10 Wellesley Street East, Auckland, New Zealand
CONTACT DETAILS09 302 0564
OPERATING HOURSMonday – Friday: 10.30 AM – 5.30 PM
Saturday: 11.30 AM – 4.30 PM
Sunday: closed
PRICESSome Cheap Bites  

Under $10  
Chicken n’ Cheese: $6.00
Ham, Pineapple n’ Cheese: $6.00
Beef n Cheese: $6.00
Potato n Cheese: $6.00  

Under $5  
Red Bean pancake: $4.50
Chocolate pancake: $4.50  

Kindly view their menu here

Find It Here

Opened in 2004, No. 1 Pancake specialises in Korean pancakes. A Korean pancake has a sweet or savoury filling (like melted cheese or red bean) that enhance its flavour.

The pancakes are cooked perfectlyーcrispy on the outside but soft on the inside.

You can take your pick from their Chicken n’ Cheese, Beef n’ Cheese, Potato n’ Cheese, and Ham, Pineapple n’ Cheese for just $6.

Alternately, you can indulge in their sweet pancakes of Red Bean, Chocolate, and Cinnamon n’ Sugar. The price is even lower for these options at $4.50.

Note that you can add extra stuff or cheese on the pancake for a dollar.

You can order through their website or visit them at the corner of Wellesley and Lorne Street which is right across the Auckland Public Library.

Pros

  • Has vegetarian pancakes
  • Wheelchair accessible

Cons

  • Not for lactose-intolerant people

Customer Reviews

A lot of clients love the pancakes and cheap prices of this store. Certainly, No. 1 Pancakes is one of the top places for the best cheap eats in Auckland.

Here’s what one customer’s said of No. 1 Pancakes:

“I never leave NZ without coming here. These korean pancakes are sweet and savoury filled – the savouries are pretty much all with cheese, $5 each and people queue for nearly an hour on the street, in the cold to get an order. So its a good indicator to me that the food is worth freezing for. The chocolate filled ones are amazing, but the sweet red bean filled one was just out of this world.

Excellent comfort food.”

Let’s see this review from another customer:

“The pancakes here are absolutely delicious and reasonably priced too compared to other places that I have visited. If you are looking for a quick snack – come here, you will not be disappointed!”

5)  Mexican Cafe

Mexican Cafe's Banner
Image from Mexican Cafe
BEST FORMexican food
SERVICESLunch Dinner Happy hour Drinks
ADDRESS67 Victoria Street West, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
CONTACT DETAILS+64 9-373 2311
OPERATING HOURSMonday – Thursday: 11.30 AM – 9.30 PM
Friday:  11.30 AM – 2.30 PM
Saturday: 12.00 PM – 10.30 PM
Sunday: 12.00 PM – 9.30 PM  

*There’s no lunch on statutory holidays
PRICESSome Cheap Bites   Lunch   $10  
Devils
Nachos
Vegetarian
Mexian
Lasagna  

Under $20  
Chicken Flauta: $15
Ranchero Steak: $19.50
Quesadillas: $15  
 
Dinner   Under $20  
Extra Special Nachos (Chicken/Beef/Vegetarian): $17.50
Cheese Dip: $14  

Under 10  
Garlic Bread or Mexican Bread: $5
Fish Soft Shell Taco: $9  

Kindly view their lunch menu here, dinner menu here, happy hour menu here, and drinks menu here

Find It Here

Mexican Cafe is an iconic cafe that serves classic and shared Mexican food at cheap prices. They also serve cocktails, wines, tap beers, and non-alcoholic beverages.

For a $10 lunch, you can try the Chilli Con Carne which consists of spicy ground beef, onion, tomato, and pinto beans. You should also taste their flavourful Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna for the same price.

At dinner, you should start off with Garlic Bread or Devils Nachos with jalapenos to wake up your senses. Later, you can order the Ranchero steak which comes with rice and beans.

Craving delectable sweets? They also have sundae, ice cream, and banana split desserts to complete your day.

There’s a roofed veranda where you can dine with your friends. The cafe is located in 67 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, and is open from Monday to Sunday.

Pros

  • Offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
  • Outdoor seating available
  • Accepts credit cards
  • Highchairs available

Cons

  • Limited opening hours on Fridays

6)  Big J’s Takeaways

Big J’s Takeaways Banner
Image from Big J’s Takeaways
BEST FORHomemade gourmet burgers
SERVICESGourmet burgers, Takeaways
ADDRESS4/1 Melton Road
Mt. Wellington
Auckland
New Zealand
CONTACT DETAILS09 579 0340
OPERATING HOURSTuesday: 12pm – 9pm
Wednesday: 11am – 9pm
Thursday: 11am – 9pm
Friday: 11am – 9pm
Saturday: 11am – 9pm
Sunday: 11am – 8.30pm
Monday: CLOSED
PRICESCheck out their menu here

Find It Here

Big J’s Takeaways is a gourmet takeaway shop that offers delicious and mouthwatering gourmet burgers. Quality is guaranteed thanks to their use of handmade ingredients.

Their chef is fully qualified, with many years of experience. To this day, they continue to serve only the best meals and dishes to all their customers.

They have an ever-changing Weekly Special to look forward to. You can find out what they’re serving next through their website and social media.

Pros

  • Wide range of homemade gourmet burgers
  • Weekly changing in-house specials
  • Vegan and gluten-free options available
  • Fully qualified chef

Cons

  • Can get quite busy

7)  One8Tea

One8Tea's Banner
Image from One8Tea
BEST FORAsian Fusion Takeaway
SERVICESFood, Drinks, Catering
ADDRESS3 Manukau Road
Auckland, New Zealand
CONTACT DETAILS[email protected] \ 027 223 0008
OPERATING HOURSMonday – Saturday: 11am – 9pm

Sunday: Closed
PRICESCheck out their menu here

Find It Here

One8Tea is an Asian Fusion takeaway shop. They’re well-known for their tasty Gua-Baos, also known as steam buns, and bubble tea.

Their menu has a wide range of food and drinks to offer. You’re sure to enjoy trying their various bao flavors, sides, teas, and slushies.

Best of all, outstanding customer service is guaranteed from their staff. If you haven’t gotten enough of their food, catering is also available for those interested.

Pros

  • Quality food and drinks
  • Wide variety of beverages
  • Outstanding customer service
  • Catering available

Cons

  • Takeaway only

8)  Kiss Kiss Eatery

Kiss Kiss Eatery's Banner
Image from Kiss Kiss Eatery
BEST FORThai Restaurant
SERVICESFood, Drinks, Cocktails
ADDRESS1 Rocklands Ave, Mount Eden,
Auckland 1024, New Zealand
CONTACT DETAILS(+64) 9 600 3076
[email protected]
OPERATING HOURSMonday – Wednesday: 5 – 9pm
Thursday & Friday: 5 – 9.30pm
Saturday 12pm – 9.30pm
Sunday 12pm – 9pm
PRICESCheck out their menu here

Find It Here

Kiss Kiss Eatery is a restaurant that offers a mixture of tasty Thai fusion dishes and drinks to its customers. They take pride in providing the best hospitality to everyone that steps foot in their establishment.

Their menu has a wide range of food for solo and for sharing. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available for those in need of them.

Many patrons enjoy eating here due to its hip vibe and relaxed atmosphere. If you don’t have time to dine in, feel free to order online from their website.

Pros

  • Excellent service
  • Great atmosphere
  • Good for large groups
  • Online order available

Cons

  • Closed during mornings

9)  TANPOPO Ramen

TANPOPO Ramen's Banner
Image from TANPOPO Ramen
BEST FORJapanese Restaurant
SERVICESJapanese Ramen, Side Dishes, Drinks
ADDRESS13 Anzac Avenue, Auckland Central
CONTACT DETAILS09 308 9705
Email: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSMon: Closed
Tue-Sun: 12-3pm, 5pm-9pm
Public Holidays: Closed
PRICESCheck out their menu here

Find It Here

TANPOPO Ramen offers delicious and affordable Japanese meals to their diners. Their special soy sauce blend gives their ramen an authentic taste.

They’re well-known for their ramen, but their side dishes and drinks are nothing to scoff at either. If you don’t have time to dine in, takeaway and delivery are also available.

Pros

  • Authentic Japanese recipes
  • Efficient and friendly staff
  • Clean restaurant
  • Takeaway and Ubereats available

Cons

  • Limited staff — slow service during peak hours

10)  Thai Street

Thai Street's Banner
Image from Thai Street
BEST FORAuthentic Thai Street Food
SERVICESFood, takeout, full bar license
ADDRESS3/12 Jellicoe Street Wynyard Quarter Auckland / New Zealand
CONTACT DETAILSTelephone: (09) 307 0500
Email: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSMonday to Friday Lunch: 11:00am – 3:00pm; Dinner: 5:00pm – 10:30pm
Saturday Lunch: 11:00am – 4:00pm; Dinner: 5:00pm – 10:30pm
Sunday Lunch: 12:00pm – 3:00pm; Dinner: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
PRICESCheck out their menu here

Find It Here

Thai Street was created to provide diners with a pleasant and enjoyable Thai food experience. They are operated by experienced teams in Mai Thai, Grasshopper, and Red Crab restaurants.

They’re composed of numerous skilled and renowned family-run restaurants. Their versatile and constantly evolving menu ensures that you get to try something new whenever you dine around the area.

They have been working in the food industry for over 30 years. With their experience, you can count on them to deliver only the best when it comes to not only food, but also your entire dining experience.

Pros

  • Authentic Thai dining experience
  • Versatile and constantly evolving menu
  • Family-run restaurants
  • Friendly and welcoming environment

Cons

  • Not open in early mornings

And that wraps up the best cheap eats in Auckland list! If you have a tight budget, you can still enjoy good food at these restaurants.

Has everything been clear so far? If you have any questions at all, please send us a message and we’ll get back to you promptly.

Also, you could look up the best buffet restaurants in Auckland. Though you have to pay a little higher for them, you’ll be able to eat as much as you want.