Cheap Eats in Fitzroy — 2026 Local Guide

Cheap Eats in Fitzroy

Fitzroy has a reputation for being expensive. That reputation is partly earned — there are plenty of $26 brunch plates and $38 pasta dishes. But Fitzroy also has a scrappy, democratic food scene where you can eat extremely well for under $20. You just need to know where to look.

This guide is about the places where your wallet doesn’t cry. Real food, real prices, no catch.

1. Vego & Loved One — 232 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Vego & Loved One has been doing cheap, fast, vegetarian and vegan food on Brunswick Street for years. The menu is simple: rice bowls, wraps, and soups. Nothing fancy. Everything good.

What to order: The vegie bowl ($13) — rice, your choice of protein (the tempeh is best), veggies, and sauce. It’s a proper meal. The lentil soup ($9) is a winter hero. Add a juice ($7) and you’re still under $20.

The vibe: Takeaway-focused with a few indoor seats. Fast service, friendly staff, no frills. This is your weekday lunch sorted.

2. Son in Law — 270 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Son in Law does Thai food that hits the sweet spot between cheap and excellent. The portions are generous, the flavours are legit, and the prices haven’t gone fully Fitzroy on you yet.

What to order: Pad thai ($15) — classic, well-executed, good amount of prawns. Green curry ($16) — rich, fragrant, served with rice. Grab a Thai iced tea ($5) and you’ve got a full meal for under $22.

The vibe: Casual dine-in or takeaway. The Brunswick Street location makes it easy to grab food and eat at nearby Edinburgh Gardens if the weather’s good.

3. Moroccan Soup Bar — 196 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North

Technically just over the Fitzroy North border, but it’s close enough and too good to skip. The Moroccan Soup Bar is a Fitzroy institution. Vegetarian, BYO, and absurdly cheap for what you get.

What to order: The mezze plate ($16) — hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, flatbread, pickled vegetables, and more. It’s enormous. Add a tagine ($18) and you’re eating like royalty for what a CBD cafe charges for a sandwich. BYO wine is free — no corkage.

The vibe: Warm, atmospheric, slightly mystical. Candles, Moroccan tiles, communal tables. Cash only. BYO. Open Wednesday to Sunday evenings. This is the best cheap date night in the inner north and it’s not even close.

4. Alimentari — 255 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Alimentari is a deli-cafe that does Italian sandwiches so good they should be illegal. The counter is stacked with cured meats, cheeses, olives, and fresh bread. You point, they assemble, you eat.

What to order: The Italian sub ($14) — prosciutto, salami, provolone, rocket, chilli oil on crusty bread. It’s enough for lunch and costs less than a sandwich at most CBD cafes. The arancini ($4 each) are also excellent — crispy, cheesy, filling.

The vibe: Standing room and a couple of tables. This is street food in the truest sense. Get in, get your sandwich, get out. Or loiter on the Brunswick Street footpath like everyone else does.

5. Babajan — 636 Heidelberg Road, Fitzroy North

Babajan does Turkish food at prices that feel like a time warp. The pides, the meze, the breakfasts — all excellent, all under $20. It’s on the Heidelberg Road end of Fitzroy North, which means it’s slightly off the main drag and therefore less crowded than it deserves to be.

What to order: The mixed pide ($16) — a long, boat-shaped flatbread filled with minced lamb, cheese, or spinach. It’s a meal. The Turkish breakfast plate ($22 for two people) with eggs, cheese, olives, tomato, cucumber, honey, and bread is the best value breakfast in the inner north, full stop.

The vibe: Warm, woody, Mediterranean. The kind of place where the owner remembers your order. Outdoor seating on a quiet stretch of road. Perfect for a slow Sunday morning.

6. Jimmy’s Dumplings — 308 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Jimmy’s Dumplings does exactly what the name promises. Dumplings, and plenty of them. The prices are Fitzroy-friendly and the portions are generous.

What to order: Pork and chive dumplings ($14 for 15 pieces) — pan-fried, crispy on the bottom, juicy inside. The hand-pulled noodles ($15) are also worth a look — chewy, satisfying, excellent chilli oil.

The vibe: Small, casual, a little chaotic. Service is brisk and the tables turn quickly. This is not a lingering dinner spot — it’s a fill-up-and-go operation that does it well.

7. Ethiopian Restaurant — 302 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

This has been on Brunswick Street for over a decade and it remains one of the best-value meals in Fitzroy. Ethiopian food is inherently shareable and affordable, and this place leans into both qualities.

What to order: The veggie combination ($16 per person) — a huge platter of injera bread with various stews, lentils, and vegetables. Two people can share one platter and a beer each for under $45 total. Add the kitfo ($18) if you eat meat — it’s spiced raw beef, Ethiopian style, and it’s extraordinary.

The vibe: Traditional Ethiopian decor, unhurried service, communal eating. You eat with your hands, tearing off pieces of injera and scooping up stews. It’s a genuinely different dining experience and the price makes it accessible.

8. N Lee Bakery — 278A Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

N Lee does Vietnamese banh mi and it does them brilliantly. Crusty baguette, pickled vegetables, fresh coriander, chilli, and your choice of filling. It’s the best sub-$10 lunch in Fitzroy.

What to order: The pork roll ($9.50) — classic, perfectly balanced, enormous. The chicken roll ($9) is the lighter option. Add a Vietnamese iced coffee ($6) and you’ve got a full meal for $15–$16.

The vibe: Pure takeaway. Two stools out front if you’re lucky. Get in, order, eat on the bench across the road. No-nonsense, no waiting, no regrets.

The Price Check

What We Skipped and Why

Food courts and chain fast food: Not the point of this guide.

$18 “cheap eats” that aren’t cheap: If a main dish costs $18 and doesn’t come with a drink, it’s not a cheap eat. We drew the line at genuinely affordable.

Places that were cheap when they opened but have quietly doubled their prices: A few candidates fell off the list for this reason. We update this guide every six months.

Cross-Suburb Cheap Eats

• Cheap Eats in Collingwood — Smith Street’s budget-friendly options
• Cheap Eats in Carlton — Lygon Street Italian that doesn’t wreck your bank balance
• Cheap Eats in Fitzroy North — the quieter neighbourhood with hidden gems

🗳️ Best cheap eat under $15 in Fitzroy?

• N Lee Bakery pork roll — unbeatable
• Vego & Loved One bowl — fast and filling
• Jimmy’s Dumplings — 15 dumplings for $14
• Moroccan Soup Bar — BYO and mezze = perfection

Vote in our weekly suburb poll →

📊 Fitzroy Vibe Score This Week: 91/100

Affordable dining options are a key component of Fitzroy’s liveability score. The suburb’s cheap eats scene keeps it accessible despite rising rents.

See the full Vibe Score breakdown →

💬 What’s your go-to cheap eat in Fitzroy?

We know there are more. Tell us your under-$15 hidden gem.

Drop a comment below or email us at hello@melbz.com.au

📖 More from Fitzroy

• Best Restaurants in Fitzroy — the splurge-worthy spots
• Best Coffee in Fitzroy — the fuel to go with it
• Neighbourhood Guide to Fitzroy — the full suburb breakdown

This guide was researched and written by the MELBZ team in March 2026. We visited every venue, paid for every meal, and received no sponsorship or compensation from any listed business. Prices may change. If something’s wrong, tell us — we fix things fast.

MELBZ — Melbourne’s neighbourhood intelligence. Written by locals, for locals. Not AI-generated. Not outsourced. Real people in real suburbs.