40 cheap eats places in Sydney, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Sydney: the places editors actually return to. All Sydney food.
Marrickville Pork Roll ★ 4.8
marrickville · 236 Illawarra Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
Sydney's cult banh mi counter on Illawarra Road, Marrickville. The pork roll with house pate at A$5.50 is the canonical Sydney lunch. Daily from 7am.
Tip: Cash and card both accepted; queues from 12pm Saturday Walk-ins usually OK.
El Jannah ★ 4.8
granville · 62 South Street, Granville NSW 2142
Sydney's canonical charcoal chicken shop on South Street, Granville. Whole chickens, garlic toum that defines the Sydney garlic-on-chicken canon.
Tip: Open late; takeaway queue moves faster than the dine-in line.
Iggy's Bread of the World ★ 4.8
bronte · 49 Macpherson Street, Bronte NSW 2024
Igor Ivanovic's wholesale-and-retail bakery on Macpherson Street, Bronte, Sydney. Open Tue-Sat 7am-2pm; stone-milled sourdough loaves daily.
Single O Surry Hills ★ 4.8
surry-hills · 60-64 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Sydney specialty coffee pioneer on Reservoir Street, Surry Hills. Single O has roasted since 2003; the milk-on-tap system and filter flights set the room.
Reuben Hills ★ 4.8
surry-hills · 61 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
South American-leaning cafe and roastery on Albion Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Regular booking for Sydney's brunch and specialty-coffee scene.
Marrickville Pork Roll ★ 4.8
marrickville · 236 Illawarra Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
Sydney's canonical banh mi counter on Illawarra Road, Marrickville. Pork roll with house pate at A$5.50, queues from 12pm; open daily from 7am.
El Jannah ★ 4.8
granville · 62 South Street, Granville NSW 2142
Sydney's canonical charcoal chicken on South Street, Granville. Whole chickens, garlic toum, chips and pickled turnip; open daily 10am till late.
Marrickville Pork Roll ★ 4.8
marrickville · 236 Illawarra Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
Sydney's A$5.50 banh mi counter on Illawarra Road, Marrickville. Pork roll with house pate, the city's most-recommended budget lunch. Daily from 7am.
El Jannah Granville ★ 4.8
granville · 62 South Street, Granville NSW 2142
Quarter charcoal chicken with toum and chips for A$15 on South Street, Granville, Sydney. The canonical Sydney charcoal chicken takeaway, open late.
Lune Croissanterie ★ 4.7
barangaroo · Shop 8, 23 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo NSW 2000
Kate and Cam Reid's croissant counter on Barangaroo Avenue, Sydney. Open daily 7:30am-2pm; the twice-baked almond croissant is the menu signature daily.
Flour and Stone ★ 4.7
woolloomooloo · 53 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Nadine Ingram's pastry bench on Riley Street, Woolloomooloo, Sydney. The morning load of panforte slices, lamingtons and brown-butter cakes is gone by 1pm.
Paramount Coffee Project ★ 4.7
surry-hills · 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
PCP on Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney serves rotating roasters and a Pasi Petanen-trained breakfast menu inside the old Paramount Studios building.
Bourke Street Bakery Surry Hills ★ 4.7
surry-hills · 633 Bourke Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
The original Bourke Street Bakery on Bourke Street, Surry Hills, Sydney since 2004. Sausage rolls, sourdough loaves and a takeaway counter daily.
Edition Coffee Roasters ★ 4.7
darlinghurst · 60 Riley Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Scandi-Japanese cafe and roaster on Riley Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney. Open kaiseki-style brunch, beans roasted on-site, sake and Scandinavian pastries.
Phu Cuong ★ 4.7
cabramatta · 117 John Street, Cabramatta NSW 2166
John Street's no-frills banh mi shop on Cabramatta, Sydney. The Maggi-heavy A$7.50 rolls and the city's most consistent crackle in a baguette.
KK Bakery ★ 4.7
cabramatta · Shop 7, 113-117 John Street, Cabramatta NSW 2166
Cabramatta banh mi counter on John Street, Sydney. The marinated chicken Maryland roll is the menu signature; open 7 days from 6:30am, takeaway only.
Phu Cuong ★ 4.7
cabramatta · 117 John Street, Cabramatta NSW 2166
Cabramatta's classic A$7.50 banh mi counter on John Street, Sydney. Pork, pate, chilli, herbs and pickled veg, just outside the train station.
Pho Pasteur ★ 4.6
haymarket · 709 George Street, Haymarket NSW 2000
Cantonese-Vietnamese pho counter on George Street, Haymarket, Sydney. Deep, clear broth and the city's most consistent pho dac biet under A$20.
Tip: Open from 8am for breakfast pho; queues form Sunday lunch Walk-ins usually OK.
Gelato Messina Darlinghurst ★ 4.6
darlinghurst · 241 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Gelato Messina's Darlinghurst flagship on Victoria Street, Sydney. House-churned gelato, weekly special-flavour drops, walk-in friendly weeknights.
Tip: The doughnut sandwich is a hidden Messina menu item, ask at the counter.
Bourke Street Bakery Surry Hills ★ 4.6
surry-hills · 633 Bourke Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Sydney's most-imitated bakery on Bourke Street, Surry Hills. Open daily from 7am; the bacon-and-egg ciabatta roll is the menu signature, retail till 4pm.
Tarts Anon ★ 4.6
redfern · 100 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015
Pastry chef Gareth Whitton's tart-only counter on Botany Road, Alexandria, Sydney. Open Thu-Sun 9am-3pm; brown sugar tart often sold out by 2pm.
Two Good Co Cafe ★ 4.6
rosebery · 44 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery NSW 2018
Social-enterprise cafe on Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery, Sydney. Strong specialty coffee, all-day breakfast and a regular crowd of local diners.
Brickfields ★ 4.6
chippendale · 206 Cleveland Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
European bread bakery and cafe on Cleveland Street, Chippendale, Sydney since 2012. Regular booking for Sydney's brunch and specialty-coffee scene.
Banh Cuon Ba Oanh ★ 4.6
marrickville · 164 Marrickville Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
Hanoi-style banh cuon counter on Marrickville Road, Sydney. Steamed rice noodle rolls with pork and wood-ear mushroom, fried shallots on top.
Knafeh Bakery ★ 4.6
marrickville · 108 Marrickville Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
Pop-up knafeh bakery on Marrickville Road, Sydney. The Saturday-night sweet cheese pastry from the Lebanese-Palestinian sisters runs into the small hours.
Mamak ★ 4.6
haymarket · 15 Goulburn Street, Haymarket NSW 2000
Late-night roti canai counter on Goulburn Street, Haymarket, Sydney. Roti with three curries comes in under A$11; the city's most-rewarded budget dinner.
KK Bakery Chicken Maryland Roll ★ 4.6
cabramatta · Shop 7, 113-117 John Street, Cabramatta NSW 2166
Cabramatta banh mi on John Street, Sydney for A$8. The marinated chicken Maryland roll is the menu signature. Open 7 days from 6:30am, takeaway only.
Pho Tau Bay ★ 4.5
cabramatta · Shop 5, 117 John Street, Cabramatta NSW 2166
Long-running Vietnamese pho counter on John Street, Cabramatta, Sydney. The dac biet pho with brisket and tendons is the menu signature, daily 8am-9pm.
Tip: Closes by 8pm; take cash for the smoothest queue.
Brickfields ★ 4.5
chippendale · 206 Cleveland Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
European bakery and cafe on Cleveland Street, Chippendale, Sydney. Sourdough loaves at the counter, strong pastry program, weekend queues from open.
Baker Bleu ★ 4.5
double-bay · Shop 1, 21 Bay Street, Double Bay NSW 2028
Melbourne import Baker Bleu on Bay Street, Double Bay, Sydney. The Friday challah braid is the standout; pretzel buns and pain de mie round out the rest.
Bills Bondi ★ 4.5
bondi · 79 Hall Street, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Beachside Bills on Hall Street, Bondi, Sydney. Ricotta hotcakes since 1993, all-day breakfast menu and consistent weekend queues on the deck.
Rocker ★ 4.5
bondi · 115 Ramsgate Avenue, North Bondi NSW 2026
Coastal all-day cafe on Ramsgate Avenue, North Bondi, Sydney from Three Blue Ducks' Darren Robertson. Single-origin coffee, beachside seating, brunch counter.
Haven Specialty Coffee ★ 4.5
newtown · 287 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Newtown specialty coffee on King Street, Sydney. Daily roast rotation, simple toasted-sandwich menu, a steady commuter and student lineup before 9am.
Bourke Street Sausage Roll ★ 4.5
surry-hills · 633 Bourke Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Bourke Street Bakery's lamb-and-harissa sausage roll on Bourke Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. The single most-ordered savoury bake in the Sydney chain.
Ho Jiak Nasi Lemak ★ 4.5
haymarket · Shop 6, 87-93 Hay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000
Malaysian hawker-style nasi lemak from Ho Jiak in Haymarket, Sydney. Pandan rice, sambal ikan bilis, fried chicken and a soft-boiled egg on top.
Olympic Meats ★ 4.5
marrickville · 176 Marrickville Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
Greek grill house on Marrickville Road, Sydney. Nothing on the menu over A$21; walk-in only, BYO, queues from 5pm every night, lamb on the spit.
Bills Ricotta Hotcakes ★ 4.5
darlinghurst · 433 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Bill Granger's original ricotta hotcakes at Bills on Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney for A$25. Walk-in brunch counter, the canonical Sydney breakfast.
King of Sweets ★ 4.5
lakemba · 129 Haldon Street, Lakemba NSW 2195
Middle Eastern sweet counter on Haldon Street, Lakemba, Sydney. Diamond-cut baklava, knafeh and zenoud by the piece; counter slices under A$8.
Viet Bling ★ 4.4
marrickville · 210 Illawarra Road, Marrickville NSW 2204
Vietnamese banh mi counter on Illawarra Road, Marrickville, Sydney. Hank and Nancy Tran (ex-Coogee Hot Rolls) opened in 2026 in the old Alex'n'Rolls site.
Tip: Cash and card; quick service even at the lunch peak.
Lode Pies and Pastries ★ 4.4
surry-hills · 1 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Pie shop and pastry counter on Buckingham Street, Surry Hills, Sydney from Eight by Andrew McConnell alumni. Strong pastry program, weekend queues from open.