Eat well in Riga for under €15 a plate: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in Riga for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
LIDO Atpūtas Centrs anchors Riga's budget Latvian eating, with hot-counter plates of karbonāde, grey peas and pīrāgi for under €15 in a wooden-castle complex.
Try: Latvian buffet plates
Tip: Pay by weight at the till; a full meal with a beer lands around €12 on a weekday.
The Centrāltirgus bakery pavilion runs counter-served pīrāgi at €1 to €2 per piece, anchoring the city's cheapest Latvian breakfast or lunch.
Try: Pīrāgi (bacon-onion pastries)
Tip: Buy three pīrāgi and a kvass for under €5; eat at the market's outdoor benches.
LIDO Vērmanītis is the central Riga branch of the buffet chain, an easier sit than the Atpūtas Centrs flagship for a quick Latvian counter lunch.
Try: Latvian counter plates
Tip: Weekday lunch service is fastest; build a plate of karbonāde, grey peas and rye for around €10.
Shōyu's Bib Gourmand ramen counter on Ausekļa keeps bowls between €6.50 and €18.50, the strongest under-€20 Michelin-recognised meal in Riga.
Try: Ramen bowls
Order: The shoyu ramen at €12 to €15; counter seating is cheaper and faster.
Tip: Reservation essential; the room is tiny and the lunch sit moves quicker than dinner.
Big Bad Bagels keeps a full bagel with cream cheese under €8 and a Latvian smoked-salmon bagel around €12, anchoring the city's cheap brunch counter.
Try: New York-style bagels
Order: A bacon-egg-cheese bagel and a filter coffee for under €10.
Tip: Take-away is faster than the dine-in queue; bring a Centrāltirgus pastry for dessert.