Eat well in Edinburgh for under €15 a plate: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in Edinburgh for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Mosque Kitchen on Nicolson Square in Edinburgh, serving halal Pakistani and Indian curry, rice and naan at prices barely changed since the 1980s, cash only.
Try: Lamb curry with rice and naan
Tip: Peak lunchtime queue moves fast. Order the lamb curry with a naan and bring cash for speed.
Union of Genius on Forrest Road in Edinburgh Old Town, Scotland's first dedicated soup cafe serving six freshly made soups daily with flavour-matched artisan.
Try: Bowl of soup with artisan bread
Tip: Six soups rotate daily; the chilli is always on. Closes at 16:00 on weekdays and 15:00 Saturday, no Sunday service.
Chez Jules on Hanover Street in Edinburgh New Town, a basement French bistro serving a two- or three-course set lunch every day until 16:00, the best-value.
Try: Three-course French bistro set lunch
Tip: The set lunch runs every day of the week, not just weekdays. The croque monsieur and the steak frites are the reliable anchors.
Oink hog roast counter on Victoria Street in Edinburgh Old Town, carving a whole suckling pig from 11:00 daily, the city's best GBP 8 lunch in a roll.
Try: Hog roast roll with haggis stuffing
Tip: Closes when the pig runs out, often before 15:00 on busy days. The haggis-stuffed version is the authentic Edinburgh choice.
Bonnie Burrito on South Clerk Street in Edinburgh, a student-area Mexican counter building burritos and bowls with fresh-cooked fillings for under GBP 10.
Try: Build-your-own burrito
Tip: The Clerk Street branch is the original and busiest. Go at 12:30 rather than 13:00 to skip the university lunch wave.
L'Alba D'Oro on Henderson Row in Edinburgh New Town, opened 1975 and named UK's best fish and chip shop by The Times, a takeaway chippy chipping its own daily.
Try: Battered haddock and chips
Tip: Evening-only: opens at 16:00. Arrive at opening to avoid the post-work queue that builds from 17:30.
Civerinos Slice on Hunter Square in Edinburgh Old Town, the counter arm of the Civerinos restaurant, selling New York-style pizza slices from GBP 4 each.
Try: New York-style pizza by the slice
Tip: Slices rotate through the day; pepperoni and margherita are always on. Fold it in half New York-style and eat standing.
Bertie's Proper Fish and Chips on Victoria Street in Edinburgh Old Town, a sit-down and takeaway chippy cooking fresh Scottish haddock battered to order.
Try: Battered haddock and chips
Tip: Takeaway counter at the front is faster than the sit-down section. Order at the counter and eat on the Grassmarket steps.
Kebab Mahal on Nicolson Square in Edinburgh, a halal Punjabi curry house open since 1979, serving tandoori grills and biryanis until 02:00 on weekends.
Try: Tandoori mixed grill
Tip: Later is better here: after midnight on a Friday the atmosphere is distinct. The lamb tikka is the order.
Stockbridge Market's food stalls on Saunders Street in Edinburgh, every Sunday from 10:00, with 15 or more hot-food vendors rotating weekly through bao buns.
Try: Rotating street food stalls
Tip: The vendor list rotates; check the website the night before to see what is on. Arrive at 10:30 for first choice before queues build.
Peak food season in Edinburgh is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Edinburgh rewards trust.