Cheap Eats in Adelaide CBD: 4 Budget Lunch Picks
Living on a Working Holiday budget in Adelaide? The CBD is compact and easy to walk, and there are plenty of good meals that won't empty your wallet. Here are four picks from a March 2026 Sitchu Adelaide cheap eats guide.
1. Sit Lo (Bank Street and Waymouth Street)
Sit Lo serves bao buns and banh mi, with tofu, fish or panko fried chicken fillings. Banh mi start from $10, and loaded noodle or salad bowls start from $15. It's handy if you're near Rundle Mall or the UniSA City West campus.
2. Smiley's Tuckshop (Adelaide Central Market)
The Adelaide Central Market on Gouger Street is a great place to graze on a budget. At Smiley's Tuckshop, a ham and cheese toastie with a coffee is $12, and a bacon and egg roll with a coffee is $16, according to Sitchu.
3. Star Dumplings (Moonta Street, Chinatown)
Right next to the Central Market, Adelaide's Chinatown is full of quick, cheap meals. At Star Dumplings (27b Moonta Street), you can order steamed dumplings, stir-fried noodles and rice dishes, and most dishes are under $20.
4. Two Bit Villains (Adelaide Arcade, Rundle Mall)
Upstairs in the heritage Adelaide Arcade, Two Bit Villains serves vegan burgers and house-made sodas. Sitchu says a selection of menu items are under $15.
Which pick suits you?
Quick lunch between shifts: a banh mi from Sit Lo is easy to eat on the go.
Breakfast or brunch on a budget: Smiley's Tuckshop at the Central Market.
Dinner with friends: Star Dumplings, where you can share a few plates.
Plant-based: Two Bit Villains for vegan burgers.
Tips for eating cheaply in Adelaide
Visit the Central Market late in the day, when some stalls may discount fresh food. Check opening hours first, as they vary.
Share plates with friends to try more dishes for less.
Cook at home a few nights a week. The Central Market is also a good place to buy fresh fruit, vegetables and bread for your share house.
Bring a refillable water bottle instead of buying drinks.
Prices and opening hours change, so check each venue's website or social media before you go.
Heading to Sydney too? Try our Sydney Thaitown cheap eats guide.
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Source: Sitchu Adelaide, "Frugal Feasts: The Best Cheap Eats in Adelaide" (20 March 2026). Prices are as reported there and may have changed. This isn't a paid recommendation.
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