When travelling, cooking pasta in your hostel or eating hastily made sandwiches can be a good way to stretch your budget, but it gets tiring pretty fast, and every now and then you deserve something better.
It can be tricky to find affordable places with good value for money, but in Edinburgh, if you know where to look, you can eat very well for a good price. One of the best areas is around the University of Edinburgh, especially near Chambers Street, Nicolson Street and the Southside, full of casual places popular with students and locals alike. Here are some of our favourites.
1. Oink
34 Victoria Street, Edinburgh EH1 2JW
An Old Town classic. The idea is simple: they roast a whole hog and, when it’s gone, after serving hundreds of rolls, they close. Fast and filling, it’s a great takeaway option.
Choose white or brown bread, add onion or haggis and pick from a wide range of sauces. Excellent if you want something quick, cheap and tasty.
2. O’Neill’s
9 Hunter Square, Edinburgh EH1 1QW
At this casual pub next to the Royal Mile they keep things simple: it’s all about the food, which means burgers, pizzas and pub classics at very reasonable prices. Ask about their deals!
Perfect for a meal with a pint while watching football, as they show almost every big match.
3. Kim’s Mini Meals
5 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh EH8 9JN
This family-run Korean restaurant is an excellent choice for foodies. It has been featured in the Michelin Guide, and it’s so small and unassuming that you might walk past it, were it not for the queue that often forms outside: they don’t take bookings, but it’s worth the wait.
Incredibly cheap for the quality. If you eat meat, try the pork ribs and you won’t regret it. Just be careful how you answer when Mr Kim asks if you like spicy food!
4. Union of Genius
8 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QN
Union of Genius was Scotland’s first soup café, a style that has since become a classic.
Choose from homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and more, with a menu that changes every day. For a few pounds you can have something tasty and healthy. They also care about being a responsible business, sourcing their ingredients ethically and helping to feed people in need in Edinburgh.
On sunny days, eating on their little terrace is a treat.
5. Pizza Posto
16 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DH
Italian-style pizzas with homemade dough and good-quality ingredients at affordable prices in central Edinburgh. A good option for a quick meal.
As well as the pizzas on the menu, they always have a couple of daily specials.
6. Salt Horse
57-61 Blackfriars Street (Old Town), Edinburgh EH1 1NB
A beer shop and a burger bar in the same place? That’s already the perfect combination. Add the fact that the burgers are among the best in Edinburgh, and it’s hard to beat. A very original spot where you can eat something quick at a good price.
It’s in the Old Town, on one of the streets off the Royal Mile. If you want a beer and a burger in a relaxed atmosphere, this is the place. Cheap and good.
7. Mosque Kitchen
31-33 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh EH8 9BX
Mosque Kitchen is one of the great classics for cheap eats in Edinburgh. It started out feeding members of the congregation of the central mosque after services, and was later opened to everyone. It quickly became a local favourite, and it’s very handy if you are near the University, South Bridge or the Old Town.
Its speciality is curries, kebabs and simple dishes inspired by Indian and Middle Eastern cooking. It isn’t elegant or a place for a long meal, but it’s a very practical choice for something hot, tasty and cheap.
Portions are generous and prices are still very reasonable for somewhere so central. There are also several vegetarian options, so it works well for groups with different tastes. A very safe bet if you want a cheap alternative to the touristy pubs on the Royal Mile.
8. Nile Valley Café
6 Chapel Street, Edinburgh EH8 9AY
Nile Valley Café is another excellent option for cheap food, especially around the University, Nicolson Street or South Bridge. It’s small, informal and very popular with students, precisely because the food is tasty, generous and good value.
The menu focuses on Sudanese and Middle Eastern food: wraps, falafel, hummus, baba ganoush, spiced dishes, chicken, lamb and vegetarian options. A great choice if you want a break from fish and chips, burgers and pub food.
It isn’t touristy or sophisticated, and that’s part of its charm: a simple place with character, perfect for a quick lunch.
9. Ting Thai
8-9 Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH1 2QZ and 55-57 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2DJ
Ting Thai is one of the most popular places in Edinburgh for good, quick and reasonably priced Thai food. It has one restaurant on Teviot Place, next to the University, and another on Lothian Road, near Princes Street, the Grassmarket and the West End.
It serves Thai street food in a casual, modern and lively setting: noodles, curries, rice dishes, soups, chicken, pork, beef, seafood, tofu and vegetarian or vegan options.
It isn’t the cheapest place on this list, but it’s one of the best if you want to eat well without paying restaurant prices. Portions are generous and service is fast. It is very popular and usually doesn’t take bookings, so expect a queue at peak times.
10. Snax Café
118 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh EH8 9NQ and 15 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA
Snax Café is a very handy option for a cheap breakfast or lunch. It has two central cafés: one near the University, the Meadows and Nicolson Street, and another in the New Town, very close to Princes Street.
It’s a simple, no-frills café, best known for breakfasts, rolls, hot dishes and quick takeaway options: Scottish breakfasts, bacon or sausage rolls, eggs, toast, burgers, chips and coffee. Not touristy or particularly pretty, but very useful if you want something filling without paying restaurant prices.
Popular with locals and students, it’s a great way to start the day cheaply before exploring the city. And if you want to try some traditional Scottish food, check out our guide to the best Scottish restaurants in Edinburgh.