Bristol’s best on a budget eats

Should you find yourself in the district of Bedminster, just south of the city centre, The Toast Room is definitely worth a visit. Sit in their simple, yet colourful interior surrounded by plant life or takeaway and enjoy a little later. This independent café is run by husband and wife duo John and Kate Cassettari, and specialises in what you might expect: delicious, uncomplicated, wholesome food… on toast! Or in toast… or next to toast for that matter! It is obvious from just one visit to John and Kate’s business that it has become a real part of the local community and, once you’ve tasted their food, you can see why! At the moment, our favourite item on the menu is a real winter warmer: the sausage and parmesan ragu sourdough toastie. “Ragu in a toastie? That can’t be right?” We hear you say. Trust us, it really is.
Don’t think The Toast Room could get any better? Think again. Everything on their menu is under £10 and vegan and vegetarian options are also available.

If you find yourself in the city centre and in need of a quick and wholesome meal on-the-go, Matina has you covered. Their walk-up eatery permanently occupies a spot at the gate of the historic St. Nicholas Market, conveniently tucked under the archway so that, whatever the weather, you stay dry while you wait for your food. They specialise in homemade Kurdish cuisine, serving up hot, fresh naan breads, as well as marinated lamb, chicken and halloumi skewers and wraps. Their menu is simple and consistently tasty, but don’t just take our word for it. Simply walk by on a week-day lunchtime to witness the queue of suited and booted city workers waiting for their fix to get them through the afternoon! There is no seating, but all their food it easy to eat on-the-go or save for later. Matina will also sit nicely within that £10 budget. What’s not to like?

You cannot miss Baba Ganoush Kitchen. Located in St Paul’s, to the north-east of the city centre, the colourful mural on the exterior and eye-wateringly vivid green and pink paint on the ground are like a siren call to the hungry passer-by. All their meals are homemade and either vegan or vegetarian, so if you’re looking for a healthier cheap eat, these guys are for you. Here at Dish Cult, we’re an indecisive bunch, so our favourite dish is the mezze. The combination of creamy and smoky baba ganoush, tangy hummus, warm homemade falafel, fresh salad and more provide so much variety that your taste buds will be tingling to the very end. Enjoy Baba Ganoush Kitchen’s delicious, yet budget friendly, food as a takeaway or take a seat in their bright outdoor seating area.

We’re heading back over to St Nicholas Market now, but this time to the Glass Arcade where we will find the aptly named Low and Slow. This particular walk-up eatery has saved us from hanger on several occasions with their authentic pit smoked barbeque goodies and mouth-watering £2 sides such as mac ‘n’ cheese and pit beans. They specialise in serving up locally sourced meats (or tender jackfruit for the less meat-minded) cooked low and slow (see, aptly named) over woods that have been specially selected for their unique aromas. Do you fancy your barbeque in a bun, a box or on fries? The choice is yours and you can be content in the knowledge that no option will exceed £9! Low and Slow have no seating, but might we suggest taking your food down to the riverside and enjoying it there, maybe even with a beer from one of the pop-up bars down there?

Now then, some of you may be wondering how we have managed to get so far down this list of cheap eats in Bristol and not yet mentioned pizza. Well, wonder no more! G Bros. Pizza, located on Easton High Street, is the ideal destination for those who wish to enjoy this doughy treat on a budget. G Bros. Pizza serve up hand-crafted pizzas available to enjoy in their relaxed dining area or for takeaway with a diverse selection of toppings, classic and not-so-classic. All pizzas (apart from N’Duja, which is available in a large only) can be made a small, medium or large, so if you’re not feeling super hungry or you’re low on cash, no worries! Personally, the pizza that gets us salivating just thinking about it (literally) is The Farmhouse, with a tomato base, beautifully creamy fior de latte (fancy mozzarella), juicy portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced serrano ham and finished with fresh basil to cut through these rich flavours. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available and pizzas range in price with all smalls and mediums under £10 and larges costing from £7 to £13.50.

Serving an epic “All you can eat” lunch at £20.99pp and kids at £10.99pp this is a great Bristol venue serving strong bang for your buck. With a “world kitchen”, there really is something for everyone here. Great for families, groups of friends, or even couples that are big foodies! With 150 dishes, a free bottle of Prosecco on your birthday, and students dining for £15, this is a great venue that is gentle on your budget. We also love the chocolate fountain and ice cream counter!

Found in a truly stunning building, perfect for capturing special occasion Instagrammable content, we had to feature Cosy Club for their brilliant bottomless brunch with an UNLIMITED drinks package priced at £25pp. A delicious menu can be found here too from Spiced berry pancakes, shakshouka, Cali Brunch, Chorizo Hash to a Dinner menu of small plates such as Treacle-cured pork belly bites, garlic prawns and mains including Halloumi & warm harissa baked squash salad, sea bass and flat iron steak.

Bambalan is host to a number of great offers and events throughout the year. Definitely check their website or Instagram for updates, but things you could enjoy include their NYE disco and dancing event, dancing tickets at £20pp, or 2 for £15 cocktails 4-7pm everyday. Ideal for a fun date night or drinks with the girls. Serving a cracking Mediterranean menu featuring Mezze, burgers, sourdough pizza, gyros wi5 all day dining and kitchen collaborations, this is a fun venue to eat or party in the heart of Bristol City.

Found in a gorgeous harbourside spot. Here you can find an ever changing, exciting and extensive range of craft beer and cider. Serving crowd pleasingly good burgers, with the standard price of classic burger standing at £7.50, hearty plates of Loaded Fries, with fab Gluten Free and Vegan options too, this is a casual dining venue that serves everyone. We also want to mention their fab £7.50 lunch deal Monday – Friday.

A brilliant Bristol independent venue, where you can enjoy affordable breakfast and lunch whilst also getting your bike fixed. Having opened over 25 years ago in Bristol, Mud Dock is a staple in the city. From brunch plates to cocktails with a relaxed space, this is a great one for families on the weekend post bike ride along the river!

We love this South West classic venue. Serving affordable brunch and lunch, as well as good coffee, smoothies, and fresh cakes, this is a super wholesome relaxed farm style venue. With a reasonably priced kids menu, friendly staff and good Wi-Fi, this is a great spot to work from if you are keen to study somewhere other than your home or uni library without breaking your bank account, or to meet up with parents and kids.

We love this South West classic venue. Serving affordable brunch and lunch, as well as good coffee, smoothies, and fresh cakes, this is a super wholesome relaxed farm style venue. With a reasonably priced kids menu, friendly staff and good Wi-Fi, this is a great spot to work from if you are keen to study somewhere other than your home or uni library without breaking your bank account, or to meet up with parents and kids.

A LGBTQ+ friendly venue that serves up delicious Cali-Mexican food from burritos to cocktails. With a friendly team and cracking flavours, we are big fans of stopping here for a midweek lunch break pick-me-up. Here you can easily get your hands on a hearty burrito for lunch under £15.

The sister venue to Wapping Wharf’s Seven Lucky Gods, this is a fab venue that serves a menu of Asian fusion food. The plates are super instagrammable, as is the funky, retro Tokyo style interior. Here you can find burgers, ramen, Gado Salad, Dim Sun and more. If you find yourself super hungry and keen for an affordable Asian feast on a sleepy Sunday, we recommend heading over to Four Wise Monkeys for their Dim Sunday Funday, the ideal foodie feast.

Lastly on our ‘Bristol on a budget’ special, is this epic family owned 100% plant based pasta restaurant. With dogs welcome, cracking weekday lunch offers such as a main dish, glass of wine, and two Biscoff mini donuts for £13.50, this is a great affordable venue. Offering seasonal menus packed full of flavour and colour, this is a place that should not be missed!