16 Jan 2023
For those on a small budget with a big appetite for good food.
Being a student is hard-work, and money can get pretty tight sometimes but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on good hearty meals or delicious and healthy snacks. Here’s a list of our favourite, affordable eateries that made surviving uni a little bit easier.
Eating out on a budget doesn’t mean you have to resort to greasy fast-food joints, although we do enjoy the occasional dabble. Revive Café offers delicious vegan snacks, have your choice from a range of healthy salad boxes and pick what size suits you best. The purple bulghur salad with beetroot, edamame beans and sundried tomatoes is our personal favourite. This is a great option if you have a busy day ahead and need a lunch option you can eat on the move. Revive is based close to the city campuses and provides a dose of healthy energy to kickstart the brain. If you’re in dire need of a sugary treat then they also have frooze balls available, with an abundance of flavours to choose from, you can eat them until your hearts content with little to no guilt.
If you’re looking for a lively atmosphere and a hearty portion of Mexican cuisine then the Mexican Café is the lunch spot for you. Take a seat on the colourful deck and take your tastebuds on a journey they won’t regret. While you can just drop by for a quick snack on the guacamole dip or garlic bread, we recommend sticking around and taking advantage of all they have available. The best part of the Mexican Café is their super affordable lunch specials for $10, this offer goes all day until 4pm, so there’s no need to panic about fitting in a quick visit between classes. There’s a food option to get everyone excited from tacos and nachos, to vegetarian Mexican lasagne and seafood chowder.
The Montreal-style bagels are deliberately man-handled; punched, rolled, boiled and fired to fit Best Ugly’s bagel criteria. Baked upon Manuka hard wood the unique flavour is unforgettable and we haven’t even added the toppings yet. Stick with the classic cream cheese bagel for $7.90 or venture onto the tuna melt with salsa fresca, jalapenos and lemon zest for $15.90. And sometimes the title of uni student gives you an advantage, as long as you have the student discount card then you can score 10% off your bagel of choice.
Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the nicer things in life, grab a spot of lunch at this rooftop bar and submerge yourself within the backpacker culture. With the typical laid-back kiwi vibe this pub is ideal for a casual bite to eat. Dive into a bucket of onion rings for $4 or try the chicken schnitzel burger with guacamole in a brioche bun for $6. And yes, the drinks are just as cheap. Kick your feet up and treat yourself to a well-earned break, check out their website to find out when the DJs arrive and get the full experience of Hello Sunshine.
With a menu that sticks to the classic simplicity of a juicy burger you truly can’t go wrong at Better Burger. Grab some fried chicken for $9 before you get your hands on the double cheeseburger for $12. You can’t do better than a burger! Using locally and sustainably sourced ingredients, the food is delicious and offers a sophisticated option for fast food. Keeping it simple and casual, we promise you won’t be disappointed by the amazing burgers and atmosphere.