Top 5 Cheap Eats!

While I have managed to convince most people I’m an amazing cook who makes my boyfriend incredible meals everyday, truth is you’ll find me eating out at least two of these places every week. The following places prove that you can experience awesome food on even the tightest of budgets. I could attempt to write blogs about all of these places individually but I wouldn’t have enough photos as we always order the same thing. And with good reason, they are the best cheap eats Sydney has to offer!

In no particular order

El Jannah

Located right next to Granville train station this little gem is well known among the majority of Sydney siders. Most famously known for their Charcoal chicken and intoxicating garlic sauce (I say intoxicating because if you breathe on anyone afterwards you’ll literally knock them out). For a long time we would opt to take away as eating in is almost double the price (Whole chicken Eat in $19.90 or Take Away $10.90). However, we recently discovered if you choose to eat in your meal does come with a mountain of Lebanese bread, pickles, garlic sauce and generally a larger serving size. Another benefit is your chips won’t be soggy like they tend to get after 15mins of suffocating in a plastic bag on the way home.

Large chips $6 and Garlic plate $3

Half chicken $10.50

Complimentary pickles and garlic sauce.

Be warned that is Scott’s meal. I always get quarter chicken $6.90 and struggle to finish that.

Rating 9/10

Laksa house

I’ve seen signs around Sydney stating “Sydneys best laksa” I haven’t bothered putting this to the test as I’m sure I’ve already found it. Truth be told I have never even tried another laksa but why would I? This shits phenomenal.

If you didn’t already know laksa is an Asian style coconut-based curry soup. These particular ones are made with a mixture of thick rice noodles (also known as laksa noodles), thin rice vermicelli noodles, large soft tofu cubes, loads of chilli and a sprinkling of spring onion. Scott always orders his with thinly sliced beef where as I opt for the tofu. Every bite of the bean curd puff is like an explosion of chilli goodness. Drool.

Beef laksa $7.90

Tofu laksa $6.80

Rating 9/10

Hong Ha

My fascination with pork rolls started about 2 years ago after living out west for 12 months. Every morning at Canley Vale station the pork roll was the average commuter’s breakfast of choice. Convinced that it must be great Scott and I headed out on a mission to find Sydney’s best pork roll. Naturally we ended up in Cabramatta. I quickly discovered they are all terrible. If you can get your head around the murky grey meat (I’m told its liver pate) then it could possibly be swallowed but I just couldn’t down it. After talking about my experience with people I had an overwhelming response demanding me to try Hong Ha. I go for the chicken instead and its love at first bite. Luckily for me I started a job two minutes away from this joint and my co workers were already massive fans. This has resulted in me and my boss eating here up to three times a week. Just can’t get enough!

Giant spring roll $1.50

This is in fact the best spring roll I’ve ever tried. Extremely greasy though.

Chicken roll with cheese $6

Crunchy fresh bread roll, shredded chicken, tomato, cucumber, coriander, carrots, cheese, loads of chilli (optional), mysterious Asian mayonnaise and brown sauce. After finding out what they use in the pork roll I think its best these sauces remain a mystery.

Rating 10/10

Mylan

Although it’s quite a trek from Sydney to Wollongong, if you love satay (like I do) then you absolutely must try Mylan. With their speedy service you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy everything else Wollongong has to offer. Let’s be serious… It’s only known for its satay but defiantly the best anyone I know has ever come across.
Moist chicken floating in indulgent satay sauce. They always get just the right sauce to rice ratio and we all know how important that is.

Famous Satay chicken $16

After researching the current price of this dish I realised it isn’t actually cheap. Five years ago it was $9.50. Talk about inflation. Either way… Its still the marvellous.

Rating 10/10

Costco

Costco? Yes I know it sounds really bizarre and ill admit when Scott came running up to me with a giant slice of pizza I was more then a little sceptical. Right outside the doors to Costco you will find a canteen style food hot spot. Offering pizza slices larger than your head along with other American favourites. Much like the IKEA’s famous $1 hotdog Costco has their own deal of hotdog with ketchup, mustard and onions with a refillable large coke for only $2.49.
The value for money here is really unbelievable. how do they do it? With three Costco’s now available in Australia its no wonder they estimate we will soon be as fat as the Americans.

Cheese pizza slice $3

Perfect crust and a bolognese style sauce with gooey cheese. Incredible

Hot dog and drink combo $2.49

Self sever condiments mean you can go as crazy as you like.

Rating 8/10