Eating cheap in Sydney can be a challenge, especially for a visitor taking in the sights and culture of downtown. If you’re willing to explore the city a little further, though, you can eat well for less. Here are a few places to check out.
A little way out from the Sydney Central Business District, at 613a Elizabeth Street in Redfern, you’ll find Three Williams Café, home of the “narnie”: naan (Indian flatbread) stuffed with flavorful fillings. Another famous offering is the crunchy brioche French toast, which you can try anytime, as breakfast is served all day. At $16, it’s one of the more expensive breakfast items, but you can also get eggs on toast for just $11 and house-made granola with fruit and yogurt for $13. Lunch dishes range from $15 to $19, with a kids’ “steak or schnitzel”, which comes with fries, for $9.50. Extras and side dishes are mostly low-priced. Three Williams is open every day from 7 am to 4 pm.
Just east of the Central Business District is Darlinghurst, where you’ll find Kings Lane Sandwiches at 28 Kings Lane. Though of course sandwiches are the main offering, there’s also a wide selection of salads and a few rice dishes. If you don’t order a main dish with beef, you won’t pay more than $11 for it — if you do, it can go as high as $14. Simple breakfasts are also served, including toast with that infamous Vegemite (or another topping from a wide selection) for just $5. Online reviews suggest you’ll be served more quickly if you call in your order in advance — and you’ll need to do it before noon. Kings Lane is open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 3 pm, and Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm.
South of Darlinghurst you come to Surry Hills, where Chur Burger, at 48 Albion Street, has been attracting a lot of attention. (“Chur” is New Zealand slang for “thanks”.) The pricing here is very straightforward: All burgers are $10 (though they’re made with everything from beef to chickpeas), sides are $6, soft drinks $5. Unlike the two places we looked at earlier, Chur Burger doesn’t serve breakfast, but also unlike them, it’s open for dinner, at least five nights a week. Reservations aren’t accepted, but the website says, “tables do turn over quite quickly”, so you may want to try just dropping in. Hours are Monday, 11:30 am to 5pm,Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30 am to 10 pm.
If you’re in Sydney and looking to eat well without overspending, these places are worth checking out.
