The best dinners in Melbourne under $50

If you’re after a good time, look no further than this little pasta bar in Fitzroy North. The vibe here is no frills but plenty of fun, with tables adorned with white paper tablecloths and pencils for doodling. It’s all about pasta here – mostly spaghetti – with a rotating menu of classics all at $9 a pop. And since there are $9 Negronis and carafes of wine too, you can eat and drink to your heart’s content and still walk away at well under $50 a head.

There’s a reason La Pinta is full most nights of the week – it’s good food that is unexpectedly on the cheap side. The place feels as though you’ve stumbled upon a wine bar somewhere in Europe, the menu of the day jotted on the chalkboard with plates (and wines) starting from $5. Most dishes hover around the $10-$15 mark, like chargrilled octopus skewers, and mussels with smoked leek and potatoes. Or, if you’re part of a group of five or more, opt for the $50 set menu and prepare to feast.

While Butchers Diner may have started out as a late night feed for those stumbling home (it used to be open 24 hours!), it soon became a top spot even at peak eating hours. No surprises there, given its credentials under the hand of restaurateur Con Christopoulos (City Wine Shop, Siglo, The European). While the retro orange and white tiles – and $10 hamburger, $20 steak sandwich and $21 steak and eggs – may make it seem like a typical diner fare, this ain’t your average. It’s a worthy spot for your next catchup.

There are plenty of things one could spend $5 on, like tacos at Los Hermanos. If you’re after traditional Mexican food, this buzzing spot in Brunswick is where it’s at. There are seven equally impressive varieties to choose from – think: slow-cooked lamb, spiced chicken and battered fish – so keep them on rotation. You may even leave with some spare change. 

One usually steps out of Delhi Streets extremely satisfied, full to the brim and having generally spent under $40 for a massive feed. This probably explains why the little Indian restaurant is always bustling, and has been for almost a decade. It’s a fun, modern vibe here with Bollywood movie posters plastered to the walls and Indian pop music filling the room, so add it to your list for a cheap but enjoyable night out. 

Hanoi Mee may just be Port Melbourne’s best kept secret. Locals fill the modern Vietnamese joint almost every night, likely thanks to its inventive menu and accessible price point. You'll find dishes like 'VFC' (Vietnamese Fried Chicken), caramelised crispy pork hock in a sticky tamarind sauce and grilled salmon marinated in a chilli cashew pesto before being wrapped in banana leaves. It’s up there with some of the best Vietnamese in Melbourne, all at $45 a head if you opt for a set menu. Run, don’t walk.

Pho Thin gets bonus points because not only is the Hardware Lane noodle shop affordable – it's healthy, too. The pho here contains fresh Victorian produce and zero MSG, resulting in a taste both heartful and homestyle. Try the signature dish “stir-fries up” – rare slices of skirt steak fried with garlic and served in a leafy broth along with ginger, shallots, flat rice noodles and generous chunks of spring onion and coriander. 

It’s always a little trickier to find a good ramen as you venture out of the CBD, but thankfully Misoya in Brunswick will save Northsiders the trek. The ramen? Viscous and flavoursome. The gyoza? Crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside. The katsu curry? Bold and full of umami. This little spot is all you could ask for, with a cool vibe and comfortable beer garden out the back for warmer nights – and easily under $50 a head.